Badami - a quaint town in Karnataka

Overview

Earlier known as Vatapi is a historic town (taluk) situated in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. Once served as the capital of Chalukya Kingdom (between 6th century AD to 8th century AD), Badami is now a quaint town and draws discerning tourists, religious mind people, historians, art lovers and architect lovers. Badami is the place where the Chalukyas started a new type of architecture called Dravidian architecture ((a blend of older South Indian temple construction and the Nagara style of North India) that later became a source of inspiration for architectural styles of the region.

Besides Chalukyas, Badami was ruled by many dynasties whose rulers built several forts, temples and impressive monuments. Badami abounds with major attractions like magnificent cave temples, ruined fortresses, beautiful carvings and much more. A trip to Badami virtually takes you back to old era and offers a chance to see the unique architectural and sculptural styles. The wonderful location of Badami in a tranquil valley at the base of a rugged, red sedimentary outcrop surrounding Agastya Lake, and excellent shopping opportunities of local handicrafts and sandalwood items altogether makes a holiday in Badami a memorable experience.

Badami Cave Temples

Fast Facts

Main Languages: Kannada along with English and Hindi.

When to Go: The climate of Badami is characterised by four seasons, namely winter (November to January), spring (January to March), summer (April to June) and monsoon (July to October). During the summer season the mercury level remains over 40 degree Celsius most of the time, while the winter and spring seasons are quite comfortable. November to February is the best time to visit Badami.

Local Transport: Rickshaws and tongas are the modes of local transport in Badami.

Currency: Indian Rupee (INR) 1 USD is approximately 48 INR

Voltage: 230V / 50Hz

Time Zone: Indian Standard Time (UTC +5:30)

Location: Bagalkot district in Karnataka

Nearest Metropolis: Bangalore – 450 km away

Eating

Don’t expect about luxurious restaurants at the small town of Badami. The eateries and food stalls in and around Badami serve traditional South Indian dishes at cheap rates. You may also find North Indian and other Indian cuisines at some eating joints.

Shopping

Although there are no huge shopping malls or shopping centres in Badami, but the town offers delightful shopping experience to visitors. The town of Badami is dotted with many small shops that mainly deal in handicraft items and rugs. Explore the shops and see a beautiful collection of attractive objects made from sandalwood and rosewood. Take your pick from a variety of items that you can be a souvenir for your near and dear ones. Jewelleries, handlooms, sandalwood sculptures, paintings, inlay work, wood carvings, metal lamps, perfumes, sandalwood oil and incense sticks are some of the must buy in Badami. Most of the shops in Badami offer a little bit of haggling, so don’t hesitate to ask your desired price.

Sightseeing

Because of its historic connection, the tourist attractions in Badami mainly revolve around ruined fortresses, massive gateways, amazing cave temples and beautiful carvings. Begin your sightseeing expedition in Badami from the massive cave temples that can be reached by taking a climb of about 2000 steps. Actually carved out a hill, the three caves represent the Brahmanical faith, while the fourth cave represents the Jain faith. Lord Shiva as Nataraja with 18 arms is the presiding deity of the first cave. The second cave shows Lord Vishnu as presiding deity, who is portrayed as a dwarf form of Trivikrama. Lord Vishnu is the holy deity of third cave and shown in various forms. The fourth cave is dedicated to Jain Thirthankaras.

Further visit the 18th century Tipu’s Fort, situated atop the same hill in which the cave temples had been carved. While heading towards Tipu’s Fort, you can see some exquisite carvings. Next pay a visit to noted temples of Badamai, namely Bhootnath Temple and Banashankri Temple. A brilliant masterpiece of South Indian temple architecture, Bhootanath Temple actually comprises two temples both dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temples are situated against magnificent backdrop along the lake and have impressive sculptures and Jain figures.

Just 5 km away from Badami is Banashankari Temple that deserves a visit. Believed to be constructed in the 17th century by the Chalukyas of Kalyan, Banashankari Temple houses the black stone statue of Goddess Parvathi seated on a lion. Every year during the Hindu months of Pusha - Magha (January – February) the car festival is organised at Banashankari Temple, which draws large number of devotes and common people.

