Pattadakal Temples were build in between the 7th Century and 12 th century by the great Chalukya kings of southern India . This temples were smaller in size and mixture of both the North(nagara style ) and South Indian(Dravidian) style . Lots of Temple styles were invented in this place of Pattadakal , specifically in Aihole . This is another UNESCO World Heritage site in Karnataka after Hampi . Here most of the temples were dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu . Ramayana and Mahabharata stories were depicted in the walls of the temple . Here you can find 10 major Hindu Temples and one Jains Temple .
Where to stay for visiting Pattadakal ?
In the archiological place there is very limited stay option for the tourist . So you have to stay into some nearby cities to visit Pattadakal . Hubli city is 127 km , bangururu is 443 km and hyderabad is 400 km , Goa is 265 km and badami is 23 km from Pattadakal archeological site . So I planned to stay in the city Badami which is the nearest stay option from pattadakal . If you want to book a hotel by online plactform in Badami ….. prices are showing very high . Don’t be afraid , you come to Badami and book any genuine hotel at a affortable prices .
This is one of the biggest sugar producing places in our country also . So in this short stay in badami , you can see lots of multiple carriage sugarcane trucks and also can see lots of sugar factory beside the High Way . The city is very dirty and garbage is floating everywhere . Lots of pigs were roaming around the city . In my word , it is one of the dirtiest city of karnataka .
All the major temples in Pattadakal are situated in a same complex and opened daily from 6 am to 6 pm . Ticket cost Rs 10 INR per adult .
Jambulinga Temple :
Jambulinga temple is a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva . It is a north Indian Nagar style temple . It has a Nandi in front of the main temple . This temple was build in the the earlier 8 th century and made of rock .
sangamesvara Temple :
This is the earliest stone temple in pattadakal and build by the chalukya king Vijayaditya in the year 720 AD . It is a shiva temple . The sculpture of Mahisasur mardhini , ganesh , ugranarasimha and Nataraja are the special attraction to this temple .
Virupakshya Temple :
This temple was build by the queen Lokmahadevi (wife of king Vikramaditya II ) in 8 th century to commemorate the third victory of her husband against the pallava of Kanchipuram . This temple was supported by 16 massive squre pillar . This pillars were decorated with the story of Hindu Purana .
It is believed that the kailash temple in Ellore was build in the prototype of this temple .
Paphnath Temple :
This temple is one of the biggest temple in Pattadakal and mixture of the North Indian Nagara and south indian Dravida style . Pillars inside the temple were consisted with tribhanga mudra , foliage motif , sita , parvati , nagpala , dwarpala and Ramayana Srories .
Another name of the temple is Mukteswar Temple .
Mallikarjun Temple :
This is another beautiful temple which is very near to the Virupakshya Temple . This temple has been constructed by the second wife of the chalukya ruler vikramaditya . The pillars of the temples were decorated with Mythological Ramayana , Mahabharata , Panchatantra story .
Kashi Visweswara Temple :
This temple was build in the North indian style in the 8 th century but the top is missing making the structure ununiform . It is believed to be the last hindu temple build in pattadakal . Inside this temple there is a shiva linga and the door of the temle is showpiece , the garuda holding a snake . The pillars of the temple are decorated with curving of the mythological stories like shiva parvati marriage and krishna leela .
Chandrashekhara Temple :
This is a shiva temple and one of the smallest temple here . In front of the temple there is a sculpture of Nandi .
The Garbhagriha door frame is decorated with shakhas and some dwarpalas .
Kadasiddeswara Temple :
This small 8 th century temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and build in the Nagara Style . The sanctuary is square shaped and in the outer wall there is picture of Lakulisa (south) , Harihar(West) and ardhanari(North). Entrance of the temple has a picture of shiva and Parvati seated on nandi and flanked by Bhrambha and Vishnu .
Jain Narayana Temple :
This is the last temple build in Pattadakal in the 9 th century . It is situated little far from the group of pattadakal temples . This temple is build in the South Indian Drividian style .
The life size elephant statue on the both side of the door is really beautiful .
Summary :
Pattadakal and Aihole are the mother of the south indian dravidian style of temple building . This temples are one of the oldest temples of India and build between 7 th to 9 th century . There is all togeather 9 Hindu temples and one Jain temple and this temples were build during the Chalukya and Rastrakuta dynasty . Jain temple is believed to be the last temple build here . Shiva and Vishnu are the main deity in those temples . Temple pillars are curved with the mythological stories of Ramayan and Mahabharata .
