Thread by @ArunKrishnan_

Second Leg of my Trip. Aihole and Pattadakkal. Separating out these from Hampi so it is easier to read. You can read about the Hampi Leg in the embedded thread.

https://twitter.com/ArunKrishnan_/status/1548559855790698497

Startee off with the Sun temple at Aihole. Aihole or Aryapura was the old capital of the Chalukyas. Readers of #BattleOfVathapi #NandisCharge will remember the scene where Pulikeshin is introduced. It was here!

Some games for our ancestors to play while waiting T the temple!

A gorgeous door frame, swastika windows , a gorgeous chakra

Some beautiful sculptures

1. Shiva and Nandi,
2. Harihara - Vishnu and Shiva
3. Mahishasurardhini
4. Varaha bringing Bhooma Devi up

Am old Shikhara type Temple. This was originally a hall for the "Aihole 500", a trading community that was very active. Then was converted to a Shiva temple.

The royal insignia of the Chalukyas! Varaha!

The Meguti Jain temple. This is where the famous Ravikirti inscription (634 CE) is found (picture 3). This is one of the most important inscriptions in India since it is used to date Kalidasa as it mentions his name. There is a scene in #NandisCharge between Ravikirti-Pulikeshi

Some other temples at the "University" at Aihole. Some of these are very simple and likely made by students.

The next stop was Pattadakkal, which are slightly newer (7-8th century CE) while those at Aihole are between 5-7th century CE.

Some gorgeous panels of Mahabharata and Ramayana at the Virupakshi temple in Pattadakkal.

The highlight for me was the very lifelike Nandi. Look at the neck folds!!

Also the gorgeous sculpture of the Surya Bhagawan on the ceiling.

Stories from the Panchatantra.
Top panel: Monkey and the crocodile.
Bottom panel:Mongoose and snake where the mongoose is killed even after it protects the baby!

Look at this one carefully. An elephant and a cow with a single head which looks both like an elephant's head and a cow's head!

See this one. Three men. Four legs and four arms. Four different dance positions!

:-)

And look at the fashion sense. You can actually spot mini skirts an even bikinis (i kid you not!)

And we entered Vathapi. The craggy hills on the left, very symbolic of Vathapi.

Ok Badami now, but it will always be Vathapi for me. Rest tomorrow!

@threadreaderapp unroll

The sad part of this you ask?
That one of the most significant inscriptions in Indian history is lying on an out of the way hillock, where, by the looks of it, not many peoe visit.
A crappy muddy road leading up to it, no signage, no maintenance by ASI.

So disheartening.