| Location | Bagalkot district, northern part of the state of Karnataka |
| Significance | Erstwhile capital of the Chalukyan dynasty |
| Must Visit | Archaeological Museum, Cave Temple, Badami Fort, Bhootnath Temple |
| Best Time To Go | October to March |
| Temperature | Max 38°C, Min 23°C (summer); Max 29°C, Min 15°C (winter) |
Located 550 km from the capital city Bangalore, lies the historical town Badami, which has been a favourite place of the history buffs and the Archaeological Survey of India. Picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills near a red sandstone ridge, the town has a lot to offer to its guests. From rock-cut cave temples and majestic forts to the ancient inscriptions, sculptures etc. - the town offers a number of attractions.
Badami is famous for eighteen inscriptions ranging from the 6th to the 16th century. Apart from that, another fascinating attraction here are the four ancient caves. Out of these caves, the first three belong to the Vedic faith while the fourth one is the only Jain temple in Badami. The first cave is visited for the eighteen armed Nataraja idol, depicted in 81 dance poses. The largest and most ornamental of these is the third cave temple dedicated to Vishnu. It houses various figures of Lord Vishnu and his incarnations.
The green tranquil lake in Badami is believed to have healing properties. As the legend goes, King Kushataraya was cured of leprosy by taking a dip in this lake.
Archaeological Museum
Established near the Agastyatirtha Tank by the Archaeological Survey of India, this museum houses some of the most amazing artifacts and ancient articles that were widely practiced in this region during Chalukyan Empire. It also exhibits a model of the natural bridge of Sidilinapadi, which is located about 5 km from Badami.
Cave Temple
The beautiful and unique Cave Temples in Badami is cut into the cliff face of a red sandstone hill. There are a total of four Cave Temples, out of which two are dedicated to Vishnu and one to Shiva. The last one is the only Jain temple in Badami.
Jambulinga Temple
An ancient inscription declares that this historical temple was constructed in 699 AD. It has three beautiful chapels that are dedicated to Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (Shiva).
Bhootnath Temple
Bhootnath, in Hindi, refers to Lord Shiva because he is considered as the God of souls, spirits, and ghosts. This temple has an image of Lord Shiva in an irate mood.
Badami Fort
This majestic landmark was established during the Chalukyan Empire. Today it serves as an ideal place to have a bird's eye view of the entire Badami town. The ruins of the fort still house a 'Shivalaya' (Shiva Temple), which has many friezes and sculptures depicting the legends of Lord Krishna.
The town is famous for various temple festivals. The annual festival, held at Banashankari, in January/February is worth visiting. Similarly, the Virupaksha Temple Car Festival and Mallikarjuna Temple Festival held in Pattadakal during March-April draw maximum number of tourists.
Accommodation
Badami offers plenty of economical/budget class accommodation units. Most of these are located quite close to the main bus stop on the Station Road.
By Air: Belgaum (150 km) is the nearest airport, which is easily accessible by bus or taxi.
By Rail: Badami rail line is established on the Hubli-Sholapur rail route. Therefore, it is well connected with many cities in the state and the nearby areas.
By Road: The town is well connected by road with cities like Hubli (128 km), Bijapur (163 km) and Bangalore (550 km) etc.
