Meitei architecture or Manipuri architecture is the

architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...

produced by the Meitei speaking people, whose culture flourished in the

Kangleipak Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of M ...

kingdom and its neighbouring kingdoms from the middle of the fifteenth century BC. The Meitei architecture is best known for its temples (Laishang, Kiyong, Thellon), found scattered in the

(present day

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a States and territories of India, state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It ...

). Other architectural forms that are still in existence are the grand gates (Hojang), Traditional houses (Yumjao), Public houses (Sanglen), Official buildings (Loishang), etc.

Influence

Due to the arrival of

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or ''dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global po ...

in the kingdom of

(present day

), the form of architecture was greatly influenced during the 16-17th century AD. Hundreds of

Vaishnava Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as ...

temples were built in the kingdom with a mixed architectural design of both the traditional Meitei architecture and Mainland

Indian architecture Indian architecture is rooted in its history, culture and religion. Among a number of architectural styles and traditions, the best-known include the many varieties of Hindu temple architecture, Indo-Islamic architecture, especially Mughal ...

Styles

The

temples A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

and other

buildings A building, or edifice, is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory (although there's also portable buildings). Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and func ...

built in Meitei architecture is easily distinguished by the Holy Chirong ( horns), attached on the top of the

roof A roof ( : roofs or rooves) is the top covering of a building, including all materials and constructions necessary to support it on the walls of the building or on uprights, providing protection against rain, snow, sunlight, extremes of temp ...

. Some of the significant examples are easily seen in the Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple and

Sanamahi Kiyong Temple The mni, Lainingthou Sanamahi Kiyong, , Lainingthou Sanamahi Shrine), officially known as the mni, Laiyingthou Sanamahi Kiyong, , Laiyingthou Sanamahi Shrine)) and "Laiyingthou" ( mni, ) are interchangeably used with no change in the word m ...

. There are styles of engraving animal figures on the walls of the buildings, especially the figures of bulls, Buffalo, etc. are mainly found.

Gallery

File:Shri_Govindajee_Temple.JPG, A Vaishnava temple at

Imphal Imphal ( Meitei pronunciation: /im.pʰal/; English pronunciation: ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (also known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the ...

File:Mondum-mahadeva.jpg, A Hindu temple at Kakching Khunou,

File:Shree_Govindaji_temple,_Manipur.jpg, A Hindu temple at

File:IBUDHOU_PAKHANG_LAISENG_AT_KAKCHING_GARDEN.jpg, An ancient temple at

Kakching ) , native_name_lang = mni , other_name = , settlement_type = town , image_skyline = , image_alt = , image_caption = , nickname = , pushpin_map ...

File:The_Kangla_Gate.JPG, The Western Gate of Kangla Palace,

File:Kangla_Fort_Complex,_Imphal_(75).jpeg, The ruins of old temple inside the Kangla Palace,

File:Gopinath_Temple_-_Ningthoukhong,_Manipur_(India).jpg, A Meitei Hindu temple at

Ningthoukhong Ningthoukhong is a town and a Municipal Council having 14 wards in Bishnupur district in the Indian state of Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a States and territories of India, state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as ...

File:Kangla5.jpg, Old ruins at Kangla Palace File:Bihu_Loukon_-_Starfort.jpg, Bihu Loukon, aerial view File:Ibudhou-khamlangba-laikon.jpg, Grand gate of Shrine of Lord Khamlangba, with a holy horn in the top File:MAHADEV_MANDIR_AT_KAKCHING_GARDEN.jpg, A Hindu temple in Meitei style at

Kakching ) , native_name_lang = mni , other_name = , settlement_type = town , image_skyline = , image_alt = , image_caption = , nickname = , pushpin_map ...

References

{{Architecture of India Indian architectural history Indian architectural styles History of Manipur Meitei culture

Influence

Styles

Gallery

See also

References