The
village of Badami, with the foot of high hills of escarpées red sandstone
rocks, bordered of a pretty lake with quiet green water, is animated of a
permanent activity. It is true that in this corner isolated from Karnataka,
the agglomerations of some importance are not legion. Also the small market
grouille it each day of a busy crowd.
It is in Badami, old Vatapi, that kings Chalukya d' Aihole transferred their capital about year 550. They built some temples there and made there dig the famous rupestral caves, for the visit of which the tourists agree to spend many hours on the small roads of Karnataka...
Rupestral sanctuaries
The site is remarkable. The caves are staged with cliffside and broad staircases gives access to it.
Cave 1
Oldest, one is reached by forty steps. While leading to the terrace which precedes the cave, there is an admirable figure of dancing Shiva with ten arms accompanied by Lord Ganesh his son,in his childhood.Other great sculptures were hollow in strong low-relief in the rock. In a recess on the line, the Godess Mahîshâsuramardinî with Kârtikeya on her right-hand side on its peacock, and on its left beautiful sitted Ganesh
CAVE 2
Dedicated to Vishnu, it is characterized by two great reliefs at the ends of the veranda which precedes the mandapa with pillars. In right-hand side, Trivikrama with a foot raised high, on the left Varâha bringing back the Goddess Prithivi
With the ceiling of the mandapa, one notices will chakra it of Vishnu and beautiful a complex swatiska. Other planks illustrate the architraves between the pillars
CAVE 3
The
cave, known as of Shiva, opens on a large terrace. It is the most significant
and most beautiful of the site is reached by a short series of steps.
On both sides of this staircase, there is a remarkable low-reliefs of
facetious Gana.There is an admirable panorama on the artificial lake
of Badami, with its ghât with the active lavender fields. On the opposite
bank, a cliff accomodates several temples of Shiva. At the end is a
lake,there are the temples of Bhutanatha.
Cave 4
It
is dedicated to Tirthankara Mahâvîra which is in the cella. To the sides of
the mandapa, other statues draw attention: on the right, Parshvanath,
on the left, Gomateshvara . Other small sculptures are finely crafted .
Temples
Three groups of temples can be visited .Located in the agglomeration of Badami, on the edge of the lake, the Jambulinga temples, of Virupaksha and Dattatreya
Towards
the Eastern edge of the lake, the temples of Bhutanatha are within a framework
very photogenic. While continuing a little further, see closer
to the lake, under a recent construction intended to protect it, is
a remarkable relief of Vishnu laid down on the Ananta snake
The temple of Malegitti Shivalaya which, of its rock headland, dominates the agglomeration. Should preferably be visited as the sun goes down .
The Museum
On the small way bordering northern bank of the lake, one will stop one moment pourvisiter the small Museum. An extraordinary part is there: it is about one will makara torana carved on its two faces, found in Badami and the 10 2nd or from the 11 2nd century. The central figure is Brâhma with three heads.
Surroundings of Badami
Aihole
The temples of Aihole are at about fifty kilometers of Badami. Considering their importance a detailed information is followed .
Pattadakal
This major site, which is reproduced on the list of the monuments "World Heritage" of UNESCO, and is generally visited after or before Aihole,
Mahakuta
Within ten kilometers of Badami, this complex of temples is located in a shaded hollow valley of large trees, and with a pleasant environment At the entry, a beautiful Nandi looks at the principal temple of Mahakuteshvarnatha, at the edge of small but beautiful basin with crowned ablutions.
Bana Shankari
This name locally designates the Goddess Durgâ , whom one venerates in a temple a few kilometres from Badami. The temple is located inside an enclosure which opens on a small market of fruits and vegetabl