Badami, an Architectural Extravaganza

About 147 Kms Northeast on the NH13 from Hampi is Badami, once the capital of the mighty Chalukya Empire, between 6th and 8th century. Badami is a typical small town in the dusty plains of central Karnataka. Much of the action is in the one main-road, to either side of the bus-stop. At the edge of the town are tall sandstone cliffs flanked by a huge lake, where the well-known rock cut temples are located, whereas nearby Pattadakal is one of the early examples of temples created by finely carved stone.
Aihole, an hour’s drive from Badami served as a school of architecture in those years, where you see dozens of small ancient temples spread all around the village. The temples of Aihole are a mix of several architectural styles from across India. Historians have famously called Aihole as the cradle of Indian architecture.

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