Badami

Tank at Badami

Badami the ancient capital of the Early Chalukyas is 500 km. from Bangalore and 113 km. from Bijapur, was also known as 'Vatapi' and 'Badavi'. Its fort was raised by Chalukya Pulakeshin I in 543. He made it his capital and it lasted till 753 A.D. The place is known for its wonderful rock-cut shrines of Vedic tradition. The fort was renovated by Hyder, and Tipu-built a fine mosque here. The first rock-cut shrine has 18 armed unique Nataraja, at the outset engaged in Tandava dancing, a remarkable figure. On the ceiling of one of the caves is Nagaraja and Vidhyadhara couple. Figures of funny Kubjas or dwarfs are seen in variety of poses. There are more than life-size Bhuvaraha and Trivikram figures in the II cave. The third cave is the most important and it is called the Vaishnava cave caused to be wrought in 578 A.D. by Mangalesha and here are figures of Paravasudeva seated on coiled serpent, Bhoovaraha, Narasimha and Harihara, all engraved in vigourous style, and are taller than life-size figures. There are also bracket figures with secular scenes on the pillars in the rock-cut shrines. The cave at the top is a Jaina, full of figures of Thirthankaras, Yakshas and Yakshis. The Gommata figure here has long locks. The 'Upper Shivalaya' on the rocky fort on the other bank of Agasthya pond has been identified as an earlier Vaishnava Temple, 'Malegitti Shivalaya' as of Surya and Lower Shivalaya as of Ganapathi. The Jambhulinga Shrine housing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva is another important monument of the place. Queen Vinayavathi built it in 699 A.D. Badami rock-cut shrines are engraved in hard red sand-stone and the figures here are of unrivalled beauty. Banashankari near by, has the Banasankari temple, a big pond encircled by open pillared mantapas and an old temple of Rashtrakuta times. Annual Jatra gather on Banada Hunnime in the month of January.

Places in Badami

Badami Cave Temples in Badami :

Close View of Badami Cave Temple

The rock-cut Badami Cave Temples were sculpted mostly between the 6th and 8th centuries. The four cave temples represent the secular nature of the rulers then, with tolerance and a religious following that inclines towards Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. cave 1 is devoted to Shiva, and Caves 2 and 3 are dedicated to Vishnu, whereas cave 4 displays reliefs of Jain Tirthankaras. Deep caverns with carved images of the various incarnations of Hindu gods are strewn across the area, under boulders and in the red sandstone. From an architectural and archaeological perspective, they provide critical evidence of the early styles and stages of the southern Indian architecture.

The Pallavas under the king Narasimhavarman I (also called Mamalla Pallava) seized it in 642 A.D. Vikramaditya I of Chalukyas drove back Pallavas in 654 A.D. and led a successful attack on Kanchipuram, the capital of Pallavas. The Rashtrakutas absorbed karnataka including Badami around 757 AD and the town lost its importance. The later Chalukyas of Kalyani defeated them and were able to keep region from 973 A.D. to 1189 A.D., when it was occupied by the Hoysalas.

Badami has eighteen inscriptions, among them some inscriptions are important. The first Sanskrit inscription in old Kannada script, on a hillock dates back to 543 CE, from the period of Pulakesi I (Vallabheswara), the second is the 578 CE cave inscription of Mangalesa in Kannada language and script and the third is the Kappe Arabhatta records, the earliest available Kannada poetry in tripadi (three line) metre. one inscription near the Bhutanatha temple, on a rock, testifies to Mamalla Pallava's victory over the Chalukyas in the year 642 CE. It also has inscriptions dating back to the 12th century in Jain rock-cut temple dedicated to the Tirtankara Adinatha.

Then it passed on to Vijayanagara empire, The Adil Shahis, The Savanur Nawabs, The Marathas, Hyder Ali. The Britishers made it part of the Bombay Presidency.

Temples of Badami :

Badami is full of cave temples, gateways, forts, inscriptions and sculptures. People speak Kannada, Hindi and English. They wear traditional Indian cotton wear.

Attractions:

• Four rock-cut Badami Cave Temples between the 6th and 8th centuries. The magnificent among the carvings are 81 dance poses of Nataraja. Important carvings are of Hindu deities Ganapati, Shanmuka, Mahishasura Mardhini, Ardha Nariswara, Sankara Narayana, Vishnu, Trivikrama, Astadikpalakas and Adisesha.
• Fourth cave temple daing back to 12th century with carvings of Jain Tirthankaras Mahavira, Parshwanatha and Padmavati.
• A Buddhist cave in a natural setting that can be entered only by crawling on knees.
• The Bhutanatha temple, a small shrine, facing the lake, constructed in 5th century.
• Badami Fort situated on top of the hill.
• Many Shivalayas including the Malegitti Shivalaya with 7th century origins.
• The Dattatreya temple.
• The Mallikarjuna temple dating back to the 11th century, built on a star shaped plan.
• a Dargah, a dome of an Islamic place of worship on the south fort side.
• Vista points on top of the North Fort for the view of the ancient town below.
• Famous Banashankari Temple in nearby place.
• Archaeological museum, that has collection of sculptures from Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.