Kalleshvara Temple, Ambali in Bellary district

The Kalleshvara temple  is located in the town of Ambali in Bellary district.According to an Old Kannada inscription (dated 1083 A.D.) placed in the sabhamantapa,the temple was constructed during the reign of the Western Chalukya Empire King Vikramaditya VI.

The temple is a single shrine (vimana) construction with an adjoining hall (mantapa).The basic building material is Soap stone.The original superstructure over the shrine is lost.The temple which faces east comprises a sanctum (garbhagriha),an antechamber (sukhanasi) that connects the sanctum to sabhamantapa which is preceded by mukhamantapa. The walls of the shrine and the sabhamantapa are articulated with projections and recesses creating niches which carry miniature decorative tower or turrets (Aedicula) in vesara style.The doorjamb of the sanctum and antechamber are crafted with decorative motifs, and the lintel (lalata) depicts Gajalakshmi.The square bases of pillars int he sabhamantapa and mukhamantapa have the characteristic decoration with reliefs, depicting various Hindu deities such as Surya , Bhairava and Durga

Ornate mantapa pillars in Kalleshvara temple at Ambali