Deccan splendour

Aihole, considered the cradle of temple building.

At the Durga temple in Aihole.

Ten-armed Siva at the Ravalphadi Cave, Aihole.

A Siva temple carved deep within a sandstone outcrop at the Ravalaphadi cave, dated around 550 C.E.

At the Durga temple, Aihole.

Durga temple pillar frieze, Aihole.

A sculpture of Nandi at the Lad Khan temple, Aihole.

Twin temples, Aihole.

Gauda Gudi temple in Aihole.

A seven-headed serpent carved on the ceiling of the Durga temple.

The fifth cave temple in Badami, which is in a dilapidated condition.

Jain tirthankaras in Cave 4 in Badami.

Cave temple 2, Badami, dedicated to Vishnu, was built in the sixth century.

Jain tirthankara at Cave 4, Badami.

Ornate pillar brackets in Badami.

Galaganatha temple in Pattadakal. It belongs to the later phase of Chalukya temple building.

The Virupaksha temple in Pattadakal is rich in pillar carvings with mythological themes.

Bhishma on a bed of arrows, at the Virupaksha temple.

The Mallikarjuna temple at Pattadakal. It belongs to the final phase of Chalukya temple architecture.

The Sangameshwara temple at Pattadakal.

The Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal.

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The Durga temple in Aihole, constructed in the sixth century, is built in the Buddhist chaitya style but it has a corridor running on all three sides.