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{{Short description|Medieval fortress in Karnataka, India}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Badami Fort
| image = HBPA N 1008 Badami NorthFort View.jpg
| caption = A view of the granary storage, Treasury and Upper Shivalaya, from the Northern fort
| type = Fortress
| controlledby = [[Government of Karnataka]]
| condition = Ruins
| built = 543 CE
| coordinates = {{coord|15.923284|N|75.682486|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| builder = [[Pulakeshin I]]
}}

'''Badami Fort''' is a hill [[Fortification|fortress]] in the town of [[Badami]], formerly, known as Vatapi. It is located in [[Bagalkot district]], [[Karnataka]], India. The fort was established in the mid-6th century CE, it was the seat of the early [[Chalukyas of Badami]] and served as the dynastic capital from about 543 CE to 757 CE. The fort complex occupies two rocky hilltops overlooking the town and Agastya Lake. It incorporates extensive fortifications like masonry walls, [[Bastion|bastions]], observation posts and gateways, as well as rock-cut passages and carved rooms. Within the fort are several ruined temples (including two medieval [[Hindu temple|Shivalaya]] shrines), water reservoirs, [[Granary|granaries]], and other structures. Over the centuries, the fort was modified by successive rulers from the [[Vijayanagara Empire]], the [[Bahmani Kingdom|Bahmani]] and [[Sultanate of Bijapur|Adil Shahi sultans]], and the [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]] ruler [[Tipu Sultan]] before falling into ruin. Today the fort is maintained by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) as a protected heritage monument, and an adjacent museum display many of its recovered inscriptions and sculptures.

== History ==
The Badami Fort was founded by [[Pulakeshin I]], the first sovereign ruler of the [[Chalukya dynasty|Badami Chalukya]], who captured the hilltop of Vatapi (Badami) and “fortified it” in 543 CE.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Centre for Cultural Resources and Training |url=https://archive.org/details/fortsofkarnataka00cent/page/n3/mode/1up |title=Forts of Karnataka |publisher=Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) |others=Public Resource |year=2016 |pages=4}}</ref> The inscriptions says that Pulakeshin I who ruled from 540 CE to 567 CE had performed the Vedic [[Ashvamedha]] sacrifice and took possession of the hill of Vatapi. From his reign, Badami (then called Vatapi) served as the Chalukya capital.<ref name="Studento">{{Cite web |title=Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi: Political Influence, Cultural Legacy, and Governance in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.studento.co.in/aih/eastern-vengi-chalukyan-empire-influence-in-andhra-region |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Studento |language=en}}</ref> Later, Pulakeshin's successors consolidated Chalukya control over much of the Deccan. In the early 7th century, King [[Pulakeshin II]] who ruled from 610 CE to 642 CE, continued to develop the Badami fortress. He built twin forts on the northern and southern hills towards the Badami Lake. Pulakeshin II's reign ended in 642 CE, when he was defeated by the [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]] king [[Narasimhavarman I]]. The Pallava commander [[Paranjothi]] captured Vatapi in about 642, ending Chalukya rule.<ref name="Manorama">{{Cite web |title=Badami Fort, a 6th-century architectural marvel in Karnataka |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/outside-kerala/2019/08/24/badami-fort-6th-century-architectural-marvel-karnataka.html |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Badami Fort, a 6th-century architectural marvel in Karnataka |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Badami fort cannon 20210402103231.jpg|thumb|A cannon on the ramparts of the Southern fort]]

