Aihole Tourist Attractions

Tourist Attractions in Aihole - The riverbank village of Aihole is scattered with many number of abandoned temples, built between 450 and 650 A.D. They appear as architectural workshop site during the rule of early Chalukyan kings.

The kings had a guild of architects, artists, and artisans working for them. The construction style is a combination of Gupta (north India), Dravidian and Buddhist architecture.

The chief attraction among these, built along the lines of a Buddhist chaitya (prayer hall), is Durga Temple, with its magnificent circular colonnaded veranda studded with stunning sculptures and intricate carving. In contrast to this there is the Jain Meguti Temple situated atop a nearby hill. This perhaps was the last temple to be built in Aihole in the year 634 A.D. as per inscriptions.

The main sightseeing spots in Aihole include:

Kontigudi group and the Galaganatha group of temples

The prominent temple groups here are the Kontigudi group and the Galaganatha group of temples, although historians have divided all the temples into 22 groups. A group of three temples is referred to as the Kontigudi group of temples. One of these is the Lad Khan temple, named after a mendicant that lived in this temple in the 19th century, the Huchiappayyagudi temple and the Huchiappayya math.

Lad Khan Temple

Lad Khan Temple consists of a shrine with two mantapas in front of it. The shrine bears a Shiva lingam. The mukha mantapa in front of the sanctum has a set of 12 carved pillars. The Sabha mantapa in front of the mukha mantapa has pillars arranged in such a manner as to form two concentric squares. There are also stone grids on the wall carrying floral designs.

Huchappayyagudi Temple

Huchappayyagudi Temple has a rounded tower (shikhara) over the sanctum (unlike the Lad Khan temple). The interior of the temple has beautiful carvings.

Huchimalligudi Temple

Huchimalligudi Temple at Aihole, built in the 7th century shows an evolution in the temple plan, as it shows an ardhamantapam or an ante-chamber annexed to the main shrine.

Galaganatha group of temples

The Galaganatha Temples' group is one of nearly thirty temples on the bank of the river Malaprabha. The main shrine of the Galaganatha temple enshrining Shiva - Galaganatha has a rounded tower or shikhara, and has images of Ganga and Yamuna at the entrance to this shrine.

Durga fortress temple

The DurgaTemple or fortress temple is the best known of the Aihole temples. A pillared corridor runs around the temple, enveloping the shrine, the mukhamantapa and the sabhamantapa. All through the temple, there are beautiful carvings. The temple appears to be of the late 7th or early 8th century.

Meguti Jain Temple

Meguti Jain Temple stands on a hillock. It is the only dated monument built in 634 A.D. The temple sits on a raised platform, and a flight of steps leads one to the mukhamantapa. The pillared mukhamantapa is a large one. A flight of stairs leads to another shrine on the roof, directly above the main shrine.

From the roof, one can have a panoramic view of the plain with a hundred temples or so. The temple which was possibly never completed gives important evidence of early development in Dravidian style of architecture. The dated inscription found on the outer wall of the temple records the construction of the temple by Ravikeerthi, a scholar in the court of emperor Pulakeshi II.

Ravanaphadi temple

Ravanaphadi temple is a rock cut temple, with a rectangular shrine, with two mantapas in front of it and a rock cut Shivalinga. This temple dates back to the 6th century. Ravanphadi cave is located south-east of Hucchimalli temple. This is a Shaivite cave temple with a sanctum larger than that of the Badami cave temples. The sanctum has a vestibule with a triple entrance and has carved pillars.

Gowda temple

Gowda temple is built on similar lines as the Ladh Khan temple. It has sixteen plain pillars and is dedicated to goddess Bhagavathi.

Suryanarayana Temple

Suryanarayana Temple has a 2 ft. high statue of Surya along with his consorts Usha and Sandhya being drawn by horses. The temple dates from the 7th or 8th century, has a four pillared inner sanctum and a nagara style tower over it.

Aihole Musuem

The Museum & Art Gallery is a sculpture gallery maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the Durga Temple complex.

Travel Tips

Do carry a flashlight as the some of the temple interiors are dark.
The entry at the main gate of temple complex is free.
There is an entrance fee to Durga Temple.
The site can be visited during the day time (dawn to dusk).

Wear loose cotton clothes as it is humid in this region. Carry water or juices to keep yourself hydrated

Hats, Caps and Goggles protect you from the Sun. Caryy suncreens also.

On your Badami holiday tour, it is best if you combine his with Aihole and Pattadkal since they are closeby.

There may be entrace fees to the Cave temples and / or some other sites

Karnataka