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Badami Tour |
Click Here for Badami Tour Packages
Badami was the central Chalukyan city from about 540
- 757 AD. Built into a dead-end canyon, the ancient
site consists principally of five, red sandstone, richly
sculpted cave temples hollowed out of the canyon rock
face and looking out over the tank of Agastyatirtha
(a large 5th-century pool) and the surrounding countryside.
Two caves are Vishnu shrines, one is dedicated to Shiva,
one is a Jain temple and the last, a natural cave, is
Buddhist in character. The caves are connected by steps
and easily accessible.
The
Chalukyans were not the only people to leave their mark
on the area. Each occupying force, including the 17th-
and 18th-century Marathas, built something or commemorated
an event. With so much stone around, who could resist?
A fort was built on the heights above the canyon (the
stone-cut steps up to it are even worth an ogle); there
are carvings and descriptions everywhere the eye lingers;
the two groups of poolside temples (the Bhutanatha temples)
are quite beautiful. Don't miss the Archaeological Museum
on the north side of the tank. Years of washing using
powder detergents have rendered the pool phosphate green;
from the temples above, you can still hear the slapping
of wet cloth on the stone steps of the dhobi ghats,
or waterside cleaning spots.
The
modern city of Badami, stretching out beyond the Agastyatirtha
tank, is an active center built around one dusty main
road and crowded neighborhoods bordering the archeological
areas. Monkeys are so plentiful, especially on the rooftops,
that local hotels have put up chain link fence walls
and ceilings to protect their rooftop restaurants.
The Chalukyas' realm was mainly the central Deccan (southern
Indian) region. With the exception of a rather long
interruption by the Rashtrakutas (753 - 972 AD), they
ruled as emperors from 543 to about 1189.
The
Chalukyas are best known for their first capital, known
then as Vatapi and today as Badami. Surrounded by rust-colored
sandstone hills, Badami, as well as the nearby cities
of Aihole and Pattadakal, are today home to important
and impressive 6th- and 7th-century Hindu and Jain cave
and Dravidian temples. Known to have been religiously
tolerant, the Chalukyan temples include elements of
many of the religions of the times. A Badami tour is must to
feel the aura of these spectacular ancient Hindu and Jain temples maketour to Badami
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:: PRIME ATTRACTIONS
OF BADAMI ::
(Distances given are from Badami
Town)
Badami Caves (0.5 km), Badami Fort (2 km).
MUSEUMS
& ART GALLERIES
A Sculpture Gallery is maintained by the Archaeological
Survey of India on the Bhutanatha Temple Road. Entrance
is free.
Timings: 0900 to 1700 hrs. Closed on Fridays.
EXCURSIONS
Aihole (44 km), Banashankari
Temple (50 km), Guledgud
(24 km), Lakkundi (82 km), Mahakuta
(14 km), Naganath Temple ( 10 km),
Pattadakal (22 km), Kada Siddeswara
Temple, Jambulinga Temple, Galaganatha Temple, Sanghameswara
Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Papanatha
Temple, Jaina Temple, Shivayoga, Mandira (11 km).
::
Aihole and Pattadakal ::
Not
far from Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal
are certainly worth a detour. Aihole was the Chalukyan
regional center from the 4th to 6th century and Pattadakal
was the second Chalukyan capital in the 7th and 8th
centuries. Both are littered with scores of temples
from this time period.
Aihole more than Pattadakal is an architectural experimental
playground. With two early 8th-century cave temples
and over 70 structures scattered in and around the
city, a discerning eye can trace the development of
Hindu temple design. The 7th-century Durgigudi or
Durga Temple is particularly noteworthy for its unusual
circular shape and for the early form of roof adornment
that later became typical of the area.
Pattadakal was the site at which all royal Chalukyan
coronations occurred. The two great attractions
the Lokeshwari (or Virupaksha) and Mallikarjuna Temples
are rich in stone narrative carvings illustrating
episodes from great Hindu epics like the Ramayana,
the Mahabharata, and the Bhagavadgita.
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HOW TO GET THERE :-
Air
The nearest airport Belgaum (192 kms) is connected
to Bombay by Vayudoot flights.
Rail
Nearest railhead Badami (4 kms from Badami town)
on the Hubli-Sholapur metre-gauge line.
Road
Badami is connected by road to important places
in the south. Some of the places are Ailhole
(44 kms), Bangalore (499 kms), Bagalkot (34
kms), Bijapur (163 kms), Gadag (70 kms), Hospet
(108 kms), Hubli (128 kms), Panaji (359 kms),
Pattadakal (22 kms) etc.
Bus Services
Karnataka State Transport Corporation buses
are available from Badami to Aihole, Bangalore,
Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bijapur, Gadag, Hospet, Hubli,
pattadakal and places around it.
Local Transport
A few private taxis and vans are available.
Also Tongas are available.City Buses from Badami
town to Railway Station available.
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B A D A M I C A V E S :: |
1km, this group of 4 cave temples have been
carved out of the hill opposite Badami fort.
The Chalukyan king, Mangalesa(598-610)AD)was
responsible for the completion of these
cave temples. Of the four, three are Brahmanical,
while the fourth is Jain. Nearly 2000 steps
have to be climbed to reach the cave.
Cave I
This is Shaivite cave. The important carvings
in this cave are an 18-armed dancing Shiva,
a two-handed Ganesha, Mahishasura Mardini,
Ardha Nareeshwara & Shankarnarayana.
The ceiling is adorned by a serpent motif
& other carved figures
Cave II
This cave has Vaishnavite influence with
panels of Trivikrama & Bhuvaraha. On
the ceilings are carvings of Anantasayana,
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva &other Ashtadikpalas.
Cave III
Another flight of steps takes one to the
third cave which is the largest & the
best of the lot. This cave has carvings
pertaining to both Shaivite & Vaishnavite
themes. Panels of Trivikrama, Narasimha,
Shankaranarayana, Bhuvaraha, Anantasayana
& Harihara are engraved in a vigorous
style. An inscription found here records
the creation of the shrine by Mangalesha
in 578 AD. There are some fine bracket figures
on the pillars of this cave.
Cave IV
Lying to the east of cave three, the fourth
cave is Jain. There is an image of Mahavira
adorning the sanctum. Other carvings here
are of Padmavathi & other Thirthankaras.
Asteep climb up some steps cut in a crevice
between Cave II & III leads to the southern
part of Badami Fort & to an old gun
placed there by Tippu Sultan. |
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GENERAL
INFORMATIONS
Area
10.3 sq.km.
Altitude
176.7 metres.
Temperature (deg C)
Summer- Max. 38, Min. 23;
Winter- Max. 29, Min. 15.
Rainfall
50 cms.
Best Season
October to March.
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