Some of the important sightseeing spots in Pattadkal are:

Virupaksha Temple- the best known was built by Queen Lokamahadevi in 745 A.D. to commemorate her husband's victory (Vikramaditya II) over the Pallavas of Kanchi. The temple closely resembles the Kailashnatha temple in Kanchi. The Kailashnatha temple built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty in Ellora, incidentally, is modeled on the lines of the Virupaksha temple. The Virupaksha temple is rich in sculptures like those of Lingodbhava, Nataraja, Ravananugraha and Ugranarasimha.

Sangameshvara Temple-built by King Vijayaditya Satyashraya is incomplete, but looks attractive.

Kashivisvanatha temple- was built by the Rashtrakutas in the 8th century.

Mallikarjuna Temple-is a smaller version of the Virupaksha temple and was built by Vikramadiyta's second queen Trilokyamahadevi in 745.

Galganatha Temple-contains a sculpture of Lord Shiva killing the demon Andhakasura, Kadasiddeshvara temple which has a sculpture of Shiva holding a Trident or Trishul in his hands and its twin temple, the Jambulinga Temple are all built in Nagara style and resemble the Hucchimalli' Guddi at Aihole.

Jain Temple- located on the Pattadakal-Badami Road, is built in the Dravidian style by the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta. It has some very beautiful sculptures & probably dates back to the 9th century and was built by either King Amoghavarsha I or his son Krishna II.

Papanatha temple- is built in 680 A.D. The temple was started in Nagara (Indo-Aryan) style but later changed to Dravidian style. Sculptures here are from the great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha. This temple has many similarities with the Navabrahma temples in Alampur, Andhra Pradesh, which were also built by the same dynasty.

Museum and Sculpture gallery- is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India on the Bhutanatha Temple road.

Monolithic stone pillar bearing inscriptions, Naganatha Temple, Chandrashekara Temple and inscriptions in the Mahakuteshwara Temple are some of the other attractions.

Travel Tips

Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Kudala Sangama and  Almatti Dam can be visited by basing yourself at Bijapur (Vijapura) town. There are State Government buses as well as private tourists plying between Bijapur (Vijapura) and these towns and also connecting the nearby town of Bagalkot. Alternatively, you can prefer a conducted tour of the Karnataka State Tourism Devpt. Corpn (KSTDC).

Go back to Pattadkal Tourism Page