Badami
Template:Infobox Indian urban area
Badami (Kannada: ಬದಾಮಿ), formerly known as Vatapi, is a town in the Bagalkot District of Karnataka state. It was the regal capital of the Western Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples. It is located in a ravine at the foot of a rugged, red sandstone outcrop that sorrounds Agastya lake.
Etymology
The name vatapi has origins in a legend. There were two demon siblings Vatapi and Ilvala. They trick the mendicants passing and kill them and make a meal. Their tricks worked until Sage Agastya counter tricked them and ended the life of Vatapi in the hands of Ilvala. Two of the hills in Badami represent the demons Vatapi and Ilvala.
History
Badami was the capital of the Early Chalukyas, who ruled much of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh between the 6th and 8th centuries. It was founded in 540 A.D. by Pulakesi I(535-566 AD), an early ruler of the Chalukyas. His sons KirtiVarman(567-598 AD) and his brother Mangalesha I(598-610 AD) constructed the cave temples. The greatest among them was Pulakeshi II (610-642 AD) who defeated many kings including Pallava king Mahendra Verman I and extended the kingdom.
The rock-cut Badami Cave temples were sculpted mostly between the 6th and 8th centuries. The four cave temples represent the secular nature of the rulers then, with tolerance and a religious following that inclines towards Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. cave 1 is devoted to Shiva, and Caves 2 and 3 are dedicated to Vishnu, whereas cave 4 displays reliefs of Jain Tirthankaras. Deep caverns with carved images of the various incarnations of Hindu gods are strewn across the area, under boulders and in the red sandstone. From an architectural and archaeological perspective, they provide critical evidence of the early styles and stages of the southern Indian architecture.
The Pallavas under the king Narasimhavarma (also called Mamalla Pallava) seized it in 642 A.D. Vikramaditya I of Chalukyas driven back Pallavas in 654 A.D. and led a successful attack on Kanchipuram, the capital of Pallavas. The Rashtrakutas absorped the karnataka including Badami around 757 AD and the town lost its importance. The later Chalukyas of Kalyani defeted them and are able to keep region from 973 A.D. to 1189 A.D., when it was occupied by the Hoysalas.
Then it passed on to Vijayanagara empire, The Adil Shahis, The Savanur Nawabs, The Marathas, Hyder Ali. The Britishers made it part of the Bombay Presidency.
Insciptions
Badami has eighteen inscriptions, among them two inscriptions are important. The first sanskrit one, on a hillock dates back to 543 CE, from the period of Pulakesi I (Vallabheswara). A second one near the Bhutanatha temple, on a rock, testifies to Mamalla Pallava's victory over the Chalukyas in the year 642 CE. It also has inscriptions dating back to the 12th century in Jain rock-cut temple dedicated to the Tirtankara Adinatha.
Geography
The town of Badami is located at 15°53′N 75°23′E / 15.883°N 75.383°E. It is located at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills and surrounds Agastya tirtha water reservoir on the three other sides. The total area of the town is 10.3 square kilometers and is located at 176.7 meters above sea level.
It is located 128 kilometers from Bijapur, 132 kilometers from Hubli, 46 kilometers from Aihole, another ancient town, and 500 kilometers from Bangalore, the state capital.
Climate
- Summer - March to June
- Spring - Jan to March
- Monsoons - July to October that contributes to rainfall
- Winter - November to Jan
The temerature ranges from minimum 23 degrees to 45 degrees during summer and from 15 to 29 degress in winter. The rainfall of the area is 50 cemtimeters. Best time to visit is between low humid season from november and March.
Economy
The main economy is centered around karnataka tourism.
Government
It is a town in the Bagalkot District in Karnataka state, India. It is also head quarters of Badami Taluk in the district.
Transport
The nearest airport is Belgaum about 150 kilometers away. It is on the Hubli Sholapur rail route, and the rail station is 5 kilometers from the town. It is also connected by road to Hubli and Bijapur. Badami is reachable from Bangalore by a 12-hour bus ride, or with a combination of an overnight train journey from Bangalore to Hospet followed by a short bus ride from Hospet to Badami.
Local transport is by Rickshaws, tongas and city buses.
Demographics
The population of the town is 15,028 (1981 Census).
Culture
Badami is full of cave temples, gateways, forts, inscriptions and sculptures. People speak Kannada, Hindi and English. They wear traditional Indian cotton wear.
Attractions
- Three rock-cut Badami Cave temples between the 6th and 8th centuries. The maginificant among the carvings are 81 dance poses of Nataraja. Important carvings are of hindu deities Ganapati, Shanmuka, Mahishasura Mardhini, Ardha Nariswara, Sankara Narayana, Vishnu, Trivikrama, Astadikpalakas and Adisesha.
- Fourth cave temple daing back to 12th century with carvings of Jain Tirthankaras Mahavira, Parshwanatha and Padmavati.
- A Buddhist cave in a natural setting that can be entered only by crawling on knees.
- The Bhutanatha temple, a small shrine, facing the lake, constructed in 5th century.
- Badami Fort situated on top of the hill.
- Many Shivalayas including the Malegitti Shivalaya with 7th century origins.
- The Dattatreya temple.
- The Mallikarjuna temple dating back to the 11th century, built on a star shaped plan.
- a Dargah, 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.
- Famous Banashankari Temple in nearby place.
- Archaelogical museum, that has collection of sculptures from Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.