Pattadakal is a farming village on the banks of Malaprabha River in Bagalkot District of Karnataka. This place compensates the drawbacks of Aihole and has reached great heights in the art of architecture. In every inch of space, one can see artistic works which are evidences of superior artistic dexterity.
Pattadakal has 9 temples. It takes a full day to explore the beauty of the temple thoroughly. So, in order to see and enjoy the whole place, it takes a few days.
The important temples in Pattadakal are Virupaksha Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, Papanatha Temple, Kadasiddhesvara Temple, Galganatha Temple, Kashivishvanatha Temple, Jainanarayana Temple, etc.
Though all the temples are immensely beautiful, I think the Viruopaksha Temple is much too developed in the art of architecture and is majestic as well. The Kadasiddhesvara temple is also known as twin temple.
This temple has 5 monumental towers [gopuram]. The main attraction of this temple is the sculpture of Shiva holding a trident or trishul. Its majesticity cannot be described in words. To the north of the sanctum sanctorum of this temple, there are decorative carvings of Ardhanareeswaran, Shiva to the south and Hariharan to the west. To the north of Virupaksha Temple lies Galganatha Temple, which is artistically decorated.
The special feature of this temple is the image of Shiva killing the demon, Andhakasura. In Jainanarayana Temple, there is a 9-to-10 feet high ladder that has been chiseled out of a single stone. Pattadakal has witnessed the coronation of 90 kings.
We can see the tombs of several of these kings in several spots inside the monuments. One gets the idea that there existed zeal to idolize king as God. Papanatha Temple is located outside the group of monuments, facing Malaprabha River.
The temple is built in Dravidian blended with North Indian style. The distinguishing feature of Pattadakal Temples is the extravagance of figures of Shiva in different characters. The huge sculpture of Nandi (bull which serves as the mount of God Shiva) made of basalt is yet another major attraction here.
The architectural work of each of the 9 temples is different. The names of main sculptors are inscribed, among which the notable are Sarvasiddhi Acharya, the father of architectural craftsmanship; Devaputran; Baladeva and Cengamma. I concluded my journey giving a big salute to these craftsmen and their artistic works.
