Aihole and Pattadakal

Aihole is a temple complex with twenty two groups of temples. The Lad Khan Temple is one of the major temples in the region of Aihole, and this temple is guarded by two huge mantapas (towering gateways). The main deity in this temple is Lord Shiva, and the Shiva Lingam present in this temple serves as an epicenter for pilgrims and tourists alike. Other major temples in the region include the Huchappayya temple, the Huchimalli temple, the Durga temple and the Suryanarayana temple. Ravana Phadi is yet another tourist favorite, and this one of the oldest cave temples in India. Pattadakal Pattadakal saw the Badami Chalukya art in its full bloom. These temples are built in the seventh and eighth centuries. There are ten temples including a Jaina basadi of Rashtrakuta times and also surrounded by numerous small shrines and plinths. Pattadakal itself was known as Kisuvolal "Red Town" as the sand stone here is reddish in colour.