Correct Option
The correct option is Flat-roofed quadrangular hall with a circular chamber.
Explanation
The Kondivite Caves, also known as the Mahakali Caves, are a group of 19 rock-cut Buddhist monuments located in Mumbai. Excavated between the 1st century BCE and the 6th century CE, they belong to the early phase of rock-cut architecture in Western India, primarily associated with the Hinayana and later Mahayana sects.Architectural Analysis
The most significant structure in this group is Cave 9, which serves as the Chaitya griha (prayer hall). Its architectural plan is unique compared to contemporary caves in the region:
- Standard Form: Most Chaitya halls of this period (e.g., Karla, Bhaja, Ajanta Cave 9) feature an apsidal plan with a barrel-vaulted roof and a stupa located in the apse.
- Kondivite Form: Cave 9 at Kondivite deviates from this norm. It consists of a flat-roofed quadrangular (rectangular) hall. At the rear of this hall, there is a separate circular chamber that houses the stupa.
- Significance: This layout-a circular sanctuary attached to a rectangular hall-resembles the structural plan of the Lomas Rishi cave (Mauryan period) and represents a distinct variation in the evolution of the Chaitya griha in Western India.
Key Takeaway
The Kondivite (Mahakali) Chaitya is architecturally distinct because it features a flat-roofed rectangular hall leading to a circular stupa chamber, unlike the standard apsidal, barrel-vaulted halls found in other Western Ghats caves.