Places of Interest in
Karnataka
Badami Travel Guide
The capital of the Early
Chalukyas, Badami (also known as Vatapi), is
picturesquely situated at the mouth of a Ravine between two rocky hills.
Rock-cut cave temples, gateways, forts, inscriptions, sculptures that seem to
come alive under your eyes… Badami has to be seen to be believed. Climb
a flight of steps to reach the ancient caves all hewn out of sand stone on the
precipice of a hill.
There are four caves here. The first three belong to
the Vedic faith
and the fourth cave is the only
Jain temple in Badami.
Enter the first cave temple past Shiva's door keepers and there he is ! The
eighteen armed Nataraja stricking 81 dance poses !
The largest and most ornamental is the third cave temple dedicated to Vishnu.
Here are some splendid carvings of the Hindu Pantheon. Narasimha the half-man
half Lion avatar of Vishnu Hari Hara, the composite god who is half-Shiva and
half-Vishnu. Vishnu Narayana sitting as well as reclining on the snake Shesh
or Ananta (Eternity )… There are also some painting on the ceiling and
wonderful bracket figures on the piers.
A little to the east of this shrin, on top of a cliff is a Jain temple. Here
you will find many Jain deities and a huge figure of
Parshwanatha.
Overlooking the cave temples is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to
Vishnu and Shiva. Also a must are the Bhutanatha temples that lend their name
to the lake just beneath the cave temples.
Take a dip in this green tranquil lake. It is said to have healing properties.
According to a popular story, King Kushataraya was cured of leprosy here.
Badami also has eighteen inscriptionsranging from the sixth to the sixteenth
century. After you have exclaimed over the beautiful sculptures and admired
the exquisite carvings, stop by at the museum set up by the Archaeological Survey
of India.
Languages Spoken:
Kannada, Hindi, English.
When to go there:
Anytime from October to February.
How to get there:
Air:
The nearest airport is Belgaum (150 kms).
Rail:
Badami is on the Hubli-Sholapur rail route.
Road:
Badami is connected by road to : · Hubli (128 kms) · Bijapur (132
kms).
