The temple of Malot is quite different in form from other temples. Alexander Cunningham10 described this temple as; “The only remains of any antiquity at Malot are a temple and gateway in the Kashmirian style of architecture. They are built of a coarse sandstone of various shades of ochreous red and yellow, and many parts have suffered severely from the action of the weather, the surface having altogether crumbled away…The temple is a square of 18 feet inside, with a vestibule or entrance porch on the east towards the gateway. The gateway is a massive building…divided into two rooms…On each side of these rooms to the north and south there are highly decorated niches for the reception of statues, similar to those in the portico of the temple. These niches are covered by trefoil arches which spring from flat pilasters. Each capital supports a statue of a lion under a half trefoil canopy. The roof is entirely gone; but judging from the square shape of the building, I conclude that it must have been pyramidal, outside with flat panelled ceilings of overlapping stones.”
Trefoil arch and its developed form, the cinquefoil arch, both as architectural member and decorative design have been extensively employed in the temples at Kisor and Salt Range. R. C. Kak11 comments on the influence of the Buddhist art of Gandhara on that of Kashmir, ‘so great was it that it would be more correct to say that ‘excepting the natural and unavoidable difference in the material used , the two are practically identical.’ Like the pedimented arch, the trefoil arch also find its origin to Gandhara, for example Takht Bhai Stupa and monastery’12 the Ali Masjid Stupa13
The plan form of the temples is fairly consistent with minor difference but the Kalar temple is unique. It divides its walls and superstructure into five rather three offsets for the first time in the region. Pilasters on the west wall have vase and foliage capitals. It also has some difference in terms of arts and design motives. Some of the band’s ornament among the moldings–saw tooth, checkerboard, upturned leaves, reverse stepped pyramids. A simple trefoil frame with a trefoil pediment made up of two half chandrasalas supporting a central candrasala (known as surasena common in 7th and 8th century) selters sunk niche on the central projection of each wall. The web pattern of its superstructure resembles that of temple E at Bilot.
Naqoosh-e-Javidan 