Aihole, Archaeological site in Bagalkot district, India.
Aihole is an archaeological village in Bagalkot district, India, situated along the Malaprabha River valley. More than 120 stone and rock-cut temples spread across the site showcase Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain architectural forms from different centuries.
The Chalukya dynasty established the site as a center for temple construction in the 6th century and experimented with different building styles. Later rulers in the region added more monuments and used the valley as a religious and administrative hub.
The local name Ayyavole derives from Sanskrit and refers to a historical merchant guild. Villagers from surrounding areas continue to use several temples for daily worship and religious festivals throughout the year.
The site lies about 140 kilometers from Hubballi airport and 450 kilometers from Bengaluru. The nearest train stations are in Badami and Bagalakote, with roads crossing rural areas to reach the archaeological zone.
The Durga temple has a semicircular ground plan similar to Buddhist prayer halls, an uncommon design for Hindu structures. On Meguti hill, one temple contains inscriptions from 634 that mention King Pulakeshin II and rank among the oldest surviving texts in the region.
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