Badami in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for its rock cut structural temples. It is located in a ravine at the foot of a rugged, red sandstone outcrop that surrounds Agastya lake. The Puranic story says the wicked asura Vatapi was killed by sage Agastya (as per Agastya-Vatapi story), the area in which the incident happened so named as Vatapi. At Aihole there was a merchant guild known as Ayyavole Ainuravaru lived in the area have reformed.
Badami is blessed with its heritage include cave temples, gateways, forts, inscriptions and sculptures as a tourist to India there is a lot of opportunities for understand and study the Indian cultural heritage the Badami some of important places are a natural Buddhist cave that can be entered only by crawling on knees. The Bhootnath temple, a small shrine, facing the lake, constructed in 5th century it is a good example for Indian Temple Architecture. Badami Fort situated on top of the hill it is a Archeological splendor made by Chalukyas and Pallavas, Many Shivalayas including the Lover Shivalaya, Upper Shivalaya and Malegatti Shivalaya with 7th century origins. The ruinous condition these monument contrast with comparatively complete Malegitti Shivalaya, which crowns on as isolated boulder beneath the western flank of the North fort, this temple also be dated to the first half of the 7th century and is of historical interest for its well- preserved cravings
Some Of well known Badami tourist places
- The Dattatreya temple.
- The Mallikarjuna temple dating back to the 11th century, built on a star shaped plan.
- aDargah, a dome of an Islamic place of worship on the south fort side.
- Vista points on top of the North Fort for the view of the ancient town below.
- Temple of Banashankari, aKuladevata (family deity) for many families, is located near Badami.
- Archaeological museum, that has collection of sculptures from Badami,Aihole and Pattadakal.
