Kadamba architecture was a style of temple architecture founded by

Mayurasharma Mayurasharma or Mayuravarma (reigned 345–365 C.E.), a native of Talagunda (in modern Shimoga district), was the founder of the Kadamba Kingdom of Banavasi, the earliest native kingdom to rule over what is today the modern state of Karnataka, ...

in the 4th century AD in

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. Kadambas created ''new style of architecture which was the basis of the Hoysalas style'' of architecture, developed original school of sculpture, was the forerunner of series of South Indian sculptors. Many temples at

Aihole Aihole (pronounced "Eye-hoḷé"), also referred to as Aivalli, Ahivolal or Aryapura, is a historic site of ancient and medieval era Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments in Karnataka, India that dates from the sixth century through the twelfth cen ...

Badami Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from CE 540 to 757. It is famous for its rock cut monumen ...

and

Hampi Hampi or Hampe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Hampi (town), Hampi town, Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire i ...

are built in Kadamba style.

History

During 345 AD to 525 AD, the ancient royal dynasty of Karnataka, the Kadambas made early contribution to the architecture of Karnataka and they are the originators.

Kadamba art

Doddagaddavalli Lakshmidevi temple1 retouched

The most prominent feature of Kadamba architecture was Shikara called Kadamba Shikara. The tower rises in steps without any decoration (pyramid shaped shikara) with pinnacle (Stupika or Kalasha) on top. The Kadamba temples ''vimana'' usually square in plan, the tower is pyramidal shape and constitutes a series of horizontal step stages decorated with uniform series of quadrangular vertical projections and covering vestibules attached to vimana, The stages are more numerous and less elevated, devoid of pavilion ornamentation. Kadamba's architecture and sculpture contributed to the foundation of ''Chalukya-Hoysala style''. *

Lakshmi Devi temple, Doddagaddavalli The Lakshmi Devi temple is an early 12th-century Hindu temples complex located in Doddagaddavalli village in Hassan District, Karnataka India. The main temple consists of four-shrines that share a common mandapa (hall), each sanctum being a squ ...

* Bhoo Varaha Laxmi Narasimha Temple Halasi

Temples in Kadamba architectural style

Two Shiva temples on Hemakuta hill at Hampi

The 5th century monuments at

Halasi Halasi (Kannada: ಹಲಸಿ, also Halsi or Halshi, in earlier times also called Halasige or Palasige) is a town in Khanapur Taluk, Belgaum District in Karnataka, India. It is 14 km from Khanapur and about 25 km from Kittur. As known ...

are the oldest surviving ''Kadamba structure''. The most prominent feature is the ''Kadamba Shikara'' with a ''Kalasa'' on top. In Belgaum district, Hattikeshwara, Kalleshwara and Someshwara temples at

and group of temples at Kadaroli illustrates the Kadamba architecture. The old

Jain Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

basadi containing a sanctum and a sukanasi at Halasi the most ancient stone temple in Karnataka. Kadamba architecture constituted an important link between the

Shatavahana The Satavahanas (''Sādavāhana'' or ''Sātavāhana'', IAST: ), also referred to as the Andhras in the Puranas, were an ancient Indian dynasty based in the Deccan region. Most modern scholars believe that the Satavahana rule began in the late ...

Pallavas The Pallava dynasty existed from 275 CE to 897 CE, ruling a significant portion of South India, the Deccan, also known as Tondaimandalam. The dynasty rose to prominence after the downfall of the Satavahanas, Satavahana dynasty, with whom they ...

and

Chalukyas The Chalukya dynasty () was a Classical Indian dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynas ...

architecture. Kadamba architecture elements in

Hoysala The Hoysala Empire was a Kannada people, Kannadiga power originating from the Indian subcontinent that ruled most of what is now Karnataka, India, Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially loca ...

