Aihole
A temple complex in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is a very popular tourist spot in north Karnataka. It lies to the east of Pattadakal, along the Malaprabha River, while Badami is to the west of both.
Aihole has the potential to be included as a UNESCO World heritage site.[1] Aihole by road it is 510 km from Bangalore and 26 km from Hungund. Aihole is one of the most notable places in the history of art of Karnataka. As per inscriptions Aihole was known as Ayyavole and Aryapura. It was a prominent city in the Badami Chalukyas times from 6th to the 12th century. A place known by the name Morera Angadigalu near the Meguti hillocks has a large number of cists of pre-historic period. The place was an agrahara. The village has 125 temples divided into 22 groups by the archaeological department. Aihole has been described as one of the cradles of temple architecture. Of late some brick structures of pre-Chalukyan times have also been excavated. It must have been a great ancient city, a commercial centre as well, with the federation of trade guilds having its headquarters here.