Iron was popular in ancient India. The extraction of iron in India dates back to the 4th century BC. Iron was used to make ornaments, weapons and buildings.
Indian smiths had developed many advanced techniques of processing iron that did not exist anywhere else in the world in those days. Expert craftsmen created many beautiful structures from iron which have lasted centuries without rusting.
In Delhi, there is a famous iron pillar that stands testimony to the high level of skill achieved by ancient Indian ironsmiths. In fact, it has withstood corrosion for the last 1,600 years! This pillar had sparked the interest of many material scientists across the world.
The iron beams in the Surya temple at Konarak in coastal Orissa, and the iron pillar at Mookambika temple are also examples of the skill of the ancient ironsmiths in treating iron so that it became rust- resistant.
Picture Credit : Google