Agasthya Teertha

Agasthya Teertha is a lake in Badami, in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The lake has been named after one of the saptarishis in Hindi tradition- Agasthya. 

There are some legends regarding the lake as well. It's a rather beautiful lake and if you're in Badami, you should most certainly visit it. There are some local traditions and myths attached to the Agasthya Teertha- it is beleived that the waters of this lake have healing powers, especially since they have been named after Agasthya, the greate sage.

You actually have no choice but to visit it, as it is located where the two Bhootanatha Temples are located. The Agasthya Teertha, along with the Bhootanatha temples form one of the most picturesque sights in all of India. If you're visiting Agasthya Teertha, you are visiting the Bhootanatha Temple- they are not exclusive, for sure. The Bhootanatha temples are dedicated to the Lord Shiva. It's supposed to be dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of ghosts, spirits and souls. The temple is made of rich red sandstone and is incredibly beautiful to behold. There are two of these temples and both of them are placed on the eastern and the western banks of the Agasthya Teertha, respectively.

 In order to get to the Agasthya Teertha, you could take the scenic road from the Badami Caves. The path is winding and slightly narrow- with a mystical feeling to it. This path also passes right through a village. You will be able to see the Badami Caves from the Agasthya Teertha, actually. There are some sandstone rocks around the cave that actually feel like steps- you can make use of these rocks and climb up a nearby hill to get a better look of the Teertha and the temples- an aerial view of the place would certainly be breathtaking. It's, of course, beneficial, that all the caves in the area face Agasthya Lake.

The Beautiful Badami caves are located quite close to the lake. Ideally, you should visit the caves in the morning and then head down to the Bhootnath Temple and the lake. This way, you will reach the lake by evening- you will be able to enjoy the beautiful sunset and the amazing weather, as well.

The best time to visit the Agasthya Teertha is between November and March, when the temperature is sufficiently low and the humidity is also quite low. Badami is well connected to all other major cities of Karnataka. The nearest airport is in Belgaum, which is around 150 km away. You can access this area through the Hubli- Sholapur rail route. If you're coming from Bangalore, the nearest train station for you is Hospet. There are buses directly connecting Bangalore and Mysore to Badami as well. You could always choose to take one of those tourist buses to Badami as well.

Some of the best restaurants you could o to enjoy a meal after the wonderful evening in Agasthya Lake include olden Caves Cuisine, Banashree, Geeta Darshini, Hotel Sanman and Pulikeshi Dinner Room as well.