Vesara Style of Architecture (Early Chalukya Architecture)

The Vesara style temple architecture is a combination of the Nagara and the Dravidian architecture. It has slowly evolved into its own gigantic proportions. It is also referred to as Early Chalukya architecture.

The old brick temples of Uttareshvara and Kalesvara represents the Early Chalukyan style, even more than the temples at Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami.

Badami Chalukya Architecture represents the peak of the bunch. Its Malegitti Shivalaya is a marvel executed in style and stone. Exquisitely proportioned and magnificently situated it readily governs the prospect.

The Pallava influence was responsible for the most important temple at Pattadakal probably built in the first half of the 8th century. The great Virupaksha temple of Shiva at Lokesvara was erected in about 740 AD by the Queen of Vikramaditya II in imitation of the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram. Its cella is separately executed from the mandapa but it has an ambulatory path, the mandapa being supported by pillars. Its sikhara is clearly marked which stately rises in storeys.

Sculptures of Shiva, Nagas and Naginis and scenes from the Ramayana run around. Like the Dravidian temples this too is built largely with closely joined blocks of stone without mortar. The noble structure, indeed one of the noblest in India, is thronged with adorers and is still in use. Its architect, Tribhuvan-Charya, too finds a mentioned in the relics of stone.

The most characteristic style of the Chalukya is a fusion between the Dravidian and the Aryavarta of Nagara styles of architecture. It is represented by the famous Papanatha temple built about 735 AD. It has a true Aryavarta Sikhara with amalakas on all the ancillary towers beside the main.