Aihole

City of temples

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.

Entering Aihole from Badami	Temple ruins and farm carts
Ruins in Aihole	Hilltop fort

However, not all is left to decay. There is a well-tended park area containing about 10 temples. Here, for instance, is the famous Durga Temple. This temple seems to be unique for its semi-circular apse, much like a European cathedral, but in this case with an open colonnaded verandah which runs all around it.

Durga Temple entrance	Durga Temple apse
Durga Temple - garbhagria	Sculpture of Durga
Beautiful Naga sculpture on ceiling of Durga Temple	View of Durga Temple from Ladkhan Temple

Nearby, there is such a cluster of temples that one wonders why they built so many temples so close together.

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See all our Hampi pages:

• Hampi Bazaar, Sacred Center and Hemakuta Hill
• Tungabhadra riverside temples and sculptures
• Vitthala Temple
• A coracle on the Tungabhadra and the Royal Centre

Back to India 2009.