The ancient capital of the Chalukyas - Aihole is now a major attraction for the heritage traveller. Considered as the cradle of ancient Hindu temple architecture Aihole has has more than 70 temples which has now been clustered into 22 groups by historians. Of these 22 groups The Kontigudi group and the Galaganatha group of temples are the prominent ones and the ones that are visited more.
groups The Kontigudi group and the Galaganatha group of temples are the prominent ones and the ones that are visited more.
The Kontigudi group of temples is a group of three temples and has the oldest of these temples The Lad khan temple in the group. The Lad khan temple is built in a Panchayat hall style and was built in the 6th century
Huchappayya temple has a tower - shikhara over the sanctum and the interior of the temple has beautiful carvings.Huchimalli the tird of the Kontigudi group was built in the 7th century shows an evolution in the temple plan, as it shows an ardhamantapa or an ante-chamber annexed to the main shrine.
Galaganatha group temples has nearly thirty temples on the bank of the Malaprabha River. The main shrine of the Galaganatha temple has a shikhara, and has images of Ganga and Yamuna at the entrance to the shrine
Ravana Phadi cave is one of the oldest rock cut temples in Aihole, is located south east of Hucchimalli temple. This temple dates back to the 6th century, with a rectangular shrine, with two mantapas. A Shaivite cave temple - Ravana Phadi has a sanctum larger than that of the Badami Cave Temples
Ravana Phadi has a sanctum larger than that of the Badami Cave Temples
There is a archaeological Site Museum in the Durga Temple complex. Originally planned as a sculpture shed it was converted in to a full fledged museum in the year 1987. The museum mainly comprises of stone sculptures of Brahmanical, Jaina and Buddhist faith, fragmentary carved architectural members, inscriptions, hero stones, sati stones, etc. Period wise they range in date from 6th century AD to 15th century AD acquired through exploration, excavation near the protected monuments.
KSTDC Mayura Chalukya,
Ramdurg Road, Badami,
Bagalkot - 587 201
Tel: 08357-220117
Tariff : Rs. 400/-
Shri Laxmi Vilas Hotel
Tonga Stand, Station Road,
Bagalkot - 587 201
Tel: 08357-220077
Tariff: Rs. 100 - 300/-
Hotel Anand Deluxe
Near Bus Stand, Badami,
Bagalkot - 587 201
Tel: 08357-220074
Tariff : Rs. 200 - 300/-
Aihole - The Temple Complexes
