Historic Sites of India and Southeast Asia

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...

8th-century Krishna temple gopura In Kerala’s lush Ambalappuzha, the Sri Krishnaswamy Temple, a Krishna shrine with 8th-century roots, gleams as a cultural beacon. Rebuilt in the 14th–15th centuries, its ties to Guruvayoor’s Sree Krishna Temple enrich its storied past, captivating those drawn to India’s spiritual heritage. Dedicated to Krishna as Parthasarathy, the charioteer of Arjuna in the Mahabharata, the temple embodies the Bhagavad Gita’s timeless wisdom. In the 18th century, it heroically sheltered Hindu artworks from Tipu Sultan’s raids, preserving Kerala’s sacred legacy. The sprawling complex, adorned with vibrant Dasavatara murals, houses shrines and nurtures Sanskrit, classical dance, and music. Its intricate Hindu artworks reflect diverse traditions, mesmerizing art lovers and scholars. Annual festivals like the twelve-day Panthrandu Kalabham and lively Onam celebrations draw performers, blending devotion with Kerala’s cultural splendor, enchanting students, India enthus...