The oldest holy place in Aihole is perhaps, the Lad Khan temple dating back to the 5th Century. Originally a royal assembly hall and marriage mandapa, a Muslim official converted it into his residence. On the top of the main temple is another shrine-like vimana.
About The Lad Khan Temple :
The Lad Khan Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was probably built in the late 7th century or early 8th century AD. It is located to the south of the Durga Temple and is considered the oldest temple of Aihole. The temple is named after a Muslim prince who turned this temple into his residence. It was built in a panchayat hall style and is indicative of early experiments in temple building. The main shrine houses a Shiva Linga with a Nandi.
The mukha mantapa is situated in front of the sanctum and consists of a set of 12 carved pillars. The sabha mantapa leads to the maha mantapa and the pillars are arranged to form two concentric squares. The walls have floral patterns on them and the windows have lattice work done in the Northern style. Facing the sanctum, a second smaller sanctum is situated above the centre of the hall whose outer walls have many carved images.
Attractions Of The Lad Khan Temple In Aihole, Karnataka :
Lad Khan Temple one of the finely experimental temples, is situated south of the Durga Temple. The temple was constructed by Chalukyas during 450 AD in the Panchayat hall style. The name of the temple is derived from the name of a Muslim prince, who converted it into his abode. The ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has a Shivalinga along with a Nandi in its inner sanctum.
Possessing a stone roof, the temple has a rooftop shrine over the garbha griha which is not found in other temples of that era. Circular stone pillars are used to form a joint between the slanting slabs in the roof. There are two concentric square mantapa s or chambers which is another feature of the temple. The windows of the shrine are adorned with lattice work in the northern style. Above the centre of the hall facing the sanctum is a smaller sanctum with images carved on the outer walls.
Lad Khan temple consists of a shrine with two mantapas in front of it. The shrine bears a Shiva lingam. The mukha mantapa in front of the sanctum has a set of 12 carved pillars. The sabhamantapa in front of the mukha mantapa has pillars arranged in such a manner as to form two concentric squares. There are also stone grids on the wall carrying floral designs. The temple is built in a Panchayat hall style, indicating a very early experiment in temple construction. The windows are filled with lattice style which is a north Indian style. The temple was built in late 7th or early 8th century.
Lad Khan temple” in Aihole is considered to be one of the earliest temples in India. It was built around 450 AD. It was converted into a residence by a prince named (Lad Khan) in later years, thus the name. It is located close by to the Durga Temple. It has a primitive air about it with a cave like appearance noticeable especially in the massive pillars with bracket capitals and the flat roofs. It has no sign of a shikhara. This again points to the cave prototype.
Features Of This Temple :
The special feature of this temple is that it starts with a rectangular structure and ends with a square structure. Based on a wooden construction design , the square and rectangular plan has a steep roof, which is an adaptation of wooden styles in stone.
This is a Shiva Temple. It has a pillared mukha mandapa leading to a maha mandapa organized into concentric squares by an arrangement of pillars.
The temple was built in late 7th or early 8th century.The oldest temple here is, perhaps, the Lad Khan temple located south of the Durga Temple. It consists of a shrine with two mantapas in front of it.
The temple was built in a Panchayat style, indicating a very early experiment in temple construction. The windows were filled up with lattice work in the northern style and the sanctum was added later on. In front of the sanctum there are a set of 12 carved pillars. Above the center of the hall, facing the sanctum, is a second smaller sanctum with images carved on the outer walls.
History :
The temple was built in late 7th or early 8th century.The oldest temple here is, perhaps, the Lad Khan temple located south of the Durga Temple. It consists of a shrine with two mantapas in front of it. The God here is Lord Shiva.The temple was built in a Panchayat style, indicating a very early experiment in temple construction.The windows were filled up with lattice work in the northern style and the sanctum was added later on.In front of the sanctum there are a set of 12 carved pillars.Above the center of the hall, facing the sanctum, is a second smaller sanctum with images carved on the outer walls.
Location :
The Lad Khan temple is located south of the Durga Temple. The Lad Khan temple gets its name from a Muslim prince who changed it into his residence. The windows of this temple were filled up with lattice work in the northern style and the sanctum was added later on. The temple is constructed in a Panchayat hall style, indicative of a very early experiment in constructing temples. The main shrine houses a Shiva Linga with Bull (Nandi).
