Upper Shivalaya, North Fort, and Watch Towers in Badami
Upper Shivalaya, North Fort, and Watch Towers in Badami
The image shows structures on top of northern red sandstone hills of Badami in Karnataka, India. These hills are north of Agastya Lake, and opposite of similar sandstone hills, which are on the south side of this lake. The south-side hills are home to four magnificent rock-cut cave temples. Check these pages: Badami Cave – 1, Badami Cave – 2, Badami Cave – 3, Badami Cave – 4
At the top is an ancient temple, commonly known as Upper Shivalaya, built by the Early Chalukyas in the 6th century CE. Surrounding Upper Shivalaya is a fort rebuilt by Tippu Sultan of Mysore in the 18th century. The two structures below Upper Shivalaya are the watchtowers.
According to the information on the ASI (Archeological Survey of India) plaque, Upper Shivalaya was originally a Vishnu temple, which became a Shivalaya (a temple for Shiva) in the later years. It has sculptural reliefs related to Vishnu and Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. The idol in the garbhagriha (inner sanctum) is missing.
Related Images
– Lower Shivalaya – Located just below Upper Shivalaya and to the east of Malegitti Shivalaya
– Yellamma Temple – Located on the west side of the Agastya Lake
– Bhuthanatha Temple – Located on the eastern shore of the Agastya Lake
– Agatsya Lake – A view from the Badami Caves
Related Pages
– Badami
– Badami Cave – 1, Badami Cave – 2, Badami Cave – 3, Badami Cave – 4
– Durga Temple at Aihole
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