Badami Caves
Location :
Badami is located in the northern part of the state of Karnataka, in
the southern region of India. It is situated near a red sandstone ridge.
The climate of Badami is temperate with summers (April-June) being
moderately hot while winters are cool and pleasant (November-February).
It is 550 km from the city of Bangalore. It experiences southwestern
monsoon rains in the months of June and July. Badami is 128 kms from
Hubli and 163 Kms from Bijapur and 79 Kms from Bagalkot. Badami railway
station is on Hubli-Sholapur railway line and is 5 Kms from the town.
The Bus service to Tirth is available.
About Badami :
Badami is another timeless monument to the Karnataka’s love
towards Art and Architecture. Badami houses lot of Temples of Lord
Vishnu and Shiva with glorious carvings, is located between a lake and
hills of Sand stone. This group of 4 cave temples have been carved out
of the hill opposite Badami fort. Badami is famous for its four cave
temples - all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill.
Cave I
This is Shaivite cave. The important carvings in this cave are an
18-armed dancing Shiva, a two-handed Ganesha, Mahishasura Mardini, Ardha
Nareeshwara & Shankarnarayana. The ceiling is adorned by a serpent
motif & other carved figures.
Cave II
This cave has Vaishnavite influence with panels of Trivikrama &
Bhuvaraha. On the ceilings are carvings of Anantasayana, Brahma, Vishnu,
Shiva &other Ashtadikpalas
Cave III
Another flight of steps takes one to the third cave which is the
largest & the best of the lot. This cave has carvings pertaining to
both Shaivite & Vaishnavite themes. Panels of Trivikrama, Narasimha,
Shankaranarayana, Bhuvaraha, Anantasayana & Harihara are engraved in
a vigorous style. An inscription found here records the creation of the
shrine by Mangalesha in 578 AD. There are some fine bracket figures on
the pillars of this cave
Cave IV
Lying to the east of cave three, the fourth cave is Jain. There is an
image of Mahavira adorning the sanctum. Other carvings here are of
Padmavathi & other Thirthankaras. Asteep climb up some steps cut in
a crevice between Cave II & III leads to the southern part of Badami
Fort & to an old gun placed there by Tipu Sultan.
