Chandragiri Fort

Chandragiri is famous for the historical fort, built in the 11th century, and the Raja Mahal (Palace) within it. Chandragiri was under the rule of Yadava Naidus for about three centuries and came into control of Vijayanagar rulers in 1367.
It came into prominence during Saluva Narasimha Rayalu,he got the title of Mahamandaleswara and his illustrious Prime minister Chitti Gangarayalu(Ganganamatyudu) was known for his vision, wisdom and rectitude and was revered as a Bhisma Pitamaha in his times, he was the person who identified intellectualism of Timmarasu and taken him into the service of Chandragiri and later promoted to the Prime minister of Vijayanagar Empire.Gangaraya discendents served the Vijayanagara empire as trusted Generals and Governors for several generations,Chandragiri was the 4th capital of Vijayanagar Empire, Rayas shifted their capital to here when Golconda sultans attacked Penukonda. In 1646 the fort was annexed to the Golkonda territory and subsequently came under Mysore rule. It went into oblivion from 1792 onward. The fort encircles eight ruined temples of saivite and vaishnavite pantheons, Raja Mahal, Rani Mahal and other ruined structures..

The Raja Mahal Palace (shown in picture) is now an archeological museum. The palace is three storeyed, is an example of Indo-Sarcen architecture of Vijayanagar period. The crowning towers represents the Hindu architectural elements. The palace was constructed using stone, brick, lime mortar and devoid of timber.

Koneti Naidu, who was made the king of Penukonda by the Vijayanagar Raya was the great-grandson of Vasarasi Kanaka Naidu of Chandragiri Royal Family they belonged to the Balija caste of Andhra Pradesh.

How to Reach:

Chandragiri fort is about 12 Km from Tirupati, from where frequent buses are available.

There is a sound and light show every evening, from 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM in Telugu and from 7:30 PM to 8:15 PM in English. The charge is Rs. 30 for adults and Rs. 20 for children.

Kishkindha n Anjanadri hill

Anegundi, believed to be the monkey kingdom of Kishkindha in the epic of Ramayana, is at a distance of 5 km from the historical site of Hampi. Anjanadri hill, the birth place of monkey-god Hanuman, and the mountain Rishimuka are the other places near Anegundi associated with Ramayana.

It is said to have one of the oldest plateaus on the planet, estimated to be 3,000 million years old. So, only local story-tellers refer to Anegundi as the maternal home of Bhoodevi (Mother Earth).

Neolithic history is represented in this region by Mourya Mane, a several-thousand-year-old ‘Stone Age Colony’. Several Neolithic dwellings still bear paintings that are clear and intact even to this day. “This is the rare human settlement where we will find traces of Microlithic, Megalithic and Neolithic age of human life at one same spot. Anegundi area is much more than the Vijayanagar empire, and as is old as the planet. Till date, this village is a living heritage site in its true sense Anegundi is best visited along with Hampi.

is the mythical monkey (Vanara) kingdom of the Vanara King Sugriva, the younger brother of Vali, in the Indian mythology of Ramayana times. This was the kingdom where he ruled with the assistance of his minister, Hanuman.
This kingdom is identified to be the regions around the Tungabhadra river (then known as Pampa Saras) near Hampi in Karnataka. The mountain near to the river with the name Risyamuka where Sugriva lived with Hanuman, during the period of his exile also is found with the same name.

During the time of Ramayana i.e., Treta Yuga, the whole region was within the dense forest called Dandaka Forest extending from Vindhya range to the South Indian peninsula. Hence this kingdom was considered to be the kingdom of Vanaras which in Sanskrit means "apes", "monkeys" or "forest-animals". During Dwapara Yuga, the Pandava Sahadeva was said to visit this kingdom, as per the epic Mahabharata, during his southern military campaign to collect tribute for Yudhisthira's Rajasuya sacrifice.

After Vanara king Bali had been slain by Raghava Rama, Sugriva, the younger brother of the king, regained possession of Kishkindhya, and along with it, the lordship of the widowed queen, Tara. Rama, meanwhile dwelt on the beautiful breast of the Malyavat Mountains (a mountain range, in Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu) for four months, duly worshipped by Sugriva all the while.
At (3,146) the mountain named Hrishyamukha (Risyamuka) where Sugriva and Hanuman spent their exile, due to fear of king Vali is mentioned.

