Badami is strategically situated at the foot of a row of sand stone hills, stretching over the north-east and south of the town. The Chalukyan kings had selected this ideal spot because of these natural barriers against the inroads of their enemies from the three directions. The western end of the town was enclosed by a fort wall, which appears to have been surrounded by a moat which was well guarded by a military unit stationed at the spot. The water flowing down the hills was collected in a big tank, locally known as ‘Agastya Tirtha’. The dam was constructed on the western side of the tank, connecting both the hills, similar to the present day dams and surplus water was let out through a lower embankment specially built for this purpose. A canal was dug to regulate excess flow of water for drinking as well as for agricultural purposes. The Dam, about one kilometre in length, has stone revetments in its inner side and steps in the outer side. The fortification and the moat in the town have been damaged for constructional activities and no traces of them are available now. The forts were built of crude and irregular blocks of sand stone which were piled one above the other. The forts had a number of bastions to reinforce the strength of the wall. The vast fortification on the hills is in a dilapidated condition. Within the fort are several ruined buildings, temples, tanks, etc., attesting to the one time glory of this capital town. The fortification walls on the plains were provided with strong gateways one of which can be seen on the way to northern fort. The passage to the forts was from the inner town. The fort on the northern hill was well guarded by a series of narrow stone steps through several narrow stone gates of uniform type and design with strong doors and bastions at corners. The arch-shaped gates have headstones of same shape over them with square loop-holes and a parapet wall behind.