Guide to historic hub of divinity & architecture – The Pattadakal, Karnataka

In northern Karnataka, there is a sophisticated Jain and Hindu temples from the seventh and eighth centuries CE called Pattadakal. This is situated within Bagalkote district here on the banks of the Malaprabha River, twenty-three Km away from Badami as well as ten Kilometres away from Aihole. Together, the Pattadakal statue complex, Badami, or Aihole make up an important historic hub.

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Activities in Pattadakal

The most significant thing to do in Pattadakal is to go on a guided walk of each of the sacred and historic locations. Time frames for the Pattadakal monastery are 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Pattadakal time frames may have changed because of the latest Covid-19 limitations. So, before you travel, verify with the nearby resource center.

Temple of Virupaksha

Queen Lokamahadevi constructed the biggest monastery on the property to honor her partner Vikramaditya II’s win over the Pallava Kings of Kanchipuram. The monastery, which residences several Hindu divinities, brags writings as well as stone sculptures on its foundations, façade, and walls.

Temple of Mallikarjuna

This temple was constructed in the traditional Dravidian aesthetic and is somewhat tinier but comparable in layout to the Virupaksha monastery. An image of Narasimha murdering Hiranyakashyapa can be found on the front veranda.

Temple at Papanatha 

The monastery was initially constructed in the Nagara aesthetic but was later upgraded with Dravidian architectural details. Complicated engravings of sights from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana can be seen on the walls of the temple.

Temples at Pattadakal

Together with tinier plinths and shrines, there are ten significant temples, 9 among which are Hindu temples but also among them is a Jain monastery. The largest Pattadakal temple is comprised of eight Hindu temples gathered together. Large, lush lawns with well-kept gardens as well as hedgerows encircle the shrines.

Shiva is the subject of the Hindu temples, which are attached by a barbwire fence. Each one has a hallowed hall that houses a rock lingam. Despite having an identical exterior, each monastery has distinctive sculpted pillars and tall buildings. Reliefs and abandoned statues of a goddess or god are adorning the exterior walls. Every temple has a main monastery and an external sanctum, which is a prevalent layout.

The majority of Hindu temples are devoted to Shiva, but they also feature Shaktism and Vaishnavism imagery. The tales from the Bhagavad Purana, Ramayana,  Mahabharata, and other Hindu writings like the Kirtrjunya and the  Panchatantra are depicted in the works of art. The Jain monastery honors just one Jina.

The shrines of  Mallikarjuna and Virupaksha are the most important ones in Pattadakal. And although kings ordered the majority of shrines, the main ones were queens’ concepts.

The biggest monastery on the property, the Virupaksha Monastery, was built by Lokamahadevi in the eighth century. The foundations, walls, and sections of the temple’s inner surface are decorated with engravings from the Puranas and also the epics. A Shiva lingam is kept in the inner sanctuary, and a rock monument of Nandi can be found on the exterior porch.

Similarly to this, queen Trilokamahadevi ordered the construction of the Mallikarjuna monastery. With foundations, wall works of art, and tall buildings that are all similarly crafted with stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana as well as examples from the Shiv Purana, the cathedral’s renovation is comparable to that of the Virupaksha Monastery.

Also you can find restaurants nearby for a wonderful local delicacy.

The  Dravida-Vimana and Rekha-Nagara-Prasada architectural styles of southern and Northern India are combined in the design of the monastery. The  4 temples were constructed in the  Nagara style but also 4 in the  Dravidian style. Both of them were utilized in the construction of the Virupaksha and  Papanatha temples.

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