Sugriva is mentioned as the ruler of the forest-kingdom Kishkindhya and the king of the Vanaras (forest-dwellers), installed on throne by Raghava Rama and to whom all foresters and apes, monkeys and bears owe allegiance.
Raghava Rama slew the Rakshasa king Ravana in battle and installed Vibhishana, Ravana's younger brother, on the throne of Lanka. Thus he regained his wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana. He then left Lanka and re-entered Kishkindhya with king Sugriva. Having arrived at Kishkindhya, he installed the old king Vali's son Angada as prince-regent of that kingdom. After that he left to his own capital-city Ayodhya of Kosala Kingdom

Navabrindavanam

Navabrindavanam has the Samadhis (tombs) of nine saints, followers of Madhvacharya, and predecessors of Sri Raghavendra. Madhvacharya himself merged with the divine at Badrinath, and thus does not have a tomb, while Sri Raghavendra’s Samadhi at Mantralyam is a famous pilgrim place in Andhra Pradesh. This is among the few places where nine saints who headed a peetham have their tombs, and its importance lies in the fact that these saints are believed to have attained ‘Jeeva Samadhi’, that is, they are believed to be alive even today under their tombs!

Nava Brindhavanam shrines are located on a tiny island on the Tungabhadra river. The island can be reached by boat from Anegundi – charges Rs.30/- per head, to and fro. It is advisable to reach the shrines in the morning, as poojas are performed only in the forenoon. On reaching the island, one should take bath in the river, change into dry clothes and enter the shrines.
Anegundi on the opposite bank of the Tungabhadra has seen not just the rise and fall of dynasties, but even the evolution of mankind! In scientifically documented terms, Anegundi is said to have the oldest plateaus on the planet, estimated to be about 3000 million years old – according to Wikipedia. In terms of Indian mythology, this is translated to be the home of Bhudevi, the goddess of Earth! Home to our ancestors from the Neolithic Era (Stone Age), Anegundi has their imprints in the form of cave paintings; which lie among the rocks, which mythology tells us were homes of the vanaras – the monkey-men – who aided Lord Rama on his quest for his wife. Anegundi is a blend of history and mythology, making it in some ways even more interesting than Hampi itself!

Kishkinda of the Ramayana – home to the monkey hordes led by Hanuman, Vaali and Sugreeva, Anegundi has numerous temples and caves associated with them. The place abounds in legends, and, interspersed among them are the ruins of forts and palaces built by the Vijayanagara and Chalukya kings. We spent a little more than half a day at Anegundi, and used the time to visit a few places we knew about and didn’t want to miss. Let me take you along with me to the places we visited, one by one. I begin this series with the Navabrindavanam – this was the place which drew me to Anegundi in the first place!
One going by road to Nava Brindhavanam from Manthralayam has to reach Gangavathi, about 170 kms away, by bus and avail other modes of transport from there to Anegundi, where the mutt of Shri Raghavendra is located. The rail journey from Manthralayam to Guntakal takes about 2½ hours and from Guntakal to Hospet another 3 hours. The journey can be so planned as to travel by night and reach Hospet at day break. From Hospet, one has to proceed to Anegundi, about 15 kms away. Bus service is not available at present, due to a collapsed bridge en route. From Hospet railway station, autorikshaws can be engaged to go up to the collapsed bridge near Anegundi. The charge for autorikshaws will be around Rs.200/- From the jetty near the collapsed bridge, the river can be crossed by boat, paying Rs.10/- per head. On reaching the other bank, autorickshaws are available for reaching the Shri Raghavendhra mutt –charges about Rs.50/-. The mutt provides accommodation with facilities for bath and toilet. The mutt premises houses a temple of Shri Raghavendhra. Free lunch is provided by the mutt to devotees. Hotels are available for other food requirements.

There are nine bridhavanams of madhva saints and shrines of Lord Anjaneya and Lord Ranganatha. The deity in the twelfth shrine is an idol with the face of Anjaneya, body of Bhima and feet of Madhvacharya. Devotees intending to perform poojas and abhishekams have to buy the tickets from the Raghavendra mutt at Anegundi. Devotees should light 11 deepams (clay lamps) at the shrines, two for Lord Anjaneya and nine for Lord Ranganatha. Lamps can be brought by the pilgrims or purchased from the mutt. Ghee and wick can be purchased from shops at Anegundi.

