The prominent temple groups at Aihole are the Kontigudi group and the Galaganatha group of temples, although historians have divided all the temples into 22 groups.
A group of three temples is referred to as the Kontigudi group of temples. One of these is the Lad Khan temple (The oldest temple at Aihole is the Lad khan temple dating back to thefifth century), named after a mendicant that lived in this temple in the 19th century, another the Huchiappayyagudi temple and the Huchiappayya math.
Important temples at Aihole
- Durga temple complex(13 Temples)
- Lad Khan Temple
- Ambigera Gudi complex
- Mallikarjuna temple complex
- Chikki temple
- Rachi temple
- Eniyar temples complex
- Hucchimalli temple complex
- Ravanaphadi rock-cut temple
- Buddhist temple, Meguti temple
- Hucchappayya Math Complex
- Kunti temples complex
- Charantimath complex
- Tryambakesvara group
- Gauri temple
- Jaina temples in the village
- Rock-cut Jain Basadi
- Ramlingesvara Temple Complex
- Galaganatha Temple Complex
Durga temple
The Durga temple in Aihole The temple was built between the 7th and the 8th century by the dynasty of the Chalukyas.The architecture of the temple is predominantly Dravida with Nagara style also is used in certain areas.The Durga Temple is considered a unique and magnificent temple of the Chalukyan period.
The origin of the name is not the Durga goddess, but a fortress, maybe an enclosure which surrounded the temple or it was a part of fortification, probably of Maratha rulers.
It is not known to which deity the temple was dedicated as the representations of Vishnu are as numerous as those of Shiva. The most original feature of the temple is a peristyle delimiting an ambulatory around the temple itself and whose walls are covered with sculptures of different gods or goddesses.
Two staircases provide access to the porch at the entrance of the temple itself. The sober and square pillars are decorated with characters around the porch and the entrance to the peristyle. The parapet is carved with niches and small animals. The porch gives access to rooms with pillars to get into the heart of the shrine.
The plan of the temple is oblong and apsidal. It means that the corridor with pillars between the porch and the heart of the shrine encompasses the heart of shrine and allows to run the parikrama .This apse gives outward through openings between the pillars.
The shape of the temple, in Indian traditional architecture, is known as Gajaprasta which means the resemblance to the back of an elephant. The temple's unusual apsidal form is thought to imitate the earlier Buddhist chaitya halls, but later studies established that apsidal design in Indian architecture is pan-Indian tradition, which was in practice even before Buddhist architecture. The heart of the shrine (garba griha) is surmounted by a tower which announces the future higher towers sikharas and vimanas.
Lad Khan Temple
The Lad Khan Temple, dedicated to Shiva, is a one of the oldest temples in Aihole. It was built in the 5th century by the Chalukyas. It is located to the south of the Durga Temple. The temple is named after a muslim prince who turned this temple into his residence for a short period.
Lad Khan Temple
The Lad Khan Temple, dedicated to Shiva, is a one of the oldest temples in Aihole. It was built in the 5th century by the Chalukyas. It is located to the south of the Durga Temple. The temple is named after a muslim prince who turned this temple into his residence for a short period.
The temple consists of a garba griha with mantapa in front of it. The mukha mandapa is situated in front of the sanctum and consists of a set of 12 carved pillars. The sabha mandapa leads to the maha mandapa and the pillars are arranged to form two concentric squares. The walls have floral patterns on them and the windows have lattice work done in the northern style. Facing the sanctum, a second smaller sanctum is situated above the center of the hall whose outer walls have many carved images.
Originally dedicated to Vishnu, now the main shrine houses a Shiva Linga with a Nandi. The temple was built in a Panchayatana style, indicating a very early experiment in temple construction. The special feature of this temple is that it starts with a rectangular structure and ends with a square structure. Based on a wooden construction design , the square and rectangular plan has a steep roof, which is an adaptation of wooden styles in stone.
The maha mantapa is open to exterior by large windows between the pillars. The roof above the maha mantapa shows a turret as a first version of the futures towers sikharas and vimanas.
Chakra gudi Temple
Chakra Gudi is a little further to the south from Ladkhan group is Chakragudi with a hall and sanctum. Its tower is in rekhanagara style. Its period is about the 9th century.
Gowdara Gudi Temple
Gaudara gudi, very close to the Ladkhan temple, built on the lines of Ladkhan temple.It is standing on high molded base.An outer wall contains 16 pillars.Between them, stone slabs are fixed to serve as walls. An 8th-century inscription here refers to this as Bhagavati temple.To the north of the Jaina temples is the Gowri temple.It is in Kalyana Chalukya style assignable to the 12th century.
