Famous Temples in India

AIHOLE DURGA DEVI TEMPLE

Aihole, Karnataka, India

Share

Goddess

Goddess Durga is the main deity of this temple, who is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi. Here deity is facing in East direction and sculpture with multi-armed slaying the buffalo demon.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 26°C during night)Average - May (37°C during the day and 21°C during night)Lowest - October to February (27°C during day and 18°C during night)Monsoon season - August to September

Dress Code

  • For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
  • For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
  • These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
  • Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.

 

Do's & Dont's

  • Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.
  • Smo​king is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.

transport connections

Name Distance Contact Number
Badami Bus Stand
33.7 KM 08357-220055
Bagalkot Junction Railway Station
33.6 KM 139
Hubballi Airport
144 KM 0836-2237921

Architecture

Aihole Durga Devi Temple is facing in East direction which exhibits a blend of Dravidian and Nagara architectural style.The temples carry rich architectural sculpture on pillars and ceilings, especially depictions of such major gods as Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. Grabha Gudi contains Rekhanagara type shikhara an incomplete tower perches on the roof above the sanctum and the Shikhara seems to be inspired from North Indian temple. The temple has Mukha Mantapa and Sabha Mantapa. The temple is constructed with Red stone of Badami. The temple consists of an apsidal garbhagriha, sabhamandapa, a mandapa and a mukhamandapa in east-west axis and the temple opens to the east. The temple has a base of six different moldings. The temple is entered through two flights of steps to the south and north of the mandapa. On the basement are square pillars all the way through the construction including the apsidal garbhagriha.

The rows of pillars contains two pradakshinapathas, which is an exceptional architectural feature. The longish sabhamandapa has been divided into three portions by its pillars. The large number of pillars in this temple have been utilized by the artists to carve a large number puranic stories and self-supporting sculptures. These sculptures are of high order and add refinement and charisma to this temple. On the pillars of the mukhamandapa are found passionate couples in various suggestive poses. On another pillar is found Shiva dancing on apasmara. The inner wall of the mukhamandapa has Ramayana panel, Ardhanarisvara and Ugranarasimha killing Hiranyakashipu. The front entrance of the mandapa is well carved with dvarapalas, Yamuna and Ganga, and further sculptures.
 
Unfortunately, there are no inscriptions to date this temple. Derived from stylistic evidence, various dates have been assigned to this temple. While many scholars consider 600 C.E. as the date of this temple, some others assign it to seventh century C.E

Religious Significance

Lord Parasuram, after avenging the death of his father came down to the river Malaprabha and washed his blood-stained hands and battle axe. The blood and gore on the axe turned the river red. A woman saw this and screamed ‘Ayyo Hole’ or ‘Oh No Blood!’ in Kannada, hence the name Aihole.

Once, a severe drought hit this place. The great Sage Jabaali used his 'Jnana Drishti' and found out that demon Arunasura had made the people stop all yajnas as revenge against the 'devas.' Demon Arunasura acquired a boon from Lord Brahma that he would not suffer death from any two-legged or four-legged being or any weapon. After gaining these powers, Arunasura conquered heaven. The Devas prayed Goddess Durga for help.Goddess appeared as a beautiful woman. Arunasura approached her. She reminded him that she had killed Shambasura and from whom Arunasura had escaped death. Arunasura got angry and tried to kill the Goddess with a sword. The Goddess turned into the stone. When Arunasura slashed the stone with the sword, a vast swarm of bees emerged from the stone and stung him.

History

This temple was built between the 7th – 8th centuries by the Chalukyas.

Temple Timings

Day Timings
All Days 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM

Tours










Airports

Airport Name Distance
Shamshabad 40 KM
Lorem Ipsum 12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name Distance
Secunderabad 10 KM
Nampally 12 KM
Begumpet 6 KM
Lingampally 20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name Distance
MGBS 35 KM
CBS 28 KM
kukatpally 20 KM
Lingampally 30 KM
Uppal 35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Private Transport 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757

Local Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Local Transport 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757

Nearest Temples

BADAMI CAVE TEMPLES
 Badami, Karnataka, India

The caves were built on the basis of Nagara and Dravida architecture

Distance: 34.6 KM
SRI KUDALA SANGAMESWARA TEMPLE
 Kudala Sangama, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India

Famous rivers Krishna and Ghataprabha merge here

Distance: 34.8 KM
AIHOLE LADKHAN TEMPLE
 Aihole, Karnataka, India

The Temple was built around 450 A.D

Distance: 37.9 KM
SRI MAHAKUTESHWARA TEMPLE
 Badami Mahakoota, Badami, Karnataka, India

The temple is dated to the 6th or 7th century CE

Distance: 40.8 KM
SRI MALLIKARJUNA & KASI VISHWANATHA TEMPLE
 Pattadakkal, Karnataka, India

This is the last Hindu temple built in Pattadakal monuments

Distance: 41.2 KM

Nearest Attractions

Caves RAVANA PHADI CAVE
  Aihole, Karnataka, India

This stone cut is of 6th century engineering of the Chalukya line

Distance:0.6 KM
Heritage Monuments GROUP OF MONUMENTS AT PATTADAKAL
  Pattadakal, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India

It is Famous for its Chalukya style of architecture

Distance:13.3 KM
Dam LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI SAGAR DAM ALMATTI DAM
  Araladinni, Karnataka, India

This is a hydroelectric project on the Krishna River

Distance:45.2 KM

User Reviews

Map

AIHOLE DURGA DEVI TEMPLE

Aihole, Karnataka, India

You can upload a maximum of 15 photos (max 15 MB per Image) of temple and accepted formats are gig, .jpeg,.gif and .pn g. You will be credited with the images and videos If they abide by our photo guidelines and our top contributors ore eligible for discounts on tour packages offered by us.

I certify that the review is based on my own experience on visiting the temple/attraction and have not been paid to write the review, and I don't have any personal or business relationship with anyone managing the temple/attraction. I understand that my review will not be posted if it does not comply with content guidelines of Velpu.com.