Front porch of the Durga Temple with its incomplete tower |
Durga Mandir, an early 8th C. Hindu Temple built by the Chalukya Dynasty, Aihole |
Aihole's Durga Temple was originally dedicated to Surya |
The Durga Temple is considered to be the most impressive ancient monument at Aihole |
The Durga Temple's rounded end is unique among early Chalukya temple architecture |
An outer colonnade surrounds the Durga Temple, Aihole |
Many of the exterior columns are carved with human figures |
Exterior carvings, Durga Temple |
Amorous couple, Durga Temple |
Exterior carvings, Durga Temple |
Semi-erotic couple, Durga Temple |
Shiva with Nandi, Aihole Durga Temple |
A somewhat more intricate exterior carving |
Weathered stone carving of a couple |
Some of these panels are said to be among the greatest works of early Chalukya art |
The carvings on the porch are a little less worn still showing facial features |
Four armed male-female deity |
Main entrance to the Durga Temple |
Figures of guardians and attendants on the left side of the entrance to the temple interior |
Nagaraja on the porch ceiling, Durga Temple, Aihole |
Rather plain interior mandapa of the Durga Temple |
The pedestal of the inner sanctuary has lost its deity image |
Interior carvings with an elephant decorating a column capital, Durga Temple |
Decorative ceiling of the mandapa, the interior of the Durga Temple |
Guardian figure of the Durga Temple |
Damaged sculpture, Durga Temple |
Stone screen with swastikas and crosses |
Shiva and Nandi, Aihole Durga Temple |
Detail of Shiva, Aihole Durga Temple |
Lion-headed Narasimha, Aihole Durga Temple |
Shiva and other gods line the veranda of the Durga Temple |
Vishnu and Garuda, Aihole Durga Temple |
Window in the form of an 8-spoked wheel |
Varaha with a boar's head with Bhudevi |
Varaha stepping on a Naga |
Durga spearing Mahisha |
Detail of Durga from the Durga Temple of Aihole |
Harihara, a fused representation of Shiva and Vishnu as the supreme god |
Many of the exterior figures are in poor condition |
Guardian of the Durga Temple, Aihole |
Detail of the ornately decorated porch of the Durga Temple, Aihole |
Surya, the sun god who this temple was originally dedicated to |
Porch ceiling of the Durga Temple |