Temple Description

The Durga Temple, situated in Aihole, Karnataka, India, is an early 8th-century Hindu temple originally dedicated to Surya. Renowned for its extensive and ornate relief panels showcasing Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Vedic deities, the temple is also distinguished by its apsidal design, a rare feature in early Chalukyan Hindu architecture Although originally dedicated to Surya, the temple is now called Durga because a fortified lookout, known as a durg, was built on its roof during the 13th century amidst the conflicts between Hindu kingdoms and Islamic Sultanates. This lookout remained until the 19th century, when it was rediscovered and subsequently removed during restoration. Today, the Durga Temple stands as the most significant attraction in Aihole for both tourists and scholars and is under consideration for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

The temple is believed to have been constructed between the late 7th century and early 8th century during the early Chalukya dynasty. Scholars Dhaky and Meister, who study Indian temple architecture, have noted that an inscription discovered in the 1970s, which identifies the temple’s dedication to Surya by an individual named Kumara, suggests it was built no later than around 700 CE.