Karnataka & Bengaluru - South India and Kerala - page 450

important trial ground for the development of South Indian temple architecture. A guide
here costs about ?250.
Two main types of temple towers were tried out here. Curvilinear towers top the Ka-
dasiddeshwra, Jambulinga and Galaganatha temples, while square roofs and receding tiers
are used in the Mallikarjuna, Sangameshwara and Virupaksha temples.
The main Virupaksha Temple MAP GOOGLE MAP is a massive structure, its columns covered
with intricate carvings depicting episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. A giant
stone sculpture of Nandi sits to the temple's east. The Mallikarjuna Temple , next to the
Virupaksha Temple, is almost identical in design. About 500m south of the main enclos-
ure is the Jain Papanatha Temple , its entrance flanked by elephant sculptures. The temple
complex also serves as the backdrop to the annual Classical Dance Festival (Pattadakal;

Jan/Feb) ,

held between January and February.
Pattadakal is 20km from Badami, with buses (?18) departing every 30 minutes until
about 5pm. There are two buses to Aihole (?15), 13 km away, at 8am and 2.30pm.

Aihole

Some 100 temples, built between the 4th and 6th centuries AD, speck the ancient
Chalukyan regional capital of Aihole ( ay -ho-leh). Most, however, are either in ruins or
engulfed by the modern village. Aihole documents the embryonic stage of South Indian
Hindu architecture, from the earliest simple shrines, such as the most ancient Ladkhan
Temple, to the later and more complex buildings, such as the Meguti Temple.
The most impressive of them all is the 7th-century Durga Temple MAP GOOGLE MAP (Indian/
foreigner ?5/100, camera ?25; 8am-6pm) , notable for its semicircular apse (inspired by Buddhist
architecture) and the remains of the curvilinear sikhara (temple spire). The interiors house
intricate stone carvings. The small museum (admission ?5;

9am-5pm Sat-Thu) behind the temple

contains further examples of Chalukyan sculpture.
To the south of the Durga Temple are several other temple clusters, including early ex-
amples such as the Gandar, Ladkhan, Kontigudi and Hucchapaya groups - all pavilion
type with slightly sloping roofs. About 600m to the southeast, on a low hillock, is the Jain
Meguti Temple . Watch out for snakes if you're venturing up.
Aihole is about 40km from Badami and 13km from Pattadakal.

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