[1] Badami is in north Karnataka in the Malprabha valley region – a cradle of Hindu and Jain temple architecture schools.

Thereafter, states George Michell, this region was ravaged and temples ruined by conquering armies of the Delhi Sultanate.

[3] The north fort of Badami overlooks the lake, and is penetrated by deep canyon-like crevices through which climbs a straight path.

The ruinous condition of this monument contrast with the comparatively intact Malegitti Shivalaya, which crowns on an isolated boulder beneath the western flank of the North fort.

[5] Walls of sanctuary and mandapa have a curved course and a central recessed portion, divided into panels, with reliefs of musicians, dancers and warriors.

Two recessed moldings support a parapet, with a set of corner kutas and central shalas over the mandapa walls.

[5] The mandapa interior has a central east-west aisle, defined by raised floor strips linking the free-standing and engaged columns.

The sanctuary doorway is framed by jambs, including those with serpent bodies culminating in a flying Garuda over the lintel, with male and female figures beneath at either side.

[6] Other intricately carved artwork include those of Brahma, Surya, Ganesha, Durga, Trivikrama, Narasimha, Kartikeya, Ganga, Bhuvaraha, Umasahita, Vinadhara and Tandavesvara Shiva.

The sanctuary was originally surrounded by a passageway on three sides, possibly with a mandapa extension to the east which can be predicted by observing the broken roof slabs set into its walls and the stumps of beans with friezes of ganas.

On the south face, Ramayana episodes are pictured, which Meister and Dhaky call as "elegant narratives in discrete and expressive figures".

The central pilastered projections have panels depicting Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana (south), Narasimha disemboweling his victim (north), etc.

It is crowned by a large kuta, without finial, the earliest and best preserved example of this type of Dravida styled roof in Early Chalukya architecture.