Badami Sightseeing, Quick Facts, History, Packages, Tours & Excursions

Carved into the rock face of soft Deccan red sandstone Badami's four cave shrines are an important feature of south India's religious architecture. Its importance is further enhanced by the ASI's efforts in greatly restoring them to their past glory.

Cave 1 is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Dating to the 6^th century it is a simple structure equipped with a verandah, a pillared assembly hall and an inner sanctum, like the other three shrines. The focal point of the cave is the stunning Nataraja - a life-size figure sculpted into the rock. On the facing wall is a sculpted Ardharishwara -- Shiva in his half man, half woman avtar. In the pillared verandah visitors encounter Shiva as Harihara - part Vishnu - part Shiva. Mytholgical images feature aplenty on the shrines pillars, ceiling and plinths. The Mahishasurmaradini relief offers an excellent idea of how beautiful its details must have been when first carved.

Caves 2 and 3 are dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Rock cut steps, polished by countless feet, lead to Cave 2. On the way you will see a fine example of Lord Buddha as Padmapani carved into the rock. Featured in the panel, running along the small cave shrine, are the 10 avtars of Vishnu - called loosely the Dashavtara panel.

The larger Cave 3 is accessed by an elaborate torana (gateway) dating back to 598 AD. Within is an impressive range of some of the finest sculpted images in the entire complex. A blueprint detailing the plans of the temple presides over one wall. A striking image of Vishnu in his Varah avtar, a relief portraying Narasimha and Vishnu sitting on a coiled snake, are the other highlights of the shrine.

Cave 4 The small  7^th or 8^th century shrine  is dedicated to the primary Jain saints.

Bhuthanatha Temples

Stroll along the edge of the serene lake to explore these two temples, one flanking the north and the other to its northeast. Raised to Lord Shiva as the lord of the five elements (bhuthaas) the temples date to the 11^th century.

Hill-top view

Make the stiff hike up the hill just to enjoy the views of the complex and the 7^th century Malegitti Shivalya. Enter the pillared hall to inspect the array of sculpted images and lively illustrations on its facade and plinths.

Badami Fort

Perched on top of the hill is the fort with the Upper and Lower Shivalayas. The Upper Shivalaya, built by Pulakesan II, a devotee of Lord Vishnu is marked by sculpted tales from mythology on its outer walls. Look for the lion and elephant heads atop the temple steps. The Lower Shivalaya was raised to Lord Ganesh. To its north a 16^th century cannon looks down on the township. The watchtower, a little further on, is believed to date to the 14^th century.

Archaeological Musuem

Some important and finely detailed sculptures found on the site have been lodged at this excellent museum. Amongst them is the notable Krishna panel, and other panels depicting vignettes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagwad Gita. The recreation of the old Sidlaphgadi Cave, is an excellent representation of the original. The Lajja Gauri is the showpiece here.

Aihole

Aihole is called the cradle of Hindu rock architecture walking around some of its temples you can well believe it. The town, which early inscriptions named Aryapura, lies cheek by jowl with Badami to its east and Pattadakal to the west. Aihole was a centre for learning and the arts and culture. This wealth of monuments (many in ruins now) was raised to the gods documenting the arts and crafting skills in all their ancient splendour.

The architects of these mighty temples laid out over a hundred shrines to various deities. The soft Deccan sandstone rock faces provided them an excellent canvas to experiment with different styles of rock-cut carvings.

As at Badami and Pattadakal, the raising of the temples at Aihole began in the 6^th century featuring the early Chalukyan style. This comprised architectural features inherited and even borrowed from neighbours. The work is marked by a classical aesthetic sensibility not so evident in later periods. The temples have been roughly divided into 22 groups.

Durga Temple

Your walk around the temples can begin from the centrepiece of the Aihole complex. The compact rows of shrines in the Durga complex, set upon a base, are dominated by the temple to Durga. It is the first of Karnatakas renowned trikuta (3 cells which share a common assembly hall). The mandap ceiling features a naga with a coiled serpent body.  Of interest are the carved columns with illustrations of amorous couples and guardians, and the deity-filled niches along the colonnade.

