Correct Option
The correct option is It is inspired by the wooden-roofed temples of the hills.
Explanation
The Lad Khan Temple at Aihole (Karnataka), constructed by the Chalukyas of Badami around the 5th century CE, represents one of the earliest experiments in Hindu structural temple architecture. Aihole is historically significant as the "Cradle of Indian Temple Architecture," where various styles were developed and tested.
Detailed Analysis
- It is inspired by the wooden-roofed temples of the hills is Correct: The architectural style of the Lad Khan Temple suggests that it was inspired by the design of ancient wooden village meeting halls. The construction techniques used in stone clearly mimic timber architecture. Specifically, the roof consists of stone slabs arranged to resemble a sloping wooden roof, and the pillar joints reflect carpentry techniques translated into masonry.
- It is the only brick temple of the Chalukyas is Incorrect: The temple is a structural stone temple built primarily of sandstone blocks, not brick. While brick temples existed in the Gupta period, the early Chalukyan monuments at Aihole are predominantly stone.
- It has a star-shaped ground plan is Incorrect: The temple is built on a square plan. The star-shaped (stellate) ground plan is a distinctive feature of the later Hoysala architecture (e.g., Chennakeshava Temple at Belur), not the early Chalukyan style.
- It is a rock-cut monolith is Incorrect: The Lad Khan Temple is a structural temple (constructed by assembling stone blocks). It is not a rock-cut monolith (carved out of a single natural rock face), a technique seen in the Rathas of Mahabalipuram or the Kailasa Temple at Ellora.
Key Takeaway: The Lad Khan Temple is a classic example of the early transition phase in Indian architecture where wooden structural forms were adapted into stone, evident in its flat roof with a central shrine and stone slabs imitating timber slopes.