Group of temples at Talakadu, Karnataka

The Kirtinarayana temple at Talakad, 1117 A.D.

Both the Pataleshvara and Maraleshvara temples have on their original base (adhishsthana) a sanctum (garbhagriha) and a vestibule (ardha mantapa) from the Ganga period. The tower over the shrine may be a Chola period renovation. The pillars and the pilasters in the main hall (maha-mantapa) are similar to those in the Rameshvara Temple, Narasamangala. High quality Ganga workmanship with late Pallava influences is seen in the images of Hindu gods in these temples. These images include the four handed Mahavishnu, Durga standing on the horned head of the demon king (Asura) Mahisha and Kartikeya in the Maraleshvara temple; and the images of Dakshinamurthy (a form of Shiva), Trimurti Brahma (three faced Brahma), Simhavahini[7] Durga (Durga riding a lion) and Shiva at the Pataleshvara temple.[8]

The Vaidyeshvara temple comprises a sanctum with a Vesara tower (a shikhara which is a fusion of south and north Indian styles) in stucco, a vestibule that connects the sanctum to a short hall (ardhamanadapa, lit, "half-hall"), a six-pillared hall (mahamandapa or navaranga) and two entrance porchs (mukhamandapa) facing east-west and southern directions. To the north, within the temple is another large hall (mahamantapa) with shrines for deities. The entire complex is built on a platform (jagati).[2] The outer walls of the temple are articulated with pilasters, deities from the Shaiva faith and aedicula in relief. The ornate doorjamb and lintel over the entrance doorway to the pillared hall, with the 2 m tall reliefs of door-keepers (dwarapala) on either side is typically Hoysala in workmanship. At the rear of the complex is a large bounding wall (prakara) that houses independent sculptures from the Ganga, Hoysala and Vijayanagara periods.[2]

According to Adam Hardy, The Kirtinarayana temple is a granite, single vimana plan (tower over shrine), an ekakuta (single shrine) construction, with an open mantapa (hall). The temple is similar in plan to the famous Chennakesava Temple at Belur.[3] The temple has a typical stellate (star-shaped) plan with the sanctum, vestibule and open hall (navaranga or just mantapa) mounted on a platform called jagati.[4] These features are, according to historian Suryanath Kamath, standard to Hoysala architecture. The platform serves a dual purpose: improves visual effect as well as provides a path for ritual Circumambulation (Parikrama or Pradakshina) around the temple for devotees.[9][10] The sanctum has an image of Narayana (another name for Vishnu). The decorative features in the temple are notable. At the entrance to the sanctum, the doorjamb and lintel are ornate, and the lathe turned pillars in the spacious hall support a ceiling that is decorated with floral designs.[4]

Mallikarjuna temple at Mudukuthore and Sri Arkeshwaraswamy Temple are located little far form the main Talakadu village.

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  The 10th century Pataleshvara temple at Talakad has been excavated from the sand dunes.
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  profile of the renovated Keertinarayana temple, Talakad
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  Dwarapalaka (door keeper) and a profile of the mantapa at the Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad
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  Ornate doorjamb at the Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad
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  Profile of Dwarapalakas (door keepers) at the Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad
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  Stone vessel at the Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad
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  Five headed snake and monolithic stone chain at the Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad
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  Close up view of Vesara shrine tower (vimana) made of stucco at the Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad
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  A profile of the outer wall of the mantapa at the Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad
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  A view of the Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad
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  Ornate porch (south) entrance to Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad
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  Nandi (bull) near the Kirtinarayana temple at Talakad

• Sarma, I.K. (1992) [1992]. Temples of the Gangas of Karnataka. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. ISBN 0-19-560686-8.
• Adam Hardy, Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation : the Karṇāṭa Drāviḍa Tradition, 7th to 13th Centuries, Abhinav, 1995 ISBN 81-7017-312-4
• Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, Abhinav, 1996 ISBN 81-7017-345-0
• Kamath, Suryanath U. (2001) [1980]. A concise history of Karnataka: from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. LCCN 80905179. OCLC 7796041.
• "Kirtinarayana temple". Archaeological Survey of India, Bengaluru Circle. ASI Bengaluru Circle. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
• "Vaidyesvara temple". Archaeological Survey of India, Bengaluru Circle. ASI Bengaluru Circle. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
• "Alphabetical List of Monuments - Karnataka -Bangalore, Bangalore Circle, Karnataka". Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India. Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
• "Temple tales". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. Retrieved 24 December 2013.