When I got down from the bus at Amingad at 8:30 AM on a
beautiful Friday morning (Dec 28th), it appeared to have just woken
up. Thanks to the bus conductor who directed me to wait for shared transport
that ply frequently from here to Aihole.
Until half an hour before, I was still contemplating on whether
to go to Bagalkot and take a bus to Badami or take this route. Finally, I
decided to visit Aihole first and avoid more traveling for the day. The kind
conductor politely explained me that I could stay in an Inspection bungalow and
on Sunday when I return, I could come to Ilkal and board the same bus at around
10:45PM. I thanked him and got down at Amingad as the KSRTC bus that I had
boarded last night made its way to Bagalkot which is another hour’s drive
ahead.
In no time I was on a jeep shared by villagers going to
Banashankari temple. With only one seat left, I struggled in a back seat as the
tempo trax rolled on a muddy village road. The travel had just begun to get exciting.
I occasionally enjoy traveling alone as I believe that
nothing is more adventurous, exciting and educative than traveling alone. It
would have been more exciting if it were a foreign land but for me that day is
yet to come. My last solo trip was in Dec 2009 to Kolar so this was much
awaited.
At Aihole, I first tried to locate the IP bungalow. But what
I found was an abandoned place. I spoke to villagers and they informed that the
pravasi mandir is now closed and I might not find any hotel to stay here. After
freshening up lightly at the village, I started my onward journey.
A cup of tea and idly got me started. Aihole has several
temples scattered all around the village. But the main complex houses several
important temples, Durga temple, Lad Khan Temple, Galaganatha group temples etc.
According to mythology Aihole is the place where Parashurama
washed his axe after killing the Kshatriyas. Aihole was the first capital of
the early Chalukyas. Here they built over 125 temples in various styles and is
said to be a laboratory of experiments in rock cut architecture. Pulakesi I,
one of the greatest rulers of this dynasty, moved the capital to Badami nearby.
Badami was then known as Vatapi. It is from these temples that the Chalukyas
gained their experience and went on to build the great temples of Pattadakal.
The first phase of temple building in Aihole dates back to the 6th century CE,
the second phase up to the 12th century CE. Some temples were even built as
early as the 5th century CE. All three cities where built at the banks of
Malaprabha river.
Aihole, Pattadkal and Badami seem to be a major picnic spot
for all the school trips. Because in these two day, the place was never free
from thousands and thousands of school kids.
And the village kids, they seemed to be fond of pens. Every now and then
I would find a village kid asking me – “Do you have a cool pen?”
Other places that I visited here were a fort on top of a
small hill with a Meguti Jain temple, Ravana Phadi cave temple, Hucchimalli
Gudi etc.
With that, I decided to bid farewell to Aihole and headed to
Pattadakal (14Kms). A shared auto was ready for that. The auto prices are around Rs 5, 10 or max 15
depending on the distance.
Pattadakal too was crowded with school kids. There are
several temples around here and some have north Indian influence to their
gopura.
At Pattadakal (place for Chalukyas Coronation) there are ten
temples including a Jain sanctuary surrounded by numerous small shrines and
plinths. Four temples were built in Chalukya Dravidian style, four in Nagara
style of Northern India and the Papanatha temple in mixed style.
Apart from the main temples, there is another papanatha
temple which is behind the main temples. While walking to the temple, I saw
these two villagers having their lunch and as soon as they saw me, they asked
if I would like to eat. I nodded. This was happening for the second time to me in
northern Karnataka. Last time when my mother and I stopped at a sunflower field
near Gadag, the villagers had offered us food. There is something very nice
about these villagers of North Karnataka, they always offer food to people.
They gave me lots of tasty food – Bhakri (Roti made of corn), Chapathi, Cur
rice, two sabjis and sweet.

After a nice meal, I visited the temple and bid farewell to
pattadkal too. I was informed by someone that there are three more temples on
the way to Badami – Mahakuta temples, Shiva mandir and Banashankri. So since I
had time, I thought let me cover everything. A bus took me to a cross where I
got down and waited for a shared auto. But there were no auto traveling to
Mahakuta. I was suggested to hire an auto for Rs 50. After a wait of half an
hour, I decided to go. There is a point where you have to take certain decisions
else you would end of wasting time.
