Pattadakal near Bijapur is a center of early Chalukyan art. It has a set of nine temples built almost in a single file, showing the architects' longing for experimenting in diverse styles. Pattadakal stands for the culmination of early Chalukyan art. Four of the temples here are in the south Indian Dravidian architectural style while four are in the north Indian Nagara style while

Papanatha temple displays a fusion style.

The Virupaksha temple, probably the most gorgeous of all temples here is in the south Indian style and is almost a duplication of the Kailasanatha temple of Kanchi. The Virupaksha temple was built by Lokeswari one of the queens of Vikramaditya II in honor of his victorious battle against the Pallavas of Kanchi in the year 735 CE. The Virupaksha temple faces east towards the Malaprabha River. It has carvings illustrating scenes from the puranas in each of the 18 pillars in the mukhamandapam . There is also an image of Lakulisa , showing the dominance of the Pasupata sect of the Saiva religion in the Chalukyan land.