{"id":1657,"date":"2018-12-03T17:22:32","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T11:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flippargo.com\/blog\/?p=1657"},"modified":"2018-12-11T15:44:47","modified_gmt":"2018-12-11T10:14:47","slug":"explore-karnatakas-heritage-and-culture-caves-in-badami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/flippargo.com\/blog\/karnataka-tourism\/explore-karnatakas-heritage-and-culture-caves-in-badami\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore Karnataka’s Heritage and Culture – Caves in Badami"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exploring Karnataka’s heritage and culture is incomplete without the cave temples in Badami. Set in a gorge, framed by hills and a stepped tank, the town of Badami originally went by the name of Vatapi. It gets this name from a mythical form-changing asura who is known to have dwelled here. <\/span><\/p>\n

The name was later changed to Badami – owing to the almond coloured rocks that you can see around you. Almond, in Sanskrit, is known as \u2018Vadaam\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

The history of Badami and the various dynasties:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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Prior to being made a capital by the Early Chalukyas, Badami was believed to be the home to the Satavahana and Kadamba dynasties. However, evidence for this theory is still pretty sparse. The inscriptions on the pillars and temples here make references to Early Chalukyan Kings like Pulakeshin I and II, Mangalesha, Vikramaditya II etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Download FlippAR Go App<\/a>\u00a0and explore Badami in Augmented Reality<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Badami is known to have flourished under Pulakeshin I, its founding ruler. To establish the supremacy of his rule, Pulakeshin I is said to have successfully undertaken the Ashwamedha Yagna. This yagna was undertaken by kings who wanted to establish their power – a horse, accompanied by the king\u2019s warriors was allowed to run free for a period of one year. <\/span><\/p>\n

If, after one year, the horse returned to the capital unchallenged, it was proof of the king\u2019s power and the area covered by the horse would be considered the King\u2019s domain.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pulakeshin I had two sons – Kirtivarman I and Mangalesha. Upon his death, his older son Kirtivarman ascended the throne. These two brothers were also behind the construction of Badami\u2019s famous rock-cut temples. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kirtivarman passed away circa 592 AD, leaving his son Pulakeshin II as the rightful heir. However, being a minor, Pulakeshin II could not ascend the throne. The responsibility of the empire fell on Mangalesha.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mangalesha continued to rule as regent. Legend has it, he wished to see his own son become King of the empire. This led to a conflict with Pulakeshin II. Mangalesha was defeated and killed by his nephew, Pulakeshin II in circa 610 AD. <\/span><\/p>\n

Then commenced the rule of a king who would go on to become the greatest of the Chalukyas. Pulakeshin II expanded the empire and continued ruling for close to 34 years. He was killed when the Pallavas invaded Badami. Badami was under their rule for almost 15 years. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some interesting facts about the Early Chalukyas<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n