| NAGARA STYLE OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE | DRAVIDA STYLE OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE |
| It developed from the 5th century and is characterized by a beehive-shaped tower called shikhara. | From the 7th century, the Dravida or southern style developed. The shape of the main temple tower, known as Vimana, is like a stepped pyramid. |
| In North India, it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps leading up to it. | Generally, it is not built on a stone platform. |
| Further, unlike in South India, it does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways. | Unlike the Nagara temple, the Dravida temple is enclosed within a compound wall. The front wall has an entrance gateway in its centre, which is known as a gopuram. |
| The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower. | Unlike Nagara style, at some of the most sacred temples in South India, the main temple in which the garbhagriha is situated has, in fact, one of the smallest towers. |
| Temple tanks or large water reservoir are generally not enclosed with in the temple complex | It is common to find a large water reservoir, or a temple tank, enclosed within the complex. |
| Images of Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna are placed outside the Garbhagriha. | Sculptures of fierce dvarapalas or guarding the temple is generally a common feature. |
| Examples- Kandariya Mahadeva (Khajuraho), Jagannath Temple (Puri), Dashavatara temple (Deogarh). | Examples – Shore temple (Mahabalipuram), Brihadesvara temple (Thanjavur), Meenakshi Temple (Madurai) |
