Places to visit at Aihole

Durga Gudi

 This is not the temple of Goddess Durga, but addressed so due to its vicinity to the fort (Durga) and though it is now a Shiva temple, originally it was a Surya temple. This temple was built by Aatada Ale Komarasingha during the days of Vikramaditya II. It is one of the examples of experiments in temple designing that took place at Aihole, and it is apsidal in shape with its back resembling the hind part of an elephant (gajaprishtha). Standing on a high pedestal. It has a fallen Rekhanagara Shikhara; Its collonade divideds the temple into apse and ailes, and the columns pass behind the apsidal sanctum. It has a frontal Mantapa with steps to reach the temple from the east and the west. The temple is surrounded by a parapet and short pillars support its roof together with the inner Colonnade. Its exterior has fine Ramayana scenes. The Mantapa pillars have figures of gods and goddesses and amorous couple. The Devakoshtas on the exterior have Shiva riding Nandi, Vishnu, Mahishamardini and other vigorous images.

Chappara Gudi

 The word ‘Chappara’ is derived from kannada, which means thatched roof. The slanting roof of this temple resembles a thatched roof house which indicated that houses did have slanting roofs in VIII century CE.

Nadyar Gudi

 Nadyar Gudi is a Trikutachala, a temple with 3 shrines. Though it has 3 Garbhagudi only one Dravida style Shikhara can be seen. Seems like some parts of the temple are damaged badly. The temple’s circular columns are said to be similar to columns of Hoysala temples.

Suryanarayana Gudi

 Assigned to the 7th or 8th Century, this temple has a Rekhanagara (curvilinear) Shikhara over the Garhhagriha, and has a four pillared frontal Mantapa. The Rangamantapa has four tall pillars and 12 half pillars, and the Mantapa has Kakshasanas. The Garbhagriha doorframe has Garuda at the lintel holding serpents, and also the figures of Ganga and Yamuna. Above that is a seated Surya figure. The sanctum has two-feet tall, Surya figure and the Mantapa ceiling has peculiar design with four pillars in the sanctum too.

Ladkhan Gudi

 Originally a hall where (perhaps Pulikeshin I had performed the horse sacrifice) and later used far religious functions also, it became a Suryatemple, and subsequently a Shivalaya. At the Centre of the hall is the elevated Nandimantapa surrounded by four pillars reaching the roof, and is surmounted by partially damaged curvilinear Shikhara with the figure of Surya on frontal side. From thus central pillars, 3 rows of pillars radiate to four corners, totally making it 16. There is no 1 separate garbhagriha and stone booth is added to the backwall to house the deity. The walls to the east, south and north have artistic lattice windows. The slanting ceiling radiates from the Shikhara above the Nandi at the centre. The pillars here are massive. There is a frontal Mantapa, added later with finely engraved pillars, and of these there are tine sculptures of amorous couple Ganga and Yamuna. This is also one of the oldest monuments, unfortunately named now after Ladkhan , a Muslim commander who used it as his operational hub and made it his residence. One of the pillars here has the Chalukyan royal insignia, Varaha engraved on it.

Gaudara Gudi

 Aihole or Agavole, a great commercial centre of the days of the Chalukyas has nearly 100 temples now of which ‘Gaudaragudi’ appears to be oldest, of the fifth Century, and it was Mahalakskmi or Bhagvati temple and the town was also known as ‘Bhagavati Kolla’. Standing on an elevated platform with 16 pillars at the exterior and stone slabs inserted in between to form wall, four central pillars inside support the roof which is slanting. The temple has the sanctum with a circumambulatory path. There are Kakshasanas with beautiful lalsha decoration behind them inside along the wall. Upper beams are highly embellished with chaitya loops housing a human head. The entrance of the Garbhagriha has Garuda at the lintel with Gajalakshmi with four elephants above it. This must be the Bhagavati temple worshipped by the famous trade guild of aihole. It has fine Chalukyan sculptures.

Chakra Gudi

 Assigned to the 9th Century, Chakragudi is known for its 20 sculptures of amorous couple engraved on the doorframe of the sanctum which has Garuda holding two snakes on the lintel. Above that is the relief sculpture of a Dravida Shikara. The temple has sanctum and the Range Mantapa alone at present, and has a Nagarashikhara on the Garbhagriha, and the prominent round Amalaka at the Stupi which may have brought the name Chakragudi to the monument.