The Brindhavanams are cordoned off by a yellow line. The devotees have to perform nine pradhakshinams around the Brindhavanams and offer nine namaskarams. The priest performs abhishekams, aarathi etc., by about 10.30 AM. After the poojas we have to return to Anegundi, again by boat. The temple at Anegundi Shri Raghavendra mutt is open up to 1 PM. Naivedhyam is offered to Shri Raghavendra at 12 noon.

Hogenakkal

Hogenakkal Waterfalls, known as the 'Niagara' falls of India, are not a single waterfall but a series of falls and they offer a promising holiday destination for nature lovers from within and outside the country.

It is located in the Dharmapuri district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu,about 180 km (110 mi) from Bangalore and 46 km (29 mi) from Dharmapuri town.It is sometimes referred to as the "Niagara of India".With its fame for medicinal baths and hide boat rides, it is a major site of tourist attraction. Carbonatite rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world.This is also the site of a proposed project to generate drinking water.

The village of Hogenakkal is located in the district of Dharmapuri in the State of Tamil Nadu. The main modes of transport in the region of Hogenakkal Falls are buses and walking on foot. You can also opt for boat rides in the river Cauvery while visiting Hogenakkal.


Hogenakkal is considered as one of the most beautiful places in the state. The broad stream of the River Kaveri gets forked at this point, forming an island from where one stream continues on while the other plunges into a deep chasm to create one of the loveliest waterfall giving these rocks the name Hogenakkal which means "smoking rock".

Another attraction is the diving skills of local kids, who can show their diving skills for a fee. They can dive for you from a height of around 30 feet into the water and climb straight up back on the rocks in no time, all for mere Rs 5/- from the spectator.

This riverside spa is famous for coracles, masseurs and roaring waters. The sound of the Kaveri river, roaring between rocky banks, is a constant presence in most places in Hogenakkal. At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri river enters the plains and the river dashing against the rocks is a great sight. The river, here flows through a wooded valley, splitting and merging and splitting again around rocks, and little islands with towering trees, and boulder-strewn out crops, which are covered only when the river is in spate with the rains of the monsoon.

Boats will also be available to travel from one bank of the Cauvery River to another, and these can be taken up for rates ranging around Rs 15 to 30. You can also opt for adventure rides through coracles. While these are not actual modes of transport per se, they are a fun opportunity to explore the waterways.


Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the water falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. Local coracles operate from both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka banks of the gorge.This is the main source of income for these boat operators. The coracles are about 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in) in diameter, but still can take a load of eight persons at a time. These coracles are made of bamboo, and with all materials available takes about a day to build.[15] The bottom of the boats are made waterproof by the use of hides, but sometimes with sheets of plastic.Use of plastics in the Hogenakkal vicinity, not just for boats, has been criticised due to problems with pollution.These boats are steered and propelled using a single paddle, making them unique. The coracles are locally called parisal in Tamiland either teppa or harigolu in Kannada.

Freshly caught fish are sold by the gorge and also various vendors selling water and snacks up and down the gorge rowing their coracles is not uncommon. The fish caught include katla, robu, kendai, keluthi, valai, mirgal, aranjan and jilaby. After leaving the gorge, on the left shore one can find improvised stalls set up on the sand. There, one can let the fresh fishes be prepared in one of the many kitchens. Also, many people can be found swimming or bathing around there.


Travellers takes own Risk to Adventure @Bank of Waterfalls .

How to Reach:

Bus:
Buses are available within the village limits. Most of these buses are buses that connect the village of Hogenakkal to other villages in and around the place, and tourists can take these buses in order to get in and around the village of Hogenakkal too.
From Bangalore every 15 min to Krishnagiri.

The following information was believed correct at the time of writing, but is not guaranteed to be accurate. Verify, and use at your own risk. We

The following information was believed correct at the time of writing, but is not guaranteed to be accurate. Verify, and use at your own risk. We regret that we do not have more information, and cannot provide any assistance in planning your trip.

