With its beautifully chiselled temples, this World Heritage Site on the banks of the
Malaprabha river bears testimony to the richness of Chalukyan architecture. Pattadakal reached its pinnacle of glory under the Chalukya kings and was once
used as a ceremonial centre where kings were crowned and commemorated. It
has a cluster of 10 major temples, each displaying interesting architectural
features. At the entrance of the site, you can see the 8th century temples of
Jambulinga, Kadasiddeshvara, and Galaganatha with their curvilinear shikaras or spires. The biggest temple, dedicated to Virupaksha, has a huge gateway, several inscriptions, and a profusion of friezes from the epics. Facing the temple is a pavilion containing a massive nandi. The Mallikarjuna Temple is similar in design to
Virupaksha Temple, but smaller in size. The ornate Papanatha Temple is yet
another impressive piece of architecture, with delicately chiselled ceilings and a 16-pillared main hall. The Sangameshwara Temple dating from the reign of King Vijayaditya (696–733 AD) is the earliest temple in this complex.