Things To Do Aihole

Karnataka India

41 out of 62 Places to visit in Karnataka

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Places To Visit In Aihole

Ambigera Gudi group

Dating back to the 10th century and in much proximity to the Aihole Fort are the Ambigera Gudi group of temples. Located a stone's throw away from the Aihole bus stand is a group of three temples that comprise the Ambigera Gudi temple group. The complex was built in the 10th century and is open until 6 PM every day.

Archaeological Museum, Aihole

An Archaeological Survey of India run museum is located inside the Durga temple complex. Originally built as a sculpture shed, the setup evolved into a well laid out museum in the year 1987. Brahmanical, Jaina and Buddhist faiths and concepts take shape of stone sculptures can also be found at the museum. You can also find inscriptions, antiques and a number of other fascinating exhibits over here. The museum is located 21 km west of Hunagunda taluk and is only 200 m away from the Aihole Bus stand. Read More

The 9th century Badigera Gudi temple was originally built as a Surya temple and one finds a rekhanagara tower, watching over the structure. The temple is dedicated to the sun god and is located in the Bagalkot and is best visited during the months of October to March.

Chakra Gudi is a 9th century temple and houses a rekhanagara style tower amongst few other elements and is located very close to the main Aihole Bus stand. This is a temple dedicated to Shiva and the temples is known for its intricate depictions of Garuda and two snakes.

An instance of the Kalyani Chalukya style of architecture, this group of temple dates back to sometime in the middle of the 11th and the 12th centuries. The central structure here is said to be the Trikutachala Temple, housing three shrines. These three temples are connected by a hallway. The temples are named after they fell during the rule of a Charantinatha ruler.

In close proximity to the Ambigera Gudi Group of temples, is the Chikkigudi group of temples. These temples stand out from its surroundings, given its sheer size. They are believed to have been built during the 7th century and are located in Ambigeragudi, close to Bagalkot. In a similar style of the temples built around the area, the Chikkigudi temples were also built with a large courtyard, a mandapa and individual shrines located within it.

One might not find elaborate shopping complexes here. However, one can shop at the local markets around the tourist spots such as the Durga Temple. Otherwise one can choose to travel to Ilkal, just a little away, known for its traditional handloom, silk sarees and more.

Durga Temple, Aihole

Aihole is called the cradle of temples in Karnataka and rightfully so, and the Durga Temple of Aihole is a beautiful and interesting slice of it. The ancient Dravidian structure can be traced back to the 7th-8th century during the rule of the Chalukyan kings in South India. Like every other monarch, this dynasty too built a good lot of temples and Durga Temple is among the most graceful as well as unique ones. The presence of pillars leading up to the sanctum and the apsidal corridor along the circumference of the core of the shrine give the majestic temple a true artistic divinity. Much of the soul of a temple lies in the grandeur of its architecture; and though not vast in size, the design of the Durga Temple speaks of significance from each of its carvings. Tourists flock here as a part of their temple visits in Aihole to witness a real sample of authentic Dravidian construction. This mighty temple has long been desolate and parts in ruins, and there is no deity commanding the abode of the sanctum sanctorum. Nevertheless, there is a sense of spirituality in the air that is only possible because of the brilliant architecture by the Chalukyan artisans. It has more uniqueness to offer in terms of its name as well - turns out that the temple is not of Devi Durga at all but has an entirely different story behind it. Read More

On the banks of River Mahaprabha lies the Galaganatha group of temples, which houses 38 shrines, most of which are lost to ruins. However, one can visit the Galaganatha Temple, which has retained much of its structure and holds a shrine of Lord Shiva. Most of theses temples have their origins traced back to the 8th century while one structure here dates back to the 10th century.

A 12th century temple, built in a style similar to that of Lad Khan Temple with elements borrowed from the Kalyana Chalukya style, is a temple dedicated to Goddess Bhagavati.