Pattadakal & Aihole

Trip: Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole & Bijapur

• Pattadakal and Aihole are very close and can be covered together. Pattadakal is more complex and is next to a river hence a better choice for resting and lunch.
• Aihole is smaller but filled with temples. There is a nearby temple ona small hillock as well that gives a good view of surrounding area.

Pattadakal Temple Complex

Pattadakal is a group of ten temples spread across the complex, dedicated to different gods. The location of Pattadakal is such that, we were told, it has switched hands very often. At the border of present day Karnataka and Maharashtra, this place is also at the cultural border of Northern - Southern India. It shows in the variety of architecture of these temples.

Samudra Manthan carved on stone @ Pattadakal

We covered all the temples and then settled at the bank of Mallaprabha river that flows right next to the complex. It was this river that attracted the first establishment to be constructed as it flows in the northern direction here, something very auspicious to the natives.

Intricate handwork @ Pattadakal

After a break we decided to move towards Aihole which is less than half hour away from here. Aihole is a collection of hundreds of small temples in a small area but the most prominent of them is the Durga Temple. Dedicated to Sun god and named after the fort  (durg) that surrounds this, the temple has statues of all the major gods and goddesses carved on the walls.

Durga Temple @ Aihole

It was time for us to go back to Badami and take some rest before we start for Hubli next day. It was with some effort that we had reached Northern Karnataka and had covered these beautiful works of art. It was time to say goodbye to them.