The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c29.s3.1

c29.s3.1

This temple, which, at some period in the distant past, had been desecrated, and consequently abandoned as a regular place of worship, has, of late years, been used to house a small private school. It is situated in the middle of the town not far from the police *chāvaḍi*. It is a good specimen of a fully developed Chālukyan temple, but has lost its forward open hall, if, indeed, it was ever built, together with the cornice over the south porch and the upper storey of its tower. It is fully decorated, but, although the ornament itself is rich and good, it is far too crowded, especially over the basement, for good taste. The architects were fond of the frequent repetition of detail, and indulged in this propensity of theirs to its utmost extent. The pilasters along the walls, with the constantly repeated niches and miniature *śikharas* become almost painfully monotonous, while the string courses of high lights and deep shadows in the basement run round the whole building with the most perfect regularity (Plates CXIX and CXXI).