Badami (2)
Northern plateau and market
After a lunch and a nap, John drove with Pradeepa down to the museum
on the north shore of the lake. Just next to it is the starting point
for the path up to the northern plateau, with its temples and ruined
fort. Initial fears as to the steepness of the climb were dissipated
when John saw cows coming back down. If they could make it, he was sure
going to do so too.
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| Beautiful bougainvillea and the
gate to the upward path |
The path leads into
sheer-rock-walled gorges |
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| The cows made it |
Steps following the contour of
the rock |
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| View over
the lake |
Fortifications |
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| Temple and
cliffs |
Upper Shivalaya Temple |
On the way, there are wondeful views up and down and over. The
cliffs and gorges are quite impressive. And the fortifications and
other constructions give a hint of the splendor that this all once was.
At the top, perspective is inverted: Instead of looking up towards the
top of the cliffs, you stand on a plateau and realize that in fact the
lake is at the bottom of a huge hole.
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| Fortifications |
Entrance way |
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| Nearing the top |
On the plateau - background
cliffs are on far side of lake |
The views from the top are marvellous. You have to be careful, though, not to take a step without looking, as you may step into a 15-meter deep gorge! And of course monkies are not lacking.
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| Upper Shivalaya Temple |
Looking down toward the Malagatti
Shivalaya Temple |
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| For grain storage? |
View of cave temples in south
cliff |
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| Monkies on
the rocks |
The northern
plauteau, with granaries, fort and Upper Shivalaya Temple |
The next morning, we visited Pattadakal
and Mahakuta. That afternoon,
we went back
into Badami to stroll around the evening market, which a marvel of
color and animation.
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| Marigold garlands |
Beautiful construction from yellow marigolds |
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| A tailor and his family smiling for Siv |
Beans and brinjal (eggplant) |
People selling all sorts of beans, vegetables (not so many fruits), cloth, sandals -- you name it.
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| Colorful beans |
John met some friendly people |
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| Those are chili peppers! |
Tailor with turbaned customer |
As we wandered out toward the main street, twilight was coming
on. But John managed to find a sweets seller where he bought some
delicious laddoos and other sweets. Yum!
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| Balancing act |
Tourist in market street |
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| Main Street, India - Badami, in this case |
A sweets seller |
So Badami was a real hit for us!
Back to Badami 1, the cave temples and the ghat.
On to Goa or back to India 2009.