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Several places to visit near Bijapur Karnataka, hold rich historical, religious, and cultural significance. Tikota features the Navanatha temple complex with ancient stone shrines arranged in a rural courtyard. Torvi’s cave temple houses a carved image of Lord Narasimha, surrounded by simple water tanks used by devotees. Kudalasangama, at the confluence of the Krishna and Malaprabha rivers, includes the Aikya Mantapa and a rebuilt Sangameshwara shrine. Almatti Dam offers well-maintained gardens and clear river views. Heritage towns like Aihole and Pattadakal remain active ritual sites, while Badami is famous for rock-cut caves and sandstone cliffs. Basavana Bagewadi attracts visitors for its connection to Basavanna.
Best Places To Visit Near Bijapur Karnataka
Places to visit near Bijapur, Karnataka include historic temples, cave shrines, scenic dams, and heritage towns, offering a unique blend of culture, spirituality, and natural beauty.
1. Almatti Dam
Photo: Gowtham / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
If you are looking for places to visit near Bijapur Karnataka, where you can spend a peaceful few hours without heading too far, Almatti Dam is a solid choice. Built across the Krishna River, this dam supports a large irrigation system and is surrounded by landscaped gardens designed for public access. It is not just a government utility structure but also a quiet weekend stop for families and locals. You will see stone walkways, tree-lined paths, and designated viewing areas facing the reservoir. You can walk along the side of the dam during allowed hours and get a wide view of the backwaters stretching beyond.
Distance From Bijapur: 70.1 km
Major Attractions: Rock garden, musical fountain, boating, and dam viewpoint
2. Aihole
Photo: Vinayaraj / Wikimedia Commons
Aihole holds dozens of structures built between the fifth and eighth centuries, mostly commissioned during the rule of the Chalukyas. You can enter the complex through a plain gate and walk straight into a field dotted with stone temples in varying sizes and layouts. The Durga Temple has a curved apsidal plan with carved columns and friezes visible even from a distance. Nearby, the Lad Khan Temple sits at ground level with its flat roof and thick stone pillars, a design unlike later temple types. Each structure is labelled with basic information boards, and the entire site is open for walking through on foot.
Distance From Bijapur: 106.8 km
Major Attractions: Durga Temple, Lad Khan Temple, Huchappayya Math
3. Badami
Photo: Sanyam Bahga / Wikimedia Commons
Badami is where you can see temple structures cut into the side of a natural rock formation. The main caves are carved into soft red stone and sit above a water body that locals refer to as Agastya Lake. The approach is through a simple entry gate, followed by stone steps that lead upward in stages. Inside the caves, stone pillars support rectangular halls with carved figures placed into the walls and ceilings. One section has an image of Vishnu lying on the serpent Adishesha, and another has a standing form with weapons in each hand. You can also see traces of old inscriptions on the inner panels.
Distance From Bijapur: 121 km
Major Attractions: Rock-cut cave temples, Agastya Lake, Bhutanatha Temples
4. Pattadakal
Photo: Basavaraj M / Wikimedia Commons
Pattadakal is a temple site near Bijapur where early stone-built shrines from the Chalukya period still stand within a protected compound. The complex begins with a narrow gate beside a security post, followed by a direct walkway that leads to the main row of temples laid out in parallel alignment. Each temple has a label plate and is surrounded by a grass border maintained by the archaeological department. The Virupaksha Temple, built by Queen Lokamahadevi in the eighth century, is the most intact among the group and shows a complete Dravidian layout with a central tower and pillared halls.
Distance From Bijapur: 133.2 km
Major Attractions: Virupaksha Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, Jain Narayana Temple
5. Basavana Bagewadi
Photo: Shanthilal S / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
If you’re tracing religious and literary history through places to see near Bijapur, Karnataka, Basavana Bagewadi holds significance as the birthplace of Basavanna, a 12th-century reformer and poet-philosopher. The town has a functioning temple dedicated to Basaveshwara at its centre, built in a plain architectural style with a flat-pillared mandapa and sanctum. The temple is active, and the daily puja rituals continue without interruption. Behind the shrine, there is a small open hall with walls lined with framed vachanas attributed to Basavanna. Locals often refer to the town’s layout by street names linked to Lingayat figures, and festival days bring additional footfall.
Distance From Bijapur: 44 km
Major Attractions: Basaveshwara Temple, Anubhava Mantapa replica
6. Torvi Narasimha Temple
Photo: Srinivas JD / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Torvi Narasimha Temple is located behind the outer ring of housing near the edge of town. The sanctum is tucked into a shallow rock hollow, and you step down through a small side entry paved with uneven stone slabs. The walls remain bare except for a small oil lamp shelf and a low ceiling that forces you to lean slightly while entering. There’s a stone basin near the front steps that holds collected water, usually drawn by hand for use during morning rituals. Locals continue to visit the temple for daily darshan, and during Narasimha Jayanti, the crowd fills the limited courtyard space quickly.
Distance From Bijapur: 6.6 km
Major Attractions: Cave-style shrine, water tank, carved deity
7. Jamakhandi
Photo: Salil / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Jamakhandi is a working town near Bijapur with old buildings still in use, narrow commercial streets, and a few religious sites. The palace, located near the center, features a central dome and rows of open arches and houses some offices and small local meetings. Nearby is the Chikka Basaveshwara Temple, which is still used for daily worship. The area around the temple road is lined with small shops, tea stalls, and shared auto stands. Outside the town, farmland with sugarcane dominates the landscape, and quiet ponds and stone tanks fill during the monsoon.
Distance From Bijapur: 63.7 km
Major Attractions: Jamakhandi Palace, Chikka Basaveshwara Temple, sugarcane estates
8. Kudalasangama
Photo: LoggaWiggler / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Kudalasangama is a prominent religious site near Bijapur, located where the Krishna and Malaprabha rivers meet. A long cement path leads to the water-facing structures, including the Aikya Mantapa, Basavanna’s samadhi, which stands partly in the water. A concrete walkway connects the riverbank to the samadhi, accessible even during the rainy season. Nearby is the stone-built Sangameshwara Temple, with a small tower above the sanctum. Daily worship and singing continue here, and the temple courtyard features a corridor with open archways. A hall hosts cultural events and Lingayat gatherings. Devotees buy flowers and oil at nearby stalls before entering.
Distance From Bijapur: 92 km
Major Attractions: Aikya Mantapa, Sangameshwara Temple, confluence of Krishna and Malaprabha rivers
9. Gokak Falls
Photo: Ananya Mohanty / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Gokak Falls is a popular natural attraction near Bijapur, Karnataka, where the Ghataprabha River plunges over a rocky ledge. During the rainy season, the water flows powerfully, with the roar echoing through the valley. A footbridge upstream offers a close side view of the falls. Nearby are old mill structures from the early days of hydroelectric power generation. Across the bridge, a small shrine stands on a raised platform, with local vendors setting up stalls on weekends and holidays. Entry is free, but vehicle access is regulated on busy days. The best views are during or just after the monsoon.
Distance From Bijapur: 149 km
Major Attractions: Wide waterfall, hanging bridge, red sandstone cliffs
The places to visit near Bijapur, Karnataka, include active temple sites, river confluences, and stone monuments serving local communities. From Badami’s caves and Pattadakal’s temples to smaller spots like Tikota and Torvi, each offers a unique experience. Some are peaceful, others are busy during festivals, and a few open without staff. Whether for a short trip or extended stay, these destinations add variety and depth to your itinerary. Book your journey today with TripXL.
Cover Photo: Ramakrishnan Nataraj / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
