Structure:

• Introduction: (upto 30 words) briefly introduce the time period of rashtrakutas rulers
• Body: (upto 100 words) briefly mention about the contribution of rashtrakutas to the architecture of Deccan.
• Conclusion: (upto 30 words) Conclude by justifying how rashtrakutas made remarkable impact on Deccan architecture

Supporting Points:

• Rashtrakuta was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian subcontinent between the sixth and 10th centuries.The Rashtrakutas called themselves descendants of one named Satyaki. From some of the inscriptions of the Chalukya kings it is known that the Rashtrakutas were feudatories of the Chalukyas. Perhaps their original home was Karnataka and their mother tongue was Kanarese. Dantivarman or Dantidurga (735 – 756) was the founder of the Rashtrakutas dynasty.
• The Rashtrakutas contributed much to the architectural heritage of the Deccan.
• Art historian Adam Hardy categorizes their building activity into three schools:
  • Ellora, around Badami
  • Aihole and Pattadakal
  • Sirval near Gulbarga
• At Ellora, the most remarkable temple is the Kailasa temple.
• It was excavated during the reign of Krishna I.
• It is carved out of a massive block of rock 200 feet long, and 100 feet in breadth and height.
• The temple consists of four parts – the main shrine, the entrance gateway, an intermediate shrine for Nandi and mandapa surrounding the courtyard.
• The temple stands on a lofty plinth 25 feet high.
• The central face of the plinth has imposing figures of elephants and lions giving the impression that the entire structure rests on their back.
• It has a three-tiered sikhara or tower resembling the sikhara of the Mamallapuram rathas.
• In the interior of the temple there is a pillared hall which has sixteen square pillars.
• The Kailasa temple is an architectural marvel with it beautiful sculptures.
• The sculpture of the Goddess Durga is shown as slaying the Buffalo demon.
• In another sculpture Ravana was making attempts to lift Mount Kailasa, the abode of Siva.
• The scenes of Ramayana were also depicted on the walls.
• The general characteristics of the Kailasa temple are more Dravidian.
• The Rashtrakuta contributions to art and architecture are reflected in the splendid rock-cut cave temples at Ellora and Elephanta, areas also occupied by Jain monks, located in present-day Maharashtra. The Ellora site was originally part of a complex of 34 Buddhist caves probably created in the first half of the 6th century whose structural details show Pandyan influence. Cave temples occupied by Hindus are from later periods
• In Karnataka their most famous temples are the Kashivishvanatha temple and the Jain Narayana temple at Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Other well-known temples are the Parameshwara temple at Konnur, Brahmadeva temple at Savadi, the Settavva, Kontigudi II, Jadaragudi and Ambigeragudi temples at Aihole, Mallikarjuna temple at Ron, Andhakeshwara temple at Huli (Hooli), Someshwara temple at Sogal, Jain temples at Lokapura, Navalinga temple at Kuknur, Kumaraswamy temple at Sandur, numerous temples at Shirival in Gulbarga, and the Trikuteshwara temple at Gadag which was later expanded by Kalyani Chalukyas.

Conclusion: Archaeological study of these temples show some have the stellar (multigonal) plan later to be used profusely by the Hoysalas at Belur and Halebidu. One of the richest traditions in Indian architecture took shape in the Deccan during this time which Adam Hardy calls Karnata dravida style as opposed to traditional Dravida style.