RAS question
The Baroli temples near Rawatbhata are built in which architectural style?
Correct answer: (A) Nagara.
The Baroli temple group near Rawatbhata comprises tenth-century Nagara-style temples of the developed Gurjara-Pratihara tradition.
Explanation
The Baroli temple group, also spelled Badoli, lies in Rawatbhata tehsil of Chittaurgarh district on the bank of the Chambal River. The Archaeological Survey of India's Jaipur Circle inventory lists it under Ghateshwar Temple, Badoli. Eight temples stand around a natural spring, and a ninth is about one kilometre away. They date to the tenth century AD and represent the developed Gurjara-Pratihara tradition. Ghateshwar, Mahishamardini and Trimurti retain stately single-spired Nagara shikharas. Ghateshwar is especially prominent, with a pancharatha sanctum, antarala and entrance hall. Baroli is therefore identified with the Nagara architectural style. Its temples have a North Indian form, follow the Pratihara idiom and carry shikharas associated with Nagara temple architecture; they are not Vesara or Dravida.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Vesara is a hybrid Deccan style; the Baroli temples belong to the Gurjara-Pratihara tradition and have Nagara shikharas.
- (C) Panchayatan is a temple-layout pattern, not an architectural style. Ghateshwar has a pancharatha sanctum; that does not make the group Panchayatan.
- (D) Dravida is the South Indian temple style, whereas the Baroli temples have a North Indian form and follow the Nagara tradition.
Concept
Rajasthan's early medieval temple architecture includes the Nagara style of the Gurjara-Pratihara tradition. For RAS, it is useful to study protected monuments such as Baroli together with their location and architectural style.