Full Day Private Tour of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal from Hampi

5.0 (10 reviews) 11 h 30 min Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

10 reviews

5.0

Pattadakal — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Our destination will be the legendary cave temples built by the Chalukyas at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal. Dating back to the 6th century, these are considered one of the best remnants of temple art in India. The Chalukyas patronized development of diverse cultural forms especially cave art and temple architecture. The architects developed 16 types of free-standing temples and 4 types of rock-cut shrines. The monuments of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal transformed the Malaprabha river valley into a cradle of Temple Architecture.

This tour is organized by Five Senses Tours, a private limited company recognized by the Ministry of Tourism and a member of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). The tour has been designed to support local livelihoods by way of employment of local guides, and supporting local businesses in line with the mission of the company to ensure travel dollars stay where they are spent.

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At a glance

Duration: 11 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: 5 Senses Walks

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–12 years) · Adults (13–80 years)

What is included

Included

Included: GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle
Included: Entrance charges
Included: Guide

Itinerary

Badami

2 hours

Located in a ravine at the foot of red sandstone hills Badami looks mesmerizing surrounded by the Agastya lake. The cave temples are made of made of red sandstone and feature a hall with numerous pillars and a square shaped sanctum. Paintings cover the ceiling. A must look out is the pose of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvathi with a coiled serpent. An 18 armed lord Nataraja in 81 dancing poses is the other item of interest. Badami is also famous for its inscriptions. An important inscription to look out for would be the first Sanskrit inscription in old Kannada script, on a hillock dating back to 543 CE.
Aihole

1 h 30 min Admission included

Aihole has are more than a hundred stone temples from 5th century onwards to see. Legend says it is at Aihole that Lord Parashurama washed his axe after killing all the Kshatrayas.
Pattadakal

1 h 30 min

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an epitome of the Visara style of architecture. The grandest of all temples here is that of Virupaksha, built in 8th Century by Queen Lokamahadevi in 745 to commemorate victory over the Pallavas of Kanchi.