Badami has 100s of sport climbing routes ranging from 4+ to 8b+ and endless potential for trad climbing as well as further sport climbing development. Unknown to most Badami is also home to some spectacular bouldering. It is a place that offers superb rock quality to climbers of all styles and abilities.
Location
Badami is located in the state of Karnataka about 150km North West of Hampi.
Season
November - March
Although climbing is possible all throughout the year in Badami, temperatures can get as hot at 40C in the summer months. Badami has the same season as Hampi which starts in November and ends in March. January is normally the coolest month. Even in January some climbs require climbers to get up in the early hours of the morning for better conditions as it can get unpleasantly hot in direct sunlight.
Access
There are various ways to access Badami.
Train
Badami railway station is 5km away from Badami town. This is not a major station but many trains do stop here. Else Hubli (~100km | ~3hours) and Bijapur (~120km | ~4hours) are options from where direct buses to Badami are available at regular intervals.
Bus
The bus stop is right in the centre of town. There are direct buses to all major cities including sleeper coaches from Goa, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
Flight
The nearest airports are Hubli Airport (~100km) or Belgaum Airport (~150km). Other major airports nearby are Goa (~250km), Bangalore (~400km), Hyderabad (~450km), Mumbai (~600km)
Where to stay
Most climbers will live in a hotel called Rajsangam. They are very friendly to climbers and even offer discounts if you tell them you are a climber.
Rock Type
Primarily Sandstone
Type of Climbing
Sport Climbing, Trad Climbing, Bouldering
Grades
Between 4+ to 8b+ (sport)
Safety Precautions
A lot of climbs have had their bottom most bolt stolen or chopped by the locals so it is advisable to carry a stick clip if possible. Most anchors have a bucket or other easy to clip the rope in directly device at the top.
Links
Free guides are available for sport climbing in the area. Below are a few of them.
Guide Book - 2016 edition by Bangalore Climbing Initiatives
Guide Book - Nov 2017 version by TheCrag.com
Guide Book - ClimbingBadami.in
For those looking for a guide in Badami or any further information do try to get in touch with Ganesh who lives there. Further information can be found on http://climbingbadami.in/
Photos
