BADAMI, PATTADAKAL AND AIHOLE

When you read books on history and mythology, do the main characters usually come alive in front of your eyes and haunt you in your dreams? If yes, then you cannot leave Southern India without having spent a day at the cave and stone temples of Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole. 1,500 years ago, the Chalukyas experimented and improved the concept of towering Gopuras (pyramid tower over the entrance gate to a temple), to be found later in almost all temples in Southern India. To this day, many temples survive which tell the tale of a magnificent empire that dominated the Deccan Plateau for over 200 years. There are only 2 things to do in Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole; one is to carry your camera and go trigger happy at the hundreds of sandstone temples that dot the landscape. The other is to go gorge on the wonderful Corn Rotis (bread) accompanied with spicy curries. Bliss and pain combined.

THINGS TO DO IN BADAMI

You will have more than a handful of things to do at Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole if you love Indian history and mythology.

  • Explore the temple village of Aihole: Aihole was the learning ground for the artists of the Chalukyas and there are more than 125 temples clustered here. But if you are short on time, make sure you visit the Durga temple enclosure, Ladkhan temple and take a walk around the village.
  • Durga temple
    • Opens at 06:00 hrs (IST) and is open until 17:30 hrs (IST).
    • Tickets for entry are priced at INR 10 for Indians and INR 100 for foreign nationals.
  • Visit the temple complex at Pattadakal: Pattadakal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for the confluence of Southern India’s Dravidian style of architecture and the Northern India’s Nagara style of architecture.
  • The Pattadakal temple
    • Opens at 06:00 hrs (IST) and is open until 18:00 hrs (IST).
    • Tickets for entry are priced at INR 10 for Indians and INR 250 for foreign nationals.
  • Badami is a rock climbing and bouldering destination. What better can you offer to a serious climber other than the challenging sandstone rocks here? Flock here in the winter (around December) to have a memorable climbing experience.
  • Most of the temples in Badami are found around the Agasthya Lake. Visit the 4 rock cut cave temples, take a stroll around Bhuthanatha temple, climb up the hillock to the upper Shiva and lower Shiva temples. You could also hike up to the Sidilphadi caves (takes almost an hour to hike up and return) to see some prehistoric rock paintings.
  • The cave temple
    • Opens at 06:00 hrs (IST) and is open until 18:00 hrs (IST).
    • Tickets for entry are priced at INR 10 for Indians and INR 100 for foreign nationals.

USEFUL INFORMATION

  • The nearest international airport from here is in Bangalore. There are many buses and trains from Bangalore to Hampi/Hubli. Once in Hampi/ Hubli, you will have to hire a taxi or you can also board a train from Hubli to Badami. Buses are not that frequent and hence, should be avoided.
  • Best time to visit these places is from October to February. These places remain very hot and dry during the rest of the year.
  • Where to eat: Have a meal at the local eateries called Khanavalis. The meals are vegetarian and typically consist of corn rotis (bread), an egg plant curry, green salad and some rice. Pattadakal and Aihole lack any eateries. So, plan to eat at Badami or pack your own food.
  • When you are in the Northern part of Karnataka, you should not miss eating in the local eateries called Khanavalis. They typically serve a vegetarian meal, consisting of corn rotis, an egg plant curry, green salad and some rice.
  • Accommodation: Hotels at Badami are the best options available to anyone visiting Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole. Though there are not too many of them, you could consider the ones here:

Want to know more about the Chalukyas of Badami?

Read on in our blog!

Stories from the road!

Things to do in Badami - Visit the cave temples
The cave temples of Badami were carved out of a mountain, 1500 years ago
Things to do in Badami - Visit Ravanphadi at Aihole
Ravanphadi cave temple at Aihole
Things to do in Badami - Visit Meguti Hill in Aihole
Meguti Hill at Aihole
Things to do in Badami - Explore the ruins of the Chalukya Empire
Things to do in Badami - Explore the ruins of the Chalukya Empire
Things to do in Badami - Bhutanatha Temple Complex
Imagine the effort put into building such a structure, way back in the 7th century
Things to do in Badami - the sandstone cave temples
Stunning views await you in Badami
Things to do in Badami - Visit the stone cut temples of Pattadakal
Pattadakal - A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Things to do in Badami - Visit the stone cut temples of Pattadakal
Pattadakal - A UNESCO World Heritage Site