Badami Cave Temples
Vatapi Cave Temples · Badami Rock-Cut Temples
Early Chalukya, 6th–7th century CE·Hindu and Jain under Early Chalukya dynasty·🇮🇳 Karnataka, India
Dineshkannambadi ( talk ) 03:35, 13 August 2008 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 3.0
About
About Badami Cave Temples
Four cliff-carved cave temples in red sandstone escarpment at Badami (ancient Vatapi), capital of Early Chalukyas (540–757 CE): Cave 1 Shaiva with 1.5 m Nataraja, Cave 2 Vishnu, Cave 3 largest Vishnu (578 CE inscription), Cave 4 Jain. Exemplify Chalukya rock-cut style bridging to Pattadakal structural temples.
Why it mattersEarliest Chalukya rock-cut temples; crucial link between Ajanta/Ellora and South Indian structural temple traditions
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Sequence of Chalukya rock-cut evolution before structural temples
- 02Pigment traces suggest original painting
Theories
- 01Chalukya experimentation phase leading to Vesara architecture
- 02Royal atelier with guild specialization per cave
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 578 CE (Cave 3 inscription of Mangalesha) and c.540–600 for others
- Period
- Early Chalukya, 6th–7th century CE
- Culture
- Hindu and Jain under Early Chalukya dynasty
- Purpose
- Royal temple-caves legitimizing Chalukya rule, religious merit
- Excavation
- Excavated
540 CE
Chalukya capital established at Vatapi
578 CE
Cave 3 dedication inscription
642 CE
Pallava sack of Vatapi
On the ground
Structures & features
15.9183° N · 75.6842° E · 586 m · 3 mapped features
Cave 1 - Nataraja
cave templeShaiva cave with 18-armed dancing Shiva
15.9185° N · 75.6840° ECave 3 - Vishnu Trivikrama
cave templeLargest cave with Vishnu as Trivikrama, inscription dated 578 CE
15.9183° N · 75.6844° EBhutanatha Lake Temple Group
structural templeStructural temples below caves on Agastya Lake
15.9208° N · 75.6878° E
Gallery