Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal tour: 5th-12th century temples

Three centuries of temple architecture in one day, from cave carvings to royal monuments

A full-day tour from Hospet to three Karnataka towns (Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal) built around Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples dating from the 5th to 12th century A.D. under the Chalukya dynasty. The tour includes a 3-hour drive to Badami to explore four interconnected cave temples carved into sandstone hills and the 7th century Banashankari temple; a 1-hour drive to Aihole to climb Meguti Hill and walk the 6th century Ravana Phadi cave temple among over 120 stone and cave temples spanning four centuries; and a half-hour drive to Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage site where nine Hindu temples showcase the fusion of North Indian and South Indian architectural styles, anchored by the 8th century Temple of Virupaksha. Hotel pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking guide, and two bottles of mineral water per person are included. Lunch is at your own expense.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal temples

• Pick up from hotel in Hospet
• Drive 3 hours to Badami
• Brunch at local restaurant
• Tour Badami Cave Temples
• Visit Banashankari temple
• Drive 1 hour to Aihole
• Climb Meguti Hill Jain temple
• Visit Ravana Phadi cave temple
• Explore other Aihole temples
• Drive 30 minutes to Pattadakal
• Tour Pattadakal temples
• Drive back to Hospet
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

You start from your hotel in Hospet with a 3-hour drive across 80 miles to Badami, where the tour's first stop is the four interconnected cave temples carved into sandstone hills that ring Lake Agastya. The caves span different faiths (the first temple is dedicated to Shiva, the second and third to Vishnu, and the fourth to Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism) all dating to the 6th century A.D. After exploring the caves and climbing the internal flights of stairs that link them, you visit the nearby Banashankari temple, built in the 7th century.

From Badami, a 1-hour drive takes you to Aihole, a site of over 120 stone and cave temples built between the 4th and 12th centuries. Around 100 are Hindu temples. The rest are Jain or Buddhist. You climb Meguti Hill to see an ancient Jain temple, then explore the 6th century rock-cut Ravana Phadi temple, where you can still see remnants of painted ceilings and carved sculptures. The guide will show you several other temples in the area before the half-hour drive to Pattadakal.

Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds nine Hindu temples that represent the peak of Chalukyan architecture: a blend of North Indian Nagara and South Indian Dravidian styles. The most prominent is the Temple of Virupaksha, built in the 8th century A.D. by Queen Lokamahadevi to mark her husband's victory over the Pallava Kings. The temple's intricate carvings, inscriptions and sculptures of Hindu Gods are the architectural highlight of the day. A Jain sanctuary is also present on the site. After the tour ends, you're driven back to your hotel in Hospet.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport for the full day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Hospet.
• English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• two bottles of mineral water per person.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 29 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by SITA World Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're spending a full day in Hospet and want to see three distinct temple complexes (cave temples, structural temples, and carved sites) spanning the 5th to 12th centuries rather than focusing on a single location. The itinerary involves moderate climbing and walking across multiple grounds.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What are the four Badami cave temples dedicated to?

The Badami cave temples are dedicated to different faiths: the first to the Hindu God Shiva, the second and third to Vishnu, and the fourth to Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. All four are interconnected by flights of stairs carved into the sandstone hills surrounding Lake Agastya.

How many temples are in Aihole and what centuries do they span?

Aihole has over 120 stone and cave temples ranging from the 4th to the 12th century A.D., with around 100 dedicated to Hindu Gods and the rest to Jain or Buddhist faiths. You visit the Meguti Hill Jain temple and the 6th century Ravana Phadi cave temple, which still shows painted ceiling remnants and sculptures.

What makes the Temple of Virupaksha at Pattadakal significant?

The Temple of Virupaksha was built in the 8th century A.D. by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband's victory over the Pallava Kings. It represents the peak of Chalukyan architecture, blending North Indian Nagara and South Indian Dravidian styles, and features intricate carvings, inscriptions and sculptures of Hindu Gods.

What's included in the tour and what do I need to arrange separately?

The tour includes private air-conditioned transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, and two bottles of mineral water per person. Lunch is at your own expense at a local restaurant in Badami, and gratuities are not included.

What should I wear to visit the temples?

A dress code is required to enter places of worship: no shorts or sleeveless tops are allowed, and knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as you'll be climbing stairs in the cave temples and exploring multiple sites on foot.

How long is the full tour and what's the driving time?

The full tour is 12 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off. The drive from Hospet to Badami takes 3 hours, Badami to Aihole takes about 1 hour, and Aihole to Pattadakal takes around half an hour, with time at each site for exploration with your guide.