The Chalukyas (6th CE - 12th CE) were ardent supporters of architecture. They invented the vesara style while constructing structural temples. Chalukyan architecture is a hybrid of Nagara and Dravida styles, and hence a superb example of Vesara architecture. With their stunning splendour, the Chalukya temples stand out in South India. This article will explain to you about the Chalukya architecture which will be helpful in Ancient History preparation for the UPSC Civil Service Exam.

Chalukya architecture

• The architecture of the Chalukya Dynasty was extravagant; it was huge and decorative, something you couldn't help but notice.
• They amalgamated two architectural styles known as Dravida and Nagara, which resulted in the Vesara style.
• The highest architectural feature in the construction is the vimana, which sits above the inner sanctuary, the holiest section of the temple.
• It guards the inner sanctuary and is frequently referred to as a higher temple over a lower, flat-roofed temple.
• It signifies the god's domain. Dravidian designs inspired the Chalukyas vimanas.
• This category includes features such as small towers and pilaster projections.
• The temple surfaces have a particular architectural pattern with projections and recesses.
• The walls have numerous projections and recesses that reflect a truly mystical beauty in the eyes of the visitors.
• The articulation of pillars and mantapas is beyond description.
• The embellishment of Chalukya temples has parts of Nagara and Dravidian heritage, but they have mixed the components in such a judicious way that they have become unique and distinctive features of their own.

Chalukyan Architecture - Features

• Chalukya temple pillars are monolithic shafts whose height controls the height of mantapa and temples.
• Chalukya architects avoided using mortar. It permits light to enter the interior section of the temples.
• The vestibules were decorated with artificial lights, which reduced obscurity while also evoking magical sensations.
• The entryway panels of Chalukya temples are ornamented with pilasters, moulded lintels, and cornice tops.
• Arabesque is a muslim art design with a linear artistic ornamentation of flowers, leaves, branches, or twisted branches. This motif may be seen in the triangular gaps of residence ceilings.
• Chhajja is a double curving projective eave that is commonly found in Chalukyan temples. Muktesvara temple is one example.
• Cornice is utilised in Chalukya temples to direct rainfall or to protect from burning heat.
• Soapstone projections in wall sculptures are a frequent characteristic of Chalukya temples.
• The Chalukya temples are mostly dedicated to Hindu deities such as Durga, Shiva, and Vishnu.
• Chalukya architecture includes both cave temples and constructed temples.
• For architectural design, Chalukya architects employed the stellate plan or the northern stepped diamond layout.
• The ornamental pillars of western Chalukya architecture are also known as gadag style of architecture.
• The Karnata Dravida architectural tradition, begun by the Chalukya of Badami, evolved under the direction of Hoysala.
• Hoysala artists followed the fragmented decorating of walls with projection and recesses.
• Chalukya architecture is also known as the forerunner of Hoysala art.

Vesara style

• The vesara style developed between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers in modern-day north Karnataka.
• In India's Deccan area, the Vesara architectural style flourished. It is also known as the Hybridised style because it combines elements of the Nagara and Dravida styles.
• Chalukya and Hoysala rulers encouraged this style.
• The geographical location of Karnataka, the broad operations of the major royal regulations, and a not excessively determined boldness may have facilitated this blending of styles.
• Badami's Chalukya monarchs (500-753 AD) began constructing temples in a style that was essentially a hybrid of the Nagara and Dravida styles.
• The Chalukyan builders altered the Dravida towers by lowering the height of each level and arranging them in descending order of height from base to top, with elaborate embellishment on each floor.
• The Nagara shape and Dravidian characteristics combine to produce the Vesara superstructure.
• It has an Amalaka on top, like the Nagara superstructure, but the rest of the elements utilised to construct the superstructure are Dravida.

Vesara style Architecture

Temples of the Chalukyas

Temples	Significance
Temples at Pattadakal, Karnataka	Pattadakkal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has 10 temples, one of which is a Jain temple. A confluence of numerous architectural styles may be seen here. Four of the 10 temples are constructed in the Dravida style, four in the Nagara style, and one in the Jain style, with the Papanatha Temple constructed in a hybrid of the two styles. In the ninth century, Rashtrakutas built the Jain temple (Jain Narayana temple). The Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal, also known as Sri-Lokeswar-Maha-Sila-Prasad, was established by Loka Mahadevi, the Queen of the Chalukya monarch Vikramaditya II (733-44). It was probably built around 740 CE to celebrate her husband's victory against the Pallavas of Kanchipuram. It is similar in layout and height to the Kailashnath temple at Kanchipuram. It exemplifies Dravidian architecture in its most mature and flawless level.
Ravana Phadi Cave, Aihole	It is an early Chalukya style exemplar, distinguished by its particular sculptural style. One of the most significant sculptures at the site, Nataraja, is flanked by a massive portrayal of saptamatrikas: three to Shiva's left and four to his right.
Durga Temple, Aihole	Between the seventh and ninth century, the temple was built. The temple's architecture is largely Dravida, with minor Nagara influences. The temple is a one-of-a-kind and exquisite Chalukya temple.
Lad Khan temple, Aihole	It is dedicated to Shiva and is one of the oldest Hindu temples. It was erected in the 5th century by the Chalukya Dynasty's Kings. It looks to be influenced by the hills' wooden-roofed temples, but it is constructed of stone. The temple is named after a guy named Lad Khan, who lived for a brief period at this temple.

