Badami Cave Temples
* Location: Badami, Karnataka, India
* Date: 5th-6th century CE
* Religion: Hinduism
* Deities: Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi, Saraswati
* Style: Chalukya architecture
The Badami Cave Temples are a group of four Hindu cave temples located in Badami, Karnataka, India. They were built in the 5th-6th century CE by the Chalukya dynasty. The temples are carved out of a sandstone cliff and are decorated with intricate carvings of Hindu deities and scenes from mythology.
The four temples are:
* Chalukya Shiva Temple: This is the largest and most impressive of the Badami Cave Temples. It is dedicated to Shiva and features a large Shiva lingam in the sanctum. The temple is decorated with carvings of Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and other Hindu deities.
* Nandi Mandapa: This is a small temple dedicated to Nandi, the bull of Shiva. It is located in front of the Chalukya Shiva Temple.
* Lakshmi-Narasimha Temple: This temple is dedicated to Vishnu in his Narasimha (half-man, half-lion) form. It is located behind the Chalukya Shiva Temple.
* Vishnu Temple: This temple is dedicated to Vishnu in his Vaikuntha (heavenly) form. It is located to the right of the Chalukya Shiva Temple.
The Badami Cave Temples are a beautiful example of Chalukya architecture and are a popular tourist destination. They are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Images:
[Image of the Chalukya Shiva Temple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Badami_Chalukya_Shiva_Temple.jpg/220px-Badami_Chalukya_Shiva_Temple.jpg)
[Image of the Nandi Mandapa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Badami_Nandi_Mandapam.jpg/220px-Badami_Nandi_Mandapam.jpg)
[Image of the Lakshmi-Narasimha Temple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Badami_Lakshmi_Narasimha_Temple.jpg/220px-Badami_Lakshmi_Narasimha_Temple.jpg)
[Image of the Vishnu Temple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Badami_Vishnu_Temple.jpg/220px-Badami_Vishnu_Temple.jpg)
Architecture
## Architecture of Badami Cave Temples
The Badami Cave Temples are a group of four Hindu cave temples located in Badami, Karnataka, India. They were built in the 6th and 7th centuries CE, during the reign of the Chalukya dynasty. The temples are carved out of a sandstone cliff and are decorated with intricate sculptures.
Key Features
The Badami Cave Temples are notable for their unique architectural features, which include:
* The use of sandstone: The temples are carved out of a single block of sandstone, which gives them a monolithic appearance.
* The use of intricate sculptures: The temples are decorated with intricate sculptures of Hindu deities, animals, and other figures.
* The use of different architectural styles: The temples combine elements of the Nagara, Dravidian, and Indo-Aryan architectural styles.
Layout
The Badami Cave Temples are arranged in a row, with each temple dedicated to a different deity. The temples are as follows:
* Cave 1: Dedicated to Shiva
* Cave 2: Dedicated to Vishnu
* Cave 3: Dedicated to Harihara (a combined form of Shiva and Vishnu)
* Cave 4: Dedicated to Durga
Significance
The Badami Cave Temples are an important example of early Hindu temple architecture. They are also a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
## References
* [Badami Cave Temples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badami_Cave_Temples)
* [UNESCO World Heritage Site](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1001)