Pattadakal

A must-Visit unesco Splendor in the Heart of Karnataka

A testament to the architectural prowess of the Chalukya dynasty, Pattadakal is a site of several architectural edifices of incomparable beauty. The Chalukyas (543-753 CE) are known to have built this large complex of temples for royal commemoration and coronation hence the name, which roughly translates to ‘the coronation stone’. History has it that the town was also called Kisuvolal which meant the ‘valley of red soil’.

Situated on the banks of the Malaprabha River, an impressive series of nine Hindu temples, as well as a Jain sanctuary, can be seen here. One masterpiece from the group that stands out is the Temple of Virupaksha which was built in 740 C.E by the queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband’s victory over the kings from the South. As a place representing the high point of an eclectic art period in history, Pattadakal offers a harmonious blend of architectural forms from both northern and southern part of India. For its ancient art styles & experimentation, the site was accorded the World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1987.