This is Part 13 of Wonders of India, our series on India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Start from Part 1: Taj Mahal or read the previous part, Part 12: Rani ki Vav.
In northern Karnataka, the Chalukyas of Badami turned a small riverside town into a royal showcase. Pattadakal, meaning "place of coronation", is where they crowned their kings, and where architects built temples in both the northern Nagara and southern Dravida styles side by side.
At a glance
- Location: Bagalkot district, Karnataka, on the Malaprabha river
- Built: 7th-8th centuries CE
- Dynasty: Chalukyas of Badami
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: since 1987
History
The Chalukyas ruled much of the Deccan from their capital at Badami. Their architects first experimented with rock-cut caves at Badami and early structural temples at nearby Aihole, often called the "cradle of Indian temple architecture". At Pattadakal they reached maturity. After King Vikramaditya II defeated the Pallavas and captured Kanchipuram around 740 CE, his queens built grand temples to celebrate, drawing inspiration from Kanchi's Kailasanatha Temple.
What to see
- Virupaksha Temple: the largest and finest, built by Queen Lokamahadevi around 745 CE, with superb sculptures of scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- Mallikarjuna Temple: a twin temple built by her sister, Queen Trailokyamahadevi.
- Papanatha Temple: blending northern and southern features.
- Galaganatha and Kashi Vishwanatha temples: fine examples of the curved Nagara tower.
- Sangameshwara Temple: one of the oldest in the group.
- Jain Narayana Temple: a later Rashtrakuta-era temple outside the main complex.
Visiting Pattadakal
- Timings: sunrise to sunset.
- Tickets: around ₹40 for Indian citizens and ₹600 for foreign nationals.
- Getting there: about 22 km from Badami and 13 km from Aihole. Badami has a railway station; Hubballi and Belagavi are the nearest airports.
- Festival: the Pattadakal Dance Festival is usually held in January.
Tips
- Base yourself in Badami and see the Badami caves, Aihole and Pattadakal in one or two days.
- Many visitors combine this circuit with Hampi, about 3 hours away.
Did you know?
Inscriptions on the Virupaksha Temple name its architects, a rare record of the people who built India's early temples. Plan your trip with our Karnataka travel guide.
Ticket prices and timings are set by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and can change; online tickets are usually slightly cheaper. Check the ASI website before you visit.
Next in Wonders of India: the Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura.
