Spend the day exploring Aihole and Patadakkal. The seventy temples at Aihole exemplify Hindu medieval art. The Durga temple with its pyramidal roof has some remarkable sculpture and the Jain Meguti temple is composed of 630 small stone blocks.

Patadakkal is the place where the Chalukuan kings had their coronation ceremonies. The ceiling of the Papanath temple, built around 680 AD, has a carved smiling Shiva, appearing to bless with his outstretched palm from whatever direction he is viewed. The Virupaksha temple is a curious figure - an elephant on one side and a buffalo on the other.