After the mid-7th century, Badami and its fort were invaded several times. The Pallavas held Vatapi for about a decade, and [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya raiders]] held the region. By the 14th century the [[Vijayanagara Empire]] controlled much of southern [[Karnataka]], and records indicate that Vijayanagara rulers extended and strengthened fortress walls at key sites like Badami. During this medieval period, the [[Sultanate of Bijapur|Adil Shahi dynasty]] of [[Bijapur]] had control over Badami. In the late 18th century, the fortress fell to [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore Sultan]] [[Tipu Sultan]]. Tipu's forces captured Badami in 1786 during the [[Maratha–Mysore wars]], after which he stationed a garrison at the fort. Shortly thereafter, Badami was ceded to the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] by treaty, and then by 1792 came under [[British Raj|British]] influence following the [[Treaty of Seringapatam]].<ref name="Manorama"/> In the mid-19th century, the British colonial government undertook "dismantling" of the dilapidated fort walls. By 1845 much of the masonry battlements on both hills had been destroyed. Thereafter, the site fell into ruin, and the hilltop defenses were abandoned.<ref name="North">{{Cite web |title=The north fort and temples |url=https://www.asidharwadcircle.in/monument/the-north-fort-and-temples/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA |language=en-US}}</ref>
Vatapi Ganapati icon, a large [[Ganesha]] statue was once stood in a shrine on the southern fort. It was lost during the 7th-century invasions, giving rise to the Carnatic hymn “[[Vatapi Ganapatim|Vatapi Ganapatim Bhaje]]”.<ref name="Manorama"/> By the 19th century the Badami Fort was largely a ruin, though a few temple ruins and fort remains were still visible.

After [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Indian independence]], the remains of Badami Fort were declared a protected archaeological monument. The [[Archaeological Survey of India]] controls the site as part of the ''Group of Monuments, Badami''. In 1979, a repository was set up to safeguard artifacts from Badami, and in 1982 the ASI formally established the Badami Archaeological Museum to house sculptures and inscriptions recovered from the vicinity. The fort itself remains largely unrestored because, ASI conservation work has been limited to stabilization of walls, clearing of overgrowth, and protection of the ruined structures.<ref name="II">{{Cite web |title=Badami Archaeological Museum: Ancient Treasures |url=https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/karnataka/badami/archaeological-museum |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Incredible India |language=en}}</ref>

== Architecture ==
[[File:Badami Northern Fort Entrance.jpg|thumb|One of the entrance ways in the Northern Fort]]

Badami Fort was designed with an early [[Medieval India|Medieval]] [[Hillfort|hill-fort]] architecture integrated with rock-cut elements. The fort complex consists of a lower fort on the plain and two upper forts on the rocky hills north and south of Agastya Lake. The lower fort (at lake level) enclosed the town of Badami, while the two upper forts were held as citadels. According to the ASI records, the northern hill fort (the larger of the two, called Bavanbande-kote or “Fifty-two Rocks Fort”) and the southern fort (Ranamandala-kote, “battlefield fort”) stand about 300 yards apart, each rising roughly 240 feet above the plain. Both hill forts were constructed chiefly of the local red sandstone bedrock, supplemented by heavy masonry; historical accounts note that by the mid-19th century, much of the stone battlements had been removed or collapsed.<ref name="North"/>

[[File:Tipu fort Badami.jpg|thumb|Granary storage structures|left]]

The northern fort is the dominant [[citadel]]. It is built on several massive rock outcrops divided by narrow chasms. From a distance it resembles a continuous stone wall, but on inspection one sees vast sandstone blocks joined by mortar. [[Bastion|Bastions]] of various size are placed at irregular intervals along these cliffs and walls. These circular [[Rampart (fortification)|ramparts]] are equipped with [[Observation post|observation posts]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Begde |first=Prabhakar V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_A5uAAAAMAAJ&q=Badami+Fort |title=Forts and Palaces of India |date=1982 |publisher=Sagar Publications |language=en}}</ref>{{pn|date=May 2025}} A straight path of stone steps climbs from the lower town to the fort gate, threaded between the chasms. The entranceway is narrow and heavily defended.<ref name="North"/> A [[cannon]] is positioned on one of the ramparts, and the fort also contains a few deteriorated pillared structures along with several [[Pavilion|pavilions]] at the top. Additionally, there are two dome-shaped stone structures with an entrance opening, as well as storage rooms for arms and [[ammunition]]. The absence of houses or palaces suggests that the fort likely served solely as the city's first line of defense.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DHNS |year=2011 |title=Badami's ancient citadel |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/badamis-ancient-citadel-2411234 |access-date=2024-11-08 |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Northern fort and temple in Badami.JPG|thumb|Shivalaya in the Northern fort]]

