Badami Cave temple

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Badami Cave Temple
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Badami Cave Temple

Badami Cave temple, and example of Indian rock cut architecture, is at Badami in the Bagalkot District in the north part of the Karnataka state of India. Badami, the capital of the Chalukya empire that ruled between the 6th and the 12th centuries, lies at the mouth of a ravine with rocky hills on either side. The town is known for its ancient cave temples carved out of the sandstone hills.[1]

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[edit] Temple caves

The Badami Cave Temple is made up of four caves, all hewn out of sandstone on the precipice of a sandstone hill.[2] The temple caves represent different religious sects. Among them, two are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one to Lord Shiva and the fourth is a Jain temple. The first three are devoted to the Vedic faith and the fourth cave is the only Jain temple in Badami.[3]

The cave temples date back to 600 and 700 CE. Their architecture is a blend of North Indian Nagara Style and South Indian Dravidian style. Each cave has a sanctum, a hall, a verandah and pillars. The cave temples also bear exquisite carvings, sculptures and beautiful murals.[4]

Badami Cave Temple No.4, Gomateshvara
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Badami Cave Temple No.4, Gomateshvara

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cave (Badami) Temple. Retrieved on 2006-09-11.
  2. ^ Badami Cave Temple. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
  3. ^ Indian Architecture Rock-cut. Indian Heritage. Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
  4. ^ Badami Cave Temple. Retrieved on 2006-09-09.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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