Aihole

Aihole is a village in the Malaprabha valley of northern Karnataka, about 35 km from Badami, 14 km from Pattadakal and 140 km from Hampi. Often described as a cradle of Indian temple architecture, it has more than 120 Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples from the time of the Chalukyas, and the monuments are now cared for by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The best known is the Durga Temple, set on a raised plinth, with a rounded apsidal end and a gallery running around the sanctum; its complex also holds an art gallery and a museum of finds from the area. The 6th-century Ravana Phadi cave has carvings of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Vishnu. Other shrines include Garudagudi, Chakragudi, Ambigaragudi and Rachigudi, as well as the Kuntigudi, Hallibasappa Gudi, Trimbakeshwar, Mallikarjuna and Jyotirlinga temples. Each February the Chalukya Utsava fills the area with music, dance, drama, folk arts and sports.