Pattadakal itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Pattadakal

1. 01

   Day 1: Pattadakal and Aihole

   Reach Pattadakal at opening time and begin with Virupaksha, then work through Mallikarjuna, Sangameshvara, Kashivishvanatha and the smaller northern-style temples. Allow about three hours. Drive to Papanatha and the Jain Narayana temple before the heat peaks, then take a long lunch and rest. In the afternoon continue to Aihole, about 10 km away, for the Durga temple and the cluster around it, and return to your base in the late afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Jain Narayana Temple	20 to 30 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Pattadakal

1. 01

   Day 1: The Pattadakal temples

   Spend the morning in the main enclosure, beginning with Virupaksha and ending at the Jambulinga and Kadasiddheshvara group. Break for lunch and a rest, then visit Papanatha and the Jain Narayana temple in the softer afternoon light. If there is energy, stay for the evening glow on the sandstone.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Jain Narayana Temple	20 to 30 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Aihole

   Go to Aihole early, about 10 km away, and explore its temples and the museum at an easy pace. Return via Pattadakal if you want a second look at Virupaksha in a different light, or continue to Badami for the caves.

Plan 03

3 days in Pattadakal

1. 01

   Day 1: Pattadakal in depth

   Walk the main enclosure slowly with a licensed guide, then see Papanatha and Jain Narayana in the afternoon. Keep the evening free.

2. 02

   Day 2: Aihole

   Give Aihole a full morning for its temple groups, then rest through the afternoon heat and return to a second look at anything you missed.

3. 03

   Day 3: Badami

   Drive about 22 km to Badami and see the cave temples early, before the heat, then the lake and, if you like, the museum and Mahakuta. End with a relaxed lunch.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Pattadakal trip for parents and children

• Arrive at opening time. The compound has little shade and stone gets hot underfoot by mid-morning.
• The main enclosure is level and compact. Plan Papanatha and Jain Narayana by car rather than on foot.
• Carry cotton socks or a cloth for active shrines, and slip-on shoes for easy removal.
• Bring water, a hat and sunscreen; seating in the sun is limited.
• Hire a licensed guide at the gate so you can pace yourself and avoid reading small boards in the glare.
• Keep a rest hour after lunch before doing Aihole in the afternoon.

Pattadakal with elderly parents: the full guide →