History • Medieval IndiaMedium
Which of the following architectural styles is exemplified by the shore temple complex at Mahabalipuram constructed during the late Pallava period under Rajasimha?
A. Nagara style with curvilinear shikhara
B. Dravidian style with pyramidal vimana and compound walls✓ Correct Answer
C. Vesara style combining northern and southern motifs
D. Hoysala style with stellate plan platforms
💡 Solution & Explanation
The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram represents an early masterpiece of structural Dravidian architecture characterized by a soaring pyramidal vimana, enclosed courtyards, and carved shrines dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Unlike monolithic rathas carved from single boulders, structural temples were assembled using dressed stone blocks. King Narasimhavarman II, known as Rajasimha, patronized this structural stone construction. The Dravidian architectural idiom reached its maturity under Pallava and Chola patronage.
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