The temple sculpture of Karnataka was developed by the different kingdoms that ruled it in ancient India. Some of the temple sculptures of Karnataka even belong to the 7th century AD. With the different empires ruling the place a number of styles for temple building evolved here. But the predominant style is the Dravidian art and sculpture. This particular mode of temple building was either combined with a new form or it was followed unquestioningly.

In around 7th century the Badami Chalukyas awed the world with their rock cut caves and ancient temple complexes. There were two places where temples were profusely built: Aihole and Pattadakal. The Rashtrakutas succeeded the Badami Chalukyas and then the Western or Kalyani Chalukyas followed. On the other hand in South Karnataka the Hoysalas proved to be prolific builders. Some of the best known temples in Karnataka have been constructed by them. A fine example of Hoysala sculpture is the sculpture of Hoysaleswara Temple.

Later in the 14th century the Vijayanagar Empire came into being. Ornate pillars, huge gateways and pillared mandapas characterised the temples commissioned by this dynasty. The ruins of Hampi are a glaring example of the Vijayanagara artistic brilliance. Around the 15th century the Mysore Maharajas also contributed in the development of the temple sculptures of Karnataka.

There are certain features in the Karnataka temples that are common to them. Architectural elements, such as, garbhagrihas, lofty gopurams, large images of Nandi bull and the presiding deities are made of black stone. Almost all these temples have been built on high platforms. The temple sculpture of Karnataka comprises the following:

Sculpture of Bull Temple, Bangalore	Sculpture of Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple, Bangalore	Sculpture of Kalaseshwar, Chikmagalur	Sculpture of Pjakaksetra Temple, Mangalore
Sculpture of Badami Cave Temples	Sculpture of Adi Sankara Shrine, Chikmagalur	Sculpture of Keerthinarayana Temple, Mysore	Sculpture of Ranganathaswami Temple, Mysore
Sculpture of Virupaksha Temple, Hampi	Sculpture of Ananthasana Temple, Udupi	Sculpture of Keshava Temple, Mysore	Sculpture of Shankara Simhasana Temple, Mangalore
Sculpture of Vithala Temple, Hampi	Sculpture of Annapurneshwari Temple, Kudremukh	Sculpture of Kishkindha Temple, Hampi	Sculpture of Sri Mahishamardini Temple, Udupi
Sculpture of Chamundeswari Temple, Mysore	Sculpture of Biligiri Ranganna Temple, Mysore	Sculpture of Mahabaleswara Temple, Karwar	Sculpture of Subramanya Temple, Mangalore
Sculpture of Hidimbeshwar Temple, Chitradurga	Sculpture of Chamundi Hill Temple, Mysore	Sculpture of Mahadeshwara Temple, Mysore	Sculpture of Vidya Sankar Temple, Chikmagalur
Sculpture of Chennakeshava Temple, Belur	Sculpture of Devi Mookambika Temple, Mangalore	Sculpture of Manjunathaswamy Temple, Mangalore	Sculpture of Shri Janardana and Shri Mahakali Temples, Udupi
Sculpture of Krishna Temple, Hampi	Sculpture of Durga Parameshwari, Mangalore	Sculpture of Nanjundeshwara Temple, Mysore	Sculpture of Shiva Mandir, Bangalore
Sculpture of Atmalinga Temple, Hampi	Sculpture of Gomateswara Temple, Mysore	Sculpture of Narasimhavana Temple, Chikmagalur	Sculpture of Shri Guru Shaneshwara Swamy Temple, Mandya
Sculpture of Hazara Temple, Hampi	Sculpture of Jaganmohana Ranganatha, Mysore	Sculpture of Pancha Linga Shrine, Mysore