Aihole, about 30 km from Badami, was the capital of the Chalukyan empire between the 4th and 6th centuries. It is loaded with old temples, a hundred or more, some restored, many remaining only as ruins lost among the streets of the town.
1On the way to Aihole A 3-wheeler truck decorated for Diwali
2On the way to Aihole Langur mother and baby
3On the way to Aihole Langur with baby crossing the road ahead of us
4On the way to Aihole A family of langurs
5On the way to Aihole A lot of sunflowers are grown in this area
6On the way to Aihole People and goats
7On the way to Aihole Corn shucks and a friendly farmer
8On the way to Aihole Landscape with mountain and corn
9On the way to Aihole Ox cart
10On the way to Aihole Washing clothes at the dam
11Aihole Street leading into town from Badami
12Durga Temple View of porch and open colonnade on sides
13Durga Temple Back view of semi-circular apse showing the colonnaded verandah
14Durga Temple Ceiling sculpture of a naga (serpent) with a human fore-body
15Durga Temple Interior and entrance to garbhagriha
16Durga Temple colonnade Sculpture of Durga slaying the bufallo-demon, Mahisha
17Durga Temple colonnade Vishnu as his boar avatar, Varaha, rescuing the female-personified earth from the demon Hiranyaksha, who had taken it to the bottom of the cosmic ocean
18Aihole A temple interior (but which temple?)
19Aihole View of several temples. Suryanarayana Temple on left, Ladkhan Temple superstructure visible in background
20Aihole What is this temple?
21Gaudaragudi Temple A sanctuary surrounded by an open colonnade. Probably the oldest in AIhole, dating from 5th c.
22Suryanarayana Gudi Temple Dates from 7th or 8th c.
23Suryanarayana Gudi Temple From front
24Aihole Temples seem almost to be jumbled together. Ladkhan Temple in background
25Ladkhan Temple Also one of the oldest in Aihole, currently dated c. 655-81. Note the fake stone logs on top of the roof.
26Ladkhan Temple Rather than having open sides, like the Gaudara Temple, the Ladkhan temple is enclosed by walls with stone screens for letting light enter.
27Porch of Ladkhan Temple Porch with sculptured mithunas (amorous couples) on pillars
28Pillar sculpture on Ladkhan Temple porch Amorous couple on pillar sculpture
29Pillar sculpture on Ladkhan Temple porch Amorous couple on pillar sculpture
30Aihole Small temples viewed from porch of Ladkhan Temple
31Aihole From left to right, Ladkhan, Gaudara and Durga Temples
32Aihole Tank and Badiger Gudi Temple
33Badiger Gudi Temple Probably 9th c.
34Badiger Gudi Temple Tourist at the Badiger Gudi Temple
35Aihole Chakragudi Temple, probably 9th c.
36Aihole Mandapa (columned hall) of Chakragudi Temple
37Ravanaphadi Cave Temple On a hill above Aihole. Probably dates from 6th c.
38Ravanaphadi Cave Temple Sculpture of Durga slaying the buffalo-headed demon, Mahisha
39Ravanaphadi Cave Temple A magnificent sculpture of Shiva Nataraja, the king of the dance, with ten arms. To the lower left, Ganesh.
40Ravanaphadi Cave Temple Interior of the cave
41Ravanaphadi Cave Temple Nandi at the cave entrance
42Aihole Downtown Aihole
43Aihole Thryambakeshwara Complex, two temples in the town, 12th c.
44Aihole Ruins scattered about the town
45Aihole More unrestored ruins
46Huchchappayana Matha Complex 8th c.
47Aihole On the way out of town, a solid stone house with a nice door
48Road back from Aihole Palm trees and sunflowers
49Road back from Aihole The lake has overvflowed the road
50Road back from Aihole Corn shucks in three states
51Road back from Aihole Still doing wash at the dam