Architecture. ;

Many temples at

including Ramlingesvara temple Complex, Badigergudi temple and small shrines at Durga temple complex, Tryambakeshwara temple complex, ruined temple at Mallikarjuna temple complex, shrines at Jyotirlinga temple complex, small temple at Hucchimalli temple complex, ruined temples Galaganatha temple complex and many temples along the

Malaprabha River The Malaprabha River (Kannada ಮಲಪ್ರಭಾ ನದಿ) is a tributary of the Krishna River and flows through the state of Karnataka in India. It rises in the Western Ghats at an elevation of in the state's Belgaum district. The rive ...

are built in Kadamba architectural (Shikhara) style. ;

Kadamba style Mallikarjuna group of temples and Bhutanatha group of temples

temple on adjacent small hill top) at

. ;

Including Jain temples and two Shiva temples and many ruined temples o
Hemakuta hill
at

built in Kadamba style of architecture. ;

Mahakuta The Mahakuta group of temples is located in Mahakuta, a village in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka state, India. It is an important place of worship for Hindus and the location of a well-known Shaiva monastery. The temples are dated to the 6th ...

There are many shrines with Kadamba superstructure at

including Bhimeshwara ling temple, newly renovated temple outside main temple complex. ; Bandalike There are many temples and Basadis at Bandalike (Bandalika), it is about 35 km from

Shikaripura Shikaripur or Shikaripura is a major town in Shimoga district in the Indian state of Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the pas ...

including Shantinath basadi, Sahasralinga temple and Someshwara threemurthy temples those are of Rastrakutas and Kadambas period, temples built in Kadamba style of architecture. ; Belgaum district * Kamala Narayana Temple, Degaon (Degamve / Devgram) * Th
Ruined temple at Konnur
is 4 km from Gokak falls. * Kamala basadi at

Belagavi Belgaum (ISO: ''Bēḷagāma''; also Belgaon and officially known as Belagavi) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located in its northern part along the Western Ghats. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Belagavi ...

* Bhutnath temple Torgal (Torgal Fort) near Munvalli in Belgaum district. * Panchlingeshwara Temple Munavalli Belgaum district has Kadamba shikhara. * Ramalingaeshwara temple at

Bailhongal Bailhongal is a Taluk in Belagavi District of Karnataka state in southern India. Bailhongal Taluk is located towards the north-east part of Belagavi. The taluk headquarters is about 44 km from the district headquarters. The total geographi ...

* There are few ruined temples at

Hooli Hooli is a town in Belgaum District in Karnataka, India. It is about 9 km from Saundatti. One of the oldest villages in the Belgaum District, Hooli is the site of the Panchaligeswara temple and the Trikuteshwara Temple. The village is his ...

with Kadamba shikhara. * The ruined temple beside the river a
Kadaroli
has the Kadamba style shikara. * Temples at

and Ramtheerth temple a top of the hill near

;Uttara Kannada district * Including Madhukeshwara temple and Parvati temple many other temples at

Banavasi Banavasi is an ancient temple town located near Sirsi in Karnataka. Banavasi was the ancient capital of the Kannada empire Kadamba that ruled all of modern-day Karnataka state. They were the first native empire to bring Kannada and Karnataka t ...

has Kadamba style architecture (Shikhara). * ''Ratnatraya Basti'' at Bilgi a small village near

Siddapura, Uttara Kannada Siddapura is a town and the headquarters of Siddapur taluk, It is located at a distance of from Sirsi through SH 93. it is part Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka. It is nestled among the Malenadu region. The town is surrounded by forests ...

district of Karnataka. * The 12th and 14th century AD Shankara Narayana templ

at Haliyur and Venkataramana Swamy templ

at Muttinkere near Sonda in Sirsi taluk of Uttarkannada district. * Mallikarjuna Temple at

Haliyal Haliyala is a town in Uttara Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters town for Haliyal Taluk. It can be classified as a main-road town. Geography Haliyal has an average elevation of 559 metres (1834 feet). ...

