Cities in India 

Badami

Population  : 17,500
Main Languages  : Kannada.
Telephone area code : 08357
Best time to visit  : October to March

The small rural village of Badami was once the capital city of Chalukyan empire which ruled much of the central Deccan between the 4^th and 8^th centuries A.D. Here, and at nearby Aihole and Pattadakal, you can see some of the earliest and finest examples of Dravidian temples and rock cut caves. 

Though principally the promoters of Vedic culture, the Chalukyans were tolerant of all sects and elements of them can be found in many of their temples. 

Badami was the capital of Chalukyas from about 540 untill 747 A.D. when they were overthrown by the Rashtrakutas. Later it was occupied by Chalukyans of Kalyan, the Kalachuryas, the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Vijayanagar empire, the Adil Shahi kings of Bijapur and the Maratha. All these rulers have left their mark at Badami.

Badami is best known for its cave temples, displaying a full range of religious sects which grown up on Indian soil. Two of the caves are dedicated to Vishnu, one to Siva and the fourth is a Jain temple. There is also one natural cave which is a Buddhis temple. Of the other monuments, some of the most beautiful are the two lakeside temples known as the Bhutanatha temples.

The archeological museum, housing super examples of sculpture collected locally is worth a visit.

Aihole
43 kms from Badami, this village, was the Chalukyan regiona capital between the 4^th and 6^th centuries. The Hindu temple architecture in its embryonic state can be seen here. From the earliest Ladkhan temple to the later and more complex structures like Kunligudi and Gurgigudi temples. The Durgigudi is unique in India, being circular in shape and surmounted by a primitive gopuram. There are over 70 monuments in and around the village

Pattadakal
16 kms from Badami, Pattadakal was not only the second capital of the Badami Chalukyans, but the place where all coronations took place. It reach the height of its glory during the 7^th and 8^th centuries when most of the temples here were built.

The most interesting monument here, is the Virupaksha temple or the Lokeshwara, is a huge structure with episodes from Hindu epics and the social life of early Chalukyans. The other tmeple Mallikarjuna – has sculptures depicting scenes from Bhagvad Gita, the story of Lord Krishna.

HOW TO REACH
By Air       : Nearest airport is Bangalore (358 kms)

By Train    : Trains from Hospet and Bijapur.

By Road    : 4 hours drive from Bijapur.