Aihole Tourism

"The Temple Complex of Karnataka" Aihole Tourism Well known as the temple complex ofKarnatakaand home to about 125 Chalukyan temples, this city is a splendid touristy destination. True to its sobriquet, it is home to hundreds of temples each of which has a distinctly beautiful structure. Located in Bagalkot district of Karnataka at a distance of around 510 km fromÊBangalore, Aihole is known for its Chalukyan architecture. It is also among the contenders for a position in the UNESCO World heritage site. The architecture flourished around the 6th century AD during the reign of Badami Chalukyas. The towns of Pattadakkal and Badami are also located nearby and together, they form a great region to witness the marvel and grandeur of Chalukyan architecture. Download Aihole PDF Guide > What's Great? Aihole houses more than 125 temples. Enjoy exquisite architecture of the temples. What's not so Great? Very few decent hotels and eateries. For Whom Ideal for people who wish to explore places with historical significance and architecture. A good place for family vacations and solo trips.

History As to how Aihole was named has an exciting background. Legend has it that Lord Parashurama, after avenging the death of his father, Sage Jamadagni came to the river Malaprabha (flowing through the town) to wash his battle axe and blood stain hands. While doing so, the blood turned the colour of the river water to red. Seeing this horrifying sight, a woman screamed 'Ayyo Hole!? in Kannada, which translates to 'Oh no Blood!?. Thus, this town got the name Aihole. However, this place is also called ?Ayyavole? and ?Aryapura?. Chalukyan Style of Architecture Aihole is considered as 'The cradle of Hindu rock architecture'. Legend has it that more than 125 temples were built during Badami Chalukyas rule, between 5th and 8th centuries. These temples represent different architectural styles like that of Dravidian, Phamsana, Gajaprastha and Nagara. The exquisite sculpture from this period has a classical quality. Richly carved ceilings, isolated figures and flat roofs, are some of the standard features of the temples. The grandeur of the Chalukyan architecture is beyond excellence. Festivals Chalukya Utsava The Chalukya Utsava is a 3-day festival held every year. In addition to cultural activities such as singing, dancing, etc. this festival also houses several competitions and adventure activities. One of the main attractions of this grand event is the helicopter ride and hot air balloon ride (priced at INR 1,000 and INR 2,000 per person, respectively) for an aerial view of the ancient city. Banashankari Dance Festival The Banashankari Dance Festival is a month-long festival held from January to February each year. It involves the annual temple car (chariot) which is pulled from the temple gate to another sculpture called Padhkatte. Devotees from various places come to be a part of this event which is marked by religious as well as cultural celebrations, including prayers, dance and songs. Virupaksha Temple Car Festival Held in March/April as per local calendar, the Virupaksha Temple Car Festival is the annual temple car (chariot) festival. It involves a huge wooden chariot, marked by the auspicious presence of Gods and Goddess seated inside, which is pulled in a colorful procession attended by thousand of devotees. This festival symbolizes the annual wedding ritual of God's and Goddess.

Itinerary Arrive at Aihole. Have breakfast and head straight to the Durga temple, which is the most remarkable temple of the place. Next, visit the Meguti Jain temple, which stands on a hillock. Explore other temples including Hucchimalli Temple, Gowda Temple, etc., all being located within 2 to 3 km radius. 

Oct-Maris the best time to visit Aihole October to March is the best period to enjoy a trip to Aihole. Summers are scorching with temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius. July, August and September experiences generous rainfall and that might be a hindrance in enjoying sightseeing around the area. Weather in Aihole Loading... Aihole in Summer (April - July) Summers are sweltering with temperatures soaring as high as 35 degrees Celsius. This makes travelling and sightseeing difficult. Aihole in Monsoon (August - September) Aihole receives heavy rainfall, which is a hindrance in sightseeing. This is not an advisable time to visit the place. Aihole in Winter (November - February) The weather is not extremely cold and remains pleasant for a comfortable visit. This is the ideal time to visit Aihole. Monthly Weather in Aihole Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 16 30 February 17 33 March 19 35 April 21 38 May 23 36 June 22 30 July 22 28 August 22 29 September 21 29 October 21 30 November 17 30 December 16 29