Badami – Where Gods Abide in Caves

The emerald-green Agasthya Lake sparkles in the evening light, surrounded by a glowing sandstone outcrop that was once the capital of the Chalukya rulers. This town, which once answered to the name of Vatapi, was built back in the 6th century. Today we know it as Badami, and it is named after the ruddy colour of the rocky cliffs here.

Join LAKSHMI SHARATH on a visual tour of the spectacular rock-cut caves of Badami in Karnataka's Bagalkot district.

1 - 9 of 9

1 - 8 of 9

6 of 9 photos

The steps cut into the rocks take me to the grandest of all the four caves – also dedicated to Vishnu. An inscription here dates back to the 6th century. I feel humbled and dwarfed on beholding the bold strokes of the sculptor, who has carved such imposing images of deities – Vishnu seated on a coiled serpent, Harihara (a representation combining Shiva and Vishnu) and Narasimha (the fourth avatar of Vishnu – half-human and half-lion).
The steps cut into the rocks take me to the grandest of all the four caves – also dedicated to Vishnu. An inscription here dates back to the 6th century. I feel humbled and dwarfed on beholding the bold strokes of the sculptor, who has carved such imposing images of deities – Vishnu seated on a coiled serpent, Harihara (a representation combining Shiva and Vishnu) and Narasimha (the fourth avatar of Vishnu – half-human and half-lion).

Loading...