Mantralayam Trip

The Guru Raghavendra Swami Brindavan is located in Mantralaya, which is in Western Andhra Pradesh, in the district of Kurnool. Routes from Hyderabad, Bangalore, Raichur, and Bellary, are shown on the map. It is possible to get there by rental van, bus, or train. The colloquial name for the place, Maanchale, has been sanskritized into Mantralaya. Under the grace of Sri Raghavendra, Mantralaya has become a pilgrimage center, where devotees flock to view a glimpse of the Brindavan of this great saint.


with my friend Raghu Yella
There are lot of hotels around the mutt and getting accommodation is not difficult. Summers are hot here and winter season is pleasant. Winter mornings may be very chill.
There are more than 6 to 7 lodges now which are built and managed by Mutt (including AC ones). Though there is no advance reservation (except for the donors), almost 85% chances are there to get a room in any of these lodges even on peak days.


Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple:
From Mantralayam Temple to Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple & Bichali, you can easily hire Shared Autos outside of the temple. On sharing basis, the charges are Rs.150(To & Fro)/ person. Else they charge Rs.700 for individuals. Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple is 23km(Approx.) First, you have to pass through Madhavaram village. From there, take a right turn and proceed till you reach R.Tungabhadra. The roads are very bad and a permanent bridge is under construction. After you pass this, you enter the Raichur District of Karnataka. Proceed further and you reach Chiksugur camp junction. The road to the right leads to Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple and left goes to Bichali. The road to Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple is worst. The Temple is open for Darshan from 0530Hrs and closes at 1300Hrs. Again it opens in the evening and closes at 2000Hrs. From here, it is 18km to Bichali and you have to pass through Chiksugur camp Junction and proceed straight. The road from Chiksugur camp Junction is very good. Bichali is on the banks of R.Tungabhadra and you can see this from the Rail bridge after Mantralayam Road station towards Raichur. This spot is very serene and scenic and worth the time you spend. You can take bath in the River as it is shallow. But exercise care, as the bed is very rocky.



Even today, the Appanacharya generations are performing the poojas daily. Visiting here in the month of August can be difficult as floods are common during monsoon. After the 2009 floods, the 400years old Appanacharya's house has been completely washed off and it is currently being renovated. Due to lack of funds, the pace is slow. Visiting these two places will take 3-4hours and will give you a great satisfaction. Visiting Mantralayam & these two places will make the trip a memorable one.
To date Panchamukha Anjaneya mandir is located at Panchmukhi a small village 20 km from Mantralayam, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. A divine place where Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy rests.
[edit] Bharata's vow
Lakhs of devotees come here to have a glimpse of the Brindavana or Vrindavana every year.



HOW TO REACH:

Buses
Many South Indian cities are connected to Mantralaya by bus--Bangalore, Tirupati, Mangalore, Madras, Hyderabad, Bellary and Mysore. The most convenient bus from Bangalore leaves at 9:15 pm & reaches Mantralaya at 6 am, the next day. The conducted tours from Hyderabad are typically 7 hours long (one way), leaving every Saturday at 9.30 am and returning on Sunday at 9.00pm. They usually cover the Brindavan as well as the Raghavendra Swamy Temple.

Train
The nearest Railway station is MANTRALAYAM ROAD, which is about 12KM from Mantralaya. Most of the trains stop here except for the super fast trains. From Bombay convenient trains are Dadar Madras Mail, which leaves Dadar at about 2PM & reaching Mantralaya Road at about 4AM next day, and Bombay Mail. After reaching Mantralayam Road, a bus or rental van can be taken to Mantralaya (about a 1 hr ride).

Address of the Mantralaya Temple :

Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha
Mantralayam 518 345
Kurnool Dist
Andhra Pradesh, India.

The Administrative Officer
Telephone number: 59429 and 59459. STD code: 8512

Meenakshi Amman Temple

The Meenakshi temple complex is a city temple - one of the largest and certainly one of the most ancient. According to legend Madurai is the actual site where the wedding between Shiva and Meenakshi took place. The soaring and exquisitely carved towers enclose the temple dedicated to Meenakashi. The south gateway contains the twin temples of Shiva and Meenakshi and is about nine storeys high.
History:
The Sri Meenakshi Sundareswara temple and Madurai city originated together. According to tradition, Indra once committed sin when he killed a demon, who was then performing penance. He could find no relief from remorse in his own kingdom. He came down to earth. While passing through a forest of Kadamba trees in Pandya land, he felt relieved of his burden. His servitors told him that there was a Shivalinga under a Kadamba tree and beside a lake. Certain that it was the Linga that had helped him; he worshipped it and built a small temple around it. It is believed that it is this Linga, which is till under worship in the Madurai temple. The shrine is called the "Indra Vimana".