Badiger Gudi

 Badigargudi (also spelled Badigergudi) temple is located to southwest of Durga temple complex. It is said to be built in 9th century temple, originally as a Surya (Sun) temple and one finds a rekhanagara tower, watching over the structure. Much of the Badigargudi relief artwork has been damaged and eroded.

Archaeological Museum

 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.

 Find here Brahmanical, Jaina and Buddhist faiths and concepts taking shape of stone sculptures. Also find inscriptions, antiques and a number of other fascinating exhibits here.

 Ravana Phadi or Ravalaphadi dates to the 6th century and is one of the oldest rock cut cave temple in Aihole. It is located less than a kilometer uphill, northeast from the Durga temple complex. This is a rock-cut shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its exterior is simple with four pillars, and Padmanidhi and Shankhanidhi guards. It has a rectangular frontage and square inner wall. But the interior has on its will tall dancing Shiva with ten hands, equally tall Saptamatrikas observing Shiva’s dance, rows of beautiful Ganas, and figures of Varaha, Mahishamardini, and other artistic slender figures. The Garbhagriha has a Shivalinga with its Peetha and they are monolithic, on the walls on the sides are Mahishamardini and Varaha sculptures and Bhoodevi is seated on Varaha’s shoulder. Outside the cave there is a platform for Nandi in fone with the Linga in the Garbhagriha and a monolithic stone pillar.

 Huchappayya matha temple is located a kilometre south of the Durga temple complex on the other side of the Aihole village near Malaprabha river. The temple is said to be built in 7th century.

 Huchappayya matha temple consists two Hindu monuments, the front larger one is a Shiva temple and the other a monastery no longer in use. The temple is walled on all sides and faces east. This temple includes a hall and a sanctum. Here is an inscription of 1067 AD. The four pillars at front are graced with human loving couples (mithunas). The ceiling of the mantapa has three intricate circular carvings, one each showing Brahma on hamsa, Vishnu on Sesha and Shiva with Parvati on Nandi. A Nandi sits in the middle of mantapa facing the linga installed in the sanctum..

 Ambigera Gudi group of temples is situated to the west of the Durga temple outside the fort. There are three temples of this group. The biggest among them has a rekhanagara tower. It is said to be built in 10th century.

 Situated at the south-west of the Ravanaphadi Caves, this group of temples dates back to the 8th century to 10th century. One finds Kadambanagara towers in some of these while inscriptions from the Kalyana Chalukya period in some.

 Mallikarjuna temples complex consists of five temples. The complex is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The main temple is dated to the Early Chalukya period, likely around 700 AD. Amalaka and then kalasa is placed on top of the Shikara. The walls inside of the Shiva temple, particularly the pillars are intricately carved with religious themes such as a seated Vishnu man-lion avatar Narasimha, Ganesha and Padmanidhi, as well as of daily life such as a female dancer accompanied with two female musicians with their instruments.
To the east of these temple, there is a Pushkarni.

 Ramalinga complex or Ramalingeshvara temples consists of five Hindu temples. These temples are located about 2.5 kilometers south of the Durga temple complex, on the banks of the Malaprabha river.

 The Ramalingeshwara temples are functional Shiva temple complex. Its entrance has a modern wooden chariot with old stone wheels used for annual processions.

 The entrance has a Shiva Nataraja and two lions carvings. The main temple consists of three shrines that connect with a common mandapa. Two of the shrines have pyramidal towers with amalaka and kalasa on top of it. The temple incorporates an arched gate with a path to the river.

 Veniyar shrines complex, also called Veniyargudi, Vaniyavar, Veniyavur or Eniyar group, consists of ten Hindu temples. The Veniyar shrines are close to the Ramalinga temples group. The temples are located south of the village, near the Malaprabha river bank.

 A similarly named Veniyavur complex is also in the south side of the town, near Rachigudi temple. The largest temple here is an 11th-century temple. The Veniyar temples are dated to between the 9th and the 11th century, and represented a breakthrough in experiments by Aihole medieval artists to balance stone weight that the foundation and pillars could support while arranging a functional form, space and light within the temple consistent with the theological ideas. The so-called Temple number 5 of the Veniyar group combined function and form, creating a much taller madhyashala than any previous Aihole temple and a two-storey sanctum temple structure by nesting the stones. A simpler idea but with less fruitful results were tried in the triple Jaina temple found in Aihole village.