Western Chalukya architecture

• The distinctive ornamented architectural design known as Western Chalukya architecture, also referred to as Kalyani Chalukya or Later Chalukya architecture, developed during the Western Chalukya Empire's rule in the Tungabhadra region, in the 11th and 12th centuries.
• Three different components of a typical Western Chalukya temple may be examined: the fundamental layout, the architectural details, and the sculptures of the figures.
• The size of the shrine, the size of the sanctum, the distribution of the building mass, and the pradakshina (way for circumambulation), if there is one, all contribute to the basic floor layout.
• Architectural articulation describes the decorative elements that give the shrine's outside wall form.
• Figure sculptures, which include architectural details on pilasters, buildings, statues, and whole towers, are scaled-down depictions that may stand alone.
• The creative ingenuity of the Western Chalukya was concentrated on pillars, door panels, lintels (torana), domes with bays, outside wall ornaments like Kirtimukha (gargoyle faces that are popular in Western Chalukya ornamentation), and little towers atop pilasters.
• The Western Chalukya outside wall decoration made its first significant stride in the Jain Temple at Lakkundi, and in the Muktesvara Temple at Chavudayyadanapura, the craftsmen introduced a double curving projecting eave (chhajja), which was employed decades later in Vijayanagara temples.
• Domed and square ceilings are used often in Western Chalukya roof art, which is a significant aspect.
• Most of the temples built by the Western Chalukya rulers were devoted to Shiva, who was worshipped by Shaivas, followers of the Hindu god.
• However, they were tolerant of the Vaishnava and Jain religions, and they respectively erected several temples to Vishnu and the Jain tirthankaras.
• Temples that were initially devoted to one deity have occasionally been changed to accommodate various religions.
• The Mahadeva Temple at Itagi in the Koppal area, the Kasi Visweswara Temple, the Mallikarjuna Temple, and the Kallesvara Temple, are the most prominent of the numerous structures from this era.

Badami Chalukya architecture

• Under the Chalukya dynasty, a style of temple construction known as Badami Chalukya architecture developed between the fifth and eighth century AD in the Malaprabha river basin.
• In addition to the much later Western Chalukya architecture of the 11th and 12th centuries, this style is also referred to as the Vesara style and the Chalukya style.
• Around 450 A.D, when the Badami Chalukyas were vassals of the Kadambas of Banavasi, the oldest Badami Chalukya temples were built at Aihole.
• The Early Chalukya style began in Aihole around 450 CE and was refined in Badami and Pattadakal in Karnataka.
• Unknown builders and artists worked with many aesthetics and combined Dravidian and Nagara traditions.

Sangameshwara temple - Badami Chalukya architecture

Badami Cave Temple

• The rock-cut halls of the Badami cave temples include three main features: a pillared veranda, a hall with columns, and a sanctuary that has been carved deeply into the rock.
• In Aihole, they constructed three cave temples, one with each of the Vedic, Buddhist, and Jaina traditions, as early experiments in rock-cut halls.
• Later, they improved upon their design and carved out four magnificent cave temples in Badami.
• The continuous frieze of Ganas in various funny poses carved in relief on each pedestal is a prominent aspect of these cave temples.
• The cave temples' front verandas are very basic, but their interior halls are loaded with abundant sculptural meaning.
• The temples with the best architectural design are at Pattadakal.
• Six of Pattadakal's ten temples are built in the Dravidian style, and four are built in the Rekhanagara style.
• In many aspects, the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram, which was built a few years earlier, is similar to the Virupaksha temple.
• This temple is all-inclusive; it contains a main building, a nandi pavilion up front, and a walled enclosure that is approached by a gateway.
• A Pradakshina Patha and mantapa may be found in the main sanctum.
• The mantapa features perforated windows and pillars (pierced window screens).
• Pilasters divide the outside wall surface into evenly spaced decorative niches that are either filled with sculptures or pierced windows.

Badami Cave temple

Conclusion

The Chalukyas had a strong appreciation for architecture. While building the temples, they created the Vesara style. Nagara and Dravida styles are combined in Chalukyan architecture. They combined the Dravida and Nagara architectural styles to create the Vesara style. The vimana, which is located above the inner sanctuary, the most sacred part of the temple, is its tallest architectural component.