Once Dhananjaya, a merchant of Manavur, where the Pandyas had arrived after the second deluge in Kumari Kandam, having been overtaken by nightfall in Kadamba forest, spent the night in the Indra Vimana. When next morning he woke up, he was surprised to see signs of worship. Thinking that it must be the work of the Devas, he told the Pandya, Kulasekhara, in Manavur, of this. Meanwhile Lord Shiva had instructed Pandya in a dream to build a temple and a city at the spot Dhananjaya would indicate. Kulasekhara did so. Thus originated the temple and city.

The earliest references available to any structure in this temple is a hymn of Sambhandar's, in the seventh century, which refers to the "Kapali Madil". The present inner walls of the Lords shrine bear this name today. In the early times the entire temple must have been confined to the area between these walls, and the structures must have been of brick and mortar.

In the 14th century an invasion by Malik Kafur damaged the temple. In the same century Madurai was under Muslim rule for nearly fifty years. The temple authorities closed the sanctum, covered up the Linga, and set up another in the Ardhamandapa. When the city was liberated, the sanctum was opened, and, tradition says the flower garlands and the sandalwood paste placed on the Linga were as fresh as on the first day, and two oil lamps were still burning.
you can see listed below.

Sree Meenakshi Temple
Thirumalai Nayak Palace
Gandhi Museum
Thirupparamkundram
Azhagar Kovil
Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam
Places to be visited around and nearby Madurai

How to Reach
By Bus:
There are excellent roads connecting Madurai to all parts of South India. Madurai City has 5 Major Bus Stand.

By Train:
Madurai is an important railway junction of the Southern Railway and is directly connected to Chennai and Tirunelveli. Madurai is on the Madurai-Tiruchirappalli-Dindigul-Quilon line. The Vaigai Express, which is a super-fast day train between Chennai Egmore and Madurai takes 7 hours for the 495kms.


Madurai Tourist Office
180 west Veli St;
Madurai, Tamilnadu, India.
Ph: 2334757
Time: 10am - 5pm (Monday - Friday) 11am - 1pm on (Saturday)
Helpful staff, as well as brochures and maps. Tourist counters are also available at Railway station and airport.

The tourist office can organise half-day (five-hour) sightseeingtours that include the Tirumalai Nayak palace and Gandhi Museum and finish at the Sri Meenakshi temple. Tour starts at 7am and 3pm and cost Rs.125 per person.

Konark Sun Temple

Konark Sun Temple is located , in the state of Orissa near the sacred city of Puri. The sun Temple of Konark is dedicated to the sun God or Surya. It is a masterpiece of Orissa's medieval architecture. Sun temple has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.

The temple city of Konark is situated in the eastern state of Orissa at a distance of around 65 km from Bhubaneswar and 35 km from Puri. The city extends between longitude 86.08°E and latitude 19.53°N.

Temple History

Konark was once a bustling port of Kalinga and had good maritime trade relations with Southeast Asian countries. The present Sun Temple was probably built King Narashimhadev I (AD 1238-64) of the Ganga dynasty to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. The temple fell into disuse in the early 17th century after it was desecrated by an envoy of the Mughal emperor Jahangir.
However, legend has it that the temple was constructed by Samba, the son of Lord Krishna. It is said that Samba was afflicted by leprosy, brought about by his father's curse on him. After 12 years of penance, he was cured by Surya, the Sun God, in whose honour he built this temple.
The Konark temple is widely known not only for its architectural grandeur but also for the intricacy and profusion of sculptural work. The entire temple has been conceived as a chariot of the sun god with 24 wheels, each about 10 feet in diameter, with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. Seven horses drag the temple. Two lions guard the entrance, crushing elephants. A flight of steps lead to the main entrance.