Ravanaphadi Cave

This late 6^th centruy shrine was raised to Lord Shiva. Look for the Ardhanariswar and Harihara sculpture at the entrance. In front sits his bull Nandi.
 

Ladkhan temple

It belongs the Kuntigudi group of three temples bearing the name of a sage who lived here in the 19th century. Another legend has it that its named after a Muslim noble who spent time here during the Raj era. It has a Shivlinga and has 12 carved pillars. The Chakra Gudi lies in ruins by the tank. The Gaudar Gudi shrine lies within a mandap and it features seating arrangement on all four sides

Bhagavati Temple

Is notable for its circumambulatory path. This feature is absent in the early Chalukyan works.

Galaganatha Temple

Belongs to a group of 30 shrines by the Malaprabha riverside. Raised to Lord Shiva it features a curvilinear shikhara. Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna mark the entrance on either side.

Pattadakal

The venerable temple complex lies brooding quietly by the verdant banks of the soothing Malprabha River. This ancient site conjures up visions of its glorious past that makes it a World Heritage Site today. Explore the scatter of 8^th century temples that document the artistic achievements of the Chalukya dynasty.  For it was this small residential enclave that was the stamping grounds of the royals at play and also traditionally served as the venue of their coronation ceremonies.

Of vital importance here are the Kadassideshvara and Jambulinga temples featuring north Indian temple-style shikaras. The Galaganatha Temple is incomplete but has a remarkably well preserved tower. In the Kashi Vishwanath Temple you can see the development of the north Indian style. Of particular interest here are the carved columns outside the inner sanctum.

The Sangameshvara Temple commissioned by King Vijayaditya is a prime example of South Indian temple architecture. He was unable to see its completion before his death in 733AD. The Virupaksha and Malikarjuna Temples are the largest in the complex. Raised in 745 AD to Lord Shiva, they were commissioned by the two sisters of Raja Vikramaditya II one of the most powerful kings of the Chalukyan dynasty to mark his victory over the Pallavas of Tamil Nadu. The Virupaksha Temple is the only active temple here today. Follow the trail of Panchatantra tales carved in the hall of the Malikarjuna Temple. In the Papanatha Temple look for scenes depicted from the Ramayana, including Lord Rama's coronation. The 9^th century Jain temple was built by the Rashtrakutas whose reign followed that of the Chalukyas.

Badami was founded in 540 AD by Pulakesi I. It went on to serve as the capital of the early Chalukyan kings who ruled large parts of Karnataka and adjoining Andhra Pradesh from the 6th - 8th centuries. The city in time witnessed a major power struggle between the reigning Chalukaya dnasty, the Pallavas of Tamil Nadu and the Rashtrakutas.

The Chalukyan kings, renowned as great patrons of the arts, architecture and literature, have left behind a fabulous legacy documenting their aesthetic flair and tolerance that marked their rule. Visitors to Badami will encounter Buddhist, Hindu and Jain shrines testifying significantly to the secular vision of these kings. The Badami cave complex also reveals important aspects of the early religious architecture of South India and cave art of the time.

Overlooking Lake Agastya, the large man-made lake named after the legendary sage, a horseshoe-shaped phalanx of sandstone cliffs serve as the ancient site of four amazing Chalukyan cave shrines. Two of these shrines are raised to Lord Vishnu, one to Lord Shiva and one to the Jain saints.

Not many people are aware that Badami was originally believed to be the Vatapi  of the Puranas. Vatapi was a demon who enslaved this region and was annihilated by the sage Agastya. Mythology aside, Badami's stunning cave shrine complex here offers history buffs an exciting tryst with the past.

A short distance from Badami are two more important Chalukyan heritage sites Aihole, which was home to over a hundred-odd temples and Pattadakal, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Thus Badmai, Aihole and Pattadakal make an important triangle of cultural gleanings from one of South India's most important periods in history.