Bhutanatha Group of Temples
ಭೂತನಾಥ ದೇವಾಲಯ
A group of sandstone temples dating from the 7th to 11th centuries on the eastern shore of Agastya Lake. Reflected in the water, they are Badami's most photogenic view.
The Bhutanatha temple group sits on the eastern shore of Agastya Lake. The main shrine was built in the 7th century under the Chalukyas and is dedicated to Shiva in his form Bhutanatha, 'Lord of the Ghosts.' A colonnade was later added by the Kalyani Chalukya dynasty. Behind it, among the rocks, are a later group of temples and a rock-carved relief of Vishnu reclining. The temple steps run directly into the lake with red cliffs behind, and the reflections in the evening are especially striking. Admission is included with the cave temples or charged separately in a small fee (confirm with the Archaeological Survey of India for the current year). It is open roughly 6:00–18:00. It is about a 15-minute walk along the lakeshore from the caves, or you can go around the north side of the lake to the archaeological museum.
Opening hours
About 06:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Archaeological Museum, Badami
- Agastya Lake
- Malegitti Shivalaya
- Badami Cave Temples
- Badami North Fort & Upper Shivalaya
- Sidlaphadi Cave
- Mahakuta Group of Temples
- Banashankari Temple