The Nata Mandir in front of the Jagamohana is also intricately carved. Around the base of the temple, and up the walls and roof, are carvings in the erotic style. There are images of animals, foliage, men, warriors on horses and other interesting patterns. There are three images of the Sun God, positioned to catch the rays of the sun at dawn, noon and sunset.
Konark derives its name from Konarka, the presiding deity of the Sun Temple. Konarka is actually a combination of two words, Kona (corner) and Arka (sun), which, when combined, means the sun of the corner. Konark was one of the earliest centres of Sun worshipping in India. The place finds mention in the Puranas as Mundira or Mundirasvamin, a name that was subsequently replaced by Konaditya or Konarka. Apart from the Puranas, other religious texts also point towards the existence of a sun temple at Konark long before the present temple.
The Temple Chariot of the Sun God
Standing imperiously in its compound of lawns and casuarina trees, 35km north of Puri on the coast road, this majestic pile of oxidizing sandstone is considered to be the apogee of Orissan architecture and one of the finest religious buildings anywhere in the world. The temple is all the more remarkable for having languished under a huge mound of sand since it fell into neglect three hundred or so years ago. A team of seven galloping horses and twenty-four exquisitely carved wheels found lining the flanks of a raised platform showed that the temple had been conceived in the form of a colossal chariot for the sun god Surya, its presiding deity.

Magha Saptami (Sun Festival) is held at Konark on the seventh day (saptami) of the bright half of the month of Magha (January/February). During this festival, the pilgrims bathe in the sea before sunrise and then proceed to the temple to worship.


Must Watch

Lady drummer of Sun Temple
The temple is a brilliant chronicle in stone, with thousands of images including deities, the Surasundaris, heavenly damsels, and human musicians, lovers, dancers, and different scenes from courtly life.

Maituna - Sun Temple
Equally as sensational was the re-discovery among the ruins of some extraordinary erotic sculpture. Konark is plastered with loving couples locked in ingenious amatory postures drawn from the Kama Sutra - a feature that may well explain the comment made by one of great poet of Mughal Dynasty,Abdul Fazl, in the sixteenth century: "Even those who are difficult to please," he enthused, "stand astonished at its sight."

Sacred Pond

A stone's throw away from Konark beach lies the sacred pond where Samba was cured of leprosy - the miracle that allegedly inspired the founding of the sun temple. For a couple of days every year during the full or "white" moon phase of Magha (Jan/Feb), chandrabhaga is also the site of a big religious festival, the Magha Saptami Mela.

How to Reach

Reaching Konark by Bus can also be exciting. There are private owned deluxe Volvo buses with their comfy interiors. Volvo buses can be boarded from Puri as well as from Bhubaneswar. In addition to this, there are public buses that do not burn your pocket by costing Rs 1.50 per Km.

Traveling to Konark by Train is another option for a tourist. One can board train from Puri, which is only 31 Km away from Konark. There are 2 trains named Puri Express and Purushottam Express that can take you to Konark.

Khajuraho Temple

Once a great chandela capital, Khajuraho is now a quiet village. The town of exotic temples, Khajuraho is one of India's major honeymoon attractions. They are India's unique gift to the world, representing a melody to life,which encompasses all emotions ranging from love, to joy. Life, in every form and mood, has been captured in stone, testifying not only to the craftsman's artistry but also to the extraordinary breadth of vision of the Chandela kings.

The architecture of the temples are unique, being very different from the temple prototype of their period. The erotic carvings of temples, make it a must-see. Originally there were 85 temples, but many were destroyed by the British. Today, only 22 are in fair condition.



Khajuraho temple complex site is one the most popular places both foreign and Indian tourists. Temples of Khajuraho hold the attention of a visitor with their sculptural art, which is so exquisite and intricate, that one cannot even dream of cloning it now. The artist's creative instincts have beautifully captured various facets and moods of life in stone. The temples at Khajuraho are divided into three broad groups:

The Western Group is the largest, compact and centrally located group in Khajuraho, includes some of the most prominent monuments, built by the Chandela rulers. The Lakshmana Temple, the Matangesvara Temple and the Varaha Temple form one complex and the Visvanatha and Nandi temples are not far from this complex.

The Eastern Group comprises of five detached sub-groups in and around the present village of Khajuraho. The eastern group of monuments, situated in close proximity to the Khajuraho village, includes three Brahmanical temples known as Brahma, Vamana and Javari and three Jain temples, the Ghantai, Adinath and Parsvanath.

