Explore Karnataka: Badami

Badami is one of the oldest historic place in Bagalkot District of Karnataka. It was the capital of Badami Chalukyas between 6^th to 8^th century AD. They have ruled here for around 200+ years.

This place is famous for its rock cut structural temples and the color of rock is quite different. Unlike other historic places, here rock is little red in colour. Different places at Badami surrounds Agastya lake.

Good thing is here, all the places are nearby, so if you are a group of friends around 12-15 people, then you can plan for one full day to cover these places.

Here we can divide the places into 2 sections. As the places are on two sides of Agasthya lake (4 caves one side & Other places on the other side of lake), in the morning you can start with 4 caves.

It will open by morning 6:30 AM, however we can start by around 8-8:30 AM after having breakfast.

These caves are not long caves, however they are the carved rocks with pillars, paintings and sculptures.

Cave temple 1 is the oldest one in Badami.

Cave temple 2 is dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is also portrayed as Varaha here.

In Cave temple 3 there are carvings of Vishnu as Narasimha.

Cave temple 4 relates to 6th century Jainism There is a carving of the Tirthankara Parshavnatha (with a serpent at his feet). Mahavira is depicted in a sitting posture.

View of other side of the Agasthya Lake:

Few More clicks:

Also Beware of Monkeys :)

After this we can visit Datthathreya Temple.

Next place we can visit is Ranganatha Temple. It comes behind Cave rocks. There is an entrance near main road itself, from where we need to start walking.

It will be a very small trekking, might take some 10-15 Mins.

You can spend some good time here with nice clicks.

So it’s lunchtime now. Try to finish lunch be 1:30 as there are more places to see and the places will be closed by 5:30 PM.

Now we will start with the places at the other side of the Agasthya Lake.

Once you enter, you can see Lake in the right side and you can see the caves on the other side of it.

First you will get the Museum with the historic writings, sculptures.

Then you can move forward and take left to see Kappe Arabhatta’s inscription which is one of the oldest inscription available in Kannada.

Below is the translated version (to modern Kannada):

ಸಾಧು0ಗೆ ಸಾಧು ಮಾಧುರ್ಯಂಗೆ ಮಾಧುರ್ಯಂ
ಬಾಧಿಪ್ಪ ಕಲಿಕೆ ಕಲಿಯುಗ ವಿಪರೀತನ್
ಮಾಧವನೀತಂ ಪೆರನಲ್ಲ!

Then if you move further you can see upper Bhoothanatha temple.

Next is the Lower Bhoothanatha temple. Here you can take some good snaps.

Try to cover these places by 4PM so that you can enjoy beautiful sunset view at Shivalaya temple.

Now you need to come back till the Museum and there you can get an entrance to Shivalaya Temple.

Once you enter the entrance just immediately you can see the steps in left side, which will take you to lower Shivalaya Temple. It’s quite difficult to go in congested way. If you feel difficulty, you can skip this place, however the place is nice after that.

Then you can move towards upper Shivalaya temple. The way is very nice here and scenic place.

It might take some 10 Mins to reach upper Shivalaya temple from here. Security guards will be there and get confirmed with them about the timings. You can plan like some 30-40 Mins before closing time you can start back from upper Shivalaya temple. Below are some snaps at Upper Shivalaya Temple.