Aihole

Aihole

Aihoḷe (Kannada ಐಹೊಳೆ) is a temple complex in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is a very popular tourist spot in north Karnataka. It lies to the east of Pattadakal, along the Malaprabha River, while Badami is to the west of both.

Aihoḷe has the potential to be included as a UNESCO World heritage site. Aihoḷe is 510 km from Bangalore and 26 km from Hungund by road. Aihoḷe is one of the most notable places in the history of art of Karnataka. Aihoḷe was known as Ayyavoḷe and Aryapura in its inscriptions. It was a prominent city of the Chalukya Dynasty. A place known by the name Morera Angadigalu near the Meguti hillocks has a large number of cists of pre-historic period. The place was an agraharam. The village has 125 temples divided into 22 groups by the archaeological department. Aihoḷe has been described as one of the cradles of temple architecture. Of late some brick structures of pre-Chalukyan times have also been excavated. It must have been a great ancient city, a commercial centre as well, with the federation of trade guilds having its headquarters here.