Set at the foothills of the northern hill, Badami Museum is another must visit place which was established in 1979. Badami Museum has four galleries and encompasses a fine collection of pre-historical stone equipments, sculptures and other interesting items dating between 600 AD and 1600 AD. You can also see impressive exhibits of Lord Shiva and Vishnu inside the museum. Badami Museum is open all weekdays (except Fridays) from 10 am to 5 pm.

Activities

Leisurely walk is the most popular among the visitors to Badami. In fact, you have to cover the popular destinations of the town on foot. The red sandstone cliffs of Badami offer excellent opportunities for leisure activities like climbing and bouldering. Badami has more than 150 bolted routes and multiple routes that are ideal for free climbing.

Events

The people in Badami and nearby areas celebrate a number of festivals and events every year. Hindu festivals like Dusshera and Deepawali (October / November) are celebrated with great pomp and gaiety. Some specific local (temple) festivals are also celebrated in Badami. Banashankari Temple is the venue of annual temple festival (January – February) that showcases massive festivities including huge processions. Vinayak Chaturthi (September) is also an important festival of Badami. Almost all the festivals and events in Badami provide a fine glimpse of the old traditions and customs. Plan a trip to Badami during noted festivals and events, and become a part of the traditional festivities.

Nightlife

Badami is a small temple town and offers nothing special to do in the night. If you wish, you can ask your hotelier to arrange a bonfire within the hotel premises.

Excursions

After exploring the tourist hotspots of Badami take excursions to cover nearby attractions. Pay a visit to the town of Aihole, situated in the western side of Badami. Renowned as the birthplace of Hindu stone architecture, Aihole is home to around 125 temples that are noted for their unique construction styles. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pattadakal is about 30 km away from Badami and thronged by visitors in large numbers. Set on the left bank of Malaprabha River, Pattadakal is home to attractions like Virupaksha Temple and Banashankari Temple. Hubli (100 km), Bijapur (135 km), Amboli (200 km) and Goa (210 km) are other famous tourist destinations close to Badami. You can combine your Badami tour with state capital Bangalore (460 km) or the city of Mangalore (450 km).

Getting There

Air: Belgaum Airport, approximately 150 km away is the nearest airport from Badami, but currently the airport is not served by scheduled flights. Dabolim Airport in Goa (200 km approx) is the nearest major airport, which is served by many flights from various parts of the country and few international destinations as well. From Dabolim Airport hire a private vehicle (taxi / car) to reach Badami. Bangalore Airport (460 km) is another option, from where you can reach Badami by taking a taxi or bus.

Rail: The nearest major railhead is located in Hubli, about 100 km away from Badami. Hubli Railway Station is connected by express trains to many important cities of the country. There is also a small railway station close to Badami, which is just 5 km away but has very few trains.

Road: KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) and private operators offer bus service to and from Badami at frequent intervals. Tourist buses also ply daily from many cities like Bangalore and Mangalore to Badami.

Driving directions: From Bangalore – Start from Brigade Road and proceed towards NH 7 (Shri Chowdaiah Road). Continue till you reach CV Raman Road (NH 4) and take a right on NH 13 at Chitradurga. Further take a left on SH 30 to reach Badami (460 km, 12 hours approx).

Recommended for:

Top 5 Must See

Cave Temples: Pay a visit to amazing cave temples that are carved out from a hill.

Bhootnath Temple: Actually a group of two temples, Bhootnath Temple is a fine specimen of South Indian Temple architecture.

Banashankari Temple: Built in the 17th century, Banashankari Temple has mythological as well as architectural significances.

Tipu’s Fort: Situated at the top of a hill that fort provides a breathtaking view of the surroundings.

Open Air Museum: Established in 1979, the museum has a vast collection of ancient sculptures and equipments.

Art lovers, architect lovers, historians and temple lovers.

Surat - The 'Diamond City' of India

From Mumbai – 263 km

From Ahmedabad – 255 km

Overview – 

Popularly called the ‘Silk City’ or ‘Diamond City’, Surat is renowned world over for its diamond and textile industries. A port city, situated on the left bank of the Tapi River, Surat is also renowned for its rich culture, scrumptious cuisine and numerous places of tourist interest. Chintamani Jain Temple, dating back to 15th century is a must visit place in the city. The temple is known for its delicate wood carvings and paintings and it houses some of the rarest paintings of Jain monk Acharya Hemchandra, King Kumarapal and Solanki King. Other interesting places in the city are Old Fort, Sardar Patel Museum, Dutch Garden, Dutch Cemetery and Choppati. 

