Tarakeshwar Temple is located around 75 km from Hubli - Dharwad. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The architecture is stunning with intricately carved walls, chiselled pillers, ornamental ceilings in Chalukyan style. It is a good example of stone architecture. The temple was built in the twelfth century. The outer walls are articulated with both Dravidian and nagara style of miniature shikaras.
The temple is known for its large domical ceiling in the main hall, which rises, in concentric circles of cusped mouldings. At the apex it falls again in a manner of a pendant. Kirtimukhas are done, including Scenes from the Ramayana on the walls. The open hall contains a most intricately carved, domical corbelled lotus ceiling. The rock is carved in the form of a lotus and is an octagonal piece of stone supported on eight pillars. The temple also consists of a sanctuary with a great adjoining pillared hall.
Pillars are lathe-turned that have bell-shaped section. Pillars have plenty of decorative art. The elephants are carved in such a manner that a visible space separates the trunks from the pillar. A diamond shaped motif are carved in bands around pillars are done in different sizes and minor variations. Both the halls have stepped pyramidal roofs. The outer walls have carvings of miniature temples. Memorial stones are carved with religious and military scenes.
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