Pattadakal
Pattadakal's temple complex contains ten major temples built between the 7th and 8th centuries by successive Chalukya rulers — making it a unique open-air textbook of early Indian temple architecture. You can literally walk from a simple early Chalukya shrine to a fully evolved Dravidian temple within a few hundred metres and watch the architectural style evolve in real time. The Sangameshvara, Mallikarjuna, and Jain Narayana temples are all highlights of this extraordinary group.
Pick up the ASI-printed brochure at the entrance gate — it has a map and brief description of each temple that significantly enriches the walk.