Badami was the Chalukyan capital and is where South Indian temple architecture was worked out. The four caves are cut straight into the cliff above Agastya lake; Pattadakal, twenty minutes away, is a UNESCO site where northern and southern temple styles stand side by side in one compound; Aihole has over a hundred temples scattered through a working village. Three sites, one base, and almost nobody there.
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When to go
November to February. March to June on the Deccan reaches 42°C on bare rock with no shade at all — dangerous rather than merely uncomfortable.
Badami, Aihole right now and the next 7 days
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Badami, Aihole, planned for you
A satellite map for every day with each stop pinned in order, photos of the places, timings, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.
- Day 1 Arrive in Badami, Aihole · The four Badami caves
- TravelFrom Hampi: Bus via Ilkal or Gadag₹300
- 11:00The four Badami caves₹40
- Day 2 Bhutanatha temples & Agastya tank
₹49 once, 5 pages. Secure payment by Razorpay, instant download. Already bought? Get your download
Badami, Aihole on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal in 2 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00The four Badami caves3 h · ₹40 each · Cut into the cliff in the sixth century. Cave 3 has the finest carving; go early, before the glare.
- 14:30Lunch break
- 08:00Bhutanatha temples & Agastya tank1 h 30 m · free · Free, on the far side of the water, and where the light is best at sunset.
- 10:00Pattadakal group2 h · ₹40 each · UNESCO-listed. Northern and southern temple styles standing in one compound.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Badami, Aihole
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
From Hampi Cheapest
₹300The natural pairing — two Deccan capitals, four centuries apart.
Getting around once you're there
Local bus
₹40Badami to Pattadakal to Aihole, every hour. This is all you need.
Auto for the circuit
₹1,100All three sites in one day. Fix the price and the stop list first.
Bicycle
₹150Fine around Badami town. The 22 km to Pattadakal is hot work.
On foot
FreeBadami's caves, tank, museum and Bhutanatha temples are all within a kilometre.
Where to stay in Badami, Aihole
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Budget room
₹700/nightSeveral around the main road. Walking in is normal outside festival weeks.
Guesthouse
₹1,200/nightA handful with actual reviews. Book ahead for December.
Homestay
₹900/nightRare and lovely. Ask at the temple office.
What to eat, and what it costs
North Karnataka thali — jowar roti, enne badanekai
₹70Sorghum roti and stuffed brinjal. Completely different from coastal Karnataka and better.
Idli and chai at the bus stand
₹40Breakfast before you climb to the caves.
Hotel meals with sweet
₹120The town's two decent restaurants, both on the main road.
Buttermilk and groundnuts
₹30What you actually need at the top of the cave steps in February.
Places to visit and things to do in Badami, Aihole
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
The four Badami caves
₹40Cut into the cliff in the sixth century. Cave 3 has the finest carving; go early, before the glare.
Bhutanatha temples & Agastya tank
FreeFree, on the far side of the water, and where the light is best at sunset.
Pattadakal group
₹40UNESCO-listed. Northern and southern temple styles standing in one compound.
Aihole temple village
₹40Over a hundred temples across a living village. Durga temple is the famous one; wander past it.
North fort walk
FreeAbove the caves, past the granaries, for the whole valley at once.
Badami bouldering
₹600Red sandstone, world-class, and almost nobody who visits knows it is here.
Day trips and next stops
Hampi
₹300Bus via Ilkal or Gadag
Bijapur (Vijayapura) & Gol Gumbaz
₹250Direct bus
Mahakuta temple complex
₹60Local bus or auto
Banashankari temple
₹20Local bus
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- March to June is 42°C on unshaded sandstone. Not survivable comfortably and genuinely risky for older visitors.
- Monkeys at the Badami caves are aggressive about food and bags. Carry nothing loose.
- The cave steps are steep, uneven and have no railing in places.
Ways to spend less
- The ₹40 ASI ticket covers Badami, and separate ₹40 tickets cover Pattadakal and Aihole. Three world-class sites for ₹120 total.
- Local buses do the whole circuit for ₹40 a leg. An auto for the day costs twenty-five times that.
- Pair it with Hampi by bus — four hours, ₹300, and the two greatest Deccan capitals in one trip.
Say it in Kannada
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
Hindi and English work in most towns and with drivers.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Badami, Aihole in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are Jan–Feb, Nov–Dec. November to February. March to June on the Deccan reaches 42°C on bare rock with no shade at all — dangerous rather than merely uncomfortable.
How do I reach Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal?
Train: Bengaluru → Badami, 12 h, about ₹900 one way. Bus: Bengaluru → Bagalkot, then local, 11 h, about ₹1,400 one way. From Hampi: Bus via Ilkal or Gadag, 4 h, about ₹300 one way. Flight + road: → Hubballi (HBX), then 3 h, 1 h + 3 h, about ₹8,500 one way.
How much does a 2-day trip to Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹1,600 on a shoestring, ₹2,600 mid-range or ₹5,200 in comfort over 2 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is from hampi (Bus via Ilkal or Gadag) at about ₹300 each way.
How many days do you need in Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal?
2 days is right for most people. That covers The four Badami caves, Bhutanatha temples & Agastya tank, Pattadakal group without rushing.
Is Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 5, couples 4, families 3, groups 4. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal?
Almost entirely vegetarian territory. North Karnataka's jowar-roti thali is one of the great regional meals in India and costs ₹70. Jain food is available on request.
Will my phone and cards work in Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal?
Phone signal: Fine throughout. Cards and UPI: Barely. UPI works in the town shops. Cash: Ticket counters, lodges and buses.
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Make the plan yours
Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Gs9here · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Dey.sandip · CC BY 3.0 · source · Photo: Ms Sarah Welch · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: AmlanTheTramp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Rajeshodayanchal · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
