Pattadakal Dance Festival is an annual festival held in a small town in the northern state of Karnataka. The Pattadakal hamlet is 20 km away from Badami, Karnataka. Organized with the help of the Karnataka Government, Pattadakal mega event happens in the January or February month.

An exhilarating sight to watch dancers performing in unison in the backdrop of the Pattadakal Temple. The temples built around the 7th and 8th century come under the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Pattadakal grand dance celebration is a dance lover’s delight. The erstwhile, second capital of the Chalukya Dynasty has eminent Lord Shiva temples with ciphers, sculptures, and interesting carvings. While Mallikarjuna and Virupaksha temples are larger than most of the temples.

Dancers from all over the country flood to this festival with their swift and graceful movements to create the elixir of happiness. The world-famous Craft Mela entertains the handicraft loving population.

Pattadakal means the “place of coronation” and this is where the crowning event of Chalukya had happened in the past. Treated as monuments, the rich past of the structures come back alive during the Pattadakal Dance Festival. An in-depth study of the carvings in the temple explains the everyday lives of the people belonging to the 7th and 8th century.

Revered as a worship place first, now it is remembered and visited for its beautiful architectural designs. Classical dancers show their elegance complementing the Pattadakal edifices. The beauty is in the blend of the North and South Indian architecture. Most of the traditional dance forms of India performed here preserve the cultural history of India.

Enthusiasm and energy of the crowd thrown to the festival keep the dancers imbibe the unexpected appreciation. The celebration of this festival extends for three days.

The sculptures in the backdrop create a magical sensation that creates a lasting impression in our minds. Travelers can go for the Craft Fair, an inevitable part of Pattadakal Dance Festival. people who purchase local and traditional crafts indirectly contribute to improving the diminishing art and archaic craft forms of India.

Apart from celebrating the various dance art forms, other art forms enhance the cultural strength of the festival. It is not only for people who love dance but also for those who are committed to music, art, handicrafts, and history.

A must-see Indian festival for the European, English, Asian, American, and Australian travelers. A cultural festival for the world.

Month of Celebration

This small town in Karnataka drowns in voorpret (feel before a festival) in January or February month. A visual, sensory, and olfactory feast to anyone who loves India and its amicable culture. Support arts facing the threat of extinction, celebrate all night, seek divinity in the temples of Pattadakal and immerse in the jubilance of the music and dance.

Locations:

Pattadakal Town, Karnataka (also known as Raktapura) - UNESCO Heritage Site managed by the Archaeological Society of India (ASI). Virupaksha temple is a highly visited Hindu Temple while Jain Temples equally adorn the whole complex.