The Indus valley civilization "3000 BC and possibly 5000 BC" cites specimen of beads, animals carved on limestone trees and some human figure , a small stone dancing, an exquisitely bronze girl and the bust of a priest with a shawl with a trefoil pattern. Terracotta is the medium for objects used in rituals like the mother goddess figurines as well as as for recreation like toys. The figurine of the dancing girl that has come down to us testifies to good knowledge of bronze casting and indicates the fascination for feminine figure pointing to the close relation between sculpture and dance in the Indian tradition. Ashoka period (274-236 BC). The remains of some sculptures of his period still exist in Sarnath. From about 200 to 100 BC Sculptures of deities of forests, trees, Yakshas and Yakshinis began to be made in sandstone. Great achievement in sculpture was attained in the carvings Buddhist stupas and Chaytyas on the columns, gateway and railings Which represent Jalaka stories and scenes from the Buddha's life in Sanchi.

During the Kushan period, Gandhra school of sculpture came into being with its realistic scenes of daily life-most famous are the delicately carved stupas of Buddha. Mathura as the capital of Kushan's kingdom from 300-150 BC, produced large primitive stone images. The age of imperial Gupta (300-510 AD) achieved stabilization of the icons of Buddha and prefect masterpieces such at Sarnath. 'The wonderful torso of a Bodhisttva (now at Victoria Albert museum) and lite collossal copper Buddha of Sultanganj were made around 450 AD. The Dasavatara temple at Deogarh on the Nagara style of the Gupta period is a magnificent specimen of Gupta art and the temple still has The wonderful carvings on the doors. The eastern Chalukyas created some fine sculptures of dance in the temple of Vijayawada region. This age also created magnificent sculptures on Hindu themes like the incarnations of Vishnu in the late 5th cenctury temple of Deogarh and the powerful representation of the boar incarnation salvaging the earth, hewn from the rock of Udayagiri.

The Vakatakas of the Deccan were the contemporaries of the Gupta and under their patronage fine sculptures came up in abundance, mostly Buddhist at Ajanta and Hindu at Ellora. The achievement of the great range from the lightness flying figures and the elegant rhythmic balance of dancing groups such as one at Aurangabad to the majesty and wealth of symbolic meaning of the figure of Mahesha at Elephanta. The western Chalukyan continued these trends creating gloating figures and dancing Shiva at Badami, Aihole and Pattaadakal. The eastern Chalukyas created some fine sculptures of dance in the temples at Vijayawada region.

Beginning with 8th century Hindu fervor for cutting pillared halls and images had reached its climax and created Ajanta and Ellora caves (where there are 12 Buddhist caves also). The huge images of the Kailasa temple are carved in high relief. It had taken a century to complete. During this time, the Jain saints carved colossal free standing statues of their Tirthankaras and saints at Gwalior Fort. At Sravanbelagola lies the free standing 19-meter high stone image of Gomateswara carved in 983 AD. There are some other sculptures in Orissa temples at Puri (750 AD); Bhubaneshwar (8th - 10th century AD) and Konarak (13th century AD). They are in the forms of wheel of the Sun God's chariot and are of the finest examples. Under Pala and Sena kings of Bengal (730 - 1125 AD), Buddhist images were made in black polished stones.

The Chandela rulers (800-1204 AD) erected Khajuraho group of temples with remarkable carvings of male and female figures in erotic poses. Exquisite marble temples of the Jains at Dilwara and Girnar with richly carved ornamented motifs on ceilings, walls and pillars were also created during this period. The South Indian Chola temples at Thanjavur incorporate excellent sculptured carvings. The bronze sculpture of the Chola ruler is famous particularly for the figure of Shiva in the Tandava dance pose and some statues of goddesses and lamp bearers. Moving further south, the great achievement of the Pallava dynasty , (eight century) was the gigantic tableau at Mahabalipuram where the mouments of rockcut belongs to the earliest phase of Dravidian temple architecture which flourished from 600 to 750 AD. Mythological episodes, epic battles demons, gods, animals, all vividly depicted on the wall sculptures are breathtakingly real and beautiful.

During 1100 and 1345 AD came the richly carved and meticulously fine workmanship of sculpture of the Hoysala type of temples most famous being at Belur and Halebid. In 15th the Vijayanagara kingdom (1350 - 1565 AD) created remarkable creations at Hampi. Kerala made unique achievements in sculpture in wood. From medieval period onwards this art declined from royal patronage due to Muslim rulers. Exposed to global influences the Indian sculpture today is though experiencing changes and using various styles and also using new meterial like steel and fiberglass but no new distinctive school or style Iil~ been evolved .