Karnataka Tours and Travel

Pattadkal stands testimony to Chalukya style of architecture and was declared as a World Heritage Centre in the state of Karnataka by UNESCO. Situated on the banks of Malaprabha river, Pattadakal has the epics chiseled on the temple walls. The ceremonial site for the early Western Chalukyan kings, Pattadakal, is located near Aihole and Badami in Karnataka. In Pattadakal, there are sets of nine important temples that exhibit a mixture of styles.

How to Reach Pattadakal
Air: The nearest airport is Bangalore, around 514 km away. There are many flights from Bangalore to other important cities of India like Mumbai, Delhi, and Calcutta.

Rail: The nearest railway station is Badami, 20 km away. There are around five regular trains for Bijapur from Badami.

Road: The State Highway 14 links Pattadakal with Badami. Aihole is round 45 km from Pattadakal. The place is connected to other major centers like Bijapur (134 km) by road.

Local Transport: Auto-rickshaws, private taxis, and private buses are the most important means of transportation in and around Pattadakal.

Prime Attractions in and Around Pattadakal
Temples
The temples of Pattadakal display the mixture of the Rekha Nagara Prasada and the Dravida Vimana styles of architecture. Among the temples in Pattadakal, the Virupaksha temple is the most beautiful of all temples. The Virupaksha temple was built by Lokeswari, one of the queens of Vikramaditya II, in honour of the Vikramadityas victorious battle against the Pallavas of Kanchi in the year 735 CE. This Temple of the Chalukyan period served as a model for the Rashtrakuta ruler to carve out the great Kailash at Ellora. The sculptural art of the early Chalukyas is characterized by grace and delicate details. The ceiling panels of the Navagrahas, Ikpalas, the dancing Nataraja, the wall niches containing Lingodbhava, Ardhanarisvara, Tripurari, Varahavishnu, and Trivikrama bear ample testimony to the sculptor's skill as well as the cult worship in vogue.

The Mallikarjuna Temple, next to the Virupaksha Temple, is almost identical in design and was built by queen Lokeswari's sister who was also a queen. The oldest of the temples in Pattadakal is the Sangamesvara Temple built by Vijayaditya Satyasraya (AD 697-733). The Galaganatha temple is built in the north Indian style and so is the Kasi Visweswara. Other temples here include those to Chandrasekhara, Sangameswara, Jambulinga, Kadasiddheswara. The Papanatha temple has a Nagara styled Vimanam. It is decorated with scenes from the Ramayana. There is also a Jain temple from the period of the Rashtrakutas (9th century) at Pattadakal.

The Kashivishvanatha temple was probably built after the collapse of the early Chalukyan dynasty in the middle of the 8th century. The Jambulinga temple has a very interesting horseshoe-shaped arch framing a rhythmic image of a dancing Shiva. Art, Craft, Culture, History
Pattadakal, a corruption of Pattada-Kisuvolal meaning Stone of Coronation, was the temple town on the banks of the Malaprabha river where the Chalukyan kings came to be crowned. Pattadakal was the regional capital and the second capital of the Chalukyan Empire after Badami and covers a whole spectrum of buildings of that era, starting from simple shrines to the more complex buildings. Pattadakal represents the high point of an eclectic art, which in the 7th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty, achieved a harmonious blend of architectural forms from northern and southern India. Pattadakal was the dynastic cult center of the Badami Chalukyas and has been a cultural centre of the state. A classical dance festival is held at Pattadakal, usually at the end of January every year. The Virupaksha Temple Car Festival is also held in Pattadakal in March every year. Moreover, the Mallikarjuna Temple Festival is also held in Pattadakal in March-April.