Jewels of the Deccan

Holding the grace of 5 rivers and an endless sky full of culture and history, is the ancient city of Bijapur, an essential part of Karnataka. The land which was once called the ‘City of Victory’ was built under the rule of Chalukyas of Kalyani in the 10th and 11th centuries. But it was the Adil Shahi dynasty that gave the city the historical monuments that travellers come to visit often. The city is artistically divided into three parts namely the fort, the citadel and the ruins of the city. A tour around Bijapur lets wanderers set eyes upon its top attractions like Gol Gumbaz, Anand Mahal, Saat Manzil Jumma Masjid, and Jal Manzil.

A short ride from Pattadakal lands explorers to Aihole, a historical site which has a number of astounding temples settled in its realms. Known by several names across north Karnataka, the archaeological site is known for just one reason, that is its 100 temples which were sculpted between the 4th and 6th centuries AD. The temples are a classic example of North Indian temple architecture styles which is rarely found across the country. Furthermore, Aihole serves as one of the most important sites for archaeological and religious studies along with other historical sites like Pattadakal, Badami, Mahakuteshvara, and Alampur.

Taking every traveller by surprise is the town which finds its place on the Malaprabha River, Pattadakal. A blend of northern and southern India forms of architecture, the Hindu and Jain temples of Pattadakal were an important part of the Chalukya dynasty which showcases hints of Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism in its carvings. In no time, Pattadakal along with Aihole and Badami started getting praised for their exclusive architectural styles and innovation. Among the many temples present here, there are 10 temples that religiously follow Lord Shiva, Virupaksha Temple being the most revered by pilgrims.

Out of the many reasons that South India is known for, architecture is like the main part that completes the picture. Sitting close to the town of Hospet is one of the finest ancient villages of Karnataka, Hampi which is most visited for its ruined temple complex. Given the stature of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temple complex belongs to the time of Vijayanagara Empire. And the historical tour doesn’t really end here as tourist attractions like Monkey Temple, Archaeological Museum and Virupaksha Temple pulls in travellers like a magnet and amaze them with their intricate carvings and finesse.

Like a coin has two sides to it, the same is with this city which advances every day and at the same time cherishes its core to the fullest. Hyderabad, the ever-developing capital of Telangana is known for having its feet majorly in the technology industry. When the coin flips, the old city side of Hyderabad turns up with the sweet-smelling tea shops and aromatic spices of biryani attracting people every now and then. The bliss of architecture comes with the presence of tourist attractions dipped in history like Charminar, Golconda, Chowmahalla Palace, and Birla Mandir to name a few.

While there are a number of things that Aurangabad would be seen boasting about, it’s the Ellora Caves that the district has a soft corner for. Amounting over 100 in number, these caves are an amalgamation of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments that go back to 600-1000 CE. Ellora Caves are appreciated as one of the largest rock-cut monastery temple cave complexes in the world. The fine architecture in the form of carvings and sculptures is what makes this heritage site a popular tourist attraction of Aurangabad. Another amazing fact about this complex is that it was built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty and the Yadava dynasty, who belonged to the Hindu dynasties.

As travellers embark on their journey to Aurangabad, first the Ellora Caves attract their senses and then the next is Ajanta Caves. A popular tourist spot now, Ajanta Caves have been a part of Maharashtra from the past 2nd century BCE to 480 CE and are an awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site. What makes these rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments unique is the fact that they represent rock-cut sculptures and painting which are great examples of Indian ancient art. The Indian art that we saw at present was somehow influenced by the Buddhist religious art which is portrayed in these caves as stories related to Buddha, rock-cut sculptures and more.