File:Pattadakal, Sangamesvara Temple (9842865856) cropped.jpg

English: Pattadakal, Sangamesvara Temple

Pattadakal also spelled Pattadakalu is a World Heritage site, a village and an important tourist centre on the left bank of the Malaprabha River in the state of Karnataka, India. It is close to Badami and Aihole, both of which are well known for Chalukya monuments.

Pattadakal, place for Chalukyas Coronation, was the capital of the Chalukya dynasty of Karnataka in Southern India. The Chalukyas built many temples here between the 7th and 9th century. There are ten temples including a Jain sanctuary surrounded by numerous small shrines and plinths in fusion of various Indian architectural styles (Rekha, Nagara, Prasada and Dravida Vimana). Four temples were built in Chalukya Dravidian style, four in Nagara style of Northern India and the Papanatha temple in mixed style. Nine Shiva temples and one Jaina basadi, situated along the northern course of the River, which is considered as very auspicious according to Holy Scriptures.

Sangameshwara Temple (also known as Vijayewara) is the oldest temple in Pattadakal. It consists of a sanctum, inner passage and navaranga. The sanctum and inner passage are enclosed by a pathway for pradakshina, which has several lattices of different design, and with various figures like Ugranarasimha and Nataraja sculpted on the outer walls. Both the Sangamesvara temple and the Virupaksha temple are similar to each other in being square on plan from the base to sikhara. The main vimana has three storeys. The lowermost storey is surrounded by two walls. The second storey is an upward projection of the inner wall, while the outer wall encloses the covered circumambulatory round the sanctum. The navaranga has 20 pillars in four rows. Its exterior walls have stone carved figures. The sanctum has a Dravidian tower. According to an inscription in Kannada dated 1162, it was built by the Early Chalukya king Vijayaditya (696-733) and was named Vijayeshvara.

(source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattadakal)