Badami, Patadakkal and Aihole(Chalukya's Glory of the Past) from 5th Century AD to 8th Century AD

 It was a unprepared and unplanned trip called for among the prevailing Covid Pandemic conditions across the world. Our family and another Friend's family agreed to do a vaccation after contemplating for a long time. But finally we decide to go What may come, ofcourse taking all the necessary precautions.

The trip was planned 4 days before the actual vacation start date of December 26th 2020. We planned in such a way that both the families share the packing of both Breakfast and Lunch so that we need waste much time in searching for Hotels enroute.

We had planned to leave at  5.30 am on 26th but started 10 minutes late. We reached our other families place to find out that they were struggling to start their Innova due to a Battery dryness. Luckily I had a Jump start cable and within 20 minutes we were all excited to start our journey and all the pomp and chest thumping.

We started at 6 .10 am and our first stop was around 8 am for BF. We had packed fuming idlies and ghee dripping pongal along with spicy coconut chutney(courtesy both the families women chefs). We all ate to our throat and neck so that even titlting our head slightly gave the feeling that the food might spill out.

We started our journey around 8.45 am . The road was good till hospet and it all started wavering and shaky once we took the detour to Badami from Hospet. It took 4 hours to cover the 130 km stretch. We finally reached our resort "The Heritage resort". It is small and neat property for a town like Badami and it was the only oure vegetarian restaurant. All our trips themes are based on pure Vegetarianism.

Luckily our family got AC rooms for all 3 days and unfortunately my friend's family ended up in a non AC room for the first day.

We had our packed lunch of rotis, subzis and rice to our heart's content and retired for a quick nap cum relaxation.

Based on our homework and mood among the kids we decided to visit the famous Banashankari amman temple in Badami. It was a traditional and old temple and our visit was coinciding with the 7.30 pm pallakku of the deity. We had a great darshan at the temple. We offered nine yards saree, bangles to the godess.

Next activity was to search for a vegetarian restaurant that serves Dinner. Luckily we foung a Jolada rotti meals center, basically a house where it was famaily run business. Food was average but we could sense the service mindedness of the hotel and we were happy. We reached our resort by 9.30 pm to retire for the day.

Second day's plan was to visit the Badami caves and cover all the places within Badami. We hired a guide for whole day who was very nice and informative that we had covered all the badami caves, agasthiya lake, temples around it, museum, fort,and temples along the fort and the demolished palace of chalukyas on the top of mountain. It was a gruelling rather an energy draining adventure where we were walking from morning 9.45 am till 3.45 pm. We were all exhausted and decide to break for lunch. Once again a different Jolada roti centre(pure vegetarian) but this time the food was more deliecious and hot to make us feel satisfied than the previous day's Dinner. After a quick 30 minute lunch break we once again started to Naga temple and Mahakuta(the family diety of the Chalukyas).

On the way back we had plans to shop ilkal sarees but it was a Sunday and the local market shops had closed. So we returned to our resorts and decide to shop the next day. We had our Dinner at the resort and no regrets. All the three meals  both the families had together were of great fun and talk that both the families cherished each moment of fun and frolic and better understanding.

Third day plan was to cover Patadakkal and Aihole which were 15 and 25kms from Badami. We hired a guide to get to know the details with explanation. We spent almost 2 hours in Pattadakkal once again the place brimming with Chalukya's great architecure and grandeur.Even today the remains stands testimony to the way they lived their life. 

We had our lunch after completing Aihole sight seeing at Aihole once again  freshly cooked jolada rotti and fuming rice, saaru and curd. We also bought the famous Amingad's Karadant. It was a first time experience for us since we had never tasted nor bought one in the past.

We reached our resort had a quick refreshment for an hour and left for Badami shopping.

Day 4 was day of less excitement since both the families were not ready to forgo the excitement and fun that we all had over he past 3 days. But everything has to come to an end. We had long drive awaiting us with a detour to Bommaghatta , a vist to anchaneya temple along with lunch at the Brahmins house. We reached bangalore , our home by 8.45 pm .

Badami, Aihole and Pattadakkal are must to be seen places like Hampi and proved to be one of a great vacation from a learning persoective as well as from a fun perspective.

God willing we had a safe and Wonderful trip.