Aihole – The Cradle of Hindu temple Architecture

About Aihole

Aihole, also known as Aryapura or Ayyavole, is a small village on the Malaprabha river’s banks. It is located in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka. It was once the Chalukya dynasty’s capital. As the “Cradle of Hindu temple architecture”, Aihole holds great cultural significance. It has approximately 120 temples scattered throughout the village. Durga temple, Lad Khan temple, Ravan pahadi cave, and Hucchimalli temple are among the major attractions in Aihole.

Legend of Aihole’s name

Aihole’s history is also mentioned in Hindu mythologies. According to legend, Lord Parashurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, washed his blood-stained hands in the Malaprabha river after killing the Kshatriyas to avenge his father. The blood caused the water to turn red, prompting a lady to exclaim, ‘Ayyo Hole!’ (Oh no! Blood!). As a result, it received the name Aihole.

The specialty of Aihole temple Names

The Aihole temples’ naming convention is notable in that they are named after their location or the people who lived there, rather than in honor of the temple’s gods, as most are. Durga Gudi, Badiger Gudi, Ambiger Gudi, Gaudara Gudi, and Lad Khan temples are examples of such names. The Lad Khan temple was named after a Muslim commander named ‘Lad Khan,’ who briefly camped there. The Badiger Gudi temple was named after the carpenter family who lived on the site. Similarly, Ambiger Gudi got its name because the Ambiger (boatsmen) community lived nearby.

Aihole Complex

Durga Temple

Durga temple is a curvilinear temple with intricate carvings that stands out among the complex’s temples. Despite its name, the Durga Gudi temple is not dedicated to Goddess Durga. Instead, Durga Gudi or Durga temple got its name because it is close to the fort. The main deity of the temple was the Sun god which is in ruins now. The pillars and ceilings of the temple adorn magnificent carvings and sculptures. Sculptures of Vishnu, Garuda, Mahishasuramardhini, and Surya, among others, adorn the temple.

Lad Khan Temple

The Lad Khan temple has a large pillared porch, square pillared halls, and a rectangular sanctum in the back. The floral patterns carved on the windows are beautiful and elegant. A small rooftop shrine crowns the central hall, which is surrounded by a two-layered sloped roof. Stone strips shaped like logs adorn all sides of the roof slabs. Lord Shiva is the deity of the temple. In the central hall, there is a large Nandi.

Suryanarayana temple and Gaudara Gudi

Suryanarayana temple has a curvilinear shikhara. It has a shrine of Surya riding on a chariot drawn by seven horses in the sanctum. According to the inscriptions, Gaudara Gudi honors Goddess Durga. It consists of a rectangular shrine and a rectangular hall with pillars.

Chakra Gudi and Badiger Gudi

Other temples on the premises also include Chakra Gudi and Badiger Gudi. There is a small Kalyani in front of Badiger Gudi and next to Chakra Gudi. The sanctum of Chakra Gudi has an intricately carved curvilinear tower. The main deity of this temple also was Goddess Durga. In the complex, Badiger Gudi is a small temple with a curvilinear tower on the sanctum. The presence of a Surya image on the tower indicates that this was once a Surya temple.

Ambiger Gudi

Ambiger Gudi is located on the other side of the road, opposite the main temple complex. It consists of three temples. The first temple is located on an elevated platform and includes a Shikara. The second sanctum contains a damaged image of Surya, the temple’s main deity. The third temple in the foreground is a rectangular structure facing west.

Archaeological Museum

The complex also houses an archaeological museum. This is a small museum that features a collection of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist ruins from various locations. It also includes images of various temples as well as information on their renovations.

For prominent temples in Aihole, there is an entry fee of 20 rupees for Indian citizens and 200 rupees for foreigners. In addition, there is a separate charge for cameras and archaeological museums. There is no entrance fee to the other temples scattered throughout the village. Some of these temple complexes are also located among the village houses and fields. Moreover, because all of the temples in the Aihole complex are in ruins, no pooja is performed in any of them.

How To Reach Aihole

By Road

Bike/Car :

• The shortest route from Bangalore to Aihole is via NH 48 and NH 50, which run through Tumkur, Chitradurga, Hospet, Ilkal, and Aihole.
• It will take nearly 8 hours.

Bus :

• Aihole has bus services from nearby towns and cities.

By Train

• Aihole is a small village and hence does not have a railway station.
• Badami railway station is 35 km away from Aihole which is nearest. There are several trains from Bangalore and Pune to Badami. Further if interested read about Badami caves here.
• Bagalkot railway station is also only 38 km away.

By Air

• The nearest airport to Aihole is Hubballi. It is a domestic airport located 140 km from Aihole.
• Goa is the nearest international airport which is 280 km away.

Travel Tips To Visit Aihole

• The Aihole complex is well-kept. So please keep the places tidy and do not litter.
• Pattadakal is close to Aihole, and Badami is the nearest town to both. Due to the limited frequency of buses or shared autos from Aihole to Pattadakal, it is best to hire a cab or auto from Badami to visit Aihole and Pattadakal in a single day. Public transportation is also another good option if you are seeing the places leisurely.
• It is best to visit Aihole between mid-September and January. It is uncomfortable in the summer because the area becomes too hot. During the rainy season, the area may also become flooded. So it’s best to avoid it during these seasons.
• All of Aihole’s major temples are nearby, so if you have time, you can explore them on foot. Autos are also available if needed.
• Eating at Pattadakal or bringing food with you is better because hotels are not available in Aihole. Roadside stalls only serve water, tea, buttermilk, or soft drinks, as well as some fruits and snacks. Also, you can read more about Pattadakal here.
• If you want to stay in Aihole, the only place with basic amenities is Mayura Lodge. So to get a variety of options, you can stay in Badami or nearby Kudala Sangam. You can also stay in Bagalkot, the nearest district.
• Read our post on North Karnataka Itinerary for a suggested itinerary of well-known North Karnataka attractions.