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 [UPSC CSP 2026, GS Paper I]A.1 and 2B.3 and 4C.2 and 3D.3 only

Question

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 [UPSC CSP 2026, GS Paper I]

Accepted Answer

3 only. Answer: Dashavatara Temple, DeogarhOf the four temples, only the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh carries a genuine curving Nagara-style shikhara. It was built in the early 6th century CE, during the Gupta period, and historians treat it as an early landmark of the North Indian temple form.The other three — Malegitti Shivalaya (Badami), Huchimalligudi (Aihole), and Virupaksha Temple (Pattadakal) — are all Chalukya-era temples in Karnataka, built mainly in the Dravida (South Indian) style, with tiered pyramidal towers rather than curving Nagara shikharas. Aihole and Badami did see early experiments with Nagara-style forms at some structures, but the official answer key names only Deogarh's Dashavatara Temple as the clear example among these four options.Related: Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami · Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole · Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh · Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal · Nagara and Dravida: The Two Great Temple Architecture TraditionsNo direct pre-exam current-affairs hook was found for this topic.From: UPSC CSP 2026 — General Studies Paper I (Full Question Paper)

Nagara-style shikhara among Chalukya-era temples

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