Mahakuta temples are ancient too but the lake was filled
with devotees swimming and hanging their clothes on the rails next to the
temple. Such sights depicted untidiness and ignorance disappoints me.
Next, I took another auto to Shivamandir, which is on the
way to Banashankari. Now this is a newly constructed temple and hence not very
special from an architectural perspective.
I quickly got another auto to Banashankari which seemed
extremely crowded. The temple had long queue so I decided to pray from outside.
Walked around and left to Badami on another auto.
I was at Badami at around 4:00 PM. I checked into a newly
built hotel called – Hotel Sanman Delux. The rooms are reasonable at Rs450 per
night. The construction is new and rooms are built away from the main road
hence avoiding noise. I took a nap and then at around 6 went out to visit the
caves.
By the time I reached the caves, it was closing. So instead
I sat by the Agastya lake. It was peaceful as the evening sky changed colors
until it was finally dark.
The lodge owner suggested a local khanawali where I had good
delicious north Karnataka style meals.
Next morning, I was back at the Agastya Lake at around 7:00
AM. The sun rises behind the Bhootnath temples and thus the opposite hill made
of sand stone shined in color of an almond (Badami). I climbed up this hill
where there is a beautiful temple. (Upper Shivalaya) Nobody was around and thus
it made a nice and quiet place to be.
I met a guy from Belg there with whom I spoke in French. He
seemed quite impressed by my knowledge of the language and I learnt some better
pronunciation from his accent. After a small
chat I returned back to the lake. I visited Bhoothnath temple and the caves
behind it which has beautiful Buddha and Vishnu idols.
At the base is an archeological museum that has some rare
sculptors and paintings from the caves. By now it was around 10 and I could
hear groups of students walk into the caves one after another. Their talks from
a distance sounded like bees continuously passing by.
There are four caves in here. One dedicated to Shiva, two to
Vishnu and one to Bahulbali signifying the different religious path the
Chalukya’s took and unity they maintained in them.
The sand stone sculptors on each cave are amazing and
magnificent.
Here I met three French students who were doing their MBA in
Delhi on an exchange program. I had a good chat with them too and caught up on
some pronunciation. It really helps to speak with French nationals to pick up
what you learn.
Evening, I returned to the Agastya Lake and sketched.
Morning when I was sitting near Bhoothanath temple and sketching, the guard
politely told me that I could not draw which I found to be funny because they
let people take photographs.
Evening, sitting by the Agastya Lake for few hours I watched
the sun set and display brilliant light work on the east side, where the temple
is. I sat there by the lake for hours and felt happy. It was peaceful out
there. I watched several tourists with their SLR cameras clicking their best
shots. People from all over the world seemed to be there. It was a fulfilling
experience.
I walked around the village, The tiny roads, cramped houses, pigs
and all dirt looked so untidy in the beginning, but now as I am to leave this
all behind, they all look so part of Badami and I was getting used to them. I
was enjoying the walks around the tiny streets and watching villagers relax in
the courtyard as the sun set.
Next morning, I boarded a bus to Bangalore at 7:30 AM. It is
a Karnataka Sarige bus; hence it would stop at every major town on the way. I
knew it and preferred it. I was okay looking at the villages that passed by and
enjoy the scenery. It is here that I met biscuit man. He and I were the only
two, traveling from Badami to Bangalore. When I did not go for breakfast, he
brought back a pack of biscuit and offered me. He seemed disappointed that I
took my lunch at the dabha while he settled for another pack of biscuit. Then
in the evening after tea, he shared few more biscuits with me. By the time we
reached Bangalore he was all smiling and bid me farewell before he left.
By the time, I reached Bangalore it was almost 9:00 PM and I
was damn tired by the bus journey but happy to have spent two days in a
beautiful place with great history; where people are so very kind, polite and
nice. I will always cherish this solo travel of mine.