Galaganatha Temple, one of the prime attractions in
Pattadakkal, represents the grandeur of the ancient
Chalukya Dynasty. Situated on the banks of Malaprabha River, this eighth century temple is dedicated to
Lord Shiva. The temple complex houses about 30 smaller temples.
Galaganatha Temple conforms to the Nagara temple architecture of north India. Notable among the north Indian feature is the curvilinear ‘shikhara’ (tower). This temple represents the various experiments carried out by the rulers of Chalukya Dynasty in blending the quintessence of the northern and southern architectures. It is a fine example of the balance between space and form.
Apart from the idol of Lord Shiva, this temple also enshrines idols of Goddess Ganga and Goddess Yamuna at the entrance.
The nearest airport is Belgaum Airport, 180 km away. The nearest railhead is Badami Railway Station.
