Bagalkot tourism

Bagalkot district located in Karnataka, it’s a Deccan plateau, Bagalkot is an immense historical significance it was capital of Chalukyas. The town was known as Bagadige. According to sources the town gifted to Bajantries means Musicians by Ravana, the king of lanka who ruled this area. One of the bijapur kings is said to have presented the town to his daughter as a Bangle money (this is a tradition daughter is given money to buy bangle, sarees, gold ornaments from here parents after the marriage). The place acquired the name Bangdikot, which later became Bagalkot.

The district is divided into 9 taliks namely. Jamkhandi, Mudhol, Bilgi, Bagalkot, Badam, Hungund, Mudhol,IIkal,RAbkavi-Banhatti,Guledgudda .

Today, Bagalkot is divided into two parts-the new Bagalkot or Navanagar and old Bagalkot town.

River system:  River Malaprabha, River Ghataprabha, River Krishna flows through the district.

Climatic conditions:  The district is hot and arid throughout the year and rainfall is scanty. Bagalkot district receives the lowest annual rainfall in Karnataka 52% of total annual rainfall occurs in the month of September and October.

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport is at Belgaum 142 kms.

By Rail:  There are frequent and direct rails to Bijapur, Solapur , Gadag, Dharward, Bellary, Mysore, Bengaluru, Hubli, and  Ahmednagar.  

By Road:  Bagalkot is well connected by road there are frequent buses from Hubli, Dharward, Belgaum, Bangalore, and Sholapur.

Best time to visit:  During the month from November to January.

Places Nearby:  Aihole - 30kms, Badami-32 kms, Pattadakalu-32kms, Bijapur-78kms, Hubli-122kms, Hospet-138kms, Hampi-139 kms, Dandeli-158kms, sholapur-185kms, kolapur-179kms, and Pandrapur- 187 kms .

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Places to see in Bagalkot:

AIHOLE:

Aihole is a temple complex, initially Aihole was known as Ayyavole and Aryapura by the inscriptions. It’s one of the famous tourism spot in Karnataka, it lies between east of pattadakal along the Malaprabaha River, while Badami is to the west.

Aihole has the potential to be included in UNESCO world heritage site. Aihole is about 510 kms from Karnataka.The village has 125 temples divided into 22 groups by archaeological department.

Important temples at Aihole:

• Durga temple complex
• Lad Khan Temple
• Ambigera Gudi complex
• Mallikarjuna temple complex
• Chikki temple
• Rachi temple
• Eniyar temples complex
• Hucchimalli temple complex
• Ravanaphadi rock-cut temple
• Buddhist temple, Meguti temple
• Hucchappayya Math Complex
• Kunti temples complex
• Charantimath complex
• Tryambakesvara group
• Gauri temple
• Jaina temples in the village
• Rock-cut Jain Basadi
• Ramlingesvara Temple Complex
• Galaganatha Temple Complex

Durga temple

Durga temple is known as a former Hindu temple is located in Karnataka state India. The temple was built between 7^th to 8^th centuries by the Dynasty of Chalukyas. The architecture of the temple is predominantly Dravida and Nagara style is also used in certain areas.

The plan of the temple is oblong and apsidal means that the corridor with pillars between the entrance and the heart of the shrine incorporates. The apsidal gives outward through openings between the pillars.

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Lad Khan Temple: 

The Lad Khan Temple is a Shiva temple is one of the oldest Hindu Temples and located in Aihole, the temple was built in 5^th century by the kings of the Chalukyas dynasty, the temple is located towards south of Durga temple. The temple is named after a Muslim prince who turned temple into his residence for a short time. 

Originally the temple was built for lord Vishnu, now the main deity is Shiva Linga and a Nandi. The temple was built in Panchayatana style. One of the special features of the temple is that it starts with a rectangular shape and ends in square shape.  

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Ravanaphadi Rock Cut temple:

Ravana Phandi cave is one of the oldest rock cut temple in Aihole, is located in south east of Hucchimalli Temple. This temple dates back to 6^th century, with a rectangular deity with two Mantapa. Shiva linga is located inner room.

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Galaganatha Temple: 

Galaganatha temple complex is located near Malaprabaha River.  Galaganatha temple main deity is Lord Shiva. In the interior of the temple there is a hall, passage and sanctum.

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Pattadakallu:

Pattadakal is a World heritage site since 1987 from UNESCO, located in Karnataka, on the banks of Malaprabaha River. Is about 10 kms away from Aihole from Badami is about 22 kms it was built by Chalukyas.

Pattadakal group temple complex:

The groups of monuments in pattadakal are the result of the earliest experiments in the vesara style of Hindu temple architecture. The town displays both southern and northern, indo-Asian styles of the temple architecture.

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Group of temple are:

• Virupaksha temple
• Sangameshwara temple
• Ugranarashima temple
• Chandrashekara temple
• Malikarjuna temple
• Galalnatha temple
• Kadasiddhesvara and jambulingeshwara temples
• Pappanatha temple
• Mukutheshwara temple
• Jain temple
• Trailokeshwara temple
• Kashivisvanatha temple

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BADAMI CAVES

Badami was one time capital of Chalukyas, was known as Vatapil. The place is famous for rock cut and some structural temples of the 6^th and 7^th centuries. The foundation of Badami was laid by Pulakeshi (535 – 566 A.D).

Badami caves about a 1 kms this group has 4 cave temples have been carved out of a hill opposite to Badami fort. There are nearly 2000 steps to climb to reach the cave.

Cave 1: it’s told to be oldest in Badami. It is made of red sandstone and has a hall with numerous pillars and a square shaped sanctum hollowed in the control back wall, this is shavite cave.

Cave 2: This cave has Vaishnavite influence with panels of Trivikrama & Bhuvaraha, front is the gaurds or darvakapalakas holding lotus in their hands, on ceilings are carvings of Anantasayana, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva & other AShtadikpalakas.

Cave 3: This cave is best and biggest and it has splendidi gaint figures of Paravasudeva, Bhuvaraha, Harihara, and Narashima. An inscription here records the creation of the shrine by Mangalesha in 578 A.D.

Cave 4: Lying to the east of the cave three is a jaina which lies a little east of the cave 3. The pedestal contains an old kannada inscription of the of the 12^th century A.D. 

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Other places in Badami: Temples of Badami, Badami fort.

Cultural events :

• Banashankari Temple Festival near Badami during January- February.
• Virupaksha temple Car Festival in Pattadakal in March.
• Mallikarjuna Temple Festival in Pattadakal in March-April

Places for stays:

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