IM3847 · File:Badami lake from Cave Temples.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · cropped and resized · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Badami_lake_from_Cave_Temples.jpg
Badami
A sandstone town in Bagalkot district that was the Chalukya capital from the 6th to the 8th century, with four rock-cut cave temples above Agastya Lake.
The Chalukya capital cut into a cliff
Badami is a small town in Bagalkot district in northern Karnataka. It was the capital of the Chalukya dynasty from the 6th to the 8th century AD, when it was known as Vatapi, and it sits at the foot of a red sandstone cliff above a still lake. The cliff holds four rock-cut cave temples carved in the late 6th century, with the main complex completed by the Chalukya king Mangalesha between 578 and 610 AD according to Karnataka Tourism. Three of the caves are Hindu and one is Jain, so a single climb crosses two traditions. Around the lake are the Bhutanatha temples, and on the hill above stands a fort. The Chalukya heartland is wider than the town. Pattadakal, about 21 to 23 km away, is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Aihole, about 35 to 36 km away, is known for its early temples. Badami itself is not inscribed: it is on India's tentative list together with Aihole and Pattadakal as the Evolution of Temple Architecture group, and Karnataka Tourism describes the caves as a candidate site. This page sets out what is here and how to see it without overstating its status.
Explore Badami on the map
City locations, drawn from our published destination data. Attractions, hotels and restaurants are not mapped yet.
What a stay here holds
Badami rewards a slow day on foot, with the caves, the lake and the fort all within a short walk of one another.
🛕 The four cave temples
- Cave 1 is the oldest of the four and holds an 18-armed Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, with Ardhanarishvara and other carvings
- Cave 2 is dedicated to Vishnu and is known for the Trivikrama panel and a Varaha, or boar, avatar
- Cave 3 is the largest and most elaborate, with Vishnu reclining on the serpent Ananta, Harihara and Narasimha, and traces of early painting on the ceiling
- Cave 4 is Jain, with an image of Mahavira at its centre and Tirthankaras carved around it
🌊 Agastya Lake and the Bhutanatha temples
- Agastya Lake lies directly below the cave cliff, and sources give its date differently, so we give none
- The Bhutanatha group of sandstone temples stands on the lake shore and is dated to the 7th and 8th centuries
- Walk the shore at the start or end of the day, when the sandstone is warmest in colour
🏰 The hill fort and the museum
- The fort stands on the northern hill above the caves and is reached by a stone path that Karnataka Tourism puts at half an hour to 45 minutes' climb
- Inside are old granaries and cisterns, a Buddhist cave and the Malegitti Shivalaya and Upper Shivalaya temples
- An archaeological museum stands near the cave entrance with sculpture and inscriptions from the region; ask about its opening days
How a stay can run
The caves and the lake
Climb the four caves in the cooler part of the day, walk the Bhutanatha shore and look in at the museum if it is open.
Pattadakal and Aihole
Drive out to Pattadakal, which is inscribed, and on to Aihole with its early temples, returning to Badami in the evening.
The fort and Banashankari
Climb the hill fort at first light if you have time, and visit the Banashankari temple, about 5 km from town, on the way out.
Getting there and around
Badami is on the railway and the highway network, and the caves and lake can be covered on foot.
By air
- The nearest airport is Hubballi, about 105 km away according to Karnataka Tourism
- A taxi from Hubballi takes about two hours
- Check which airlines serve Hubballi before you plan around it
By rail and road
- Badami has its own railway station, on the line from Hubballi towards Bijapur and Solapur
- Bagalkot is about 30 km away and also has a station
- Bengaluru is about 450 km by road, a long drive that most travellers break or replace with a train or flight
On the ground
- The caves, lake and Bhutanatha temples are within walking distance of one another
- Pattadakal, Aihole and Mahakuta need a vehicle, and fares should be agreed in advance
- Hampi is about 140 km away and is better treated as a separate stay
What to know before you go
Four points shape a visit to Badami.
Only Pattadakal is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1987. Badami and Aihole are on India's tentative list as part of the Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal group, and the Archaeological Survey of India has been preparing a nomination to extend the Pattadakal listing to Badami and Aihole. Karnataka Tourism calls the Badami caves a candidate site. Treat any claim that Badami is already a World Heritage Site as incorrect.
The four caves are reached by stairs cut into the cliff, and the fort path is uneven stone. Wear shoes with a good grip, carry water and expect the sandstone to be hot by midday. Sunrise and late afternoon are cooler and kinder to photographs.
Pattadakal is given as about 21 km by Karnataka Tourism and 23 km by another source, Aihole as 35 to 36 km, and Mahakuta as anything from about 5 to 14 km depending on the page. Check a map before you fix a day's plan.
We give no ticket prices or opening hours here, because they are set by the monument authorities and change. Ask at your stay or at the entrance, and ask about the museum's opening days separately.
Where to base yourself
Badami has small hotels and guesthouses in and around the town, and the heritage circuit is usually done from here. We do not name properties.
In town
- Hotels and guesthouses stand in and around the town centre, which keeps the lake and the caves within reach
- Confirm air-conditioning, hot water and meals before you book, as the standard varies from room to room
- A room with a view of the cliff or the lake is worth asking for
Near the lake
- Stays closer to Agastya Lake are quieter in the evening, when the cliff catches the last light
- Check how far the room is from the caves and whether the approach is lit after dark
- Ask whether early breakfast is possible if you plan a first-light climb
If you are on the circuit
- Many travellers give Badami two nights, which leaves one day for the caves and the fort and one for Pattadakal and Aihole
- A single night covers the caves if you arrive by early afternoon
- Hampi is about 140 km to the south-east, so the two are usually planned as separate stays
Practical notes
A few details that keep a visit simple.
On the climb
- Wear shoes with a good grip, as the stone steps wear smooth
- Carry water and a hat, as shade is limited on the cliff
- Take the caves at your own pace and read the panels, which repay patience
At the temples
- Follow the rules at each site, including any limits on photography
- Remove your shoes where signs ask, and dress modestly at places of worship
- Keep clear of the rock faces and do not touch the carvings
Planning
- Fix your day trip to Pattadakal and Aihole with a driver who knows the roads
- Karnataka Tourism says an annual fair at the Banashankari temple brings large crowds, usually in January or February
- Carry some cash, as card payments can be unreliable in small towns
Close by
Places on the Chalukya circuit.
Related to Badami
Journeys that include Badami — each one visits the city as part of its itinerary.
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