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| Karnataka Tourist Destinations - AIHOLE |
Aihole (Kannada) is a temple complex in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is a very popular tourist spot in north Karnataka. Aihole is to the east of Pattadakal, along the Malaprabha River, while Badami is to the west of both.Aihole has around one hundred temples; half the temples are within the fort and the other half outside. Thirty temples are in a single enclosure. The Chalukya and Rashtrakuta kings built the temples between the 6th and 12th centuries. Aihole is 131km north of Hampi, on the bank of the Malaprabha River. Most of the temples were originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu but were later converted into Siva temples. Aihole used to be a big commercial center, but it has become a small town. You can see the remains of the massive city walls and gates.
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MAJOR ATTRACTIONS IN AIHOLE |
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The central complex is near the bus stand and is enclosed by a wall. The main temple here is a Durga Temple. The temples are open from sunrise to sunset. Flash photography is prohibited.
Within the town is the Lad Khan Temple, originally a marriage mandapa (hall) and a royal assembly hall built in the 7th century. It received its name when a Muslim prince, Lad Khan, used it as his home.
A stone ladder leads to a shrine with sculptures of Vishnu, Siva, and Surya on the walls.
The Durga Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, dates back to the late 7th century. It took its name from the Kannada word “durgadagadi” or “temple near the fort.” The temple has excellent sculptures, including sculptures of Narasimha, Vishnu with Garuda, Harihara, and Varaha. It has relief panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Maha-bharata. Admsssion for foreigners is Rs 100. Open 8 am to 6 pm.
The Gaudar Gudi, Chakra Gudi, Kunti Group, Hucchappayya Math, and Hallibasappa are all within the town and date from the 7th to the 10th centuries.
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If you leave the enclosed temple area and then turn right, you come to the Chikki Temple, which has particularly well-carved pillars.
If you turn left from the main entrance you come to the Ravana Phadi Temple (300m from the village), a 6th century cave temple located southeast of the Huchimalli Temple. It has some exceptionally fine sculptures, including one of Nataraja (dancing Siva), Ganesh, and Ardhanari. It also has an ornate decorated ceiling.
The Huchimalli Gudi and Mallikarjuna Group, dating from the 7th to 11th centuries, are located northeast of town.
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There is an ancient Jain Cave and the Hucchappayya Gudi Temple (7th century) south of town. On the hill in the southeast part of town is the partly rock-cut, two-storey Buddhist Temple and the Meguti Jain Temple, both dating from the 7th century. These are some of the oldest temples in India.
There is an Archaeological Museum with a collection of 7th and 8th centuries Chalukyan sculptures. Admission Rs 3. Open daily except Fri 10 am to 5 pm.
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| The temple was built in late 7th or early 8th century.The oldest temple here is, perhaps, the Lad Khan temple located south of the Durga Temple. It consists of a shrine with two mantapas in front of it. The God here is Lord Shiva.The temple was built in a Panchayat style, indicating a very early experiment in temple construction.The windows were filled up with lattice work in the northern style and the sanctum was added later on.In front of the sanctum there are a set of 12 carved pillars.Above the center of the hall, facing the sanctum, is a second smaller sanctum with images carved on the outer walls. |
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| The Durga (Fort) Temple is notable for its semicircular apes, elevated plinth and the gallery that encircles the sanctum. The interior is filled with fascinating carvings. Chamundi Devi trampling the buffalo demon, Narasimha - the half-man, half-female deity. Then there is image of the fearsome Mahishasuramardini or the Mother Goddess Durga destroying the demon Mahisha. The temple appears to be of the late 7th or early 8th century. Then there is image of the fearsome Mahishasuramardini or the Mother Goddess Durga destroying the demon Mahisha. |
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Temple at Aihole, 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,has a sculpture of Vishnu sitting atop a large cobra. Dating back to the 6th century, the Ravalpathi Cave cave-temple celebrates the many forms of Lord Shiva. This cave is well worth a long visit. Inside the cave is the beautiful statue of dancing Shiva who seems to be trembling with motion. |
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The only dated monument in Aihole, the Meguti Temple was built atop a small hill in 634 AD. Now partly in ruins, possibly never completed, this temple provides an important evidence of the early development of the Dravidian style of Architecture. The inscription dating the monument is found on one of the outer walls of the temple and records its construction by Ravikeerti, who was a commander & minister of Pulakesin II. Apparently a Jain Temple as seen from the seated Jain figure here, the superstructure rising above the sanctum wall of the temple is not original & the 16-columns porch and hall extension are later additions. |
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MAP OF AIHOLE |
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