Pattadakal Temples

Getting there

• By air

  Hubballi Airport is 140 km away.

• By train

  Badami is the nearest railway station, 17 km away. The station is connected to major cities.

• By road

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

Rules to know

• Do not litter on the site.
• Keep silence around the sanctums.
• Do not wear shoes inside the temples.

Why devotees come here

Pattadakal in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the west bank of the Malaprabha River. The temples mix northern Nagara and southern Dravida styles in one place. Most of its Hindu temples are dedicated to Shiva.

Pattadakal is a complex of 7th and 8th century Hindu and Jain temples in northern Karnataka. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and most of its Hindu temples honour Shiva. The Chalukya kings used the site for coronation ceremonies, such as that of Vinayaditya in the 7th century.

The Virupaksha temple is dated to about 740 CE. It faces east and is built around a square sanctum with a Shiva linga. The site has ten major temples, nine Hindu and one Jain, along with many small shrines and plinths.

The monuments reflect a fusion of two Indian styles. One is the northern Nagara style, and the other is the southern Dravida style. The site lies on the west bank of the Malaprabha River, in Bagalkot district.

Festivals

• January or FebruaryPattadakal Dance Festival

  Classical dance performances at the site.

Tips for your visit

• Early mornings and evenings are the best time for photographs, and the weather is cooler then.
• Carry a sun cap, a water bottle and cash for the entry ticket and local stalls.
• Plan a heritage tour that takes in Badami and Aihole as well.

Questions people ask