Bangalore to Badami

A lot of travellers prefer to travel from Bangalore to Badami by a car since roadways are no doubt a fast, affordable and convenient option that is available on this route. Bangalore to Badami is a prevalent route, and thus travellers can be found on these highways all year round. If you so prefer, you can also book a chauffeur-driven cab for yourself and your family, and enjoy the road trip in leisure. Travellers can book cabs online via websites such as Savaari and Gozo Cabs or even contact local cab service providers such as SS Cabs, SV cabs, etc. 

Route Options Available from Bangalore to Badami

There are two main road routes that most travellers drive on, to reach Badami from Bangalore. One of them passes through Hubli, while the other shorter route will take you through Hospet. 

Route 1: Bangalore to Badami via Hubli (510 kilometers)
Bangalore - Tumkur Bypass - Chitradurga Bypass - Davangere - Ranebennur - Haveri - Hubli - Nargund - Kulageri Cross - Badami

Route 2: Bangalore to Badami via Hospet (454 kilometers)

Bangalore - Tumkur Bypass - Chitradurga Bypass - Hospet - Kushtagi - Gajendragad - Sudi - Banashankari Temple - Badami

Even though the first route will require you to cover more kilometres, it is a four-lane highway up till Hubli, which is a good 400 kilometres on the NH4. Only the last 100 kilometres on this route are a two-lane highway, which will require you to slow down a bit. 

The second route is the same as the first one till Chitradurga and will take you through the NH4, after will you will have to take the diversion to NH 13 towards Hospet. The NH 13 is also a four-lane highway, but you will encounter heavy traffic en route, especially around Hospet. Thus, it is advisable to take this route only if Hampi is also a part of your agenda. 

Approximate Time Taken

Irrespective of the route that you choose, you will need to plan around 10 hours of driving time from Bangalore to Badami. 

Approximate Fare

Fares for cabs on this route start at INR 8750 and then go up to INR 11,000. For eight-seater cars, you will have to pay around INR 13,300. 

Road Conditions

The roads from Bangalore to Chitradurga are in excellent conditions, and if you start on your journey early in the morning, you will not encounter much traffic. The roads from Chitradurga to Hospet, however, are uneven and filled with potholes, while the streets from Hospet onwards are mostly good with certain uneven sections. 

Eating Options Along the Way

After Hospet, there are not many eating options along the highway, so it is better to have a meal before you reach there. From Bangalore to Hospet, however, you will find plenty of food outlets that serve both south Indian and north Indian food. Popular outlets on this route include Yatri Nivas, Royal Orchid, Kamat Upachar and Cafe Coffee Day. You will also find plenty of food joints in Chitradurga, and most travellers prefer to halt for a quick snack there itself. The Mahalaxmi Bhawan in Chitradurga is well known for its masala dosa, so do give that a try. 

Possible Stopovers Enroute

The route is full of interesting attractions and historic forts that you definitely should visit if you undertake a road trip from Bangalore to Badami. These tourist spots include:
1.  Chitradurga fort. 
2.  Hampi Market
3.  Virupaksha temple,
4.  Hemakuta Hill
5.  Daroji Bear sanctuary

Trains take slightly longer compared to other modes of transport to reach Badami from Bangalore. However, an overnight train journey on this route can prove to be quite exciting and will also offer you lots of scenic views. IRCTC operates five direct trains between Bangalore and Badami, and you will be able to reach your final destination in around 10 hours or so, depending on the train that you choose. Three of the five trains on this route depart in the morning before noon, while the remaining two leave in the evening. The best option, is to board a night train, so that you can reach your destination early in the morning. There are a lot of local vendors at the departing station, as well as at the stations en route, but it is best to carry some light snacks and water along with you. 

Railway Junctions in Bangalore

The various railway junctions from where travellers can board the train in Bangalore include KSR Bengaluru City Junction (SBC) and Yesvantpur Junction (YPR). 

Railway Junctions in Badami

Trains on the Bangalore – Badami route halt/terminate at either the Bagalkot Junction (BGK) or Badami (BDM).

