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1. Temple Architecture of
Early Chalukyas
“Pattadkal”
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
A.I.H.C. & Archaeology
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

2. Pattadkal Group of Temples
Pattadakal is a town situated on banks of river Malaprabha in Bagalkot
district of Karnataka in India. UNESCO has recognised it as a ‘World
Heritage site’ in 1987.

4. Pattadkal
• Pattadakal ("place of coronation") it was used during
the Chalukyan for coronation ceremonies.
• Situated 16 km from Badami.
• Important religious and cultural center
• Total 10 temples: 4: Nagar style, 6: Dravid Style
• Second inning of Chalukyan temple architecture
• During 643 CE Pattadkal became a Capital
• Architecture was at peak during the reign of Chalukyan king
Vijyaditya and Vikramaditya (696-746).
• Kings and their queens constructed temples here.
• Temples shows the stylistic changes in architecture and beautiful
sculptures at a one place.
• Final stage of development of early Chalukyan temple
architecture

6. Basic features of temple
1. Garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum)
2. Antarala (vestibule)
3. Mandapa (hall)
• A shikhara on top of the garbhagriha
• Temples are mostly dedicated to Shiva
• one Jain temple located almost a kilometre dedicated to
the 23rd Tirthankar, Parsvanatha.

7. Temples at Paddadkal
Sr
No
Name of temple style Period
1 Papnath Nagar 680 CE
2 Jambuling Nagar 680 CE
3 Kar Siddheshwar Nagar 680 CE
4 Kashi-Vishwanath Nagar 680 CE
5 Sangmeshwar Dravid 725 CE
6 Virupaksh Dravid 740 CE
7 Mallikarjun Dravid 740 CE
8 Galangnath Dravid 740 CE
9 Someshwar Dravid 740 CE
10 Jain 740 CE

8. Important Temples
1. Galaganatha Temple
2. Papnath Temple
3. Sangmeshwara temple
4. Virupaksh Temple
5. Mallikarjuna temple.

9. Galaganatha
Temple

10. Galaganatha Temple
• Nagar style
• Garbhgriha
• Antaral
• Sabha Mandapa
• Mukh mandapa
• Pradakshina patha
• Nandi (outside)
• Temple mostly in ruins
• Date: 750 CE
• Michell: Copy of the Svarga Brahma temple of
Alampur in AP

11. • Sculptures
• Ganga- Yamuna
• Natraja
• Andhakasura

12. Papnath Temple

13. Papnath Temple
Known as Mukteswar in inscription
Elements:
1. Garbhgriha
2. Antarala
3. Mandapa
4. Sabhamandap
5. Mukhmandap
• Facing east
• Mixture of Dravida, and Nagara styles
• The unusual layout shows lac of placement of main part.
• Shikra is too short as per the length of the temple
• Antarala is also too big
• Length: 90 feet;
• Plan and elevation not harmonise.

14. • Papanatha temple faces
east
• Has a Shiva linga in
its garbhagriha (sanctum)
• No Nandi-mandapa.
• Instead, image of Nandi
housed in the sabha
mantapa facing the
sanctum.
• Big Sabhamandapa

17. Internal Art

18. Decoration
• Shows influence of rock cut architecture
• The decorations, parapets and some parts of the layout are
Dravida in style, while the shikra and pilastered niches
are of the Nagara style.
• The temple is famous for the scenes of Ramayana and
Mahabharata.
• The wall surfaces are relieved with niches (devakoshthas)
housing Saiva and Vaishnava deities
• The centre of the ceiling is decorated with Natraja,
Vishnu.

19. Papnath Temple

20. Sangmeshwar Temple

21. Sangmeshwar Temple
• Also known as the Vijayeshvara temple
• Earliest Dravid style temple
• In enclosure
• Built by Vijyaditya in 733 CE
• Plan: Square Layout
1. Garbhgriha (Shivlinga)
2. Mandap
3. Nandimandap
4. Covered pradakshina patha with three carved windows
5. Antarala (vestibule) has smaller shrines either side.

22. Sangmeshwar Temple
1. Temple built on a
high plinth
consisting of five
mouldings
decorated with
animal and floral
motifs.
2. Mandapa has 16
massive pillars
set in groups of
four.
3. Pillars may have
been added after
construction of
the temple was
completed.

23. Sangmeshwar Temple

24. Art
• Dravid Vimana.
• Two wo tiered structure
• Kalasa at the top
• Small ganas (playful dwarfs), above the Kapota (eaves)
• Over the walls of the temple number of
niches (devakostha) consist images of Vishnu and Shiva.
• Shaiva: Nataraja, Gajantak, Ardhanarishvara, Andhakasur,
Uma-maheshwar.
• Vaishnava : Bhuvaraha, Vishnu, Dakshinamurti.

25. Rare view of Sangmeshwar Temple

26. Virupaksha Temple
• Known as Shri Lokeshvara Mahasila Prasada
• It was built by Queen Lok Mahadevi 740 CE after the
successful military campaigns of King Vikramaditya II
against the Pallavas.
• Architect: Sutrdhar Sarvsiddhacharya
• R. Rajan: Perfect balance between Architecture and Art
compare with Kailas of Ellora
• E. Tomory: The Harmonious blending of the elemenst
• Virupaksha Temple is largest and most sophisticated of
the monuments at Pattadakal.

29. Elements of Virupaksha Temple
1. Garbha griha,
2. Pradakshina path,
3. Antarala.
4. Mandapa
5. Nandi Mandapa
a. Garbha griha : Shiv Ling, highly
decorated door with dwarpal, vyal etc.
b. Antarala: Two small shrines are placed
to the antarala, (dedicated to
Ganesh,Mahisasurmardini).
c. 16 pillarad Mandapa with three porches
from the east, north and south (for
decoration and light).
d. Further east, a Nandi mandapa is
placed on a plinth.
e. The whole temple is surrounded
by prakara (enclosure) walls that are
provided with subsidiary shrines on its
inner side.

30. The magnificently built Dravida shikhara with
a well-preserved sukanasa ('nose,' arched
projection) on the front is one of the hallmarks
of the temple.
The superstructure is three-storied and topped
by a four-sided amalaka with a kalash at its
finial.
Shows well developed Dravidian
architectural style

31. Nandi Mandap

32. Virupaksha Art
• Walls of Garbhagruha and mandapa are decorated with
detailed carvings.
• Dwarpala on both sides of the entrance
• The temple, although dedicated to Shiva, also includes
Vaishnava images (Harihara).
• Shiva: Ardhanarishvara, Ravnanugrah, Lingodbhav,
Gajendramoksh,
• Vaishnav: Narasimha, Vishnu, Harihar,
• Shaktism deities: Mahishasurmardini
• Scene from Ramayana and Mahabharata
• Mithuna, Gandharvas etc.

35. Conclusion
• UNESCO: “A harmonious blend of architectural forms
from northern and southern India”
• Important religious and cultural center for innovations in
architecture and experimentation of ideas.
• Immense Art and decoration
• Stories from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata
Purana, as well as the Panchatantra and
the Kirātārjunīya.
• Aihole became a locus of scholarship. The
experimentations in architecture extended into Badami and
Pattadakal became a nexus.