DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0427
BADAMI CAVES. 405
The sculptures in this cave being so simple, and the arrangement.
so little developed, we may perhaps be justified in placing this cave
even before those at Badami.
Cave-Temples at Badami.
Badami is a moderate-sized town in the Kaladgi Collectorate,
about 23 miles south-east from the district town of Kaladgi and
nearly three from the Malaprabha river. It is the chief town of a
taluka of the same name. A little to the south of it is Bana^amkari;
among the hills to the east is Mahakuta ; eight miles to the east and
on the river is Pattadkal; and another eight miles down the river is
Aihole — all noted for their ancient temples and inscriptions.1
As pointed out by Mr. Fleet, there seems little doubt but that
Badami was the ancient Yatapipuri, or Vatapmagari, of the Cha-
lukya kings of the Kanarese country, and made the capital by
Pulikesi I. early in the sixth century of the Christian era. In the
seventh century it is mentioned by the name also of Badavi; Pattad-
kal is the old Pattadakisuvolal, the capital of the Sindavariisa chiefs
about 1162 a.d. ; and Aihole, another early capital, is the Ayyavole
mentioned in a grant of the reign of the Chalukyaking Yikramaditya
the Great, 1093 a.d.
Badami is situated at the outlet between two rocky hills on its
Qorth and south-east sides, a dam to the east of the town between the
'ases of the hills forming a large tank for the supply of water to
tne town. AH along the north side of this small lake are old
temples, most of them built of very large blocks of hard stone, while
'm ™ till behind them is a ruined fort that must have been a place
M great strength in early times. The passages through it are cut
■> great depths in the rock, and are narrow, long, and winding, so
at> if the gate were stormed, the besieged had their enemies far
ow them, and from above they could easily hurl destruction on
e heads of all that could enter the pathways before any of them
reach a place of vantage. In and about this rock-fort are
*»>» temples also. But it is in the scarp of the hill to the south-
bat the cave-temples are excavated. They are four in number :
' °^est, on the west end of the hill, is a Sivalaya or Saiva cave ;
•4 nf'if.f''VoL m- P- 3°5 ; vol. v. pp. 19, 51. 67, 68, 71, 174, 344 ; vol. vi. pp. 12,
' °> l»7, 139, 142.
The sculptures in this cave being so simple, and the arrangement.
so little developed, we may perhaps be justified in placing this cave
even before those at Badami.
Cave-Temples at Badami.
Badami is a moderate-sized town in the Kaladgi Collectorate,
about 23 miles south-east from the district town of Kaladgi and
nearly three from the Malaprabha river. It is the chief town of a
taluka of the same name. A little to the south of it is Bana^amkari;
among the hills to the east is Mahakuta ; eight miles to the east and
on the river is Pattadkal; and another eight miles down the river is
Aihole — all noted for their ancient temples and inscriptions.1
As pointed out by Mr. Fleet, there seems little doubt but that
Badami was the ancient Yatapipuri, or Vatapmagari, of the Cha-
lukya kings of the Kanarese country, and made the capital by
Pulikesi I. early in the sixth century of the Christian era. In the
seventh century it is mentioned by the name also of Badavi; Pattad-
kal is the old Pattadakisuvolal, the capital of the Sindavariisa chiefs
about 1162 a.d. ; and Aihole, another early capital, is the Ayyavole
mentioned in a grant of the reign of the Chalukyaking Yikramaditya
the Great, 1093 a.d.
Badami is situated at the outlet between two rocky hills on its
Qorth and south-east sides, a dam to the east of the town between the
'ases of the hills forming a large tank for the supply of water to
tne town. AH along the north side of this small lake are old
temples, most of them built of very large blocks of hard stone, while
'm ™ till behind them is a ruined fort that must have been a place
M great strength in early times. The passages through it are cut
■> great depths in the rock, and are narrow, long, and winding, so
at> if the gate were stormed, the besieged had their enemies far
ow them, and from above they could easily hurl destruction on
e heads of all that could enter the pathways before any of them
reach a place of vantage. In and about this rock-fort are
*»>» temples also. But it is in the scarp of the hill to the south-
bat the cave-temples are excavated. They are four in number :
' °^est, on the west end of the hill, is a Sivalaya or Saiva cave ;
•4 nf'if.f''VoL m- P- 3°5 ; vol. v. pp. 19, 51. 67, 68, 71, 174, 344 ; vol. vi. pp. 12,
' °> l»7, 139, 142.