Chalukya temple architecture refers to the style developed under two major Chalukya dynasties — the Chalukyas of Badami (Vatapi Chalukyas, c. 543–753 CE) and the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani (c. 973–1200 CE) — in present-day Karnataka. The Badami Chalukyas were the pioneering experimenters who first consciously blended Nagara and Dravidian forms to create the Vesara style, while the Western Chalukyas refined this tradition to create an elaborate, mature style of their own.
Key Features of Early Chalukya (Badami) Architecture
- Cave Temples (Badami Caves): Four rock-cut cave temples at Badami, including both Shaiva, Vaishnava, and Jain varieties, with pillared verandahs, large sculptural panels, and coffered ceilings.
- Experimental Combination: Structural temples at Aihole and Pattadakal consciously combine North Indian curvilinear shikharas with South Indian stepped viamanas in a single complex, sometimes even on the same temple.
- Pattadakal UNESCO Site: The temple complex at Pattadakal contains examples of both Nagara and Dravidian-style temples side by side, earning UNESCO World Heritage status.
Key Features of Western Chalukya (Kalyani) Architecture
- Lathe-Turned Pillars: Finely polished, circular pillars turned as if on a lathe — a technique later perfected by the Hoysalas.
- Open Pillared Halls (Navaranga): A characteristic open hall (navaranga) with a central ceiling panel supported by four pillars.
- Star-Shaped Plans: A proto-stellar plan that anticipates the full stellate plan of the Hoysalas.
- Intricate Carving: Elaborate carved friezes and perforated stone screens (jali windows).
Prominent Examples
- Badami Cave Temples: Four cave temples showcasing early Chalukya rock-cut architecture.
- Durga Temple, Aihole: An early apsidal (rounded) temple with a gallery and a Nagara-style tower over a Dravidian plan.
- Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal: Commissioned by Queen Lokamahadevi, an early example of a full Dravidian-style structural temple in the Deccan.
- Mahadeva Temple, Itagi: Called the "Emperor among temples" in its dedicatory inscription — a peak of Western Chalukya art.