 On the banks of River Mahaprabha, is 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.

 Triyambakeshvara temples group is located close to the Charantimatha, towards northeast. The Triyambakeshvara group, also spelled Triambakesvara group, has five Hindu temples. Two smaller temples in the Triyambakeshvara group are the Desiyar temple and the Rachigudi temple. The Triyambakeshvara group including the Rachigudi Hindu temple is from the 10th to 11th centuries, bridging the Rashtrakuta and Late Chalukya periods.

 Situated in the middle of bazaar, the earliest of these temples was probably built in the 5th century. The first temple has panels of Bramha, Shiva & a reclined Vishnu on the ceiling.

 The Huchchimalligudi stands on an elevate platform and has a Mukhamantapa, a Rangamantapa and Garbhagriha, and is a Shivalaya. This temple is remembered for its wonderful sculptured figures. The doorframe has four divisions with wonderful and unique sculptural designs. They include amorous couple, elephants and Ganga and Yamuna motifs. Above the lintel which has Garuda sculpture, are images of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu and floating celestial nymphs (Gandharvas). The niches in Sabhamantapa has figures of Indra, Yama, Kubera etc. The Sabhamantapa doorframe has the same design as the one at the Garbhagriha. The Garbhagrihas has a Rekhanagara Shikhara and on its sides has images of Surya and Brahma on two sides. It has a tank and its walls too are full of fine sculptures of Dikpalas, Mahishamardini, Brahma, Vishnu, Gajalakshmi, Kartikeya, stories of Panchatantra and Kiratarjuniya etc. There is a small temple in front of Huchchimaili temple of which only Mukhamantapa remains, and it has a row of nice Poornakumbha sculptures in a row. To the north of the Huchchimalli is another temple, a Kalyana Chalukya monument of the 11th Century and its Garbhagriha has a ‘phansana’ (stepped) Shikhara..

 Gouri temple is said to be built around 12th century. It is the largest and most elaborate Kalyani Chalukya temple in Aihole. The temple incorporates a spacious mandapa with porch projections on three sides. The temple has a wide Rangamantapa and a vestibule. A finely carved icon of Durga bearing different weapons in her eight hands is placed in the vestibule.

 Rachigudi temple is a 11th century Kalyana Chalukya temple and it is a Shiva temple with three Garbhagrihas (Trikutachala). The temple is on a high pedestal, and the Garbhagrihas have a common vestibule with entrances in three directions, and there is a huge Mukhamantapa with Kakshasanas and half-pillars standing on them. It contains Nandi. The Rangamantapa in between has four pillars, and the only two Shikharas on the garbhagrihas remain.

 Meguti Jain temple is located on top of Meguti hill, surrounded by the Aihile fort. The word “Meguti” is a corruption of the word “Megudi” and means “upper temple”. There is a inscription on outer side wall of temple in Sanskrit and old Kannada script. It is dated to 634AD. This temple was constructed by great poet, scholar and general Ravikeerti. Ravikeerti was court poet of Chalukyan king Pulakesi II and writer.

 Meguti Jain temple is built on a raised platform and fight of steps leads to Pillared Mukhmandapa. Upstairs on the roof is another shrine directly above the main shrine.

 Though the temple had been never completed since ever its starting phase, Meguti Jain temple of Aihole is a great example of such great chalukyan structure.

 There is one two-storeyed Buddhist monument, a few steps below the crest of the hill. The temple is dated to late 6th-century. In front of the temple is a damaged Buddha statue, one without a head, probably taken out from inside the temple. The two levels of the temple are open and feature four full carved square pillars and two partial pillars on two side walls. Each pair of pillar goes into the hill to form a small monastery like chamber. The doorway to lower level chamber is intricately carved, while the central bay on the upper level has a Buddha relief showing him seated under a parasol.

 Yoginarayana group is situated near the Gauri temple. It consists of four jain temples, dedicated to the Mahavira and the Parshvanatha. Two temples face the north, one west and another east. It is said to be built aound 11th century. The pillars of the temples have intricate carvings. Their towers are same as the stepped squares found in Hindu pyramidal-style shikaras in Aihole. This collection has a polished basalt image of Parshvanatha, with a five headed snake hood. He sits on a platform with lions carved in its niches.

 Charanthi matha group is located very close to the Kontigudi group to the north east.
An instance of the Kalyani Chalukya style of architecture, this group of jaina 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.