Badami Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

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"Home to Mesmerising Cave Temples"

Badami Tourism

Located in a valley of rugged red sandstone, surrounding the Agastya Lake, Badami (formerly known as Vatapi) is an archaeological delight owing to its beautifully crafted sandstone cave temples, fortresses and carvings. Located in the Bagalkot district in Karnataka, Badami is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites that constitute Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal and is the finest example of traditional temple architecture in India. 

Once the royal capital of the Chalukyas, Badami is home to a number of examples of Dravidian architecture which have instances of both South and North Indian styles of architecture. There are three Hindu Temples and one Jain Temple in Badami Caves. Rock climbing is a popular activity here for people looking for some adventure too. 

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Sandstone Caves and Temples

Badami is the centre of ancient Chalukyan glory with its temples dating back to the 6th Century. Cave 3 in Badami is dedicated to Lord Vishnu which is the largest cave temple in India. The lake beneath the cave temples is named after the Bhutanath temples in Badami. All the structures here are made from sandstone that provide a lovely contrast to the blue skies and the beautiful Agastya Lake that is adjacent to the caves. In 2015, another cave was discovered half a kilometres from the cave complex which has over 27 Hindu carvings. 

The caves are numbered based on the age of construction:

Cave 1: A beautiful flight of stairs lead you to this one. This is a Shiva temple with the sculptures of Shiva, Ganesha and Karthikeya on the walls of the cave. Lord Shiva is the family deity of the Chulaukya royal family.
Entrance to Cave 1


Cave 2: This cave temple is located 64 steps from Cave 1 and is a Vishnu temple.

Cave 3: Located 60 steps higher than Cave 2, this is the largest cave in the complex and is a Vishnu Temple. The sculpture here is half Vishnu and half Shiva and this has caused great interest to the studies of Shaivism.  

Vishnu idol in Cave 3


Cave 4: This is located 2 m lower than Cave 3 and is the smallest cave temple in the complex. 


Restaurants and Local Food in Badami

Badami has a surprisingly flattering platter, which is simpler in structure, yet quite delicious. The key elements of the food here are Rice, Ragi, Jowar, Urad Dal, Jaggery and Coconut. The food here, is a little tangy and sour and usually cooked in coconut oil. One can also relish numerous delicacies of meat and fish and seafood here. Halwa, Chiroti and Mysore Pak are the local favorites amongst sweets.
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Suggested Itinerary for Badami

Day 1- Arrive at Badami, check-in and rest. In the evening, set out for visit to Badami Fort. Later visit local food joints.
Day 2- Visit Aioli, Badami Caves, Agastya Lake. Later visit local handicraft stores and bazaars.

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Badami Photos

Badami, Karnataka
Cave Temples
Lower Bhuthanatha Temple
Yellamma Temple

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FAQs on Badami

What is famous about Badami?

Archaeological wonder. Beautiful sandstone monuments.

What is not so good about Badami?

The railway station has direct connectivity to nearby places only.

Who should visit Badami?

Located in Karnataka, Badami is a popular destination for pilgrims, archaeology lovers and history buffs.

What is the best time to visit Badami?

The geographical location makes it a semi-arid region, and therefore, Winter and Spring i.e October to April is the best time to visit Badami. The temperature during this time of the year usually remains moderate allowing tourists to explore the site to the fullest. The monsoon season is pleasant too as the region does not receive continuous heavy downpours. While summers are not recommended due to soaring temperatures, the seasonal showers begin slowly cooling the town. 

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What is the local food in Badami?

Badami has a surprisingly flattering platter, which is simpler in structure, yet quite delicious. The key elements of the food here are Rice, Ragi, Jowar, Urad Dal, Jaggery and Coconut. The food here, is a little tangy and sour and usually cooked in coconut oil. One can also relish numerous delicacies of meat and fish and seafood here. Halwa, Chiroti and Mysore Pak are the local favorites amongst sweets.
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What is the best way to reach Badami?

Badami can only be accessed by road and rail and is connected to all major cities. The closest airport is at Belgaum (150km). Badami has a small station of its own where trains from cities like Bangalore and Bijapur halt regularly. This town can also be accessed by bus, with the bus stand being located in the centre of the town.
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What are the things to do in Badami?

The top things to do in Badami are Cave Temples, Agastya Lake, Badami Fort, Aihole, Bhuthanatha Temples, City Shopping. You can see all the places to visit in Badami here

What are the places near Badami?

The top places near to Badami are Hampi which is 106 km from Badami, Pattadakal which is located 15 km from Badami, Aihole which is located 24 km from Badami, Goa which is located 203 km from Badami, Gokarna which is located 210 km from Badami

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Surbhi Parashar

5 years ago
- There are many monkeys in Badami, some of them especially the gray langurs can be aggressive.
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