In Karnataka’s Koppal District, the Mahadeva Temple at Ittagi, a 12th-century Hindu shrine to Shiva, stands as a Chalukyan masterpiece. Built in 1112 CE under Vikramaditya VI, its intricate stonework reflects an era where devotion met unparalleled craftsmanship, defining Western Chalukyan architecture.
The temple showcases the Karnata-Dravidian style with a stellate plan and towering sikhara. The mandapa’s pillars, carved with floral and mythical motifs, complement the sanctum’s ornate sakha doorframes. The superstructure, adorned with kuta and sala elements, marks a refined evolution of Chalukyan design as they blend innovation and aesthetic richness in Hindu art.
Within a kilometer of the Mahadeva temple are other ruins, Sanskrit inscriptions as well as a beautiful 7th-century torana. These taken together attest to the town's importance for at least a millennium, then suddenly abandoned sometime in or after the 14th century.
The Mahadeva Ittagi temple displays how Chalukyan stonework’s sophistication increased over time. Nearby, the temples of Gadag and Lakkundi – which blended north and south Indian historic Hindu architecture – provide further glimpses into the region’s architectural heritage, complementing Ittagi’s grandeur.
15.444861 N, 75.967833 E