It is difficult to define Indian architecture because many streams of artistic genius have enriched it. During the early centuries of ancient India, Sthapatya shastra and Vastu shastra were developed as the original sciences behind building styles and designs. As time passed, and vast empires and kingdoms came and went, each successive ruler tried his/her best to enrich India's culture and heritage by the way of building and design styles. From the Mughals, Rajputs, the British, to the French, the Portuguese, and many others who traveled to India for trade or to conquer and settle down, left their indelible mark. Keith Bellows from The National Geographic Society, who was blown away by the artistry and charm of the Indian subcontinent, had this to say: "There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won't go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds... I had been seeing the world in black and white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant technicolor." As you read about Indian architecture, you realize how each temple hymns its own prayer, each dome echoes its own music, each fort recites its own story, and each palace reflects its own magnificence and legacy. Over the years, Indian architecture has grown and evolved by leaps and bounds. Urbanization has come to the forefront, characterized by huge townships, complex building constructions, monumental bridges and creative architecture. To quote, noted American architectural designer and artist Maya Lin, "Architecture is like a mythical fantastic. It has to be experienced. It can't be described. We can draw it up and we can make models of it, but it can only be experienced as a complete whole." Take what Lin said, in your stride. Come to India to experience its rich and varied culture that is displayed through these architectural wonders.