The Bhootnatha Temple Badami or Bhoothnatha Group of Temples Badami is one of the most serene and tranquil temples that I visited on my trip to Badami, Pattadakal Temple Complex and Aihole Temple Complex. Located across the lake Agastya from the Bhootnath Caves, the temples look serene from far and near. I got the first glimpse of the temples while exploring the Badami Cave Temples, on a day sightseeing in Badami. And then visited here later in the day. Let me take you through the beautiful temple here in this post.
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History of the Bhootnatha Group of Temples Badami
The Bhootnatha group of Temples Badami were developed between 7th to 12th century. Actually, there are two set of temples that comprises this group of temples –
- East Bhootnatha Group of Temples or Bhootnatha Main Group of Temples – located on the bank of the Agastya Lake, these temples are the older ones. Constructed between 7th-8th century. This one has the Dravidian style of architecture
- Mallikarjuna Group of Temples – located further inland, these temples were constructed later, around 10-12th century. This one has the Nagara Style of temple architecture.
The Main Bhootnatha Temple
The main Bhootnathaa Temple has an outer chamber or mandapa supported by heavy pillars with a Nandi in the center, facing the inner sanctum. The inner sanctum has a Shivlinga. The temple is dedicated to God “Bhootnath” – a form of Shiva. Some of the carvings were destroyed during the plundering and attacks of the Delhi Sultunet. And the temple architecture is also simpler compared to those of Pattadakal and Aihole.
PS: Exploring the cradle of Indian Temple Architecture in Aihole
The Pattadakal Group of Monuments in Badami
Unfortunately, there are only a few decorative elements left in this temple. Although the structure of the temple more or less remains intact, most of the decorative elements are destroyed. On either side of the main Shrine door are the human forms of holy rivers Goddess Ganga and Yamuna. While Ganga rides a makara, Yamuna rides a tortoise.
When we arrived here, we visited the main temple as well as the structures around it. Before sitting in the main temple to rest for a while. And soak in the tranquil environment here.
Boulder carvings in Bhoothnatha Group of Temples
From here, we proceeded to the back side. There are a set of temples towards this side. As well as a cave like boulder with carvings and idols of Gods. You can see small idols of Ganesha, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and even the Dashavtars of Vishnu carved over here. The area around the boulder now has a fine lawn. Where one can rest if required.
On the banks of Lake Agastya and Vishnu Temple
In front of the cave / rock carvings, there are a set of steps that lead to the bank of Lake Agastya. One can go and sit here. From here, one gets really up close and nice views of the sandstone hills around the area. Also, one can see as far as the Upper Shivalya and Lower Shivalya on the left and the Badami Cave Temples on the right. The Agastya Lake itself was formed in around the 5th Century. And the lake is believed to have healing properties. So, people take dips in Lake Agastya to get rid of ailments that they are suffering from.
On the left hand side on the platform where the stairs end there is also a small Vishnu Temple. It is kind of hidden behind a big boulder across which lies the main Bhoothnatha Temple. Only after going down all the flight of stairs you can get a good glimpse of this Temple.
We sat here for quiet some time and then walked back to the main road. And then took an autorickshaw from there back to our hotel.
Timings of Bhoothnatha Group of Temples Badami
The Bhoothnatha Group of Temples is open from 6:00am in the morning till 7:00pm in the evening. I personally feel, it is best to visit here either early in the morning or in the evening around sunset time. We visited on a cloudy day. So, we were able to visit here in the afternoon time , around 3:00pm. However, even if it is sunny outside, I am sure once you enter inside the temple, it is going to be pleasant. As the sandstone structure helps to bring in a cooling effect inside the temple premises.
Is there an entry fee to the Bhootnatha Group of Temples Badami?
There is no entry fee to the Bhoothnatha Group of Temples. Entry is free for everyone. ASI (Archeological Survey of India) maintains the site . And it is very neat and clean. Hope everyone visiting the place keeps it as such. And doesn’t litter in any way.
How to reach the Bhootnatha Group of Temples Badami?
One can walk to the Bhootnatha Group of Temples Badami from the main road of the town. It is around a 10 minutes walk. Or one can as well take a local auto. Driving to the site is also possible but the initial part of the streets are really narrow. After visiting the Badami Cave Temples, we went back to our hotel. Had lunch. And then from the main road, took a local autorickshaw to the Bhootnath Group of Temples. The autorickshaw dropped us near the Badami Museum.
From here, we walked along the banks of the Agastya Lake. Soaking in the views of the temple sitting right across the lake. And the beautiful sandstone hills standing all around the temple, as if, protecting it from all sides like massive invincible boundary walls.
One can also get a view of the Badami Caves from across the lake, while on the way to the Bhootnath Group of Temples Badami.
Where to stay in Badami?
Over the past few years, several stay options have emerged in Badami. We stayed at the Heritage Resort Badami. It was a small resort, with an in house pure veg restaurant. Another hotel, Grand Clarks Inn Badami, is located right on the main road, walkable to the Badami Caves and other attractions of the town. But, The Heritage Resort Badami has a better parking space. If you will like to, you can browse the list of hotels in Badami here.
How to plan a trip to Badami?
There are several ways to plan a trip to Badami. If you are a slow traveler, want a relaxing trip or provide enough time to the sites, plan a 4 days trip to Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole like we did. Otherwise, you can choose one of the following options –
- Visit Badami on a day trip from Hampi
- Visit Badami from Hampi – another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka – and stay overnight in Badami
- Take a day tour of Badami from Goa
- Visit Badami from Hubli
- Halt in Badami on your way to Goa
- Take an overnight train from Bangalore to Badami
General information on visiting Badami
- Badami is located in the Bagalkot district of North Karnataka, in the Malprabha river valley.
- Winter is the idle time to visit Badami as the temperature is pleasant during the day and mildly cold in the night. However, I visited Badami at the onset of monsoons. And found it a perfect time to explore around the region, as the skies were mostly overcast with clouds. And cold winds were blowing, making it really pleasant. You can avoid the months of April and May when it is extremely hot in this region.
- One can reach Badami from Bangalore using either an overnight train , a bus or a taxi. Or, self drive. It is around an 8 hours drive from Bangalore to Badami. We self drove from Bangalore to Badami and really liked the scenic journey. Badami is also close to Goa and Hubli. So, often one can do a tour of Badami from these places as well.
- Along with the Cave Temples, Bhoothnatha Group of Temples, Badami Fort and several other historical places in Badami, you can also explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pattadakal and Aihole, the cradle of temple architecture in India – both located within 20 minutes drive from Badami Town.
- Badami is a small town and everything here is cheap. Inspite of being very important part of Karnataka’s Heritage Tour Circuit, there is not much commercialisation here. And you will not see too much crowd around, which makes it all the more enjoyable to visit the sites.
- Wear comfortable cotton cloths, a hat and good walking shoes as there will be lots of walking involved all through the day around the sites.
- Carry an umbrella if visiting in the rainy season.
- We carried only very basic minimum items with us when visiting the Badami Cave Temples and the Bhootnatha Group of Temples because there are lots of monkeys in this region.
- You can club a visit to the Bhoothnatha Group of Temples Badami with other attractions to see in Badami. Here’s my complete list of places to see in Badami in a day. Do check it out before you leave.
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