Badami

Bagalkot , Karnataka

Previously known as Vatapi, it is located in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The royal capital of the Badami Chalukyas their legacy is what you will see in every nook and corner of this place, especially in the rock cuts and the caves that surround Badami and make it such a apecial place to be in. At the foot of a rugged red sandstone outcrop surrounding Lake agastya Badami will always be able to fill you with the sense of wonder that places which are still regal yet long forgotten make you feel. The Badami Cave temples are excerpts from the pages of Indian history which show the true form of our country at that time. Sculpted between the 6 th to 8th century, the 4 caves are true example of secularism, as they portray Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism in equal measures depicting the character of the tolerant and liberal rulers. The Buddhist cave situated in natural surroundings is a place which makes you crawl on your hands and knees and is quite a novel experiences. The other impressive structure about Badami is the Badami fort situated on top of a hill in all its splendour. The Dattatreya and the Mallikarjuna temple display some very important and interesting architecture giving us a clear view of the era that was. The archeological museum is a place that you should definitely visit as it has sculptures from this area which are amazing in their heritage and history. These are masterpieces that should be displayed to the whole world to learn from. The inscriptions that are found in Badami are also some of the most treasured relics of all times. There are 18 of these are they will surely intrigue every person visiting this place. A must visit place for all, Badami takes you right back to a beautiful time.