Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is famous for its rock cut structural temples. It is located in a ravine at the foot of a rugged, red sandstone outcrop that surrounds Agastya lake. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. Badami has been selected as one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY - Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of Government of India. Landmarks in Badami include cave temples, gateways, forts, inscriptions and sculptures. A Buddhist cave in a natural setting that can be entered only by crawling on knees., The Bhootnath temple, a small shrine, facing the lake, constructed in 5th century., Upper Bhootnath Temple located opposite the Badami Caves., Badami Fort situated on top of the hill., Many Shivalayas including the Malegatti Shivalaya with 7th century origins., The Dattatreya temple., The Mallikarjuna temple dating back to the 11th century, built on a star shaped plan., a Dargah, a dome of an Islamic place of worship on the south fort side., Vista points on top of the North Fort for the view of the ancient town below., Temple of Banashankari, a Kuladevata (family deity) for many families, is located near Badami., Archaeological museum, that has collection of sculptures from Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal. Badami is famous for its sandstone cave temples. Cave temple 1 may be the 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. There are paintings of amorous couples on the ceiling. Other features include Shiva and his wife Parvathi with a coiled serpent and the 18 armed lord Nataraja in 81 dancing poses. Cave temple 2 is dedicated to Vishnu (as Trivikrama) with one foot mastering the Earth and the other the sky. Vishnu is also portrayed as Varaha and Krishna. Cave temple 3 dates back to 578 AD. The façade of the cave is nearly 70 feet wide, with carvings of ganas on the plinth. It contains examples of Deccan art, illustrating the culture and clothing of the 6th century. There are high relief carvings of Vishnu with a serpent, Vishnu as Narasimha, Varaha, Harihara and Trivikrama. Cave temple 4 relates to 6th century Jainism. There is a carving of the Tirthankara Parshvanatha (with a serpent at his feet). Mahavira is depicted in a sitting posture. Tourism Badami Cave-I the first shrine has at its entrance Shiva’s door keepers; to the right inside is the figure of Shiva of about five feet height and in the tandava dancing pose with 18 arms. Beside him are Nandi, dancing Ganapati, etc. There is a neatly carved perfect figure of Mahishasuramardini and several other rock –cut dwarf images of kubja ganas, Nagaraja or snake king, Vidhyadhara couple, etc., are on the ceiling.