Badami History Badami, the one time
capital of the Chalukyas , is noted several temples, some structural &
other rock-cut, of the 6th & 7th Centuries. The foundations of Badami,
or Vatapi as it was called, were laid by Pulakeshi I (535 - 566 AD) his
son Kirtivarman, the Ist (567 - 598 AD), beautified the town with temples
& other buildings Badami Caves 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 Mean
Max Mean
Min Food Specialities Cultural Importance
of the Town
Mangalesha (598 - 610
AD) brother of Kiritavarman I completed the construction of the cave
temples & endowed the temples with the village on the occasion of the
installation of the image of Vishnu. The greatest ruler of the dynasty was
Pulakeshi II (610-642 AD) who among others defeated the Pallava King
Mahendra Verman I. The Pallava later captured & destroyed Badami to
avenge their defeat Badami was also in the possession of the Vijayanagar
Kings, The Adil Shahis, The Savanur Nawabs, The Marathas, Hyder Ali &
finally the British who made it part of the Bombay Presidency.
1 km, 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
Badami
Cave
Cave I
Cave II
Cave
III
Cave IV
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
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.
Badami Fort
2 Kms. Strategically situated
on top of the hill, the fort encloses large granaries, a treasury
impressive temples on top of the northern end of the hill. Malegitti
Shivalaya, perhaps the oldest temple of the lot, is dedicated to the
benign aspect of Shiva as the garland maker. Placed on the summit of a
rocky hill, the temple is built of stone, finely joined without mortar,
& with Dravidian tower. The lower Shivalaya has a Dravidian tower of
which only the sanctum remains now.
There are
some more temples in Badami town & several of them dotting the banks
of a well-built tank locally called the Agasthya
Tirtha.
Museum & Art
Gallery
A sculpture gallery
is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India on the Bhutanatha
Temple Road.
Area
10.3
sq. Kms.
Altitude
176.7 meter
Temperature
Summer
38oC
23oC
Winter
29oC
15oC
Rainfall
50
cms
Best
Seasons
October to March
Clothing
Summer - Cottons
Winters - Light Woolens
Population
15,028 (1981 Census)
No specialty restaurants are available at
Aihole. Moderate Indian Style Restaurants are available in Badami Town.
Chinese & Continental Food can be served by the Hotel Mayura Chalukya
on advance notice