The Durga temple at Aihole, built about ______ years ago.

The correct answer is 1400.

Key Points

• Aihole, Karnataka, India is home to the early eighth-century Hindu temple known as the Durga temple.
• It was originally dedicated to Surya.
• Its relief panels, which feature the artwork of Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Vedic deities, are the largest and most elaborate in Aihole.
• It is renowned for its apsidal layout, a unique example of early Chalukyan Hindu temple construction.
• It is part of a pending UNESCO World Heritage Site application.

Additional Information

• Aihole
  • It was built in 634.
  • It was the headquarters of the famous medieval Ayyavole merchants’ guild and was an important commercial centre.
  • The earliest stone-built temple is Lad Khan temple.
  • A temple dedicated to the goddess Durga was built on the model of Buddha, Chaitya.
  • It stands on a raised platform in the form of a semi-circle.
• Badami
  • There are four caves in Badami.
  • The largest cave temple built by Mangalesa is dedicated to Vishnu.
  • The reclining posture of Vishnu on the snake bed and Narasimha are exquisite examples of Chalukya art.
• Pattadakal
  • It is a village in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka.
  • It is famous for its exquisite temples.
  • Pattadakal was a centre for performing royal rituals.
  • The Virupaksha temple was built at the order of queen Lohamahadevi to commemorate the conquest of Kanchipuram by her husband Vikramaditya II.