Temples of Pattadakkal

It was difficult for me to take pictures during this trip. It was Pongal and thus holiday. People thronged all over and it was chaotic. One thing I am very particular while taking photos is the presence of any foreign object in my frame apart from my subject. It was very difficult to capture those monuments without having people around it or walking towards it.

Many a time, I would wait for minutes before I got a clearance and when I got the perfect frame; it didnt remain for more than few seconds. Standing under the scorching sun and at some places bare-footed to take a perfect picture was tough; but it was worth in the end.

PATTADAKKAL:  This town has group of temples which is declared as World Heritage style by UNESCO. Pattadakkal was the capital of Chalukyas and these temples were built in the 7th and 8th centuries. The style is unique - the Vesara which displays both Dravidian(Southern) and Negara(Northern). There are Jain temples as well. This is what Wiki has to say - "Aihole is considered a School of Architecture, Badami a Degree college and The University of Architecture is Pattadakkal"

The temples here are much evolved and had served as template for considerable temples in Southern India. One can find lot of tiny temples which seems like a 'model' temple before building the bigger ones. The temples are built with sandstone which further explains the waning of the sculptures. The ASI has been restoring them and also trying to claim lands so that encroaching is prevented. Yet one can see temples behind every house as if a out-house.

I do not remember names of these temples. Each one looked unique and at the same time similar that one needs an 'architectural' eye to differentiate.

Here is a temple of rekhanagari style of architecture. The walls of the temple are plain and simple unlike the delicate and intricate details as you would find on the walls of a Southern Indian architectural style of temple. This one below is the Jambulingeshwara temple.

 

A combo. We can easily make out the rekhanagari and the dravidian style in these 2 temples. 

The sikhar is a fantastic example of Negara style.

One of the 'model' temple.

The Galaganatha temple built in the architecture style of Rekha Negara. This temple contains a sculpture of Lord Shiva killing the demon Andhakasura.

Kashivishwanatha temple built in the 8th century in early Chalukya style by the Rashtrakutas.

A Drividian style temple complex. The Virupaksha temple built by the Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband's victory(Vikramaditya II) over the Pallavas of Kanchi. This temple is rich in sculptures and detailed carvings on ceilings and pillars as any other Dravidian style temple.

Carvings on a pillar.

A sculpture with old Kannada inscription

The ceilings of the Virupaksha temple.

Typical Dravidian style. The Virupaksha temple closely resembles the Kailasanathar temple in Kanchi built by Pallavas. The Kailasanathar temple of Kanchi also served as a model for the Kailash temple in Ellora built by the Rashtrakutas because of the marital relations between the Pallavas and the Rashtrakutas. 

I do not remember the name.

The Sangameshwara temple built in Dravidian style. It is similar to Virupaksha temple in being square on plan from the base to sikhara. the main vimana is 3 storeys.

A passage.

One of the facade of the Sangameshwara temple.

And another....

One of the sculpture on a wall.

Virupaksha temple

Another view

 

A dancing figure? I found it interesting.

A section of a temple complex.

A Negara and a Dravidian side by side.