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.

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Larger-than-life sculptures of Vishnu greet you in the second cave. A busload of schoolchildren takes over the space. They are overwhelmed by a massive sculpture of Trivikrama, a form of Vishnu and the giant form of Vamana (the fifth of the ten avatars of Vishnu, Vamana was a dwarf Brahmin who tamed the megalomania and pride of Mahabali, the later-contrite demon king). You can also see a huge carving of Varaha (the third avatar of Vishnu as a ... more
Larger-than-life sculptures of Vishnu greet you in the second cave. A busload of schoolchildren takes over the space. They are overwhelmed by a massive sculpture of Trivikrama, a form of Vishnu and the giant form of Vamana (the fifth of the ten avatars of Vishnu, Vamana was a dwarf Brahmin who tamed the megalomania and pride of Mahabali, the later-contrite demon king). You can also see a huge carving of Varaha (the third avatar of Vishnu as a boar that liberated Mother Earth from the tyranny of the asura Hiranyaksha). The ceilings are dotted with sculptures as well. I stand here, waiting for the other tourists to leave so that I can take in the moment. less

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