Badami Cave 2

The Lord Vishnu-dedicated Badami Cave 2 is just a few meters above Cave 1. The smallest of the four caverns at Badami is this one. In this cave, Lord Vishnu appears as Trivikrama, a dwarf. With one foot dominating the Earth and the other controlling the sky, Lord Vishnu is depicted in this pose. Two Dwarapalakas, or guardians, carry lotuses at the cave entrance. 

Here, the representation of Lord Vishnu is in a variety of guises. This cave contains carvings of Lord Vishnu's avatars, such as Varaha and Lord Krishna riding a Garuda. The lotus surrounded by the 16 fish is another impressive feature of the cave. It is one of the most popular Hindu sanctuaries among the places to visit in Badami.

Architecture of Badami Cave 2

Lord Vishnu is the subject of Cave 2, which dates to the sixth century AD. There is a 64-step staircase leading to the cave. There is a veranda with four pillars at the entry. In the cave, you might find Trivikrama, a statue of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu also appears as Varaha, who defends Mother Earth.

Additionally, the cave has Purana scriptures and Lord Krishna avatars. Two armed soldiers with bouquets stand guard at the entrance to the cave. A wheel with sixteen fish-shaped spokes surrounds the cave's roof. In addition to this, swaths and flying couples are on the ceiling.

The cave contains a room with the following measurements: 10.16m x 7.188m x 3.45m. Eight square-shaped pillars are set in two rows in the hall. The cave's Deccan-style architecture dates to the sixth or seventh century.

The ceiling is decorated with an eye-catching relief called Matsya chakra (Fish wheel). The Matsya Chakra is a wheel with a hub in the middle and 16 fish-shaped spokes encircled by a rim decorated with floral and leaf designs. The medallion that acts as the hub has an etched lotus flower design. The two concentric frames, each with elaborate pattern carvings, encircle the Matsya Chakra.

Swastika-patterned reliefs flank the Matsya chakra relief on both the left and right sides. The Mukha mandapa ceiling of the Durga temple in Aihole has a comparable relief. It is a place worth exploring during the Badami tour package.