The temples of Gadag District in Karnataka are the best evidences to witness the Chalukya art in south India. Gadag district is located in the western part of northern Karnataka and is a famous center of Kalyani and Chalukya art. Veera Narayana Temple and Someshwara Temple are the prime temples of Gadag District.
The Trikuteshwara temple is one of the massive temples of Gadag District and has a principal shrine that consists of three lingas mounted on the same stone. Inside the temple the tourists and devotees can see beautiful stone screens and little figures carved delicately. The famous Sarswati shrine lies within the complex of the Trikuteshwara temple. It contains heavy, well-carved columns and an extremely beautiful idol of the goddess Saraswati. Someshwara Temple is another notable Chalukyan temple. There is also a mosque of Mughal times in the same town.
Doddabasappa Temple at Dambal is one of the most visited temples of Gadag District that is widely famous for the Chalukya architecture of the 12th century. Kotumachagi Temple and Durgadevi temple are also some of the important temples of Gadag District. The Darga Temple is taken care by both Muslim and Hindus without any prejudice of caste. According to the legends, famous poet Chamarasa wrote Prabulingalile sitting near the lake situated between Someshwara temple and Darga.
The Doddabasappa Temple belongs to the group of 12th century Western Chalukyan architectural temples of Gadag District. The temple boasts a sanctum that enshrines a Shiva linga, the symbol of the presiding deity, God Shiva. The temple interior is a typical construction and consists of a sanctum (cella), a vestibule (antarala) and a main mantapa, also called navaranga or hall. The vestibule connects the sanctum to the mantapa. This temple defines the Karnata dravida architectural tradition.
Hoysala King Bittideva built Veernarayana Temple after taking religious vow from Shri Ramanujacharya became Vaishnava. This is one of the most beautiful temples of Gadag District. The traditional belief says that according to his Guru`s order in 1117 A.D. he built Shri Veeranarayana temple. This belongs to the group of the Pancha Narayana temples amongst the temples of Gadag District.
Shri Veeranarayana temple is a beautiful amalgamation of Chalukya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara sculptures. The Garbhagriha and the top tower of the temple are rare models of Chalukya sculpture, while the Garuda Gamba and Ranga mantap are in the pattern of Hoysala sculpture. The main entrance gate of the temple follows the Vijayangara art form. The Veeranarayana temple possesses many pillars with artistically carved pictures. The customary belief says that sitting beneath one of these pillars Mahakavi Kumaravyasa wrote the famous "Karnataka Bharatha Katha Manyari". All the features of this temple, like the Madhyaranga, Garbhagriha, Garbhagudi are carved in dark blue shaded stone that attracts everyone. Decorated with Kireeta, Shankha, Karnakundala, Chakra, Gadha, and Padma in the robe of Veeragachche, Veeranarayana stands protecting his devotees with Abhayahasta. In his wide bosom one can see Laxmi and at the pedestrian aureole the Dashawathara, and at both sides stand Laxmi and Garuda.
Lakkundi is one of the well-known temples of Gadag District and also an important center for religious training in Karnataka. Lakkundi includes several temples of Kalyani Chalukya style within its premises. Although many were damaged during the invasion, quite a few have since been rebuilt. The Kashivishwashwara temple is one of the famous temples of Gadag District of this genre. This beautiful temple is gracefully decorated with carvings; scrollwork, stone screens and so on. A double temple also houses a Surya (Sun) temple. The Sun temple is dedicated to Surya Narayana and features a throne for the image of the God. The seven horses of the Sun god are imprinted on the stone.
Apart from these temples there is also a Jain temple at Lakkundi that has an image of Mahavira seated on a Lion throne. This temple is called Bhahma Jinalaya and was built by the noble lady Atttimabbe. There is also a museum run by the Archaeological Survey of India with a fine collection of art works associated with the temples of Gadag District. The temples of Gadag District are of great importance in south India; they not only depict the history of the land but also give a clear picture of art and architecture in southern India.
