<P> Loriyan Tangai decorated stupa, in the Greco - Buddhist art of Gandhara (2nd century CE). </P> <P> Temples--built on elliptical, circular, quadrilateral, or apsidal plans--were initially constructed using brick and timber . Some temples of timber with wattle - and - daub may have preceded them, but none remain to this day . </P> <Dl> <Dt> Circular temples </Dt> </Dl> <P> Some of the earliest free - standing temples may have been of a circular type, as the Bairat Temple in Bairat, Rajasthan, formed of a central stupa surrounded by a circular colonnade and an enclosing wall . It was built during the time of Ashoka, and near it were found two of Ashoka's Minor Rock Edicts . Ashoka also built the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya circa 250 BCE, also a circular structure, in order to protect the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha had found enlightenment . Representations of this early temple structure are found on a 100 BCE relief sculpted on the railing of the stupa at Bhārhut, as well as in Sanchi . From that period the Diamond throne remains, an almost intact slab of sandstone decorated with reliefs, which Ashoka had established at the foot of the Bodhi tree . These circular - type temples were also found in later rock - hewn caves such as Tulja Caves or Guntupalli . </P>

Influence of western culture on indian architecture before independence