Lad Khan Temple, Badami, Karnataka India

The Lad Khan Temple, dedicated to Shiva, is a one of the oldest Hindu temples and is located in Aihole in the state of Karnataka, India. It was built in the 5th century by the kings of the Chalukya dynasty. It is located to the south of the Durga Temple.The temple is named after a muslim prince who turned this temple into his residence for a short period.

"Lad Khan temple" in Aihole is considered to be one of the earliest temples in India. It was built around 450 AD. It was converted into a residence by a prince named (Lad Khan) in later years, thus the name. It is located close by to the Durga Temple. It has a primitive air about it with a cave like appearance noticeable especially in the massive pillars with bracket capitals and the flat roofs. It has no sign of a shikhara. This again points to the cave prototype.

The special feature of this temple is that it starts with a rectangular structure and ends with a square structure. Based on a wooden construction design , the square and rectangular plan has a steep roof, which is an adaptation of wooden styles in stone. The temple is approached by a porch with twelve square pillars. On the outer walls of the temple to the north, south and east are pierced windows to receive light from outside.

Originally, this temple was intended to be dedicated to Lord Vishnu, but now it houses a Shiva Linga. There is a rectangular shrine on the roof and three sides have idols of Vishnu, Surya and Devi .

Lad Khan Temple was initially a royal assembly hall and marriage hall. A Muslim official called Lad Khan used it as his residence and thereafter it came to be known by its present name. The main temple has a shrine-like vimana on its roof.

Lad Khan temple was built around 450 AD. Its striking features are its massive pillars with bracket capitals and flat roofs. It has no shikhara. It starts with a rectangular structure and ends with a square. It is based on a wooden construction design, the square and rectangular plan has a steep roof. It has a porch with twelve square pillars. There are windows to the north, south and east. This temple was actually dedicated to Lord Vishnu however now it houses a Shiva Linga. The roof possesses a rectangular shrine on and three sides have idols of Lord Vishnu, Lord Surya and Devi.

The structural design of the temple starts with the Gowdaru temple style and continues on to the Rashtrakuta temple style. Nandi has been placed in the middle of the shrine and in the far corner the Linga has been deified. This reflects the trial and error mode of building in the experimental days of architecture.