Which of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara?

1. Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami
2. Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole
3. Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
4. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal

Select the answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 and 3
3. 3 only
4. 3 and 4

Explanation

1 is incorrect

• Mallegitti Shivalaya is a 6^th-century rock-cut Hindu temple located in Badami, a town in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The temple was carved out of a single monolithic sandstone hill during the reign of the Chalukya dynasty. The temple is roofed with Dravidian shikhara.

2 is correct

• The Huchimalligudi Temple is a 7^th-century Hindu shrine in Aihole, Karnataka. Built by the early Chalukyas, it is famous for being one of the region’s earliest free-standing temples featuring a Nagara-style shikhara.

3 is correct

• Dashavatara Temple belongs to the Gupta period and is among the earliest temples linked with the development of the shikhara. Its curving Latina- or Rekha-Prasada-type shikhara marks it as an early example of the classical Nagara style of temple architecture.

4 is incorrect

• The Virupaksha Temple is the most intricate amongst the Pattadakal Group of Monuments. It was built by Queen Lokamahadevi around 740 CE to mark the victory of her husband King Vikramaditya II over the Pallava kings. This Dravidian-style architectural marvel features a pyramidal vimana heavily inspired by the Kailasanatha Temple in Kanchipuram.

Answer: (b) 2 and 3; Difficulty Level: Hard