Why visit Badami
The main centre of ancient Chalukyan glory, Badami is home to several rock cut temples and structural temples. Early Chalukyan sculpture tends to be "classical" in its realism and chasteness of ornamentation. The first temple has gigantic carvings of Ardhanareeswara and Harira manifestations of Shiva in bas relief. It enshrines a Shivalingam and in the adjacent wall there is a carving of the cosmic dance of Shiva Nataraja depicted with eighteen arms. There are also reliefs of Ganapati, Shanmukha and Mahishasuramardhini. The largest and most ornamental is the third cave temple dedicated to Vishnu. The second cave which is also dedicated to Vishnu houses a beautiful frieze of Varaha the boar, incarnation of Vishnu. Of the four caves, one, two, and three are dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu whereas cave four is dedicated to Jain saints. In cave 4 some additions were made in the 11th and 12th centuries when this region was ruled by the later line of the Chalukyas. Overlooking the cave temples is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. Standing on the embankment is the 11th century Yellamma Temple. At the end of this man made lake is the Bhutanatha temple, built in several phases starting from 6th century AD till 11th century AD. To the west of Badami is Aihole, the first capital of the Chalukyas. The best known of the Aihole temples is the photogenic Durga or the fortress temple. It is semicircular in plan, along the lines of a Buddhist shrine. A pillared corridor runs around the temple, enveloping the shrine. Located East of Badami is the sacred complex of Pattadakal. Its 8th century temples are a fitting climax to the artistic achievements of the Chalukyan kings, as seen in Badami and Aihole. The temples all depict fascinatingly different architectural styles.
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