Preamble: Hampi – Tale of Two Civilizations – Read More
Day 1: Hampi – Land of Boulder – Read More
Day 2: Hampi – UNESCO World Heritage Site – Read More
Day 3: Hampi – Blending Arts, Architecture & Engineering – Read More
Day 4: Hampi – Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary & Sanapur Lake – Read More
Day 5: Beyond Hampi – Vineyards, Aihole & Pattadakal – Read More
Day 6: Badami – Mumbai (via Hubli)
Badami Caves
We were so excited to visit the Badami caves that we arrived very early, but the ticket counter was still closed. The area around the caves is like a scene straight out of a fairy tale, with the serene Agastya Lake and the majestic Bhootnath Temple stealing the show. There is also a museum in the area, and the trek around the place is lovely.
Since we were short on time, we decided to focus on the Badami caves themselves and enjoy the view of the lake and temple from the higher parts of the caves. These caves are like a multi-story condo for ancient rock art enthusiasts, spread out over four floors of sandstone goodness.
Fun fact: Badami used to be the hipster capital of the Chalukya empire, and these caves are carved right out of the warm, almond-colored rocks that give the place its name. Although the four caves are relatively smaller compared to the more popular Ajanta and Ellora complex, they still have their own charm and magic.
The first cave is dedicated to God Shiva, with enormous sculptures of Harihara and Ardhanari-Shiva stealing the spotlight. The place is decked out with intricate carvings of gods, swans, motifs and even a Bull-Elephant hybrid! Plus, there’s the eight-armed Shiva-Natesha, aka the “King of Dancers” – talk about hitting the dance floor in style!
Next up, cave number two is dedicated to God Vishnu, decked out with mind-blowing sculptures of Brahma, Vishnu, Durga, and more, along with narrative friezes depicting scenes from the Mahabharata and other puranas – it’s like a history lesson carved in stone!
Now, onto the pièce de résistance – the third cave dedicated to Maha-Vishnu. The term Maha-Vishnu refers to the absolute truth. This cave is the largest and fanciest of the bunch, boasting sculptures of Vishnu sitting on Ananta (that’s a giant snake), plus the epic Varaha – Vishnu’s boar avatar! And jaw-dropping narrative friezes and carvings – it’s like a blockbuster movie playing out on the walls!
Last but not least, we’ve got the Jaina cave temple, the baby of the bunch but still packing a punch with sculptures of Bahubali and the Thirthankaras of Jainism.
Stepping back and thinking about the sheer talent and dedication of these artisans is enough to blow your mind! To comprehend the layout, excavating with precise depth, height, and width, intricate carvings, and more, required skill and knowledge across various disciplines. That’s some serious skill and know-how right there!
Badami to Hubli (Airport): 110 Kms. / 2 Hrs.
After our cave escapades, we jetted back to the hotel for a well-deserved complimentary brekkie before making a beeline for the Hubli airport. And in true tourist fashion, Ganesh hooked me up with some famous Dharwad pedhas in Hubli city – talk about a sweet ending to an epic adventure!
Big shoutout to Ganesh for being the ultimate travel buddy and sticking by my side through it all. It’s folks like him that restore your faith in humanity, am I right? With a heart full of gratitude, I hopped on my flight back to Mumbai, already dreaming of my next perfect getaway – ’cause this one? Not to be missed, my friends!
January 2024
If you’re planning a trip to Hampi or travel through Karnataka / India, we at HappyHorizon would be thrilled to curate your holiday plans to enhance overall travel experiences. Feel free to reach out to us: connect@happyhorizon.in
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Sukumar Jain, a Mumbai-based finance professional with global experience, is also a passionate traveler, wildlife enthusiast, and an aficionado of Indian culture. Alongside his career, which includes diverse roles in international banking and finance, he's working on a wildlife coffee table book and enjoys sculpture and pottery. His interests span reading non-fiction to engaging in social and global networking.
