It takes a great deal of planning, effort and vision to create difference and nurture originality in each structure that would essentially serve the same purpose. Badami, a town built by the Chalukya Dynasty in the 8th century, is synonymous with a grand exhibition of temple architecture, skill, history and art. Meticulously dug and carved out of stone, this town is home to many temples made of sandstone and serve as epicentres for conversations surrounding the Hindu and Jain faith.
The Badami Cave Temples, Aihole, Bhutanatha Temples, Mallikarjuna Temples, Ravana Phadi Temple, Agastya Lake and Badami Fort are some places that must feature on your list while sightseeing in Badami. A trip to Badami is incomplete without temple visits where one spends time looking in all four directions, taking in the sight of splendour.
By virtue of no two stones looking the absolute same, all temples here are built vastly different from one another in terms of the stories they tell and the sculptures contained within their walls. One might say that sightseeing in Badami tends to be monotonous with just temples on the list, when in reality, a large chunk of what Badami has to offer and their culture is this.
Sightseeing in Badami is therapeutic in more ways than one; with lovely equidistant temple pillars, finesse of the sculptures, the vibrations from the large temple walls, lovely reflections of the monument on the lakes and the comfort of covering distance on foot. Badami will always be more than a viewpoint.
Located within the cluster of the mysterious Bhutanatha temples is the Mallikarjuna Temple. These temples have geometry and symmetry at their core which sets them apart from the others. The architecture of the doors and pillars here are said to be distinct and unique. Lattice windows and floral inscriptions are...
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A cluster of sandstone shrines, this temple is dedicated to the God of souls. These temples seem unassuming but like all the other temples in Badami, they hide a unique set of trails among them. The temple is right across the banks of the River Agastya, adding charm and beauty...
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Located atop a hill, this fort is a treasured archaeological structure. It is opposite the Badami Cave Temples which must hints to how close these structures are to each other and the sheer number of monuments in every corner of Badami. This fort, once destroyed was symbolically rebuilt by Tipu...
Read more
Without a doubt the most popular tourist attraction and for good reason! The cave and the four temples that they have been structured into were all carved out a single stone and are an excellent example of rock-cut architecture. Each of the four temples are dedicated to a different deity....
Read more
A cluster of sandstone shrines, this temple is dedicated to the God of souls. These temples seem unassuming but like all the other temples in Badami, they hide a unique set of trails among them. The temple is right across the banks of the River Agastya, adding charm and beauty...
Read more
Located within the cluster of the mysterious Bhutanatha temples is the Mallikarjuna Temple. These temples have geometry and symmetry at their core which sets them apart from the others. The architecture of the doors and pillars here are said to be distinct and unique. Lattice windows and floral inscriptions are...
Read more
Located atop a hill, this fort is a treasured archaeological structure. It is opposite the Badami Temple Caves which must hint at how close these structures are to each other and the sheer number of monuments on every corner in Badami. This fort was once destroyed but was symbolically rebuilt...
Read more
Without a doubt the most popular tourist attraction and for good reason! The cave and the four temples that they have been structured into were all carved out of a single stone and are an excellent example of rock-cut architecture. Each of them temples are dedicated to a different deity....
Read more
Located within the cluster of the mysterious Bhutanatha temples is the Mallikarjuna Temple. These temples have geometry and symmetry at their core which sets them apart from the others. The architecture of the doors and pillars here are said to be distinct and unique. Lattice windows and floral inscriptions are...
Read more
A cluster of sandstone shrines, this temple is dedicated to the God of souls. These temples seem unassuming but like all the other temples in Badami, they hide a unique set of trails among them. The temple is right across the banks of the River Agastya, adding charm and beauty...
Read more
Located atop a hill, this fort is a treasured archaeological structure. It is opposite the Badami Cave Temples which must hints to how close these structures are to each other and the sheer number of monuments in every corner of Badami. This fort, once destroyed was symbolically rebuilt by Tipu...
Read more
Without a doubt the most popular tourist attraction and for good reason! The cave and the four temples that they have been structured into were all carved out a single stone and are an excellent example of rock-cut architecture. Each of the four temples are dedicated to a different deity....
Read more
A cluster of sandstone shrines, this temple is dedicated to the God of souls. These temples seem unassuming but like all the other temples in Badami, they hide a unique set of trails among them. The temple is right across the banks of the River Agastya, adding charm and beauty...
Read more
Located within the cluster of the mysterious Bhutanatha temples is the Mallikarjuna Temple. These temples have geometry and symmetry at their core which sets them apart from the others. The architecture of the doors and pillars here are said to be distinct and unique. Lattice windows and floral inscriptions are...