Suryanarayana Gudi
Suryanarayana temple has a 0.6 m high statue of Surya along with his consorts Usha and Sandhya being drawn by horses.The temple dates from the 7th or 8th century, has a four pillared inner sanctum and a nagara style tower over it. Suryanarayana Gudi is located to the north-east of Ladkhan temple.It has a four pillared inner hall and in the sanctum,two feet tall idol of Surya. Over the sanctum is a rekhanagara tower.This has been assigned to the 7th −8th centuries.
Rachi Gudi
Rachi Gudi, situated to the west of Aihole Village, is a Shiva temple constructed around the 11th century AD. There are three cells facing three directions. Small images of Nataraja, Ganapathi and Vishnu are depicted on the external walls of the temple.
Huchchappayyana Matha
Huchappayya Matha is towards west of the village is this matha, and closely is a temple. This temple includes a hall, and a sanctum. On the ceiling are the trimurti figures. Here is an inscription of 1067 A.D.
Halabasappana Gudi
Halabasappana Gudi is to the west of the village. It is a small structure with a sanctum and a hall. At the entrance, on the door frame are engraved the idols of Ganga and Yamuna.
Badigera gudi
Badigera gudi is to the west of Chakragudi is Badigeragudi temple which was originally a Surya temple, which has a porch, hall and a cell shrine and over it a rekhanagara tower.The temple belongs to the 9th century.Ambigeara Gudi group
In opposite of Durga temple group the ambigara gudi is built in 10th century in built on a high platform with the inner celing of the mantapa engraved with lotus carving.the temple has a Nagara style shikara and is the two Temple in this complex.it has got its name from the ambiga community people who used to living this complex.
Chikki Gudi group
Chikkigudi Group is at a short distance to the north of the Ambigeragudi are a group of temples among which Chikkigudi is the biggest with a front hall,a mantapa and a cell shrine.This is supposed to be a 7th-century structure.
Huchchimalli group
Huchimalli (gudi) temple at Aihole, built in the 7th century shows an evolution in the temple plan, as it shows an ardhamantapa or an ante-chamber annexed to the main shrine. Huchimalli Group Of Temples, to the north of the village behind the travelers’ bungalow is this beautiful temple. The sanctum here has a pradakshinapatha and its external walls contain lattices. The sanctum has a northern style rekhanagara tower. It is in this temple the shukanasa or the vestibule was introduced for the first time. A little away in front is another dilapidated temple. Another small temple to the north of Huchimalligudi is assigned to the 11th century.
Mallikarjuna Temple complex
Charanthimatha Group of temples
Galaganatha group of Temple
Galaganatha group temples is one of nearly thirty temples on the bank of the Malaprabha River.The main shrine of the Galaganatha temple enshrining Shiva – Galaganatha has a curvilinear shikhara, and has images of Ganga and Yamuna at the entrance to this shrine. Galaganatha group of temples, further south of Huchappaiah temple is this group of about 38 small shrines in which the shrine of Galaganatha is intact,and most of the others are in ruins.The Galaganatha shrine has a hall, interior passage and sanctum. Its tower is rekhanagara.The temple has been assigned to the 8th century. There is another 10th century trikutachala temple found in this group.
Trimbakeshwar Temple Complex
Triyambakeshvara Group,it is close to the Charantimatha,towards north-east are the Triyambakeshwara group of temples,two of which are trikutachalas,assigned to the 12th century.Nearby is Maddinagudi. There is a beautiful idol of nataraja in the mantapa,this is an 11th-century AD temple. Group of Jainagudis:To the north of Triyambakeshvara lie some jaina basadis called as Jainanarayana or Yoginarayana of the Kalyana Chalukya style trikutachala structures (11th century).The Parshvanatha idol in the central shrine remains.There are three other shrines here.
Gauri temple
Ravanaphadi rock-cut Temple
The first true gem of Chalukyan architecture is rock-cut temple devoted to Shiva.Ravana Phadi is built in 550 AD and is one of the oldest structures in Aihole.It has been carved in sandstone outcrop and has been preserved comparatively well.
Unlike many other rock-cut temples in India, Ravana Phadi has large plain field in the front of outcrop and architects have used this with success.Entrance in the cave opens to the southwest. Cave itself stands on high platform and can be reached by a flight of steps.
In the front of entrance in the temple there stands huge, monolithic pillar with a square base. Closer to the entrance is sculpture of Nandi - bull which Shiva rides. Bull is seated on platform and is facing the cave.
On both sides from entrance there are located two smaller, free-standing pillared halls, adding much effect to the magnificent architecture of entrance in temple.
Entrance in the cave is adorned with two columns adorned with stone carvings. Both sides of entrance are decorated with reliefs of fat-bellied deities. Possibly these are depictions of Kubera, guardian of wealth.
