Steeped
in rich history, the picturesque town of Badami is world-famous for its
magnificent cave complex. Set amidst a landscape of rust red sandstone
cliffs, this historic town was the capital of the powerful Early
Chalukya kings, who ruled the Deccan during the 6th-7th centuries AD.
Badami derived its name from the legend of Batapi, the demon who was
devoured by Agastya the sage. After their defeat at the hand of the Rashtrakutas, Chalukya king Pulakesi I (535-66) built the new capital at Badami. In 640 CE, Pallavas, who had been defeated by Pulakesi II, captured and pillaged Badami to avenge their defeat. Badami was also in the possession of the Vijayanagar Kings, the Adil Shahis, the Savanur Nawabs, the Marathas, Hyder Ali and finally the British who annexed it to the Bombay Presidency.
Among the rulers who held sway in Badami, King Kirit Barman I (567-598) took the lead in building some splendid temples with his brother Mangalesa (598-610) following suit. The cave temples of Badami came up due to the efforts of the latter. Travel to Badami for a glimpse of these temples. Among the four cave temples, three are Brahmanical temples while the fourth cave is a Jain temple dating back to the 7th century. The cave temples are an integral part of Badami tourism.
