About the Wada
Aihole was neglected for much of the 20th century with the site falling to ruins. We saw the Wada 1 as a diamond in the rough and bought the hotel in 2001. It has taken us 10 years of painstaking work to restore the Wada 1 to its former glory. The hotel was constructed as a residence of a high ranking official of the Chalukyan Dynasty and its architecture is representative of the time. What makes the Wada 1 even more unique is the fact that most Wada’s of its time have been completely demolished over time to make way for newer construction. This is the last of very few Wadas that remain in existence and the only one that has been restored and available for guests to experience.
Because the Wada 1 is located in the Aihole Temple Complex any changes and modernizations that have to be made have to be approved by the Archaeological Survey of India hence lengthening the timelines of the restoration process.
You can now enjoy the beauty of Wada 1 in an unparalleled setting for a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
The courtyard is now beautifully restored for your enjoyment
Prior to restoration.
The tower prior to restoration.
The restored Tower now featuring a Unique Luxury Room for an unforgettable experience.
About Aihole
Aihole is a site of historical significance that has Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments that date between the 7th to 10th century. The temples of these religions were built and coexist in close proximity.
It is a major archaeological site featuring over 120 stone and cave temples spread along the Malaphrabha river valley. The site is spread over about 5 square kilometres (1.9 sq. mi.)
Around the 6th century Aihole, along with nearby Badami (Vatapi) had emerged at the cradle of experimentation with temple architecture, stone artwork, and construction techniques. This resulted in 16 types of free-standing temples and 4 types of rock-cut shrines.
The Hindu temples in the complex are dedicated to Lords Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Durga and other Hindu deities. The Jain Basadi temples are dedicated to Lord Mahavira, Parshvanatha, Neminatha and other Jain Tirthankaras. The Buddhist monument is a temple and small monastery.
A rock shaped like an axe on the Malaprabha river bank north of the village is associated with the legend of Lord Parashurama, the 6th avatar of Lord Vishnu, who is said to have washed his axe here after killing Kshatriyas who were abusing and exploiting their military powers. It is believed that this act of washing his axe gave the land its red colour. A 19th Century local belief is also that the rock footprints in the river were those of Lord Parashurama.
Due to Aihole’s historical significance, it is also called the cradle of Hindu rock architecture.
Aihole’s History
The documented history of Aihole can be traced to the rise of the Early Chalukya Dynasty in the 6th century. The Chalukyas sponsored artisans and built many temples in this region between the 6th and 8th centuries. From the 9th to 12th century the region was ruled by the Late Chalukyas and even though it was no longer the capital of the Dynasty, new temples and monasteries of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism continued to be built in the region due to its prosperity, substantial population and the surplus wealth of the rulers.
In the 13th century and thereafter, much of Deccan region became the target of raids and plunder by the Mughals of the Delhi Sultanate. The region witnessed a series of wars between the Hindu rulers of the time (Vijayanagara kings) and the Bahmani Muslim Sultans. Aihole eventually became a part of the Mughal rule, who used the temples as residences and garrison for storing weapons and supplies. Many temples were renamed; such as the Shiva temple which is till date known as the Lad Khan Temple.
Thereafter the region was ruled by the Maratha Empire, Tipu Sultan and the British Empire.
Aihole became a significant archaeological site and attracted scholarly attention after the British India officials identified and published their observations.
Inscription on the temple
Lad Khan Temple
Ravana Padhi
Malikarjuna Temple Complex
Durga Temple
Chennakeshava Temple
Coins of Chalukya Dynasty
Emperor Pulakeshin II
Emperor Pulakeshin II
Chalukya Dynasty
Chalukya Dynasty
Chalukya Dynasty
King Vikramaditya VI
King Vikramaditya VI
Rendering of Temple Pillars
About Gogunda Palace:
A 16th-century citadel, Gogunda Palace is one of India’s most unique heritage hotels. From the coronation of Maharana Pratap in 1572, Mewar’s gallant warrior king, to the signing of the peace treaty between Moghul Emperor Jahangir and Maharana Amar Singh I; Gogunda Palace is a historical landmark.
The craftsmanship of the century and the luxurious living style of its then residing royalty has been minutely researched to restore this heritage site to its original splendour. The palace is an exquisite blend of traditional grandeur with modern-day conveniences.
Come and experience a Royal stay with us at Gogunda Palace.