Pattadakal’s UNESCO Monuments Get Night-Time Makeover
During the ongoing demo, the newly installed illumination system has transformed the UNESCO World Heritage Site into an after-dark spectacle, drawing tourists who pause in wonder as the monuments emerge from the shadows in warm golden hues.
By : Gururaj A Paniyadi
Update: 2025-12-20 11:56 GMT
Bagalkot: As the sun dips behind the Malaprabha river and silence settles over the ancient city of Pattadakal, the group of monuments begins to glow — softly at first, then in full splendour. Amid the cool evening breeze, visitors lingering after sunset watch history unfold under lights for the first time.
During the ongoing demo, the newly installed illumination system has transformed the UNESCO World Heritage Site into an after-dark spectacle, drawing tourists who pause in wonder as the monuments emerge from the shadows in warm golden hues.
Illuminated structures (Image/Gururaj A Paniyadi/DC)
In an effort to boost tourism, electric illumination has been installed at Pattadakal and is currently being showcased as part of a three-day demo from December 19 to 21, with the temples illuminated between 6 pm and 9 pm. Officials said the trial run is aimed at testing the system and making any necessary corrections.
Until now, visitors had to leave the site before dusk, as darkness quickly swallowed the sprawling complex. The illumination is set to change that rhythm, allowing people to slow down, pause, and absorb and enjoy the architecture in silence. From a distance, the temples appear almost theatrical, their finely carved stone surfaces revealing details often missed in harsh daylight. So thoughtfully designed is the lighting that even frequent visitors find the illuminated monuments revealing new details and enhanced beauty.
After the testing phase and formal inauguration, the illumination system will be formally inaugurated and operated on a regular basis. This is the first such illumination project in Bagalkot district.
(Image/Gururaj A Paniyadi/DC)
The illumination system is set to be inaugurated soon.
“We illuminated the Gol Gumbaz (in Vijayapura district) last year and it received a good response. This is the second such project. The lighting will illuminate the entire Pattadakal group of monuments,” said Ramesh S Mulimani, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Dharwad Circle, speaking to Deccan Chronicle.
(Image/Gururaj A Paniyadi/DC)
The lighting system has been installed at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore under Indian Oil Corporation’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative and implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). A portion of the energy requirement is met through solar power, with the rest drawn from conventional electric lines. Maintenance will be handled by Indian Oil Corporation for three years, after which it will be taken over by the ASI.
But Pattadakal’s significance goes far beyond its visual appeal. Along with Badami and Aihole, it forms a historic triad of Chalukyan architecture — three sites that together narrate the story of a dynasty that shaped early temple architecture in the Deccan.
Badami served as the Chalukyan capital, Aihole was known for its temples, and Pattadakal stood as the ceremonial heart of the empire. It was here that Chalukyan kings were crowned, a fact reflected in the very name ‘Pattadakal’, which translates to the ‘place of coronation’.
Situated on the banks of the Malaprabha river, Pattadakal was referred to by the foreign traveller Ptolemy as Petrigal. The place was also known as Raktapura, and Kisuvolal. It is said that the names were to mean ‘valley of red soil.’
Between the 7th and 9th centuries, when the Chalukyan empire was at its zenith, Pattadakal reached the height of its glory as a royal commemorative site, where art, power and devotion came together in stone.
The temple complex — comprising about ten major temples surrounded by smaller shrines and plinths — represents the finest expression of Chalukyan architecture. The Jambulinga, Virupaksha, Galaganatha, Sangameshwara, Kadasiddheshwara, Mallikarjuna, Papanatha and Jain temples are among the most famous and historically significant structures at Pattadakal.
(Image/Gururaj A Paniyadi/DC)
It is said that under King Vikramaditya II, and with the patronage of his art-loving queens Lokamahadevi and Trailokyamahadevi, sculptors were brought from Kanchipuram to create many of the temples, resulting in a rare confluence of northern and southern architectural styles.
Tourism officials believe the illumination will significantly enhance visitor experience and boost footfalls. According to official data, Badami recorded 4.37 lakh domestic tourists and 53,000 foreign visitors last year. Pattadakal received 3.20 lakh domestic and 3,671 foreign tourists, while Aihole saw over 2.11 lakh domestic and 3,419 foreign visitors during the same period.
Infrastructure improvements are also underway. The government has initiated two major projects at Pattadakal — a dedicated parking facility and the proposed Pattadakal Plaza. The tourist plaza, planned on 24 acres, will include a restaurant, restrooms, exhibition spaces showcasing local arts and handicrafts such as Amingad karadantu and Ilkal sarees, along with other visitor amenities. About two acres have been earmarked exclusively for parking.
There are also plans to introduce sound-and-light shows at Badami, while the administration has sent a proposal to include Aihole in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Interestingly, Pattadakal’s story does not begin with the Chalukyas alone. Archaeological evidence points to prehistoric habitation, with Iron Age dolmens found at Bachinagudda near Pattadakal — quiet reminders that human presence here stretches far deeper into time.