Badami Caves

This group of 4 cave temples have been carved out of the hill opposite Badami fort. Cave 1 is Shaivite cave with an 18-armed dancing Shiva, a two-handed Ganesha, Mahishasura Mardini, Ardha Nareeshwara & Shankarnarayana. The ceiling is adorned by a serpent motif & other carved figures. Cave 2 is Vaishnavite cave with panels of Trivikrama & Bhuvaraha. On the ceilings are carvings of Anantasayana, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva &other Ashtadikpalas. Cave 3 is the largest and has carvings pertaining to both Shaivite & Vaishnavite themes. Panels of Trivikrama, Narasimha, Shankaranarayana, Bhuvaraha, Anantasayana & Harihara are engraved in a vigorous style. Cave 4 is Jain with an image of Mahavira adorning the sanctum. Other carvings here are of Padmavathi & other Thirthankaras.