Galaganatha Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest airport is Hubballi, 140 km away.

• By train

  The nearest railway station is Badami, 17 km away.

• By road

  Pattadakal is 22 km from Badami by road. Regular buses, taxis and tours run from Bagalkot or Badami.

Rules to know

• Shoes must be taken off before going inside the temples.
• Keep silence around the sanctum and do not litter.

Why devotees come here

Galaganatha is a Shiva temple from the 7th or 8th century in Pattadakal, Bagalkot district, Karnataka. Its curvilinear Nagara shikhara stands out among the Dravidian-style temples around it.

Pattadakal is a complex of 7th and 8th century Hindu and Jain temples on the Malaprabha river. Galaganatha is one of the nine Hindu temples here, all dedicated to Shiva. The southern part of the temple keeps a carved slab of an eight-armed Shiva slaying the demon Andhaka. The theme is said to stand for wisdom beating ignorance and ego.

The temple was built during the Chalukya period. ASI dates it to the mid-8th century, while scholar George Michell puts it in the late 7th century. It follows the northern rekha-nagara style, with a linga and a vestibule inside the sanctum. Michell notes that it is almost an exact copy of the Svarga Brahma temple at Alampur, which dates to 689 CE.

Much of the temple is now in ruins. The basement of its eastern molding has friezes of Panchatantra fables, including the mischievous monkey and the two-headed bird. The sabha mantapa, a hall used for ceremonial functions, still stands, while the mukha mantapa survives only as its foundation.

Festivals

• January or FebruaryPattadakal Dance Festival

  Classical dance performances are part of the festival.

Tips for your visit

• Go in the early morning or the evening, when it is cooler and better for photographs.
• Galaganatha is relatively quieter than the other temples in the complex, which suits contemplation and architectural appreciation.

Questions people ask