Heritage Karnataka Hampi Badami Pattadakal Aihole Lakkundi Kittur Chennamma Fort Chitradurga Fort Bijapur Gulbarga Fort Bidar Fort Mysore Palace Srirangapatna Somnathpur Belur Helebidu Bangalore Palace Tipu's Fort And Palace Bellary Fort Adi Chunchanagiri       District: Bagalkot   Aihole - 22km Badami - 22km Bangalore - 495km   Badami - 22km   Dabolim (Goa) - 310km STD Code - 08357     With its beautifully chiselled temples, this World Heritage Site on the banks of the Malaprabha river bears testimony to the richness of Chalukyan architecture. Pattadakal reached its pinnacle of glory under the Chalukya kings and was once used as a ceremonial centre where kings were crowned and commemorated. It has a cluster of 10 major temples, each displaying interesting architectural features. At the entrance of the site, you can see the 8th century temples of Jambulinga, Kadasiddeshvara, and Galaganatha with their curvilinear shikaras or spires. The biggest temple, dedicated to Virupaksha, has a huge gateway, several inscriptions, and a profusion of friezes from the epics. Facing the temple is a pavilion containing a massive nandi. The Mallikarjuna Temple is similar in design to Virupaksha Temple, but smaller in size. The ornate Papanatha Temple is yet another impressive piece of architecture, with delicately chiselled ceilings and a 16-pillared main hall. The Sangameshwara Temple dating from the reign of King Vijayaditya (696-733 AD) is the earliest temple in this complex.