. ; Hassan district * Yoga Narasimha temple at Holalu in Hassan district * The Kadamba ''Bettada Byreshwara'' Shiva temple built in black stone near ''Hanbal'' a hill station of

Sakleshpur Sakleshpur, Sakleshpura or Sakleshapura is a hill station town and headquarters of Sakleshpur taluk in Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Economy The town lies in the Malnad region on the hills of the biodiversity hotspot, the We ...

(in Western Ghats) in Hassan district. * The Kadamba style Keerthinarayana templ

is at Heragu in Hassan district. ;Gadag district Lakshmeshwara Old Jain temple 1

* The old Lakshmeshwara Jain temple, Jain temple at

Lakshmeshwara Lakshmeshwara is a town, and newly created Taluk place along with Gajendragad in Gadag district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is about 40 km from Gadag and 55 km from Hubli. It is an agricultural trading town. Lakshmeshwara T ...

has Kadamba shikara. * Trilingeshwara temple at Hosur in Gadag district * Narasimha temple Gadag, veera narayana temple complex Gadag ; Haveri district * The Kere Someshwara Temple at Kalakeri in Hangal taluk of Haveri district, is in Kadamba style architecture (Shikhara). * Basavann Temple in the

Chaudayyadanapura Chaudayyadanapur is a small village in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri District in Karnataka state of India. All facets of Indian civilisation (religion, art and poetry) are exemplified in an exquisite Mukteshwara temple, with the highest degree of ...

Mukteshwara temple complex, Haveri District. * Narasimha temple Narasapura near

, Haveri District. * Veerabhadra temple Hale Honatti in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri district ;Chikmagalur district * The Kadamba style ''Bhairaveshwara Temple at Byrapura'', 22 km from

Mudigere Mudigere is a Town Panchayath and Taluk in Chikkamagaluru district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is 30 km from the district headquarters. Nearest airport is at Mangalore which is at a distance of . Mudigere is known for coffee and ...

(in western ghats) in Chikmagalur district near to Kukke Subramanya. * Prasanna Rameshwara Temple Devarunda, Mudigere in Chikmagalur district * Malahanikareshvara, Bhavani temples

shringeri Sringeri (IAST: Śṛngēri) also called Shringeri is a hill town and Taluk headquarters located in Chikkamagaluru district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the site of the first maṭha ( Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peetham) establis ...

. ; Other parts of Karnataka * The 12th century AD Shiva temple at Udri Shimog

built in Kadamba style architecture. * Mallikarjuna Temple and Neelakanteshwara Temple, Kalasi * Tryambakeshwara temple (Trikutachala) with Kadamba Shikhara at Kavital in Manvi taluk in Raichur district. * Jain templ

at Brahmagiri (hill), Karnataka, Brahmagiri hill in Chitradurga district. ; Other parts of India ;Maharashtra
Panchaganga Temple
at Kolhapur built in Kadamba style. * Mahabaleshwar Temple, Krishnai Temple

Mahabaleshwar Mahabaleshwar () is a small town and a municipal council in Satara district, Maharashtra, India. It is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus because Krishna river has its origin here. The British colonial rulers developed the town as a hill station ...

in Maharashtra * Kaneri math kadamba style is in Karveer tehsil in Kolhapur district in Maharashtra ;Andhra Pradesh * Temples at Srisailam built during Vijayanagara empire (by ''Harihara Raya'') has Kadamba Shikhara.

Telangana Telangana (; , ) is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian subcontinent, Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India b ...

* Papanasi group of temples at Alampur dedicated to Joglamba devi are built in Kadamba style architecture.
Chaya Someshwara temple
at Panagal in Nalgonda. * Ramappa temple in Mulug district * Thousand pillar temple in Warangal

Chalukya-Kadamba architectural style

* The Uma Maheshwara temple at ''Hosagunda'' in Sagar taluk of Shimoga district.

Hoysala-Kadamba architectural style

* Aghoreshwara Temple at Ikkeri * Late Hoysala Trikutachala temple built in granite has Kadamba Nagara shikhara. * The Eshwara Temple at ''Malali'' (Holenarasipura Taluk) in Hassan district in Karnataka, an early Hoysala structure with Kadamba Nagara style shikara. *

built by Hoysala.

