* Sathya (truth) Dharma (righteousness) Santhi (peace) Prema

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The Book Trust building – an 
architectural delight and a treasure 
house of knowledge.
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Book Trust Building...
The treasure house of knowledge
The Book Trust Building is known as Sanathana Sarathi Book and 
Publication Building.  The structure is interestingly multi-level and is 
built as per the natural ground profile of the hilly terrain. Different areas 
have been segregated and earmarked in different levels for the Trust’s 
use. This building primarily contains bookstalls, Trust office areas and a 
library. The library is located in the uppermost level called ‘silent zone’. 
It has an excellent outdoor terrace area for ‘Sayankhaal Adhyayan’. 
This building consists of 2500 sq.m. area. To reach the various 
levels, a smooth decorative ramp has been created on either side 
of the building. This architectural creation merges with the natural 
environment and speaks for itself about its unique nature. 

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The unique architectural creation merges 
with the natural environs and ground 
profile. 
Right: 
Entrance porch and  
different views of the interiors. 
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The Museum 
The Museum, housing musical instruments 
used across past centuries to the modern era, 
is a building encapsulated by a roof shaped in 
the form of a cymbal (‘Thaalam’).  The building 
portrays its function with its appearance and form 
complemented by the 40m diameter 9.7m rise 
cymbal-shaped dome as roof, with a mini dome 
over it symbolizing the handle of the cymbal.  
Trumpets on either side of the entrance portico 
welcome visitors with their awesome form.  Each 
of these is supported on a Veena and a Guitar 
(as columns) encompassing the harmony of the 
instruments.  
Not just an exhibition of musical 
instruments, but a music college, 
which turns out students in classical 
singing and classical instruments. 
Clockwise from top:  
Entrance view 
of Music College.  Cymbal shaped 
concrete dome of the music college. 
Staircase inside the tabla shaped 
structure. The school of dance and 
music.
Music College... 
Nurturing classical  
singers, musicians and artists
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On either side of the building, 9.9m 
diameter Tabla shaped structure as 
stair room renders the completeness of 
an Indian Orchestra.  The building as 
a whole reverberates the message of 
peace and harmony with well balanced 
and planned interconnection of the 
‘instruments’. The roof (cymbal-shaped) 
of the main building is a 40m dia 
column- free reinforced concrete shell 
structure with double curvature in varying 
thickness of 270mm at the spring and 
175mm at the crown. The roof springs 
from a tension ring beam supported 
on 22 columns founded on isolated 
footings.  The stair room (tabla shaped) 
is a reinforced concrete shell structure 
with vertical ribs at 3.5m centres along 
the periphery.  The flights of the staircase 
are saw tooth, without waist slab. 
The flooring in the building is a 
combination of marble and granite. 
The interior surface and the ceiling are 
painted with plastic emulsion paint.  
The exterior surface is painted with 
waterproof cement paint.  The built up 
area of the building is 3025 sq.m.
The tabla shaped structure on 
two sides, houses the staircase.
Also seen a flute like feature 
incorporated on the parapet 
wall.  
Bottom left and right:  
Inside views – the open court at 
the center.

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The school of dance and music with a built-up area of  
3820 sq.m stands adjacent to the museum.  
The building has a rectangular block, in the front, housing the 
Administrative office in the ground floor and the School of Music 
in the first and second floors.  The rear side circular block 
housing the School of Dance has aesthetically designed stage 
and is in double height with open court at centre to seat the 
audience.
 
The flooring in the building is a combination of granite and 
ceramic tile.  The interior surface and the ceiling are painted 
with oil bound washable distemper.  The exterior surface is 
painted with waterproof cement paint in traditional colours. 
School of Dance and 
Music
The end of knowledge is love.
The end of culture is perfection.
The end of wisdom is freedom.
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Selfless service to the needy is the highest 
spiritual discipline. Do not use poisonous 
words against anyone, for words wound 
more fatally than even arrows. What you 
would desire others to do for you, you 
should do for others. You should respect 
others, as you want to be respected by 
them.
This building has been built 
and  donated to the public by Sri 
Sathya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi for 
conducting marriages and wedding 
receptions.  The hall has a seating 
capacity of 300 people. The total 
built-up area, including kitchen and 
dining facilities, is about 750 sq.m. 
Decorative sthapathi work has been 
done to enhance the aesthetics of 
the building. 
Sri Pedda  
Venkamaraju  
Kalyana Mandapam
Named after Swami’s father, 
the Kalyana Mandapam 
is used for conducting 
weddings and receptions.

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