Trains Timings and Fares

1. 16587 Yesvantpur - Bikaner Express 
Timings:
Departure: 05:00
Arrival: 18:58
Duration: 13 hours and 58 minutes
Availability: Sundays and Fridays
Fare:
General: INR 178
Sleeper: INR 340
AC Chair: INR 735
AC 3 tier: INR 920
AC 2 tier: INR 1325

2. 14805 Yesvantpur - Barmer AC Express
Timings:
Departure: 10:30
Arrival: 22:28
Duration: 11 hours and 58 minutes
Availability: Mondays
Fare:
AC 3 tier: INR 895
AC 2 tier: INR 1280
AC 1st class: INR 2155

3. 16535 Gol Gumbaz Express
Timings:
Departure: 18:50
Arrival: 06:10
Duration: 11 hours and 20 minutes
Availability: All days of the week
Fare:
General: INR 173
Sleeper: INR 330
AC Chair: INR 720
AC 3 tier: INR 905
AC 2 tier: INR
AC 1st class: INR 2180

The Preferred Mode of Transportation from the Railway Station
The small station of Badami is only 5 kilometres away from the city centr. After deboarding, you will easily find autos and rickshaws to reach your final destination. You can also board a bus to reach your final destination.

The fastest option to travel from Bangalore to Badami is by flight. Although airways are more expensive when compared to other means of transport, they are quite time-saving. A flight trip would enable the traveller to reach their destination in just 4-5 hours. Thus, airways do end up saving a lot of time for travellers. 

However, there are no airports in Badami, which means you will have to travel to the nearest airport to Badami. The Hubli Airport (also known as Hubballi Airport) serving both Hubli and Dharwad in Karnataka is the nearest airport to Badami. Following this, you will have to undertake a 2.5-hour-long cab journey to reach your final destination in Badami. 

Available Flights from Bangalore to Hubli

Airlines such as Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo offer direct services on this route. 

Approximate Time Taken

The time taken to reach Hubli by Bangalore via air can range between 40 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes. The duration would depend on the airline that you choose, information about which can easily be obtained online. 

Approximate Fare

Fares for a one-way journey on this route start at INR 1600 per person if booked well in advance. These fares can go up to INR 2000 and are subject to change often. 

Getting to Badami from Hubli

The distance between Badami and Hubli airport is around 106 kilometres. You can easily reach your final destination by booking a cab from the airport, which will cost you around INR 2000-2200 for the same. Or, you can also board a bus to reach Badami. Many private and government buses ply on this route, and you will be able to find a bus without much difficulty.

Buses are a convenient option to get from Bangalore to Badami as it involves nominal fares for budget and solo travellers. There are a total of six buses that ply on this route at a regular basis, and travellers are free to choose a bus operator that suits them the best. All buses on this route leave for Badami in the night, ensuring that their travellers reach their final destination early morning the next day.

Best Option
A night journey is a practical option as travellers would get an entire day to explore Badami. However, since this will be an overnight journey, ensure that the operator provides all amenities such as blankets, pillows, etc., so that you can enjoy a comfortable overnight trip. Popular operators on this route include VRL Travels, Sanjana Travels, ARS Travels, etc., and travellers also have the option to choose between seater and sleeper buses. 

Available Options

A total of five operators operate six different buses on this route. The first bus to leave for Badami for the day departs from Bangalore at 21:15, and is run by Sugama Travels, while the last bus departs at 22:40, and is operated by Sanjana Travels. All buses on this route take around 9-10 hours to complete their journey, with fares starting from INR 450. 

Boarding Points in Bangalore

There are numerous boarding points in Bangalore, from where travellers can board a bus to reach Badami. Travellers thus have the option to choose a boarding point that is the closest to their current location. These boarding terminals include
1.  Kempegowda Bus Stand
2.  Majestic Ganesha Temple
3.  Yeshwanthpur
4.  Goraguntepalya People Tree Hospitals
5.  Jalahalli Cross
6.  8th Mile

Dropping Points in Badami

The various de-boarding points in Badami from where travellers can get off their bus include:
1.  Badami bus stand
2.  Badami Geeta Hotel
3.  Badami Sri Sai Samskurtha Bhavan, Station Road
4.  Badami MO, opposite Sai Sanskrutik Bhavan

Bus Types Plying from Bangalore to Badami

Travellers can choose between the following two kinds of buses to travel from Bangalore to Badami:
1.  Non-A/C Sleeper (2+1)
2.  Non-A/C Seater/Sleeper (2+1)

Available Bus Options