Traders, artisans and kings of the time of the Satavahanas donated generously to build a unique kind of Chaityas and Vihars in several places in Maharasthra like Karle, Bhaja, Kanheri and Nashik. These were built like caves on hills sides. Stone workers using chise and hammer carved living rocks and reproduced structures which carpenters and wood workers had made.
They made large prayer halls, stupas and small rooms for monks- all in the rock. They also carved beautiful images of people ad aimals and some times of the Buddha. Look. The kerle chaitya was built about 2100 years ago.
Even during these times, carpenters and masons are making temples and chatyas with mud, wood and stones. Some of these temples are for gods like Kriushna while others are for the Buddha. But these have not survived. At Sanchi in Madhya Padresh we get one of the earliest surviving stone temples. This is a very simple structure, with just a small room (called garbhagriha) in which the idol of the Buddha was kept, and a small open porch or madapa with no walls but only pillars. The door and the pillars are beautifully carved. However, the temple has a flat roof without ay tower or shikhara on in. this was built 1600 years ago.