Pattadakal Dance Festival is among the vibrant festivals of dance and music. This festival is held every year in the month of January. The dance festival is organised by the Government of Karnataka. It is a renowned Indian dance festivals which is organised in Pattadakal, a small town located in the state of Karnataka. The dance festival aims at staging experimental dance performances. Each dance recital becomes a pioneering experience with metrical beats. This dance festival brings out different forms and styles as well as cultural collaborative performances.
The venue of the vivacious dance festival, Pattadakal serves as a famous cultural centre.
The dance Festival every year unfolds multifaceted talents. It presents an array of Indian classical dance and music. In addition to that, the festival also intends to highlight the realms of accomplishments in the different classical dance and music of India. The event is organised at the setting of the Pattadakal Temples which were constructed during 7th and 8th centuries. The temples have a rich history to share and they present an exceptional blend of north and south architectural styles. Furthermore, the temples have been declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Pattadakal has been captivating the tourists visiting the place. This dance festival continues with an objective. It proposes to enable artistes from all part of the country to express their views through individual artistic approaches. Furthermore, the dance festival is focused on artistic interchange. This festival provides opportunity to the artistes to form a meeting ground. Noted exponents display their talents in the Pattadakal dance festival. The dance festival along with the exquisite performances holds a sterling position in the Indian Cultural Calendar.
Tourist Attractions in Pattadakal
After the festival is over, people can still stay and savor the other historical and otherwise tourist attractions. One can explore the temples such as Virupaksha Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, Sangameshvara Temple, Galganatha Temple, Kadasiddhesvara and Jambulingesvara temples, Kashivisvanatha Temple as well as the Jain shrines at leisure. Each temple has a beautiful overall architecture with detailed intricacies that seems mind bogglingly entrancing. Other interesting sites that one can visit are the monolithic stone pillar with the inscriptions, the engravings of Mahakuteshwara Temple and the Chandrashekar Temple. If one still has time to stay around, then they can visit Aihole nearby which is another historical place since it was one of the regional capitals of the Chalukya Dynasty and has some beautiful sights to see. One can also travel back to Badami which is another such place with some charming historic architecture.
There are three ways to reach Pattadakal- airways, railway and by road. If a person is coming by road, the highway 14 links Badami to Pattadakal which is only about 10 km away. One could take a flight to Bangalore from where they could reach Pattadakal on road. While a person traveling through train can get down at Badami, which is the nearest railway station and then come to the village by road.
How to get Pattadakal
By Air :
Visitors who arrive by air while coming to here to witness the Pattadakal dance festival have to come to Belgaum, Dabolim; it is the nearest airport from this town.
By Train :
Those traveling by rail have to come to Badami, the nearest railway station.
By Road :
Pattadakal is well connected by road to Bijapur, Bengaluru and Mysore.
Karnataka, adorned with several ancient temples and rich cultural heritage celebrate various colourful fairs and festivals. Every town, city and village in the state has their own calendar with fascinating fairs and festivals. For the people of Karnataka, these variety of festivals are a celebration of life. Apart from the religious festivals, the state also conduct magnificent dance festivals and other fairs. The most important festivals and fairs of the state are Dussera, Ugadi, Kar Hunnive, Sri Vithappa Fair, Shri Yellamma Devi Fair etc.