Event Date: 1st January 2020.
Venue: Pattadakal, Karnataka.
Served as a commercial centre for various royal activities and sovereign’s consort, Pattadakal is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in the state of Karnataka and a treasured tribute to the architectural brilliance of the Chalukya dynasty. Situated on the banks of the Malaprabha River, the historic land of Pattadakal is dotted with numerous temples which are known for its vivid features and remarkable architecture that forms a mix of North Indian (Nagara) and South Indian (Dravidian) styles. Most of the temples in Pattadakal are dedicated to Lord Shiva and they reflect the rich history and glorious past of the medieval South Indian rulers, especially those of the Chalukya Kings. To celebrate the grandeur of the Temples of Pattadakal, a classical dance festival is conducted every year with these temples as its backdrop known as Pattadakal Dance Festival. The vibrant Pattadakal Dance Festival falls on January 1st, 2020.
Read on to know more about Pattadakal Dance Festival:
Pattadakal Dance Festival:
Pattadakal Dance Festival also called as Chalukya Dance Festival is a grand event organized by the Government of Karnataka every year in the month of January or February to celebrate the magnificence of the temples at Pattadakal. This vivacious Dance Festival presents an array of Indian classical dance and music. Since it is a celebration of Temples, the festival takes place with the stunning temples as the backdrop, creating an incredible setting for the event. Distinguished dancers from all over the world come here to participate in this vibrant festival and showcase their talents to the enthusiastic audience. Pattadakal Dance Festival is a must to watch event for all admirers of dance and music, especially for those who share a love for Indian Classical dance and music.
The Pattadakal Dance Festival is regarded as one of the famous and most sough-after dance festivals of India. It aims at staging innovative and experimental dance performances and enabling the artists to express their views through individual artistic approaches. Several traditional dance forms of Kerala like Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, etc, are staged during the Pattadakal Dance Festival, offering a visual treat for the dance lovers. The Dance Festival also provides an opportunity for renowned artists to form a meeting ground.
Pattadakal Dance Festival is furthermore made attractive by organizing a Craft Mela that showcases the artistic brilliance of craftsmen through local and traditional crafts. The Craft Mela aims at providing an open market to the dying art form of craft-making and thus bringing to life the art that has lost its glory to globalization or that are on the verge of extinction. Artisans from all over Karnataka take part in the Craft Mela where they open stalls to market their crafts. At the same time indulging in the captivating dance performances, one can feel excited and awed by the fair and shop some crafts to take back home as souvenirs of the mesmerizing experience of the Pattadakal Dance Festival.
What will you experience at Pattadakal Dance Festival?
The place itself creates a magical aura that takes you back to the time of Chalukya kings. The most attractive feature of the Pattadakal Dance Festival is its alluring setting with the magnificent temples as its backdrop that are known for its timeless beauty and architectural grandeur. To witness the incredible classical dance forms of India in a spellbinding setting like Pattadakal which is endowed with rich history and magnificence is a lifetime experience.
The other major crowd-puller here is the Craft Mela that takes you by surprise with a large collection of traditional and local crafts. One can have a great time at the fair mesmerizing at the beautiful crafts and even shop some. Hence, the Pattadakal Dance festival is not only for dance and music lovers but for art lovers too. This amazing Dance Festival is surely a treat for history buffs also as they can enjoy the wonderful festivity along with the magnificent history of the place.
Top Tourist Attractions in Pattadakal:
- Virupaksha Temple:
Built-in the 8th century to commemorate the victory of Vikramaditya II over the Pallavas of Kanchi, the Virupaksha Temple is counted as the largest temple in Pattadakal.
- Mallikarjuna Temple:
This 7th century-old temple reflects the Dravidian architectural style and also resembles the Virupaksha Temple but is smaller in size.
- Papanatha Temple:
This temple is known for its exquisite carvings on the walls that depict scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- Kashivishvanatha Temple:
Kashiviswanatha Temple was built by the Rashtrakutas during the 8th century in Nagara architectural style.
- Sangameshwara Temple:
Reflecting Dravidian architecture, the Sangameshwara Temple is said to be one of the oldest temples in India which was constructed between 696 and 733 AD by the Chalukya King Vijayaditya Satyashraya.
- Galaganath Temple:
The Galaganath Temple in Pattadakal is famous for housing the sculpture of Lord Shiva killing the demon Andhakasura. This temple also features small figures of Gajalakshmi and Kubera.
- Jain Temple:
Another major attraction of Pattadakal is the Jain Temple which is embellished with beautiful and intricate sculptures. This temple is also constructed in the Dravidian architectural style.
Getting There:
By Air:
Hubli Airport is the nearest airport to Pattadakal which is situated at a distance of 131.5 Km.
By Rail:
Badami Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Pattadakal which is situated at a distance of 17.2 Km.
By Road:
Pattadakal is well-linked by roads to Aihole and Badami.
Come and witness the awe-inspiring Pattadakal Dance Festival and lose yourself in the remarkable splendour of classical dance forms of India.
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