Temples

Karnataka


Barring a few that date to the 3rd century, most of Pattadakal's World Heritage–listed temples were built during the 7th and 8th centuries. The main Virupaksha temple is a massive structure, its columns covered with intricate carvings depicting episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. A giant stone sculpture of Nandi (Shiva's bull) 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 enclosure is the Jain Papanatha temple, its entrance flanked by elephant sculptures. Historians believe that Pattadakal served as an important trial ground for the development of South Indian temple architecture. Two main types of temple tower were tried out here. Curvilinear towers top the Kadasiddeshwra, Jambulinga and Galaganatha temples, while square roofs and receding tiers are used in the Mallikarjuna, Sangameshwara and Virupaksha temples.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Karnataka attractions

1. Virupaksha Temple

0.05 MILES

The massive Virupaksha temple has columns covered with intricate carvings depicting episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. A giant stone sculpture of…

2. Museum

6.52 MILES

This small museum behind the Durga Temple contains good examples of Chalukyan sculpture.

3. Durga Temple

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The impressive 7th-century Durga Temple is notable for its semicircular apse (inspired by Buddhist architecture) and the remains of the curvilinear…

4. Agastyatirtha Tank

8.87 MILES

Badami’s cave temples overlook the 5th-century Agastyatirtha Tank, a huge reservoir that was once the settlement's main water supply. On its banks are…

5. Archaeological Museum

8.96 MILES

The archaeological museum houses superb examples of local sculpture, including a tremendous 12th-century makara tokarna (entrance decoration) that has…

6. Cave Temples

8.99 MILES

Badami’s highlights are its beautiful cave temples, three Hindu and one Jain, which display exquisite sculptures and intricate carvings. They're a…

7. North Fort

9.04 MILES

High above Badami and Agastyatirtha Tank, the ruins of the North Fort are worth exploring. Only the foundations remain of most of the site, but there are…