AFTER a heritage sojourn to Badami and Pattadakal, I stopped by the picturesque village of Aihole on the bank of the Malaprabha river in Bagalkot district. The first capital of the early Chalukyan dynasty, Aihole has been hailed as the ‘cradle of Indian temple architecture’. Originally named Aryapura, Aihole was a university town that patronized art, culture and education. The temples are associated with both the early and later Chalukyas, rulers of Badami.
I started my exploration spree in Aihole by wandering at leisure through the fields and rocky outcrops. Strolling around the hamlet, I reached a. . .