Pattadakal, Aihole and Mahakuta - The most Iconic Heritage Junction

Probably the most iconic Ancient Temple structure I have witnessed till now in my life.. Before visiting this place was wondering that Brahadeeshwara temple in Tanjore and Moshera sun temple in Gujarat are the most amazing architecture I have witnessed but this Pattadakkal is super amazing... 

I guess before visiting Cambodia or Bali one should come and see this place which is an amazing 10th century marvel build by the badami Chalukyas.. On day 1 Badami can be covered and Pattadakal, Aihole and Mahakuta all these 3 can be covered in half day on day 2 and back to Bangalore..

Pattadakal, also called Paá¹­á¹­adakallu or Raktapura, is a complex of 7th and 8th century CE Hindu and Jain temples in northern Karnataka (India).

You at-least have 10-15 temple structures to be seen and explored..Dont miss to check and eat the famous North Canara Jowar rotti and Subji there...

All these can be covered in a weekend from Bangalore and monsoon months of November to Feb is even more spectacular with clear skies...

Route map :

Bangalore  - Badami - Mahakoota - Pattadakkal - Aihole

Must try :

Jola Rotti with Multiple Subji's....

Places to see :

Mahakoota group of Monuments
Pattadakkal Group of Monuments
Aihole Temple


The mighty Pattadakkal temples


The oldest temple at Pattadakal is the simple but massive Sangamesvara built by Vijayaditya Satyasraya (A.D. 697-733). The Mallikarjuna and the Virupaksha temples at Pattadakal, were built by two queens of Vikaramaditya II, to commemorate the victory of the Chalukyas over the Pallavas.

The Mahakoota Monuments



Built in the 7th and 8th centuries, the Pattadakal monument was famous for royal coronation called 'Pattadakisuvolal'. Temples constructed here mark the blending of the Rekha Nagara Prasada and the Dravida Vimana styles of temple building. The oldest temple at Pattadakal is the simple but massive Sangamesvara built by Vijayaditya Satyasraya (A.D. 697-733).


Inside Mahakoota



The Jambulinga Temple at Pattadakal has a fine figure of the Dancing Shiva with Nandi (bull) & Parvathi by his side. Built with a northern style tower, there is a horse-shoe arched projection on its facade.


The Aihole Temple

The Durga temple is a medieval Hindu temple located in Aihole in the state of Karnataka, India. It is part of a pending UNESCO world heritage site. ... The temple was probably built in the late 7th century by the dynasty of the Chalukyas; it is the largest of a group of over 120 temples at Aihole.












Pattadakkal group of Monuments






Legend has it that Lord Parasuram, after avenging the death of his father came down to the river Malaprabha and washed his blood-stained hands and battle axe. The blood and gore on the axe turned the river red. A woman saw this and screamed ‘Ayyo Hole’ or ‘Oh No Blood!’ in Kannada, hence the name Aihole.







Aihole was once the capital of the Chalukya Dynasty, and is a city with a rich and illustrious history. It has great cultural significance as the cradle of Hindu temple architecture, and has more than 125 temples in and around it. 



Post a Comment

0 Comments