Pattadakal

This article is about the historical site. For the modern town, see Pattadakal (town).

Pattadakal
Pattadakallu
Temples of Pattadakal
Pattadakal is located in Karnataka
Pattadakal
Shown within Karnataka
Pattadakal is located in India
Pattadakal
Pattadakal (India)
LocationBagalkot district, Karnataka, India
Coordinates15°57′05″N 75°48′53″E / 15.95139°N 75.81472°E / 15.95139; 75.81472
TypeCultural
Criteriaiii, iv
Designated1987 (11th session)
Reference no.239
RegionAsia-Pacific

Pattadakal, also called Raktapura, is a complex of 7th and 8th century CE Hindu and Jain temples in northern Karnataka, India. Located on the west bank of the Malaprabha River in Bagalkot district, this UNESCO World Heritage Site[1][2] is 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Badami and about 9.7 kilometres (6 mi) from Aihole, both of which are historically significant centres of Chalukya monuments.[3][4] The monument is a protected site under Indian law and is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).[5]

UNESCO has described Pattadakal as "a harmonious blend of architectural forms from northern and southern India" and an illustration of "eclectic art" at its height.[2] The Hindu temples are generally dedicated to Shiva, but elements of Vaishnavism and Shaktism theology and legends are also featured. The friezes in the Hindu temples display various Vedic and Puranic concepts, depict stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana, as well as elements of other Hindu texts, such as the Panchatantra and the Kirātārjunīya.[2][6] The Jain temple is only dedicated to a single Jina.[7] The most sophisticated temples, with complex friezes and a fusion of Northern and Southern styles, are found in the Papanatha and Virupaksha temples.[8][9] The Virupaksha temple is an active house of Hindu worship.[10]

The Mallaprabha River, a tributary of the Krishna River cutting across the valley of mountains surrounded and the plains has great importance and place in this history of south India. The origin of this river is from Kanakumbi, Belagavi district, in the western ghats region flows towards the eastern side. Just one kilometre (0.62 mi) before reaching Pattadakal it starts flowing from south to north. As per the Hindu tradition, a river that flows in the north direction is also called Uttarvahini Ganga.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Arch was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, UNESCO; See also Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS), UNESCO
  3. ^ World Heritage Sites – Pattadakal – More Detail, Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India (2012)
  4. ^ Michell 2017, pp. 12–19, 110–114.
  5. ^ World Heritage Sites – Pattadakal; Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987), Karnataka; ASI, Government of India
  6. ^ Michell 2017, pp. 110–131.
  7. ^ Michell 2017, p. 136.
  8. ^ Cathleen Cummings 2014, pp. 1–7.
  9. ^ Lippe 1967.
  10. ^ Virupaksha Temple Archived 1 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, ASI India (2011)