Aihole

Aihole, also referred to as Aivalli, Ahivolal or Aryapura, is a historic site of ancient and medieval-era Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments in Karnataka [1]. Located around an eponymous small village surrounded by farmlands and sandstone hills, Aihole is a major archaeological site, featuring over 120 stone and cave temples spread along the Malaprabha river valley, in Bagalakote district [1]. Aihole, along with nearby Badami, emerged by the 6th century as the cradle of experimentation with temple architecture, stone artwork, and construction techniques [1]. Over 100 Aihole temples are Hindu, a few are Jain and one is Buddhist [1]. The documented history of Aihole is traceable to the rise of the Early Chalukya dynasty in 6th century [1]. Aihole was fortified by Late Chalukya kings in the 11th and 12th centuries, in an approximate circle [1]. The Durga temple is the best known and studied of the Aihole temples [1].