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History of Tiles in Ancient India

Ancient Indian subcontinent

Rooms with tiled floors made of clay decorated with geometric circular patterns have been discovered from the ancient remains of Kalibangan, Balakot and Ahladino

Mohenjo-daro in Indian Architecture
Located 400 km north of Karachi in modern Pakistan, Mohenjo-daro was home to a great civilization in the Indus Valley around 3000 BC. Its modern and scientific urban planning has led it to be called the “Manhattan of the Bronze Age”. Its urban plan featured a large north-south boulevard with east-west side streets, and residential houses were located in the narrow alleys of these streets.

Tiling was used in the second century by the Sinhalese kings of ancient Sri Lanka, using smoothed and polished stone laid on floors and in swimming pools. The techniques and tools for tiling is advanced, evidenced by the fine workmanship and close fit of the tiles. Such tiling can be seen in Ruwanwelisaya and Kuttam Pokuna in the city of Anuradhapura. The nine-storied Lovamahapaya (3rd century BC) had copper roof tiles. The roofs were tiled, with red, white, yellow, turquoise and brown tiles. There were also tiles made of bronze. Sigiriya also had an elaborate gatehouse made of timber and brick masonry with multiple tiled roofs. The massive timber doorposts remaining today indicate this.