Surat, Gujarat

Don’t Miss – 

Savour the traditional local cuisine, which is quite spicy and not typically sweet like Gujarati food usually is. From the city, take excursions to health resorts at Dumas (16 km) and Hajira (28 km), where you can relax and unwind. For a wild experience, visit the Vansada National Park in Valsad district to spot tigers, leopards and other animals. 

Getting There –

Train – Surat railway station is a major railhead of the Western Railways on the Mumbai – Delhi route. The railway station is served by several express and superfast trains from Mumbai and important cities of Gujarat.  

Road – From Mumbai, drive on the NH 8 that takes you to NH 6 (Surat – Kolkata Highway), a 16 km long connector highway to Surat. The city is also linked by the Golden Quadrilateral Highway. The road journey from Mumbai to Surat takes around five hours. 

Incredible India! Madikeri - A Beautiful Hill Station of Karnataka

Fast Facts About Madikeri

Located in the State of : Karnataka

District: Kodagu

Famous As / For : Hill Station, Fort, Trekking

Languages Spoken: Kannada, Kodava, Byari

Best Time to Visit Madikeri: October to April

Average Temperatures at Madikeri: Summer 23 to 31°C, Winter 16 to 23°C

Altitude of Madikeri: 1525 metre

STD code of Madikeri: 08272

Earlier known as Mercara, Madikeri is the picturesque capital of Coorg and draws leisure travelers and adventure seekers from far and near. Located in the hills of Karnataka, the hill station is present in the Kodagu region in the state. Tourists flock to Madikeri during the peak season in order to revel in the beauty of the place. In fact, it seems the time has stopped at Madikeri for feasting the eyes of its visitors. Dubbed as the Scotland of India, this hilly town has a lot to offer to the tourist. Misty hills, lush forest, acres and acres of tea and coffee plantation, orange groves, undulating streets and breathtaking views altogether make Madikeri an unforgettable holiday destination.

Dotted with a cluster of red-roofed dwellings and a bustling bazaar, the town situated at an elevation of 1525 m, has a charming old-world feel. Madikeri town is full of trekking options with some of the most picturesque trek routes in Karnataka a perfect gateway for a leisure holiday. Raja's seat perched atop a hill is where the kings of yore spent many pleasant evenings watching the golden sunset. Madikeri Fort is one of the major attractions of Madikeri.

Also referred to as the land of the Kodavas, Madikeri is inhabited by Kodavas wearing distinctive dresses, the men wearing wraparound robes called the Kupya and the women with a distinctive style of wearing the sari. Kodavas have many distinctive practices such as carrying ceremonial knives, and martial war dances. The culture also includes communal gatherings where drink, dance and special meat dishes seasoned with Garcinia are central attractions. The locals in Madikeri celebrate many festivals like Kailpodhu, Kaveri Sankramana, Puttari and Dasara. Karaga Festival also starts during the time of Navarathri. Madikeri Dasara procession is a very beautiful procession of mantapas.

Modes of Transport in Madikeri

Traveling around the town of Madikeri is quite hard, though. This is because not many modes of transport are available within the hill station of Madikeri . Some of the places of interest in this region can be easily covered by walk. While traveling in Madikeri, however, you may need to visit the nearby regions as well, like the Abbey Falls.

Taxis - In order to cover tourists destinations without any problems, you can opt for taxis in the hill station of Madikeri. There are no major taxis or car rental agencies available in the hill station of Madikeri, however you can rent a car or call a taxi from one of the nearby tourist locations. All the places of interest around the region are almost twenty five (25 km) to thirty kilometers away (30 km). Opting for a taxi can cost you around Rs 1000 to 1200, but the ride will be comfortable.

