Top 10 Things to do in Badami

Badami (Vatapi) is a small town in Bagalkot district of Karnataka, situated 585 meters above sea level, tucked between two sandstone outcrops. Founded on the banks of a man-made lake, Badami is famous for its beautiful red sandstone rock-cut temples. One of the preferred family holiday destinations of the region, this historical town is suitable for a weekend trip. The region enjoys a semiarid climate, making the winter and spring as the most suitable time to visit the place.
Badami is an important heritage site and the part of the Indian Government’s flagship project HRIDAY - Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana. One of the best ways to explore the town is on foot, although, other options of transportation are available for the tourists. The region is an important religious center, where locals celebrated Banashankari Festival during winter. Banashankari was the tutelary deity of the Badami Chalukya kings and is still revered in the region.

Badami is an important adventure sports destination of Karnataka, well-known for its rock-climbing cliffs. The red sandstone cliff surrounding the Agasthya Tirtha Water Reservoir, with its natural horizontal cracks, is ideal for the sport. Tourists can try free climbing (rock climbing with ropes, belays, and pegs) and bouldering. In bouldering, climbers climb small rock formations or artificial wall referred to as boulders. There are more than 150 bouldering and free climbing routes within the region.

Badami, was the capital of the Chalukya Dynasty during 540 A.D. Over time, the city came under the Pallavas, Rastrakutas, and subsequent dynasties. By the end of the 19th century, the British took over the region and added it to the Bombay Presidency.
During their reigns, the Chalukyas, and the Rastrakutas constructed different temples and monuments in the honor of the local and Vedic deities. These temples were constructed by carving the caves and are considered as an excellent example of Indian architecture. These temples were some of the earlier examples of Hindu temples in the Deccan region. Several other caves were discovered in the area belonging to the Jainism and Buddhism, which were constructed in the later period of the 5th century.