| General
Information / History 
Badami, the one time capital of the Chalukyas
, is noted several temples, some structural &
other rock-cut, of the 6th & 7th Centuries.
Sightseeing
Badami Caves 
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 
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.
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.
Cave
IV
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.
Excursions:
Aihole 46 Kms. Banashankari 50 Kms, Guledgud 24
Kms, Mahakuta, Naganath Temple, Lakkundi
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