The Salivahana and the Ikshvakus have left a great legacy in the field of architecture. Amaravati and
Bhatiprolu in Guntur for the stupas and Kondepur in Medak and Nagarjuna Konda of the Chaityas
( cathedral ) and sankharam near Visakhapatnam for the viharas ( rock-hewn ) are some of the
illustrative work of that era.
In the subsequent era of Salankhyanas and Vishnukundies,
rock architecture thrived. The caves at Mogalrajpuram near
Vijayawada and undavalli in Guntur and the rock-cut temples
at Bhairavakonda near udayagiri in Nellore, stand as a witness
to this form of architecture of that period.
The Eastern Chalukyas developed temple architecture in coastal Andhra Pradesh. Under the Pallavas, dravidian style made great progress. The Cholas introduced some new elements and the Eastern Ganagas introduced the kalinga style, as seen in Mukhalingeshwara and Saripalle temples in Visakhapatnam.
The Kakatiyas contributed a lot to the architecture in the form
of 1000-pillared temple and the Nandi pavillion in
Hanmakonda. The shrine at Pangal and the Ramappa temple
at Palampet, stand as a testimony to the expertise of architects
of that period. The Rajas of Vijayanagar fused various
elements, added new adjuncts like rearing horses and rampant
hippogriffs and constructed lovely temples in Rayalseema like
the ones in Kalahasti, Tadipatri, Penugonda and Lepakshi.
A distinct Indo-persian architectural style emerged with the Bahamanis. During the Qutub Shahi period, this style, modified by local contribution, manifested itself in colossal arches found in Charminar and Charkaman in Hyderabad. And the same style in flat roofs with vaulted ceilings in Bala Hissar and Baradari of Golkonda and Bhongir. The saracenic school of architecture characterised by the dome and the minaret also prevailed during this period. The Mecca Masjid, Gagan Mahal and Dad Mahal display this style in Hyderabad.
The Asaf Jahis continued it as can be seen in the City College, Osmania Hospital and the High Court buildings. The present trend of architectural use is more of utilitarian. The City Central Library in Ashoknagar area and the buildings that house commercial tax departments and excise departments in Hyderabad prove this point.
