Location: Badami
Top Things to do in Badami
Top Restaurants in Badami
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Top 10 Things to do in Badami, India
Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD.
Restaurants in Badami
1. Badami Cave Temples
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 555 reviews
Reviewed By EkMusafir - Pune
The Badami cave temples are definitely worth a visit. They form part of the Hampi – Badami – Pattadakkal – Aihole old temple and monument circuit in North Karnataka, between Bagalkot and Hospet. They may be in an old and ruined condition, but simply cannot be ignored because of the beauty and mastery of architects and sculptors who built them in a bygone era.
The approach road to the caves is through a very narrow uphill road passing through some slums of Badami town, but there is a good pay-and-park adjacent to the caves. The caves are open from 6 am to 6 pm. We went early at 7 am and avoided the crowds and the mid-day heat. Indians have to pay an entry fee of Rs.15 per head. We had to climb some steps to reach the caves. People with knee or leg problems may find it difficult as the steps are steep, but not too many, and one can do it slowly. Beware of the monkeys around.
The Badami caves date back to between the 6th to 8th centuries when they were carved out of the almond (badami) coloured sandstone cliffs. They are among the oldest Hindu cave temples in India.
There are four main caves close to each other. Cave 1 is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The carvings on the walls and ceilings are still in very good condition. There are relief sculptures of Vamana and Ardhanari–Shiva on the side walls and a ceiling sculpture of coiled Snake-King Nagaraja.
Cave 2 is similar in structure to Cave 1, but dedicated to Lord Vishnu, with a lot of carvings and reliefs of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Vamana, Varaha, Durga and Kartikeya.
Cave 3 is dedicated to both Shiva and Vishnu and has giant carvings of Trivikarma, Anantasayana, Vasudeva, Varaha, Narasimha and Harihara. The Harihara carving shows half Shiva and half Vishnu fused into one.
Cave 4 is dedicated to the Jain Tirthanakaras and has carvings of Lord Mahavira, Bahubali and Parshvanathas and some other Tirthankaras.
A detailed description of each cave is displayed outside the individual cave at the site. Guides can also be hired at the site and their charges range from Rs.400 to 600, but may not be necessary if you read up before you visit.
After visiting the caves we admired the beauty of the surrounding scenery of the Agastya Lake and the Bhoothnatha temple below, which looked very striking from the height.
2. Group of Monuments in Pattadakal
Overall Ratings
5 based on 160 reviews
This UNESCO World Heritage site includes Virupaksha Temple, Sangameshvara Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, Kashivisvanatha Temple, Kadasiddhesvara and Jambulingeswara' temples, Galganatha temple, Jain Temple, Papanatha temple and Museum of the Plains and Sculpture gallery.
3. Bhuthanatha Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 117 reviews
Reviewed By AJmanutd - Mumbai, India
This temple is situated near Badami Caves and is at a walkable distance from the Caves. It has perfect location where you can sit and watch the sunset if the skies are clear. The temple area closes at 6pm in the evening. Be sure to reach well in time to explore the entire area of the Temple.
4. Agastya Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
Reviewed By Explorer_aru - India
When you climb up the caves in badami you can get a beautiful view of this lake. you can visit the bhoothnath temple and the lake but the view from the badami caves is extremely beautiful.
5. Sangameshwara Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By falangsabai - Phitsanulok, Thailand
This is one of the many beautiful structures in the Pattanakal ASI enclosure. Entrance to the archeological zone is an exhorbinant 500 idr for foreigners, This was a most holi place during the Chalykaya dynasty, built during the 6th to 8 th century. The carvings are spectacular, it is though unfortunate, in my opinin, that the ASI has overrestored these monuments, giving them a slightly sterile feeling. Fortunately this is somewhat offset by the numerous faithful who still frequent the temples out of devotion.
6. Banashankari Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By KabraRamesh - Nashik, India
During our recent visit to Badami at the beginning of Navratri, we visited the unusual temple of Banashankari Devi also known as Shakambhari Devi which is a form of goddess Parvati.
The black stone attractive sculpture depicts the Devi sitting on a lioness. The goddess was the Kuladevi of the Chalukyas. Unfortunately taking a photo of the goddess was not allowed.
The original temple was built in 603 AD by the Chalukyas and the present refurbished temple was built in 1750 by a Maratha Chieftain. Devi has lot of following in Karnataka and Southern Maharasthra.
There is a large square water tank in the forefront of the temple enclosed by stone mantapas (halls) on three sides. The tank doesn't have water now.
The deep (lamp) tower on the bank of the tank is also an uncommon guard tower. It is called the Victory Tower.
7. Malegitti Shivalaya Fort and Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By falangsabai - Phitsanulok, Thailand
There are actualy 3 Shivalaya temples. The upper Shivalaya temple and the lower temple which are perched on the escarpment along with the ruins of the fort, can be reached by the many, many stairs behind the museum. These two can also be viewed from below, and from the caves as part of the panoramic vista. The third, the Malegitti Shivalaya temple is more to the N and just above the level of the village. This beautiful temple is perched upon a large sandstone outcropping and is particularly photogenic. This can be reached through the backstreets of the village. Whether you view them up close or from the distance these temples must be seen, and actualy cannot really be missed if your're at the caves or near the lake.
8. Lad Khan Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By Koushlendra Y - India
This temple is not in badami but in Alihole. A village best accessed by own vehicle as public transport is at best infrequent. Temples are scattered across the place and very beautiful.
9. Badami Fort
Overall Ratings
4 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By Parwathi H
Badami Fort is an ancient fort and maybe one of the oldest forts in India. One needs to be physically fit to climb up to this fort and thereafter explore various places in it. The fort has ruins of a few temples and a cannon (which would have been placed there most probably by Tippu Sultan or the Bahamani kings of Bijapur). The view from the fort is quiet good. It is recommended that one goes there early in the morning to avoid the heat.
10. Mahakuteshwara Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 59 reviews
Reviewed By iakarsh - Bengaluru, India
The temple is some what not in the main Badami circuit. Its 17 odd km from the main temple. In case you have to visit this place, do hire a rickshaw from Badami. Bargain on the price for around 300Rs. Buses will drop to some main road area from where one has to walk around 3-4km to reach the temple.
The architecture is along the lines of what we find in Badami. I loved the small pond that close to main temple.
The best part is a walk from the temple to the main road to catch a bus/rickshaw back to badami. One can find a lot of villages and see the local culture and art.