The Southern Group is the most distant one comprising of two main monuments near and across the Khudarnala. The southern group of monuments comprises the Duladeo and the Chaturbhuja temples. The Duladeo is about a kilometre south of the Khajuraho village and half a mile southwest of the Jain group of temples. The Chaturbhuja Temple is Dance Festivalmile further south and is close to the Khajuraho airport.

Visitors are also drawn to a dance festival, celebrated in March, which attracts some of the best classical dancers in the country - the floodlit temples provide a spectacular backdrop during the event. In a setting where the earthly and the divine create perfect harmony, it is a spectacular event that celebrates the pure magic of the rich classical dance traditions of India.

By Car : Khajuraho city is very well connected by Jhansi, Orchha, Satna, Katni, Bandhavgarh, Chattarpur etc. Usually tourists arrive at Jhansi Railway Station by train and take taxi car to travel to Khajuraho, via Orchha or directly. From Jhansi, Khajuraho is just 200kms.04:00hrs. Similarly those who are arriving at Satna railway station can hire taxi from here to reach Khajuraho by road. Similarly those who want to reach Khajuraho from Bandhavgarh, they can travel by road via Katni-Pawai-Amanganj-Panna of 240km/05:00hrs.

By Train : Most important railway station for Khajuraho is Khajuraho Railway Station which is just 5km from Khajuraho Town. Their is direct train for Khajuraho Railway Station (UP Sampark Kranti Express) for Khajuraho. It is the only train, at present from New Delhi to Khajuraho.
Similarly those who wish to travel Khajuraho from Varanasi can now travel by Bundelkhand Link Express Train (1108A) which connects Khajuraho - Varanasi. Both are very much proposed in most of the proposed tour itineraries so with the introduction of this train, one can now travel more comfortably at low fare.
Those who are coming from Mumbai/Kolkata can reach Satna Railway Station to travel Khajuraho at a distance of 130kms/02:30hrs.
If you visit Khajuraho from Jaipur than DAYODAYA EXPRESS (2182) will be the most suitable train to reach Katni and then by taxi reach Khajuraho. Distance from Katni to Khajuraho is 180kms/04:00hrs.
Those who wish to travel Khajuraho from Agra, can take any train for Jhansi Railway Station and then drive through Taxi via-Orchha/directly to Khajuraho.

By Air : Khajuraho is having a domestic airport known as City Airport Khajuraho. It is located at 2 Km south of Khajuraho town. At present (as on 05/05/2010) flights from Delhi & Varanasi are operating for Khajuraho. Arrival/Departure are usually take place in afternoon for these two destinations. Work is going on to enhance the capabilities of Khajuraho Airport.

Badami

Badami, located in the Bagalkot district of North Karnataka, was the capital of the Chalukya Dynasty. It is situated at the mouth of a beautiful ravine, flanked on either side by beautiful sandstone hills.

Badami once a royal capital of the Chalukyas is now a sleepy town in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The town was known as Vatapi previously. It is settled in a valley at the base of a furrowed, red arenaceous rock that rings Agastya lake. Badami is a place which is full of cave temples, entryways, fortresses, dedications and carvings.
The name Vatapi has origin in the Vatapi legend of Ramayana relating to Sage Agastya.[citation needed] There were two demon siblings Vatapi and Ilvala. They used to kill all mendicants by tricking them in a peculiar way. The elder Ilvala would turn Vatapi into a ram and would offer its meat to the guest. As soon as the person ate the meat, Ilvala would call out the name of Vatapi. As he had a boon that whomsoever Ilvala calls would return from even the netherland, Vatapi would emerge ripping through the body of the person, thus killing him. Their trick worked until Sage Agastya countered them by digesting Vatapi before Ilvala could call for him, thus ending the life of Vatapi at the hands of Ilvala. Two of the hills in Badami represent the demons Vatapi and Ilvala.
It is also believed that name Badami has come from colour of its stone(badam -Almond).


