BADAMI- A rare jewel of Chalukya’s Architecture

BADAMI (Erstwhile known as Vatapi in the Vedic  period):

It’s exists in the history of Karnataka since thousands of years and located in the present Bagalkot district .
From a historic record , it was the capital of Badami Chalukyas in the 6th Century AD during the rule of Pulikeshin I.

This place was also called VATAPI,VATAPIPURA, BADOMOYI (As mentioned in the Greek text in 2nd AD century by famous Greek Geographer – Mr Tolamy in his records)

From the capital of the state , Bengaluru,  it’s 510 Km away towards north side of the state. It’s a taluk centre with sizeable population & houses in the town , you can also find number of Hotels, Guest house for accommodation.

• Badami Court international : 08357 220230
• Hertiage resort Badami: 08357 220207
• KSTDC Mayura Chalukya -08357 220046

It’s preferred to stay at KSTDC hotel , with reasonable price , hygienic food and good gesture of KSTDC staff. Badami has a good connectivity of Road & Rail from all major  cities of the state.

Major places to see around Badami:

• Banashankari Temple

It’s an 8th Century AD old temple , built by Chalukya kings  and proclaimed this goddess as their kuladevi .
Every year on Banada Hunnime (Banada means Full moon day) , there will a be famous car festival and it’s a popular festival for people of North Karnataka.

• Agasthya Theertha

Agasthya thirtha it’s mentioned in the Puranas that the sage Agasthya took holy bath in this beautiful and magnificient tank and it’s surrounded by a hills.

• Bhoothanath Temple (7^th  Century AD):

It’s  dedicated to Bhoothanatha (Lord Shiva)  & adjacent to Agasthya theertha.

• Malagitthi Shivaalaya (8^th Century AD ):

KELAGINA /MELINA SHIVALAYA’s

KAPPE ARBHATAN INSCRIPTION  (Dated: 699 AD)

A famous old kannada triplicate inscription dated back to 699 AD by a Kappe Arabhattan. This stone triplicate inscription by Arabhattan , a soldier in the Chalukya dynasty , described the bravery and valour of the Kannadiga soldier. It’s in old kannada & Sanskrit (Written in Devanagari) scripted inscription

Inscriptions states:

ಸಾಧುಗೆ ಸಾಧು
ಮಾಧುರ್ಯಂಗೆ ಮಾಧುರ್ಯಂ
ಬಾಧಿಪ್ಪ ಕಲಿಕೆ ಕಲಿಯುಗ ವಿಪರೀತನ್
ಮಾಧವನೀತಂ ಪೆರನಲ್ಲ!    
                                                                                                                        English translation:                                                                                      "Kind man to the kind,
Whose sweet to the sweet,
Very cruel to the cruel
He was nothing but God Vishnu in this regard" 

Badami’s famous Cave temples

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu , Natural Cave of Buddha & Jaina caves respectively.
From this , we can understand that the Chalukya kings were tolerant towards all the religions at that time itself

1. Shaiva Cave temple (5th Century AD)

2. Vaishnava Cave (578 AD)

3. A Natural cave dedicated to Lord Buddha’s

4. Jaina Cave

Badami, it not only attracts the History lovers but also the Trekkers for the adventure rocks cut’s for hiking, nature lovers for the beauty of sun rise / sunset.

Moments to recollect on our Badami-Pattadakal-Aihole journey Badami is a small , picturesque and a bustling town with a crowded  market place adjacent to the hills and the lake (Agasthya Theertha)

We noticed a variety of items ranging from Ilakal sarees , fabrics , pottery, handicraft , leather goods and local delicacies .

The golden brown-coloured hill range attracts attention and it was a wholesome experience to trek and reach the summit in the early morning hours , A good place to meditate and enjoy solitude ! Lots of langoor and brown monkeys on-looking us.

• Shiva Kumar Mutt
• Dinesh A Mysore