Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Ancient · Hindu · India

Lad Khan Temple

Aihole, Karnataka · 16.0199°, 75.8812°

Shiva, originally VishnuChalukyaPanchayatana
Sacred since
400 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
c. 5th c. (Chalukya)
Chalukya

History & significance

One of the oldest surviving Hindu temples in India, at Aihole in Bagalkot district, now dated to about the 5th century rather than the 7th-8th as once thought. Its shrine, pillared mandapa of twelve carved columns, lattice windows and circumambulatory path translate timber building forms into stone; it was rededicated from Vishnu to Shiva, and takes its popular name from a man called Lad Khan who once lodged in it.

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Related sites

Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur
Kolhapur · India
634 CE (Chalukya)
Bhadrakali Temple, Warangal
Warangal · India
625 CE (Chalukya)

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chalukya