L
ASI Protected
Lad Khan Temple
Aihole, Karnataka
5th - 6th Century CE
One of the oldest temples at Aihole, the Lad Khan Temple has a flat-roofed design resembling a village assembly hall. It is believed to represent the earliest phase of Chalukya temple building when architects were transitioning from wooden to stone construction, preserving wood construction techniques in stone.
Source: Aitihasik heritage database. Use this as a field guide and verify sensitive historical claims before citation.
Details
- Dynasty
- Chalukya
- Style
- Early Chalukya (flat-roofed)
- Primary Deity
- Shiva
- Languages
- Kannada, Sanskrit
- Scripts
- Old Kannada, Sanskrit
Historical Significance
One of the oldest Hindu structural temples in the Deccan. Preserves wooden construction techniques translated to stone. Important for understanding the origin of Hindu temple architecture. Named after a Muslim nobleman who used it as a residence
Architectural Features
Flat-roofed design mimicking wood constructionPerforated stone window screensPillared interior hallShiva-Parvati sculpture on roofNandi on the rooftop shrine