Read more
Located atop a hill, this fort is a treasured archaeological structure. It is opposite the Badami Temple Caves which must hint at how close these structures are to each other and the sheer number of monuments on every corner in Badami. This fort was once destroyed but was symbolically rebuilt...
Read more
Without a doubt the most popular tourist attraction and for good reason! The cave and the four temples that they have been structured into were all carved out of a single stone and are an excellent example of rock-cut architecture. Each of them temples are dedicated to a different deity....
Read more
Karnataka has a long and arduous history that must be remembered and revisited. At Badami, there really is something for every tourist to experience.
Badami, a town in North Karnataka was discovered in the 6th century. Today, eons later, we look at monuments and structures that date back hundreds of years. The Chalukya Dynasty is distinctly remembered for building the town from ground up and aiding the growth of the scenic town we have today. Viewing such places through a phone screen or a postcard will never do it justice.
With over 120 temples, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal have been termed the cradle of Indian architecture. Heritage tours in Badami will aid our understanding of the history with personal anecdotes, gripping and riveting details about the structures and a clearer timeline.
With the large number of sources we have access to now to learn about something, it can be difficult to zero in on whom to trust and believe. The main testament to take into account while attempting to learn about a place is those of the locals themselves. Being part of a heritage tour with the locals present there plays a significant role in strengthening their economy. Coupled with a walk along the monuments whose walls speak for themselves, a heritage tour in Badami is the best way to learn about the town and its history that surprises even its inhabitants to this day.
Camping in Badami
The joy in traveling comes from having small, brief moments to yourself when you're one with the land, sky and air. These are often moments of quiet or shared moments with your loved ones. Camping is a successor to a hike, trek or a climb and nurtures many qualities in people like teamwork, communication and an exchange of smiles and stories. A mere 450 kms from Bangalore, it makes the perfect weekend getaway from the hustle of the city.
Camping in Badami is an experience on its own. The sky at night has countless bright, twinkling stars and is a sight to behold from the top of the hills. Badami has within it many short canyons that can be explored. You can camp at the foothills or peak of the hills here in Badami. It's safe and has spectacular views. There are no significant camping spots in Badami but to be sure of solo camping plans and the best time and place to set up camp on these hills, check with the organisers and locals there.
Make that impromptu plan! Go camping in Badami and live out your camp fantasies.
In a town as small as Badami, you wouldn’t expect to have an array of things to actively engage yourself in but be prepared to be proven wrong. This town and its red sandstone monuments will keep you on your toes, literally!
The key to any trip being an eventful and valuable one is the level of comfort and energy you wake up with. While the thrill and happiness of being in a new place already helps this, choosing the right place to stay at through the duration of your trip can make all the difference. Most of Badami can be explored by foot or hikes and requires physical strength. The homestays in Badami can offer quiet and comfort after a long day of sightseeing, trekking or climbing. With the warmest staff and practical trip packages, the homestays will work their magic on you.
With modern, cleanly designed rooms and the other important utilities and facilities; homestays in Badami are made convenient and safe for you and your loved ones. Waking up rejuvenated to spend one more day exploring and revelling in Badami’s beauty should be your top priority while booking your stay here. After all, good planning and thinking ahead for all your trips helps you remember the place fondly. The homestay experience will give you nothing short of that.
Can you think of a better way to explore this rock-cave town than trekking through the beautiful paths? Trekking in Badami will leave you with an immense amount of appreciation for land and nature. Upon reaching the summits, you will be blessed with the view of the forts and temples from the hills.
The best way to see Badami is undoubtedly to trek up the Northern Hills through the pathway between the rocks. A few of the most popular spots to go trekking in Badami are the Badami Fort, Shivalaya, Temple Caves to Mahakuta and the Bhutanatha Temple. Discover Badami by foot with a water bottle, backpack and camera in hand for the warm and lovely pictures you can remember it by later.
Trekking in Badami is also beginner friendly and is a good spot to do your first trek. The paths are safe and the land has good grip. You can choose to look at this hike up the hills as a lovely walk in the afternoon or as an adventure jungle trek if you are up for a challenge. Be prepared to encounter more rocks and small, insignificant structures built by the Chalukyans and learn about how the dry forests here can source potential medicine, fruits, gum, fuel, food, fodder and oil yielding plants. There are also a number of rare plants found here like the Purple Witch plant belonging to the Scrophulariaceae family and Graham’s Groundsel belonging to Compositaea family.
Travel tip: Badami is best visited in the months of October-March but are also said to be charming in the months of July-August before the heavy rains start and make the paths unmountable.
Which is the most popular tourist attraction in Badami?
How many temples do the Cave Temples have?
What language do the guides at Badami speak?
Who built the Badami Fort?
Can you cover all these spots by foot?
What is special about the Bhutanatha Temple?
What are other, similar places around Badami that we can visit?