File:Aghoresvara Devasthana temples and site plan, Ikkeri Karnataka.jpg

English: Location of this monument:

Object location	14° 08′ 06.9″ N, 75° 01′ 21.65″ E	View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap	14.135250; 75.022680

Under the early Vijayanagara kings, Ikkeri emerged as a prosperous province governed by the Nayakas, with Keladi as its capital. Chaudappa Nayaka (1499-1544) moved the capital from Keladi to Ikkeri city with new Hindu temples in Nayaka style.

The granite Aghoreshvara temple, erected by Keladi Nayakas is in the Nayaka style. It is one of the finest, best preserved 16th century Hindu temples that illustrate the Nayaka architecture – a subcategory of Dravidian Hindu architecture. The Aghoreshvara temple faces north-south. On plan, it has a garbhagriha, ardhamandapa, and massive mukhamandapa with Nandi pavilion.

The temples complex has a square plan, is set within a prakara wall, has a torana gateway with sloping stone roof, includes several temples with elaborate artwork and sculpture. One of these show three Keladi chiefs bowing. The garbhagriha includes a huge pedestal with 32 seated female figures. A exquisite translucent stone Nandi sits in the Ardhamandapa with Ganesha, Kartikeya, Mahishamardini, and Bhairava sculptures flanking its entry. Polished and carved pillars support the mukhamandapa. It has three elaborate entrances with balustraded steps. Caparisoned elephants surround the northern main gate. Twenty perforated windows with ornate arches and notable sculptures decorate the walls. The Nandi mandapa has a massive couchant bull with Yali-balustraded steps at south. Lion sculptures stand near the mandapa. The main temple is for Shiva.

The smaller Parvati shrine is to the west. It is identical to the main temple but smaller, yet as beautiful. The entire complex is midst lush forests, a temple reservoir sits to the east of the complex.