I first heard of Aihole in high school when my teacher passionately described a temple from the picture in our text book. It had a different shape, like the back of an elephant and looked absolutely gorgeous and unique. While,…
Pattadakal ~ Masterpieces of Chalukyan Architecture
After crossing the quiet Malaprabha river, the auto rolled by sunflower fields and bullock carts I asked the auto driver if we were indeed headed to Pattadakal or if he lost his way. It appeared that we were far away…
Surreal Bhoothnath Group of Temples in Badami
Everytime, I read about Badami or saw pictures of the place, my gaze stopped at that one picture of a temple next to a lake within deep sandstone ravines. I had also seen it in a movie “Guru” where the…
Around the 1500 Year Old Badami Caves
My last stop for the day was Badami. The caves in Badami were built around 6th century AD by the early Chalukyas. Badami, also known as Vatapi is a beautiful heritage town located in deep ravines in North Karnataka around…
Short Trek in Badami Fort and Shivalaya
The best way to see Badami is to trek up the Northern Hill through the pathway between the rocks and get a view of the caves and the temples on the hill. The southern hill is where the 4 rock…
Lunching under the Temple Tree, Mahakuta
Much before arriving in Badami, I was contemplating where to feast with an authentic North Karnataka meal. North Karnataka has a distinct cuisine compared to its southern counterparts comprising Rotis made from Jowar/Bajra; raw salads, lentil based curries, cooling curds and…
The Living Temples of Mahakuta, Karnataka
I had planned a day long trip in and around Badami and Mahakuta located 12 kms away was my first stop for the day. I had read a couple of blogs on Mahakuta and it seemed to be a quiet…
One Day Trip to Bijapur in Karnataka
I arrived from Bangalore by Gol Gumbaaz Express after a 15 hour journey on a one day trip to Bijapur for sightseeing, On a warm January morning, it was pretty pleasant and I set out for sightseeing after freshening up in the…
History on the Wall, Hoysaleswar Temple, Halebidu
About 2 hours drive away from Bangalore, The Hoysaleswar Temple in Halebidu is nearly 900 years old and has survived many invasions and attempts of destruction and the ravages of time. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated in…
Day Out in Dubare Elephant Camp, India
Recently we made a weekend trip to Dubare Elephant Camp located about 5 hrs away from Bangalore. The idea of dipping in the river giving bath to elephants sounded very exciting though my nephew kept reminding me of the poo…