Temple architecture in South India began under the Pallava ruler Mahendravarman. The temples developed during the Pallava dynasty reflected the stylistic taste of the individual rulers and can be classified into four stages chronologically.
Mahendra Group
This was the first stage of Pallava temple architecture. The temples built under Mahendravarman were
basically rock-cut temples. Under him, the temples were known as mandapas, unlike the Nagara style in
which the mandapas meant only the assembly hall.
Narsimha Group
This represented the second stage of the development of temple architecture in South India. 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 while 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.
Rajsimha Group
Rajsimhavarman led the third stage of temple development. Under him, development of real
structural temples were started in the place of rock-cut temples.
Example: Shore temple at Mahabalipuram, Kailashnath temple at Kanchipuram, etc.
Nandivarman group
This was the fourth stage of temple development during the Pallava dynasty. The temples built under
him were smaller in size. The features were almost similar to the Dravidian style of temple architecture.
After the decline of Pallava dynasty, temple architecture acquired a new style under the Chola
kingdom, known as the Dravidian style of temple. architecture. This marked a new era in the
development of temples in Southern India. In the later periods, three other styles – Vesara style, Nayaka
style and Vijaynagar style – also emerged in this region.