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About Badami
Badami town is the taluk headquarters in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka. It was the capital city of the Chalukya dynasty from the sixth to the eighth centuries. Previously known as Vataapi or Vataapinagari, Badami is famous for its rock-cut monuments, such as the Badami cave temples, Bhutanatha temples, and Shivalaya and Jambulingeshwara temples. The caves are important examples of the Indian rock-cut architecture of Chalukyas of Badami. These caves are located at the base of the red sandstone that surrounds the synthetic Agastya lake.
Badami Cave Temples
about Badami cave temples
The temple at Badami cave comprises four caves, each with a Shiva, Vishnu, and Jain temple. Buddhist temples can be found beneath the caves on the banks of Agastya Lake. Caves 1-4 are made of soft sandstone and are located on the hill ridge above Agastya Teertha. Cave 1 is the deepest, while Cave 3 is the highest. The Badami cave complex is part of the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site candidate “Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal” in the Malaprabha river valley. These caves serve as the model for later Hindu temple architecture in the region establishing it as a temple architecture cradle.
If you’re interested, check out our post on Aihole and Pattadakal, another World Heritage Sites near Badami.
Architecture
The four caves have a similar layout, with an entrance supported by stone columns and brackets leading to a main mantapa/hall and then to a small shrine called a garbhagudi cut deep inside the cave. The reliefs of Vishnu, Nataraja, Tirthankaras, Durga Devi, Ardhanareshwara, and other carved scriptures decorate the walls and pillars of the caves. Cave temples are built in the Chalukyan architectural style and are numbered in ascending order. The temples are currently in disrepair, and the garbhagudi appears to be a bat haven, with a faint foul odour that lingers when you enter the temple.
Badami Cave Temples
Cave 1
The first cave from the entrance, unearthed around 550 CE, houses Lord Shiva. It contains beautiful carvings of Nataraja, Ardhanareshwara, and Mahishasuramardhini. Further murals and intricate designs adorn the doorframes and ceilings. Especially, the sculpture of the coiled snake king Nagaraja dominates the ceilings. The caves are signatures of craftsmen such as Aychasvami-Kalkutti.
Cave 2
Cave 2 was excavated in the 6th century CE. It honors Lord Vishnu. It has fantastic Trivikrama Vamana and Bhu Varaha sculptures on the porch. Beams depict intricately carved Krishna and Purana stories. Similarly, the ceiling features Matsya Chakra flanked by lions, elephants, humans, and aquatic creatures. Further, craftsmen Vachya, Buru, and Duttoja have signed their names on the facade of the cave.
cave 3
Mangalesha of the Chalukya dynasty excavated the 3rd Cave in 578 CE. It also honors Lord Vishnu, and it contains the carvings of Samudra-Manthan, Mahabharat narrative stories, and Puranas. The temple verandah has compositions of eight armed Vishnu, Vishnu seated on Ananta, Bhu Varaha, Harihara, Narasimha, Vamana, and episodes of Mahabharat, Puranas, and Samudra-Manthan. Likewise, sculptures of Brahma, Indra, Varuna, Kubera, and Kartikeya adorn the porch ceilings.
Cave 4
The fourth cave is a Jain temple from the early seventh century CE. It honors Tirthankara Mahaveera with a relief sculpture of the Tirthankara preaching. The porch has sculptures of Bahaubali and Parshvanatha.
Other temples around the Badami caves
- The Bhuthanatha temple is on the banks of Agastya Lake.
- On the opposite hilltop, there is a well-known Shivalaya temple. We didn’t go due to time constraints, but you should if you have the opportunity.
- Some of the temples on the banks of Agastya Lake are closed, while a few others hold regular pooja.
- There is also an archaeological museum on the other side of the lake.
How to Reach Badami Caves
From Bangalore :
By Road
Bike/Car:
- The shortest route from Bangalore to Badami is via NH 48 and NH 50, which run through Tumkur, Chitradurga, Hospet, and Badami.
- It is at a distance of 452 km and will take around 8 and a half hours to reach.
Bus :
- There are a lot of buses from most cities and towns to Badami.
- Buses run from Bangalore to Badami during the day and at night. It will take roughly 10 hours to arrive during the night.
By Rail
- Badami is accessible by rail via the Badami Railway Station. However, it is only connected to nearby cities and towns.
- You can get direct night trains from Bangalore to Badami and vice versa. It will take approximately 12 hours.
- For overnight travel, you can take either the Gol Gumbaz express or the Basava express which runs daily. There are also other trains that run on specific days that you can book.
- Bagalkot is the nearest railway station to Badami nearly 33 km away.
By Air
- The nearest airport to Badami is Belgaum and Hubli. Both these domestic airports are located at a distance of 130 km and 110 km respectively away from Badami.
- Goa is the nearest international airport which is around 130 km away.
Travel Tips to Visit Badami Caves
- The cave temples are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Adults must pay an entry fee of 25 rupees.
- To avoid the sun, it is best to visit the caves either early morning or late in the evening. If you plan to visit Shivalaya, go early in the morning. You can go over the caves later.
- If preferred, you can also hire a certified guide near the entrance.
- Winter is the best time to visit, rather than summer and the rainy season. Winter weather conditions are ideal because you can avoid both rain and sun.
- Badami also has a variety of lodging options to suit all preferences.
- Vegetarian food is available in the Badami town center area.
- Take hats, sunglasses, lip balms, and sunscreen with you. Don’t miss to bring water bottles with you.
- Read our post on North Karnataka Itinerary for a suggested itinerary for well-known North Karnataka attractions.
