What to expect
Highlights
- The unusual apsidal (horseshoe) plan and pillared gallery.
- The carved niche figures of Durga, Vishnu, Harihara and Varaha.
- The setting among the scattered temples of Aihole.
Durga Temple, Aihole
The Durga temple is the most celebrated of Aihole’s many shrines — an apsidal, gallery-wrapped temple of the 7th to 8th centuries whose name comes from the durga (fort) beside it, not the goddess.
Practical guide
Plan Durga Temple, Aihole
Typetemple
Nearest baseAihole
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed45 minutes to an hour with the museum
EntryASI ticket (covers the Aihole temple complex)
Nearest town/baseAihole
DistrictBagalkot
Place typetemple
Time needed45 minutes to an hour with the museum.
The Durga temple is the most celebrated of Aihole’s many shrines — an apsidal, gallery-wrapped temple of the 7th to 8th centuries whose name comes from the durga (fort) beside it, not the goddess.
Its raised platform and colonnade carry a superb series of sculpted niches — Durga Mahishasuramardini, Vishnu, Shiva, Harihara and Varaha — that are landmarks of early Chalukyan art.
Visiting
Durga Temple, Aihole — at a glance
Timings8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Best timeOctober to February; morning light
Entry: ASI ticket (covers the Aihole temple complex)
Getting here
How to reach Durga Temple, Aihole
Centre of Aihole; ~34 km from Badami, ~10 km from Pattadakal
A protected monument — do not climb the platform or touch the sculpture.
Getting there
How to visit
- In the fenced temple complex at the centre of Aihole; buy the ASI ticket at the gate.
- Reached from Badami (about 34 km) or Pattadakal (about 10 km) by bus or taxi.
Distance by road
- Vijayapura55 km
- Hubballi130 km
- Belagavi160 km
- Kalaburagi230 km
- Bengaluru460 km
Road km to Bagalkot; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; morning light on the niche carvings.
Weather in Durga Temple, AiholeSeasonal guide
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Visitor notes
- A protected monument — do not climb the platform railings or touch the sculpture.
Safety
Good to know
On the map
Where Durga Temple, Aihole is
Photos
Durga Temple, Aihole in pictures
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Durga Temple, Aihole — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Durga Temple, Aihole?
October to February; morning light on the niche carvings.
What are the entry fee and timings at Durga Temple, Aihole?
Entry: ASI ticket (covers the Aihole temple complex). Timings: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM. Fees and timings are indicative — confirm on site before you travel.
How do I reach Durga Temple, Aihole?
In the fenced temple complex at the centre of Aihole; buy the ASI ticket at the gate. Reached from Badami (about 34 km) or Pattadakal (about 10 km) by bus or taxi.
How much time do I need for Durga Temple, Aihole?
45 minutes to an hour with the museum.
What else is near Durga Temple, Aihole?
Nearby you can pair Aihole Archaeological Museum (90 m), Lad Khan Temple (110 m), Pattadakal (10.5 km), Mahakuta Temples (19.7 km).
Image credits
- Durga Temple, Aihole:AmlanTheTramp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0