The Caves at Badami

The state of Karnataka is endowed with several historical monuments, religious places, and historical places that have been standing still for centuries showcasing the rich and glorious past of the country and outstanding skills of the craftsman. One such place is the small town of Badami which was once the capital of Chalukya dynasty who ruled the place from 540 AD to 757 AD and has a marvelous piece of historic and religious significance in its lap. Exploring the stunning Badami Caves which the Chalukyas left behind is a treat to the eyes and great way to enhance our knowledge of religious history.

The magnificent Badami Caves are nestled deep in the rugged hilly terrain of Bagalkot district of northern Karnataka. The small town of Badami in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka attracts an influx of tourists from across the globe who come here to witness the architectural wonder of Badami Cave, a complex of Hindu and Jain temples. The cave temples are enclosed by a man-made Agastya Lake and are a fine depiction of the Badami Chalukya architecture and Indian rock-cut architecture. The caves are best admired during sunset when the dipping sun captures the rust-red tint of the sandstone making it even more spectacular to witness.

Badami was once the capital city of the Chalukya dynasty. According to historical texts, the capital town of Chalukya dynasty possessed several names such as Vatapi, Vatapipura, and Vatapinagari and is nestled at the end point of a valley between some exorbitant mountains of red sandstones. Corresponding to the ‘Puranas’ (Hindu scriptures), the town got its name from the wicked demon Vatapi who, with his brother Ilava, had tricked and killed over 9000 people. The place was then saved by the legendary sage Agastya who killed the demon using his dharmic powers.

The Chalukya dynasty was founded by Pulakeshi I in 540 CE and he, being the king, chose Vatapi (now Badami) as his capital city because it was protected from three sides by rugged sandstone cliffs. During the 6th to 8th centuries, the Chalukyas rules the state of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. The construction of the Badami Caves was done by Kirtivarman and Mangalesha, Pulakeshi I’s sons.

The temples of the Badami Caves were built by the Chalukya kings Kirtivarman and Mangalesha between the 6th and the 8th centuries and are numbered 1 to 4 according to their conception. However, the exact date of formation is only known for the third cave which is 578/579 CE, lunar calendar, that King Mangalesha dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Saka 500. The inscription inside the temple that tells its inception date, is also the proof that the cave temple is the oldest firmly dated Hindu cave temple in India.

The cave temples are constructed out of the monolithic red sandstone mountain into a steep cliff face, above a man-made lake called Agastya Theertha. All are linked by over 200 steps carved into the mountains which have intermediate terraces at the conjunction that overlooks the beautiful landscape of Badami and the lake below. The temples from 1 to 3 are dedicated to Hindu gods while the 4th temple is devoted to Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.

The architecture of all the four temples is similar. Each temple has an entrance with a mukhmantapa (verandah) that is supported by intricately carved columns and brackets. The verandah leads to the mahamantapa (main hall) which then leads to the garbhagriha (a shrine with an idol of deity). These stunning cave temples are the specimen of the Nagara and Dravidian styles of architecture with sculptures and artwork in the Deccan, Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara styles.

• Cave 1: Dedicated to Lord Shiva Constructed 59 feet above ground level towards the west of the hill, cave 1 of the Badami Caves is dedicated to Hindu god Shiva and has anidol of Shiva Linga in its garbhagriha (shrine). The walls and ceilings of the cave are adorned with sculptures and carvings of lord Shiva, his sons Ganesh and Kartikeya, and of Goddess Parvati and her avatars. All the carvings and figures are enclosed by borders and are adorned with reliefs of floral garlands, animals, and birds.
• Cave 2: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu The second cave is built towards the east and is nestled just 64 steps above Cave 1, dedicated to Hindu Lord Vishnu. The floor plan is like that of the first one with a verandah, a main hall, and a shrine, along with intricate carvings of avatars of Vishnu on ceilings, wall, and pillars. The interior of cave temple showcases inscriptions which depict various stories from Hindu texts like ‘Bhagavata Geeta’, the legends of ‘samudramanthan’ (churning of the cosmic ocean), and the birth of Shri Krishna among others.
• Cave 3: Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu and is the largest cave temple Above the 2nd cave lies the 3rd Badami Cave which is the largest among the four caves and is also the oldest dated Hindu temple in the Deccan region. The cave has been carved 60-feet deep into the mountain and is mainly dedicated to lord Vishnu with several sculptures of Shiva as well. The interior walls are adorned with detailed carvings and frescoes, some of which are broken, but they are the earliest known proof of fresco paintings in India. According to the epigraphical evidence in the cave, the temple might have been possibly inaugurated on a ‘full moon day’, November 1, 578.
• Cave 4: Dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras The fourth cave is the smallest cave and is located next to the third cave. It is dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras, the revered figures of Jainism, and is believed to have been built in the later 7th century by Hindu kings. The cave is also decorated with figurines and different range of motifs, some of them have been carved in the 11th and 12th centuries as well. The walls display figures of Bahubali, Parsvanatha, Mahavira, and several other Jain Tirthankaras. The temple inside has a small shrine with an idol of Mahavira laying on a pedestal.

Badami caves is open to visitors between 6 AM and 6 PM every day, on all days of the week.

An entry fee of INR 20 per head is applicable here for every Indian national (adult) visitor and SAARC or BIMSTEC citizens; and for other foreign citizens (adult), the entrance fee applicable is INR 250 per head

Badami can be reached by air, rail, or road.

• By air – The closest airports to Badami are Hubli (106 km away) and Belgaum (150 km away). These airports are well-connected to major cities in India Mumbai and Bangalore. Visitors can fly to Hubli or Belgaum, and from either of these, Badami can be easily reached via a taxi (cab) or a bus.
• By rail – The nearest railway station to Badami caves is the Badami railway station (code: BDM) railway station which is around 5 kms away. This can be reached from various neighboring cities like Mysuru, Bengaluru, Hubli or Belgaum, which are all well-connected to other major cities in India. From BDM railway station, visitors can hire cab, bus or autorickshaw from here to reach the fort.
• By road – People can also travel to Badami by road on bus, auto-rickshaw, or cabs from nearby cities from neighboring regions.