Hampi Archives - Ghoomophiro

The Wonders that are Badami Caves

India has always been the center of curiosity for the history enthusiasts as being called one of the most historical countries across the world comes with its perks. The Badami Caves located in Karnataka are among the best historical marvels in that part of the country. Bagalkot district houses them and it’s not very hard to reach. The train will take you to the Bagalkot district and the bus routes are easier from the capital city of Bangalore. The time between October and February is the best time to visit these caves.

The place is known as Badami nowadays where these caves are located. Out of the total four Badami caves, there are three Brahminical caves and one Jain cave. The three Brahminical caves are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu while the last one belongs to the Jain monks.

Cave 1

The oldest of all the four caves, this one was built in about 578 AD. Made of red sandstone, the cave is an exceptional showcase of the Indian architecture of those times. The tourists are left spell blinded as they see the intricate carvings and the paintings on the walls of the cave. The roof of the caves is laced with the paintings and the carvings of the Hindu lord Shiva and his wife Parvati.

Cave 2

The second cave dedicated to Lord Vishnu will give you a good glimpse of how he used to get worshiped in the country in different shapes and forms. In one of the many artistic wonders, lord Vishnu is seen covering the earth with one foot and the sky with another. The boar incarnation of the lord, known as Varaha is also there. But the painting that takes the cake is the one where the lord is seen riding Garuda.

Cave 3

This, for many reasons, is the best caves among all, the reason being it containing some great paintings of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. This beautiful cave is about 70 feet wide and also contains some wall paintings and inscriptions about the way people lived back in those times. Many avatars of Shiva and Vishnu have been portrayed here making it a sure shot delight for the history and mythology enthusiasts.

Cave 4

The last one dedicated to the Jainism followers was created about 100 years after the first three caves were built. The main centers of attraction in the cave are a statue of Mahavira and Lord Parshavnath. The paintings and carvings also belong to Padmavati.

Other places to visit

During the visit to Badami, one can also visit the Agastya Lake which faces all the caves of Badami surrounded by the red sandstone temples. The place is also said to possess healing powers.

The religiously inclined can pay homage to four interconnected cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

At Badami, you can look out for rock climbing, cave exploring, and trekking. You can even enjoy picnic lunches with your family. The red sandstone cliff system is perfect for rock climbing as its surface is not very rough. Trek lovers hunting for trek adventure can also visit the Kalhatti falls for trekking and picnics with their family.

Badami caves are an important reminder of how rich our historical culture is, and always have been. While raking in more tourists that any other place in the state of Karnataka, these beautiful structures are masterpieces of architecture and human efforts.

Why Hampi should be in your travel list while in Bangalore

Located in the northern part of Karnataka, Hampi is a temple town accoladed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is placed within the relics of the Vijayanagar city of the Vijayanagar Empire. Being on the way to Goa, it attracts a lot of visitors and is a perfect blend of natural as well as cultural beauty. To make the most of your visit to the place, we have made a list of unconventional things that can be done in Hampi.

Visit the lesser known ruins

The Virupaksha Temple and the Vittala Temple are the sites which everybody knows about but if you really want to have an authentic flavour of the 15^th Century town, you will have to go beyond what is easily accessible. For that, you can tread in the middle of the ruins and explore the unconventional sites too.

Take a coracle ride

A coracle is a small, round and light- weighted boat which looks like a big basket and can accommodate 6 to 8 persons at a time. Boating in it is a fun way to check out the Tungabhadra River.

Rock Climbing

The rocky terrain of Hampi, mostly comprising granite crags and boulders of varied sizes of 4 m to 60 m in height offers easy, moderate and difficult options for rock climbers to surmount. The topography is suitable for amateurs as well as experts in rock climbing and several organisations arrange camps in Hampi for the same.

Cycling

The roads of Hampi are made for cycling and you can find cycles, scooters, and mopeds to rent in all corners of the town. Moreover, cycling is an excellent option to explore the ruins of the place easily.

Trekking

The ruins of the town have a rocky terrain as well as several small and large rocky hills that are ultimate for hiking. Kampa Bhupa’s Path here is one of the amazing trekking routes that do not include steep climbing. The Matanga Hill trek, the Malyavanta Hill trek, the Anjaneya Hill trek and the Hemakuta Hill trek are some of the other popular trekking routes. While trekking you will witness the spectacular views of Hampi’s natural beauty.

Cherish some waterfalls

During monsoons, a few waterfalls come into action in Hampi. Waterfalls and rivulets start flowing everywhere in the rainy season and are a sight to behold. If not able to get hold of waterfalls, enjoy the best sunset around.

Go across the river to the Hippie Island

This is reachable only when it does not shower so if you are lucky enough to not have rains, do visit the Hippie Island. The island is more peaceful comparatively and has cheaper accommodation options.

So next time when you visit Hampi, apart from going to the Hampi Bazaar, Virupaksha Temple, Monolithic Bull, Hazara Rama Temple, Achyut Raya temple, Vithala Temple, indulge yourself in the above-mentioned things also!