Having accomplished all three goals for this trip, the rest of my time was open to whatever adventures presented themselves.
With a little research I discovered that I was 128 kilometers from the Badami Cave Temples. The temples that I had just visited in Hampi are a UNESCO site and are spread out over 4,100 hectares (16 sq mi).
The Badami Cave Temples are tiny in comparison. Four temples carved out of solid rock on one side of one cliff. It has not yet been approved as a UNESCO site but has applied for UNESCO status.
It would be a long trip but certainly I would never have this opportunity again. These Temple Caves are out in the countryside, far from any city.
A quick check showed that travel by train was not an option. By car, it would be three hours each way. It would be mostly narrow two-lane, paved roads with only a little bit of four-lane divided highway.
If I traveled there in the morning, I would be at the Cave Temples in the heat of the afternoon. Not something I could handle. If I went later in the day, we would be traveling home in the dark. Traffic in India is scary enough in the broad daylight. The driver might consider a three hour drive at night to be normal but, for me, it would be a nightmare.
My best opinion would be to travel there starting at noon. I could visit the Cave Temples in the cooler hours near sunset, stay overnight, and visit them again in the morning. That way, I would be spending both hot afternoons in the air conditioned car.
Best plan I could come up with on short notice. I booked a car (and driver) and one night at a hotel.
I packed my shoulder bag but no luggage. I packed the bare tourist essentials: camera, cellphone, tablet, glasses, pills, notebook, pen, and lots of cash. I packed my battery-powered USB charger so that I could charge my electronics in the car.
I left all of my luggage at my original hotel. The hotel is paid for but I wouldn’t be sleeping there that night. The room wasn’t expensive and would be a nice cool place to hide on my return.
The trip was worth it! Like nothing I had ever seen in my entire life. I have seen temples are over the world. Bigger ones; more elaborate carvings. But nothing like these!
Carved in the 6th century. It’s impossible to imagine how they could have constructed these temples out of solid rock.
Sorry. You will have to wait until I get home to see the photos.
