CHALUKYAN

ARCHITECTURE

Durga Temple, Aihole

 Durga temple at Aihole:
One of the finest of the Early Chalukyan building, shows a
development in temple structure.
Apsidal in plan, it resemblance to a Buddhist Chaitya.
This temple stands on a high well-moulded base.
This temple includes a
Mukha mandapa (Elevated platform or portico) &
Garbha griha (Small unlit shrine of a Hindu temple) with
Pradakshina patha (passage) all around it.
Short massive pillars on top of the adisthana
(base) form a colonnaded passage.
These pillars, decorated with figure sculptures, show much more
elegance than those of the Ladh Khan temple.
An amusing frieze of dwarfs adorns the high adisthana.
 Short massive pillars
decorated with figure
sculptures, form a colonnaded
passage.
The squat pyramidal sikhara (rising tower) over the garbha
griha appears out of harmony with the rest of the building.
2 flight of steps leading to the portico give entrance to the
temple on the eastern side.
4 square pillars support the ceiling of the mukha mandapa
from which a highly ornate doorway leads into the sabha
mandapa, which is divided into a central nave and 2 aisles by
2 rows of pillars.
The sloping roof of the aisles is lower than the flat roof of
the nave, which is raised over a sort of clerestory.
Several niches in the walls of the sabha mandapa and
garbha griha along the pillared corridor, containing
beautiful images of gods & goddesses.
The inner columns were beautifully sculptured.
Th temple is not dedicated to Durga, but the name
derives from the fact that till the early ninteenth
century it formed part of a fortification, also called
Durga.
Durga Temple, Ai hole.
Highly Ornate doorway on the eastern side
Apsidal Side of the temple
Colunnaded Passage (Pradakshina Patha)
Ornamented Ceiling of the temple above the
Garbha Griha