Badami

A Visit to the Past
Badami, a proverbial secret country, is tucked away in a gorge between two hills. Badami today is what remains of a once glorious past, that of the Chalukyan Empire. The town thus exhibits some of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture in its temples, in the rock-cut caves. Badami, thus, would be the paradise of the historian and the art lover. The cave temples are no less than wonders in stone; ordinary and unassuming from outside, the dark interiors are replete with long rows of carved figures, imposing pillars and much more.  Step into one of them and you will find yourself transported to another age, and another world altogether.
The name Badami originated from the old name of the city - Vatapi. Badami was the capital of the Chalukyan Empire between the 4th and 8th centuries.  Once upon a time, Badami was the hub of all business and activity, where gold and precious stones were sold in busy bazaars. Following the Chalukyas, many others like the Rashtrakutas, the Pallavas and the Marathas invaded and occupied Badami, as evidenced by the architecture and sculptures.  Many of the temples thus exhibit touches of the South Indian temple architecture and the North Indian Nagara styles.  With the invasion of the Muslim armies, the area fell to ruins.