Being in the town of Badami,you will find three major attractions,1-Four Cave temples(For me Petra of India) 2- Ruins of Badami Fort 3- Bhoothnath group of temples. It is a beautiful place with some amazing Artwork and Architecture. Here I'am going to give a description only about Bhoothnath Group of temples as this fine architecture enthralled me the most. On the bank of the lake(with Green Water) Bhoothnath temple is an example of astonishing Architecture, Mesmerizing Artwork and intense Devotion.It is a cluster of sandstone shrines. The Temple group has a Architectural forms from different Periods according to the archaeologists,on one hand some of the structures are built in 7th century and some of them were built in 11th century as well. Heavy columns, Small chambers,Ceilings decorated with lotus rosette,Carved dome, A large piece of rock carved with beautiful pictures depicting ancient tales of Hindu Gods and Goddesses...Amazing it is. So if you love Architecture or Archaeology or History or Cave Art or Stone carving or Photography or Nothing but Serenity, it is a place you should visit.Anyways, Some of the local people told me that one must visit the exquisite site in the days of Monsoon as during the rain their occurs waterfalls from the hills backside of the temple which increases the water level of the lake and temple group uses to submerge in it. Waterfalls, Temples submerged in a lake, Green Water and Herons around it, believe me friends I'm waiting for the Monsoons eagerly this year as I don't want to miss what I have imagined about this place.
Group of monuments and temples at Pattadakal, a Chalukyan era site which still stow grandeur past of medieval India and its culture, an archaeological and UNESCO world heritage site of 7th and 8th century,being at the bank of Malaprabha river and at a distance of 23km from the the town of Badami, Pattadakal,a town in the Indian state of karnataka, gives you a glimpse of vast architecture and religious art of Chalukya Era. Pattadakal which means "place of coronation" is a harmonious blend of the archaeological forms of Northern and Southern India of that period with a fusion of Religious arts of Hindu and Jain culture. That day I have visited Badami first then Aihole and my journey ended at Pattadakal. Towns with temples,carved caves and monuments. You keep walking through these structures with curiosity and amazement and it only increases as you passes from one monument to another. Beautiful carvings and exquisite designs with accurate measurements and all this belongs to the time when there wasn't any modern day technology and everything used to done manually, an epitome of patience,dedication and assiduity. Places like these aren't merely places but the storytellers, carrying stories in their every gallery,monument and stone. Place where you close your eyes and a motion picture starts floating in front of your eyes and you find yourself in different time period with different characters. A span of more than 1000 years, many wars and invasions resulting in destruction and plunders,different monarchies, heterarchies, democracies and everyone has left their mark, lots of glories and many dark wounds as well but it is still standing tall, against all the odds, telling its own stories with all the pride and honor. 7th 8th century temples and structures, hundred of statues and architectures of a grandeur past are still standing with pride,narrating the stories of those great Architects,Rulers,Artists and Intellectuals,who gave us beautiful culture and vast Knowledge.
