Awestruck in Aihole

One of India’s most ancient towns and a cradle of temple architecture, this city of the Chalukyas was once known for its commercial significance and monuments.

LAKSHMI SHARATH visits Aihole and has a tough time picking just a handful of temples from the 125 monuments that dot this landscape.

Travel tips:
Aihole, 483 km from Bangalore, is located in Bagalkot district of Karnataka, which is also famous for the historic temple towns of Badami (46 km) and Pattadkal (17 km). The nearest railway station is at Badami.

ALSO SEE:
Badami - where gods abide in caves

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There is hardly a soul here as we make our way to one of the oldest temples in Aihole, one with an unusual name. Lad Khan Temple, built by the Chalukyan kings, may probably take its name after a pious Muslim who stayed here, but it is one of the earliest Chalukyan temples. It is dedicated to Shiva. Initially, it was a hall and later became a temple dedicated to Surya and later a Shivalaya.
There is hardly a soul here as we make our way to one of the oldest temples in Aihole, one with an unusual name. Lad Khan Temple, built by the Chalukyan kings, may probably take its name after a pious Muslim who stayed here, but it is one of the earliest Chalukyan temples. It is dedicated to Shiva. Initially, it was a hall and later became a temple dedicated to Surya and later a Shivalaya.

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