After entering the cave one reaches the rectangular main hall - mandapa, which is even larger than halls in Badami Cave Temples which were created simultaneously with Ravana Phadi.Ceiling of this hall is adorned with huge, intricately carved lotus flower. Ceiling contains also remnants of paintings. One of side walls is adorned with Ardhanari - strange embodymewnt of Shiva where he is half man, half women. Ardhanari stands with trident in hand.
On opposite wall there is carving with Shiva, standing under three heads of Ganges - this is allusion to the descent of Ganges from heaven to earth. Shiva is accompanied by Parvati and Bhagiratha. Here is visible also Vishnu with snake and other deities.Mantapa is flanked by two side chambers. To the left one can ascend steps and reach one of them - very narrow chamber with large, impressive relief of Shiva as Nataraja with ten arms. Shiva holds a snake above his head and on the neck. Nataraja is accompanied by Ganesh and Parvati and seven Matrikas . Ganesh is shown with two hands - as it is common in archaic depictions of this deity.Chamber to the right has no carvings - there is fissure in the roof and possibly due to this the adonrment of this chamber did not take place.
Further, after mandapa there follows a flight of steps and small chamber with exquisite carvings on side walls. They show Durga slaying the buffalo-like demon-king Mahishasura. Her trident has pierced the demon who is kneeling on the ground.
Opposite wall is adorned with a relief depicting Vishnu in his Varaha incarnation. On his arm is sitting goddess-Earth - his wife Bhūmī. Ceiling of this chamber has three large circles carved with Vishnu and Garuda, a lotus and Indra on his mount. Beams are carved with flying apsaras.
Three entrances are leading into the main shrine -cella - where is located lingam - Shivalinga.
Interesting feature of this temple is carving of Bhringi - a saint who appealed to finish with eating. He is shown as a malnourished man praying to Lord Shiva.
Jyotirlinga of group Temple
Jyothirlinga Group, at a short distance to the south-west of Ravalaphadi is the group of temples called Jothirlinga group.Two small temples here are flat roofed and in front of them are Nandimantapas.The remaining temples have a sanctum,shukanasa and a front hall in each of the temples. Two of the temples have Kadambanagara towers. Two of the temples have inscriptions of the Kalyana Chalukya period. The rest of the temples now dilapidated are of about the 8th to 10th centuries.
Ramalinga Temple group
Kunti temples complex
Kontigudi group of temples, situated in about the middle of the bazaar are four temples. The first among them has the Trimurthy idols on the ceiling of the mantapa.These temples are assignable to the 7th century with various adjuncts being added during later centuries. Only one among them is dilapidated, and is of about the 10th century.
Meguti Basadi
It was most impressive Basadi in Aihole.The Meguti Jain Temple is prominently located on top of the highest hill in Aihole and was built in the year 634 AD.From a historic standpoint the inscription dating the monument is found on the eastem outer wall of the temple and records its construction by Ravikeerti, who was a commander and minister under the famous Chalukya King Pulkeshi II.Meguti Temple is the only dated monument in Aihole, provides an important evidence of the early development of the Dravidian style of Architecture.On1y two of the original sculptures have survived;a large seated idol of Lord Mahavira & a partly mutilated but still convincingly beautiful goddess Ambika.
The Meguti temple,situated on the hillock, is built on an elevated platform. It has two sanctums a court hall and a portico.A stone ladder carved out at the portico provides access to the roof. This flight of stairs leads to another shrine on the roof, directly above the main shrine.From the roof, one can have a panoramic view of the hundred temples of Aihole.A pillared corridor runs around the temple,enveloping the shrine.Its beautiful motifs and richly carved images on stone reflect the earliest development of Jain a art and architecture.
Two story Buddhist Chaitya
Two story Buddhist Chaitya
In This Buddhist Chaitya influence by Mahayana Bubbhist in western Chalukyan period.and it was is located on top of the hillock in Aihole ,It was built around the 5th century and is 25 feet high.
*Group of Yeniar Shrines, a little further away to the south, along the river bank are this group of eight temples, usually with a porch, hall and a cella, all of about 12th century
*Jain cave temple at the entrance of the Aihole (from Pattadakal/Badami) on the banks of Mallaprabha river it is similar to Ravana Phadi cave, there are inscriptions on rock in old Kannada near the cave.
*Group of Yeniar Shrines, a little further away to the south, along the river bank are this group of eight temples, usually with a porch, hall and a cella, all of about 12th century
*Jain cave temple at the entrance of the Aihole (from Pattadakal/Badami) on the banks of Mallaprabha river it is similar to Ravana Phadi cave, there are inscriptions on rock in old Kannada near the cave.
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