Temple Architecture: South India

The first stage of Pallava temple architecture.
The temples built under Mahendravarman were rock-cut temples and temples were called mandapas.

The rock-cut temples were decorated with intricate sculptures.
Under Narasimhavarman, the mandapas were now divided into separate rathas.
- The biggest one was called the Dharmaraja Ratha.
- The smallest one was called the Draupadi Ratha.
The design of a temple in the Dravidian style of architecture is a successor of the Dharmaraja Ratha.

This group saw the development of real structural temples in place of rock-cut temples.
For example – Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram.

Shore Temple

Location – Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Tamil Nadu along Coromondel Coast.
It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
It was built probably in the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha (Pallava ruler) who reigned from 700 to 728 CE.
It is one of the oldest structural (rock-cut) stone temples of South India.
The Mamallapuram monuments and temples, including the Shore Temple complex, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.

The temples built were smaller in size.
The features were almost similar to the Dravidian style of temple architecture which reached its peak during the imperial Chola period.
Later periods, three other styles – Vesara style, Nayaka style, and Vijayanagara style – also emerged.