Religious motifs inspired most of the trends in Indian architecture and sculpture. Temples, mosques, forts, palaces and other monuments testify to this. Contemporary architecture combines ancient and modern influences.

Chandigarh, designed by Corbusier, stands out as a planned modern city. The oldest evidence of Indian buildings date back to fourth century BC. The common examples of Buddhist - Indian architecture are the famous stupas. They are said to have originated from prehistoric burial mounds, but soon became much more. They were covered with an umbrella - shaped stone canopy, and marked as important places.

The most famous ancient building in India is the Taj Mahal. It was built by Shah Jahan as the tomb for his wife.

Recently there has been a shift towards using a method of ancient architecture called Vaastusashtra. Vaastusashtra is based on the effects of the five natural elements: sun, water, earth, sky, and air in relation to man. Indian architects use this science since flats constructed using this science are more in demand by buyers.