The Badami Fort is imposing, spread across two hills with the Agasthya Teertha in between and named north and south forts, its main entrance guarded by a statue of a bull in Hindu mythology named Nandi. The fort is steeped in the acrimonious history of the Chalukya and Pallava dynasties and the north fort, historians believe, housed Tipu Sultan’s treasury. The fort also houses granaries and a 14th century watchtower.

Inside, visitors will find a wall covered with paintings depicting mythological tales and beautiful stone sculptures of elephants and horses.