Old Badami is based around an artificial
lake called "Agastya Tirtha". The water running down both the mountain slopes,
collects in this
lake. Temples
dedicated to Shiva, Yellamma, Jambulinga, Bhutanatha Temple Hindu and Jain surrounds the
lake. There are also some caves and an Archaeological Museum.
At the time of the Pulakesin I (535-66) the Chalukya dynasty king "Vatapi" became its capital. His son Kiritavarman I (567-98) added temples and palaces. His brother Mangalesa created a temple complex and populated the village as a gesture of reverence to the temple. After Narashimha Varman the Pallava king ravaged Badami and defeated Pulakesin II. The Pallava's lost Badami to Rashtrakutas in the 7th century. The town never recovered its former glory and has since then remained a rural town of purely scholarly & historic interest.
Place chart
It takes four hours to reach Badami by "Guntakal Express" (train) from Hampi. The other trains take a little longer for this journey as it involves a change at "Gadag" station. The town is 4 km from the railway station and one can take an autorickshaw or a tonga (horse driven bugghi).
One can reach Badami by road also i.e. by bus or taxi. Bus journey from Hospet to Badami takes 6 hrs.
The nearest airport to Badami is at Belgaum, which is 192 km away.
Altitude: 77 m.
Climate: It is warm in summers and cold in winters. Maximum summer temperature is 380C and minimum 230C and maximum temperature in winter is 290C and minimum is 150C at the BADAMI CAVES.
Clothing: Cotton clothes for summers and warm clothes for the winters are ideal.
Seasons: Winter, Summer, Spring, Autumn and the monsoon season. The annual rainfall is 500 MM.
Languages: Kannada is the main language spoken in Karnataka. English and Hindi are the other two languages.
Places of Interest: Badami is a town with a fair sprinkling of temples and the Hindu and Jain caves. This town centres around an artificial lake called Agaitya Tiratha and a visit to the lake is a must.
On the eastern end of Agastya Tirtha there are two shivite temples dedicated to the Lord in the form of Bhutantta, or God of Souls. One-shrine dales as far back as the 7th century or early Chalukyan age, but all the rest are additions made around the 11th century or late Chalukyan age. Here Shiva leans back in the unusual pose of Bhutenatha - a form that seems angry and intimdating. Behind this temple one can take a well-worn cattle track where one can see carvings of the incarnation of Vishnu and Jain figure on a throne on boulders.
A visit to the 11th century Yellamma temple is a humbling experience.
The Upper Shivalaya temple considered to be the first structural temple build around 610 A.D. i.e. the early Chalukya age, is situated on top of a hill overlooking the lake. This Vaishnavite temple has carvings of Krishna's life, the Goverdhan Mountain, subduing Sheshnag (Serpent King). Krishna in various poses with Radha and the gopis, and Vishnu as Narasimha are the high light worth watching.
Then one can visit the lower Shivalya temple, which seems to be balanced on a great boulder.
Another temple worth visiting is the "Jambuligna temple" which depicts Shiva as the Lord of the Jambu tree.
The " Archaeological Museum" with Shiva's bull, "Nandi" at its entrance overlooking the dammed lake is worthwhile for the scholarly. This museum is closed on Fridays.
There is also a Buddhist temple in the natural cave near the ancient man- made Bhutenatha lake or Agarthya lake, where the mossy given water is considered to cure illness.
The main attraction of Badami is of course the caves found there. The caves found here are as follows:
Cave 1: One can easily climb to cave 1 made of red sandstone. It antedates 578 A.D. and was probably the first to be carved. Climbing the 40 steps one reaches the colonnaded verandah, a hall with numerous pillars and a square shaped sanctum hollowed in the control back wall. Column shafts are masterfully crafted. On the ceiling one can see the paintings of amorous couples. Shiva and his consort Parvati, and a coiled serpent God the verandah has frieze of ganas or comic looking draft attendants on Shiva. Shiva as Natraja with 18 arms is seen in 81 dancing poses.
Cave 2: Going up the sandstone hill one comes across cave 2 This cave is dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu here is depicted as a dwarf or Trivikrama of awesome dimensions with one foot mastering the Earth and the other the sky. Another form of Vishnu portrayed here is in Varaha or as a boar. Then there is a frieze endearingly depicting Vishnu as Lord Krishna. Vishnu riding the Garnda & lotus surrounded by sixteen fishes.
Cave 3: Still going higher up one comes across this 578 A.D. dated cave. The facade of the cave is nearly 70 feet wide, on the plinth one can see the carvings of ganas. The sheer artistry and sculptural genius makes it this cave the highlight of Deccani art. It gives a virtual insight into the art and culture of the 6th century like costumes, jewelry hairstyle lifestyle etc. The other attractions to be looked carefully in this cave are the high relief of Vishnu with a serpent, Vishnu as Narasimha (Vishnu as Man-Lion) Varaha, Harihara (Shiva Vishnu) and Vishnu as Trivikrama.
Cave 4: Cave four started in the 6th century and completed after nearly 100 years later then the earlier three caves. This is the lone Jain cave. Here one can see the carvings of the Tirthankara Parshavnatha with a serpent at his feet; Mahavira in a sitting posture also can be seen in the shrine. It also has a statue of Parshuanatha with two dvarapals (doorkeepers) at the entrance steps from these cave loads to the south fort.
Badami is an interesting place to visit in Karnataka what with its artificial lake, ancient temples, Museum and Hindu and Jain caves cared in the Sandstone hills.
(a) Chalukya hotel at Badami is comfortable to stay. It belongs to the Maurya chain of hotels.
(b) Badami court at Station road.
(c) Laxmi Vilas (offers good vegetarian food) near the taxi stand.
(d) Mukambika opposite the bus-stand.
(e) Government accommodation can be awaited if booking is done in advance, like the Inspection bunglow with its 2 suites, PWD guest house, Malaprabha Irrigation Dept. Bunglow or the Circuit house at Bagalkot 38 km from Badami.
For shopping the village bazaar or market place offers, it is along the narrow winding lanes going up the hillside. Here one can see the scattered remains of 18 stone inscriptions (6th-16th century.)
A visit to Badami in Karnataka is exiting as at one place one can see an ancient artificial lake with its therapeutic water, temples, elaborately carved Hindu and Jain temple caves, a Buddhist temple in a natural cave and an Archaeological Museum.
.