Accommodation in Madikeri

There are hotels, resorts, and homestays in Madikeri that offers comfortable stay to guests. Some of the popular accommodation options in Madikeri include Coorg Hallimane, Veera Bhoomi Tourist Village, Misty Heights Hotel Madikeri , Madikeri Medium Range Hotels , Hotel Coorg International Madikeri, Madikeri Resorts, Misty Wood Resort, Parumpara Holiday Resort and Madikeri Homestays

Karnataka - A verstatile Indian State calling all

Karnataka, the eighth largest state of India is one of the four major states of South India. Set over the Deccan Plateau, Karnataka is surrounded by the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa. The history of Karnataka can be traced back as early as the stone age. It is amazing to believe that people actually have been inhabiting this place even some 3000 years before. However, the golden era started with Mauryans followed by Chalukyans, Hoysalas, Bahmani and Adil Shahi kings. The state as such bear impressions of the popular Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim dynasties that have once ruled the place.

Karnataka is a very famous state and you will find more than a single reason to this fact including rich history, unique culture and tradition. One of the greatest contributions that we owe to Karnataka has been the emergence and development of world famous ‘Carnatic Music’. This devotional and philosophic music has inspired millions and is one important variable that characterizes the popular culture. The state has given birth and fostered some prominent musicians in the Indian sub continent.

Lal  Bagh in Bangalore, Karnataka

The vast panorama of Karnataka withholds many faces. Hills, beaches, waterfalls, woodlands, monuments, religious places are some of popular elements you will find at Karnataka. Apart from that, the state also constitutes some of the developed cities of India, namely Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore.

Tourist Destinations (Cities) of Karnataka

Some of the popular tourist destinations in Karnataka include Bangalore, Mysore, Kodagu or Coorg, Madikeri, Mangalore, Hassan, Hampi, Udupi ,Vijayanagar and Bijapur. The state holds a place of its own in the multi cultural lands of India. The state is a great place to be at. The cities are par distinction and equipped to meet out the challenges of a metropolitan technologically savvy society. No wonder Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka, is called the Silicon Valley of India. The state has places in abundance - places that gives a break from the scheduled hectic life. Hills, beaches, waterfalls, rivers portray the beauty of Karnataka.

Mysore Palace in Mysore

Major Temples in Karnataka

Popular temples of Karnataka display great works of art and reveal the splendour of some of the great dynasties in power, in the past. Apart from that there are several pilgrimage places located within this state that see a lot of pilgrims who come to pay homage every year. Some famous temples in Karnataka are the ISKCON Temple, Hoysaleshvara Temple, Kedareshvara Temple, Indragiri Hill, Chandragiri Hill, Krishna Temple Udupi and Virupaksha Temple.

Hoysaleshvara Temple in Karnataka

Adventure / Adventure Sports in Karnataka

A charming land, Karnataka is surfeited with magnificent mountains, mighty rivers, ravishing rivulets, lovely becks, shimmering rivulets, dense primieval forests and host of several other natural resources. All these natural jewels together make Karnataka a popular destination for adventure sports like trekking, parasailing, paragliding, hang-gliding, wildlife safari, rock climbing, mountaineering, river rafting, angling, surfing, kayaking, scuba diving and caneoing.

Wildlife / National Parks / Wildlife Sanctuaries in Karnataka

Karnataka is dotted with wildlife reserves and forest tracts. Evergreen forests of the Western Ghats and the tracts lying to the south of Vindhyas hold a plethora of living forms. A number of wildlife sanctuaries and parks lie abutted by the state boundaries. The reserves support hundreds of species, of plants and animals. Some major wildlife reserves include Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.

Elephants Grazing inside Bandipur National Park

How to Reach Karnataka

Air: A total of five airports render their services in the region. These airports are located at Bangalore, Hubli, Mysore, Belgaum and Mangalore. Domestic and international flights operate from these airports from major cities of India and many international destinations.

Rail: Karnataka state is well connected with vast network of rail lines that lay spread all over. Railway networks covers about 3,090 kms in Karnataka. Major rail heads in the state are Bangalore, Hubli-Dharwad, Mangalore, Hassan, Gulbarga and Belgaum.

Road: Road network further connects different cities and towns of Karnataka. The state sees a total of six national highways providing the access to the state. The interiors of Karnataka are served by state highways and rural roads. Buses, mini buses, rickshaws and taxis are some popular means of transport.