Pattadakal

Pattadakal is a temple town in Karnataka. There are more than ten temples in this town on the banks of Malaprabha river. Pattadakal is said to be an ancient town, that Ptolemy the well known geographer (AD 150) introduced this place as Petrigal in his writings. Chalakyas the then rulers erected most of these temples. The excellence of Nagara and Dravida style of Indian architecture can be seen here. The three Siva temples Sangamesware, Mallikarjuna nad Virupaksha were built in Dravida style. The Virupaksha temple is a large stone structure on which illustrations of Ramayana and Mahabharatha are beautifully carved. The earlier templs like Kasinatha, Kadasiddesvara, Papanatha and Jumbulingeswara were built in Nagara style with pyramidal towers. The temples of Pattadakal built during the 7^th and 8^th centuries remind us of the artistic talent and creativity of the Chalukyas.