The Badami Cave Temples - History
The Badami cave temples are an early example of the Chalukya style of architecture. It was during the early Chalukyan period that temple architectural styles were evolved.
Badami is the site of the 6th-7th century Brahmanical and Jain cave temples. The temples are cut out of solid rock with elaborate interior decorations that speak volumes of art and architecture of that period. There are 4 cave temples connected with each other with a flight of stairs.


The First Cave

The first temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. You would have to climb about 40 steps to reach it. Built around 578 AD, this is believed to be the earliest of the four temples. This cave depicts Shiva in his dancing form – as Nataraja depicted with eighteen arms. There are no less than 81 different dancing poses of Nataraja depicted in this cave. The first cave has gigantic carvings of Ardhanareeswara and Harira manifestations of Shiva in bas relief.

There are also reliefs of Ganapati, Shanmukha and Mahishasuramardhini, and may be the oldest in Badami. It is made of red sandstone and has a hall with numerous pillars and a square shaped sanctum hollowed in the control back wall.


The Second Cave

This cave temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Here he is depicted in the magnificent Trivikrama form, where he is measuring the earth with one foot, and the sky with the other, with a third food resting on the head of Mahabali.

It is reached through a flight of 64 stairs from the first one. On its ceiling, are carvings of Vishnu on Garuda and several other scenes from the puranas.

The Third Cave

The third rock cut temple is reached from the 2nd temple through a flight of 60 steps. It is a 100 feet deep cave, with inscriptions dating this Vishnu temple to 578 CE during, the period of Kiritivarma Chalukya.

This temple is also dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Here he is represented in various forms – as Vamana, the dwarf, as Trivikrama, an enormous entity measuring the world; as Narasimha, the man-lion; and as Varaha, lifting up Mother Earth from the sea. It also has a wonderful statue of Vishnu sitting on the serpent Adisesha.

The cave also has carved images of the Narasimha and Trivikrama avataras of Vishnu. There are also murals depicting the divine marriage of Shiva and Parvati.

The Fourth Cave

Cave temple 4 relates to 6th century Jainism, dedicated to the Lord Mahavira . He is depicted in a unique sitting posture. This is considered to be latest of the four temples, and it was built about 100 years after the other three temples. There is a carving of the Tirthankara Parshavnatha (with a serpent at his feet).

Many new temple building styles were introduced, of which constructing rock-cut cave temples was one type. The Badami cave temples are an example of this type of evolving architecture. It is one of the most beautiful examples of early South Indian temple architecture.

Founded in 540 A.D. by Pulikesi I, Badami served as the capital of the Chalukyas. The Chalukyas ruled most of Karnataka, before the Rashtrakutas. These temples mark the emergence of the Chalukya style of temple architecture, which is a nice blend of the North Indian Nagara style and the South Indian Dravidian style.
The Chalukyas who had ruled Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh during 6th and 8th centuries had Badami as their capital. The greatest among the Chalukyas was Pulakeshi II who ruled between 610-642 AD. He defeated many kings and Mahendra Verman I, the Pallava king, was one among them. The state was founded by him in 540 AD.

The Badami Fort

The Badami fort is located two kilometers from the town. Besides its other attractions like the huge granary and an underground chamber, it houses one of the oldest Shiva temples in the region – Malegitti Shiva.

Perched on top of the hill is the fort with the Upper and Lower Shivalayas. The Upper Shivalaya, built by Pulakesan II, a devotee of Lord Vishnu is marked by sculpted tales from mythology on its outer walls. Look for the lion and elephant heads atop the temple steps. The Lower Shivalaya was raised to Lord Ganesh. To its north a 16th century cannon looks down on the township. The watchtower, a little further on, is believed to date to the 14th century.

The Agasthya Tirtha

This is a lake situated at the foot of the hill that houses the cave temples. It is famous because the water in the lake is believed to have great healing powers


How to Reach :
Bus:
The Badami Cave temples are extremely famous and they attract a lot of tourists. Badami is well connected through many bus routes.
City buses are the easiest mode of local transport in Badami. You can opt for city buses while travelling within Badami as they cover almost every part of the town and have a very extensive reach. It is also better to know the routes and bus numbers beforehand; as this will help you make your commute through the town of Badami easier. Bus fares will range around Rs 5 to 10 in Badami, depending on the distance covered.

The town also has a railway station. Belgaum, located at a distance of 150 km from Badami, houses the nearest airport.