Badami, Pattadakal and Buapur

This area of the Deccan Plateau is rich in history producing some of India’s greatest dynasties – including the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas, Pallayas and Chalukyas. Badami was ruled by the Chalukyas and it was they who cut temples into the caves. Nearby is Aihole (which has 125 temples) and Pattadakal where the temples are so well maintained that they attained World Heritage Site status. Bijapur offers the Deccan’s finest Muslim monuments as for three hundred years it was the capital of a succession of powerful Muslim rulers. The attractive Gol Gumbaz with its dome and whispering gallery is the most well-known. Note: The accommodation choices in this area are extremely limited and there is currently nothing above ‘standard’ quality.