Pattadakkal, Bagalkot, Karnataka India

Pattadakkal in Bagalkot is a complex with magnificent temples which has found its place in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. Aihole, originally the capital of the Chalukayan kings contains temples exhibiting Hindu rock architecture at its very best. The town was originally called ‘Ayyavole’ in ancient inscriptions. The 125 temples here are adorned with intricate and beautiful carvings. One of the best among them is the Durga temple which has a richly carved colonnaded passageway within which is the inner sanctum. The temple is said to be built in imitation of a Buddhist chaitya hall. The oldest of the temples here is the Lad Khan which dates back to the 5th century AD. The Lad khan is said to have been a village meeting hall, originally.

It saw the development of two main types of temple towers. Curvilinear towers, the first one, top the Jambulinga, Galaganatha and Kadasiddeshwra temples and square roofs. The second set of towers, receding tiers, features in the Virupaksha, Mallikarjuna, and Sangameshwara temples. The main Virupaksha Temple, a huge structure, has its column surface intricately carved to display the episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. There is a massive stone sculpture of Nandi sitting east to the temple. Lying next to the Virupaksha Temple is the Mallikarjuna Temple which is almost similar in design to the Virupaksha Temple.