Two [[Hindu temple|Shivalaya]] temples are located in the northern fort, they are called as Lower Shivalaya and Upper Shivalaya. The Upper Shivalaya (which, despite its name, appears to have been originally dedicated to Vishnu) crowns the highest point of the northern hill. It consists of a square sanctum with a circumambulatory passage on three sides and a pillared mandapa (entrance hall) on the east.<ref>{{cite book| author1=M. A. Dhaky|author2=Michael W. Meister| title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture: Volume 1 Part 2 South India Text & Plates|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oClTtAEACAAJ | year=1983 |publisher= University of Pennsylvania Press|isbn= 978-0-8122-7992-4|pages=24–25 }}</ref> The Lower Shivalaya stands on a rocky ledge below the upper temple. Only its towered sanctuary remains intact. The hall and other walls are mostly destroyed. Original features include a shrines’ passageway and evidence of a [[mandapa]] porch to the east. Archaeologists date both these northern temples to the early 7th century CE.<ref>Michell, George (2014). Temple Architecture and Art of the Early Chalukyas. India : Niyogi Books. pp. 32–37 and 62–65. {{ISBN|978-93-83098-33-0}}.</ref> Malegitti Shivalaya is situated on a separate boulder to the west. It is a well-preserved small Shiva temple (6th–7th century) that exemplifies the mature [[Badami Chalukya architecture|Dravida style of the Badami Chalukyas]].<ref>{{cite book| author1=M. A. Dhaky|author2=Michael W. Meister| title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture: Volume 1 Part 2 South India Text & Plates|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oClTtAEACAAJ | year=1983 |publisher= University of Pennsylvania Press|isbn= 978-0-8122-7992-4|pages=37–38 }}</ref>

[[File:Agastya Lake.jpg|thumb|Agastya lake]]

The Chalukyas constructed a network of rock-hewn chambers that included halls, corridors, and various functional spaces such as watchtowers, tunnels, prisons, and bedchambers, many of which were carved directly into the sandstone and supported by granite pillars. The fort's internal layout, marked by narrow stairways, vaulted corridors, and angled passageways, reflects a deliberate defensive strategy. It is designed to slow down the troop's movement, facilitate surveillance, and control the enemy access. In contrast, the southern hill fort, though smaller, was similarly fortified with heavy masonry walls and contained a cluster of shrines known collectively as the Shivalayas. These shrines, dedicated to deities such as [[Vishnu]] and [[Ganesha]].<ref name="Manorama"/> Agastya Lake (also called Agastheeswara Tirtha) is located to the Northside of the fort. This rectangular reservoir was artificially created by the Chalukya kings to supply water to Badami, and it remains in use. It has broad steps (ghats) on the east shore leading into the water, and its rock walls form a giant stepped tank.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Badami The Ancient City of Karnataka |url=https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/karnataka/badami |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Incredible India |language=en}}</ref>

== Restoration ==
Badami Fort is a centrally protected monument under the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI). Today it is administered as part of the Group of Monuments, Badami, which also includes the nearby cave temples and [[Bhutanatha group of temples, Badami]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Protected Monuments of Archaeological Survey of India - NCF |url=https://ncf.nic.in/about-us/protected-monuments |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=ncf.nic.in}}</ref> The ASI has designated a maintained access route up to the fort and provides interpretive signage. In 1979 the ASI first set up an archaeological repository at Badami to safeguard excavated sculptures and inscriptions. This became the Badami Archaeological Museum in 1982 Many of the fort's historic reliefs and finds (fragmentary idols, temple carvings, inscriptions) are now preserved in that museum.<ref name="II"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Forts in Karnataka}}
[[Category:Forts in Karnataka]]

Badami Fort - Revision history

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