Kadamba-Yadava architectural style

Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla Mahadeva Temple, Tambdi Surla is a 12th-century Shaivite temple in the Kadamba style dedicated to Lord Shiva and an active place of Hindu worship. It is an ASI protected Monument of National Importance in Goa. History The temple was built i ...

Temples with this style

Ananta Vasudeva Temple Ananta Vasudeva Temple ("Temple of the Infinite Vāsudeva", Odia:ଅନନ୍ତ ବାସୁଦେବ ମନ୍ଦିର) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Krishna, an ''avatar'' of Vishnu located in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, Ind ...

* Champakesvara Siva Temple * Lingaraja Temple * Mangalesvara Siva Temple * Purvesvara Siva Temple *

Rajarani Temple Rajarani Temple is an 11th-century Hindu temple located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha (Orissa previously), India. Overview The temple is believed to have been known originally as Indreswara. It is locally known as a "love temple" ...

Yameshwar Temple Yameshwar or Jameshwar Temple is a very old temple dedicated to Shiva being worshiped by Yama. It is situated in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, near Bharati Matha, in Jameshwar Patna. Architecture The main Vimana is in Rekha Deula style, Jaga moha ...

* Mahavinayak Temple *

Baladevjew Temple Baladevjew Temple is situated in Ichhapur (Tulasi Khetra), Kendrapara, Odisha, India. Baladevjew Temple is a very famous temple of Odisha and Balarama is its main divinity. However, Jagannath and Subhadra are also worshipped in the ''Ratna Sinha ...

* Ramappa Temple *

Thousand Pillar Temple The Thousand Pillar Temple or Rudreswara Swamy Temple వేయి స్తంభాల గుడి''is a historic Hindu temple located in the town of Hanamakonda, Telangana State, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. Thou ...

Gallery of Kadamba Shikhara

File:Mallikarjuna group of temples at Badami.jpg, Mallikarjuna group of temples at

File:banavasi1.jpg, Madhukeshwara Temple at

File:Goa2009p051-600x401.jpg, Mahadev Tambdi Surla

Goa Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...

File:Halasi 10.jpg, Bhuvaraha Narasimha temple

File:Two Shiva temples on Hemakuta hill at Hampi.JPG, Two Shiva temples on Hemakuta hill at

File:Virupaksha, Hampi.jpg, Kadamba temples on Hemakuta hill at Hampi near Virupaksha temple File:Chaudayyadanapura Mukteshwara temple 3.jpg, Temple in the

Mukteshwara temple complex File:Narasimha temple Narasapura near Chaudayyadanapura 3.jpg, Narasimha temple Narasapura near

, Haveri District, Karnataka File:Degaon 25.jpg ,

Kamala Narayana Temple Kamala Narayana Temple is at Degaon in Belgaum District, Karnataka, India. The temple was built by the Kadamba dynasty. Kamal Narayan Temple was constructed by Tippoja, the Chief Architect of Kamala Devi, the Queen of the Kadamba king Sivachitt ...

at Degaon File:Aihole temples 2.jpg , Ruined temple at

with Kadamba tower File:Stone curved kalasa.jpg , Stone curved kalasa, Chandragiri Hill at

Shravanabelagola Shravanabelagola () is a town located near Channarayapatna of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is from Bengaluru. The Gommateshwara Bahubali statue at Shravanabelagola is one of the most important tirthas (pilgrimage des ...

File:Lakshmeshwara Old Jain temple 1.jpg,

Old Jain temple File:Kamala basadi belagavi 1.jpg, Kamala basadi

File:Historical temple Hooli 6.jpg, Ruined temple at

References

{{History of architecture Architectural styles Architecture of Karnataka Indian architectural history Cultural history of Karnataka Architecture in India Kadambas Culture of Karnataka