CHALUKYAN HERITAGE I n The Cave Temples of Badami, a town in the Bagalkot district in the northern portion of Karnataka, India, there is a complex of Hindu and Jain cave temples. The caves, the oldest of which dates to the sixth century, are significant examples of Indian rock-cut architecture, particularly Badami Chalukya architecture. The early Chalukya dynasty dominated parts of Karnataka from the 6th to the 8th century, and its capital was Vataapinagara, today known as Badami. Badami is located on the western shore of a man-made lake that is encircled by an earthen wall with stone stairs. Forts that were constructed subsequently surround Badami on the north and south. Stella Kramrisch found these caverns in 1924. The Temples In The Badami Caves T he temples in the Badami Caves were constructed between the 6th and 8th centuries by the Chalukya Kings, Kirtivarman and Mangalesha. The cave temples are numbered 1 to 4 according to their creation. However, the exact date of constru