30000-10000 BCE30,000 BCE to 12,000 CE

Prehistoric rock art

Early humans painted animals, rituals, and stick figures using natural colors on cave walls.

Indus Valley civilisation

Artworks include seals, sculptures, pottery, and jewelry with fine craftsmanship and naturalistic style.

Mauryan art

Pillars, rock-cut caves, and polished sculptures reflected political power and religious patronage.

Post-Mauryan art

Sculptures narrated Buddhist stories through detailed reliefs and emerging human forms.

Gupta period

Sculptures emphasized divine beauty, calm expressions, and elegant balance in temple art.

South Indian buddhist art

Southern stupas displayed expressive forms and dynamic narrative carvings in stone.

Indo-Islamic architecture

New styles emerged with arches, domes, minarets, and floral geometric designs.

Prehistoric rock art
30,000 to 10,000 BCE
Rock shelters like Bhimbetka reveal the origins of Indian art. Simple lines and earthy pigments expressed hunting scenes, dances, and symbols. These artworks show imagination, survival instinct, and the roots of visual storytelling.
Indus Valley civilisation
2,500 to 1,500 BCE
The Indus people created bronze figures like the Dancing Girl, animal seals, and red pottery. These reveal a highly organized society where art served ritual, decorative, and commercial purposes—blending beauty with daily life.
Mauryan period
322 to 185 BCE
Ashokan pillars, the Lion Capital, and Yaksha figures define this phase. The Mauryan aesthetic favored polish, proportion, and symbolic strength. Caves and stupas became key in spreading Buddhist thought through powerful stone expression.
Post-Mauryan period
185 to 300 CE
Art at Sanchi, Bharhut, and Amaravati focused on Jataka tales and life scenes of the Buddha. Artists used natural movement and emotion in figures. This era bridged symbolism with realism, enriching temple and stupa art.
Gupta period
320 to 600 CE
Gupta art showcased idealized human forms, refined drapery, and spiritual depth. Buddha statues and Vishnu temples reflected harmony in architecture and sculpture, marking a golden age of classical Indian artistic expression.
South Indian buddhist art
200 BCE to 300 CE
Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda introduced curving figures, deep reliefs, and visual storytelling through movement. Tribhanga postures and layered compositions gave energy to Buddhist tales, adding regional flavor to India’s sculptural tradition.
Indo-Islamic architecture
1,200 CE onward
Indo-Islamic art combined Persian and Indian traditions in mosques, forts, and tombs. Elements like jali screens, inlaid calligraphy, and grand domes created sacred, symmetrical spaces that defined India’s medieval architectural legacy.