The correct answer is: a) Pallava rock-cut architecture.
The Shore Temples at Mamallapuram are a group of Hindu temples built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries AD. The temples are carved out of the rock face on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. They are considered to be some of the finest examples of Pallava architecture.
The Pallavas were a dynasty of rulers who ruled over the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu from the 3rd to the 9th centuries AD. They were patrons of art and architecture, and their reign saw the construction of some of the most impressive temples in India.
The Shore Temples are a complex of three temples, the largest of which is dedicated to Shiva. The temples are built in the Dravidian style of architecture, which is characterized by its use of granite, its intricate carvings, and its pyramidal towers.
The Shore Temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.
Option b) Chola temple complexes is incorrect because the Shore Temples were built by the Pallava dynasty, not the Chola dynasty. The Chola dynasty was a later dynasty that ruled over southern India from the 9th to the 13th centuries AD. They were also patrons of art and architecture, and their reign saw the construction of some of the most impressive temples in India, such as the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur.
Option c) Vijayanagara fortresses is incorrect because the Shore Temples are not fortresses. They are temples. Vijayanagara was a kingdom that ruled over southern India from the 14th to the 16th centuries AD. They were also patrons of art and architecture, and their reign saw the construction of some of the most impressive temples and fortresses in India, such as the Hampi ruins.
Option d) Medieval cave temples is incorrect because the Shore Temples are not cave temples. They are temples that are carved out of the rock face, but they are not located in caves. Medieval cave temples are temples that were carved out of the rock face during the medieval period, which is generally considered to be the period from the 5th to the 15th centuries AD.