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KARNATAKA MONUMENTS
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Nowhere else in India can one find such a profusion of monuments as in Karnataka. It is no wonder Karnataka has been called the cradle of stone architecture. The World Heritage Centre at Pattadakal, the magnificent temples at Belur, Halebid and Somnathpur, the cave temples of Badami and Aihole, the eloquent ruins of Hampi and the stately forts, domes and minarets of Bijapur all reflections of her rich history and cultural affluence. These peerless wonders are eloquent reminders of a fertile heritage.
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Hampi is the world’s largest open-air museum.
Hampi was the capital city of the powerful South Indian Vijayanagar Empire. Founded by Harihara and Bukka in 1336, it fell to the Muslim rulers of North India in 1565 after the disastrous Battle of Talikota and subsequently lapsed into decline and abandonment. The once-proud city of victory is now a city of desolation. However, the ruins of these historical monuments have stood the ravages of man and time and still evoke memories of the grandeur of a bygone era.
HAMPI: Set amidst an awesome boulder-strewn landscape along the banks of the Tungabhadra river 12 kms. away from the sleepy town of Hospet in Bellary district, Hampi was the magnificent capital of the mighty Vijayanagar kingdom. “The city is such that the pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it and the ear of intelligence has never been informed that there existed anything to equal it in the world,” marvelled a 15th century Persian ambassador. There were opulent palaces, marvellous temples, massive fortifications, baths, markets, aquaducts, pavilions, stables for royal elephants and elegantly carved pillars. This was a city whose merchants offered diamonds, pearls, fine silks, brocades, horses and according to one Portuguese visitor, “every sort of thing on earth”.
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A visit to Hampi is a sojourn into the past. The best way to experience this World Heritage Site is to take a leisurely stroll through the eloquent ruins. Most of the important structures and ruins are located in two areas, which are generally referred to as the Royal Centre and the Sacred Centre. The Royal Centre in the southwest part of the site contains structures that seem to have been palaces, baths, pavilions, royal stables and temples for ceremonial use. The Sacred Centre is situated on the northern edge of the city along the banks of the holy Tungabhadra River. |
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 | Badami:
Picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills, the exquisite sculptures and the rust red sandstone cliffs of Badami tell many a tale of yore. Climb a flight of steps to reach the four ancient rock-cut caves replete with carved pillars and bracket figures, all hewn out of red sandstone on the precipice of a hill. The largest of them is the third cave, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The first sculptural embellishment to dazzle the eye is the 18-armed Nataraja striking 81 dance poses in the first cave. Overlooking the caves is the Agastya Theertha Tank, its banks dotted with a cluster of Bhoothanatha temples. |
Pattadakal:
With its beautifully chiselled temples, this World Heritage Site on the banks of the Malaprabha river bears testimony to the richness of Chalukyan architecture. Pattadakal reached its pinnacle of glory under the Chalukya kings and was once used as a ceremonial centre where kings were crowned and commemorated. It has a cluster of 10 major temples, each displaying interesting architectural features. At the entrance of the site, you can see the 8th century temples of Jambulinga, Kadasiddeshvara and Galaganatha with their curvilinear shikaras or spires. |
The biggest temple, dedicated to Virupaksha, has a huge gateway, several inscriptions and a profusion of friezes from the epics. Facing the temple is a pavilion containing a massive nandi. The Mallikarjuna Temple is similar in design to Virupaksha Temple, but smaller in size. The ornate Papanatha Temple is yet another impressive piece of architecture, with delicately chiselled ceilings and a 16-pillared main hall. The Sangameshwara Temple dating from the reign of King Vijayaditya (696–733 AD) is the earliest temple in this complex. |  |
 | Aihole:
A tranquil village on the banks of the Malaprabha river, Aihole is acclaimed as the cradle of Hindu temple architecture. There are hundreds of temples in the villages and fields nearby. The most impressive one is the Durga Temple with its semicircular apse, elevated plinth and the gallery encircling the sanctum. The Lad Khan Temple, which is one of the earliest temples, was originally a royal assembly hall and marriage mantapa chosen as the abode of a Muslim prince, Lad Khan.
The Huchimalli Temple with a sculpture of Vishnu sitting atop a large cobra, the Ravalphadi Cave Temple celebrating the many forms of Shiva, the Konti Temple Complex, the Umamaheswari Temple, the Jain Meguti Temple and the two-storied Buddhist Temple are other sights worth seeing.
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Lakkundi
12 kms. southeast of Gadag is the modest village of Lakkundi. Here, scattered among the tiny houses and dusty lanes are 50 stunning temples and 29 inscriptions dating back to the Kalyana Chalukya period. The most ornate and spectacular of these is the Kashi Vishwanatha Temple. The Jain Temple dedicated to Mahavira is one of the largest and oldest shrines here. Lakkundi is also noted for its steep wells, artistically built with small, canopied niches inside the walls of several wells that enshrine lingas. The Archaeological Survey of India also maintains a sculpture gallery here.
Kittur Chennamma Fort
Located on the Pune-Bangalore highway about 50 kms. from Belgaum and 32 kms. from Dharwad, the tiny town of Kittur with its dilapidated palace, monuments, statues and horse tongas (rickshaws) evokes the glories of a bygone era. The fort stands as testimony to the great freedom struggle led by Rani Chennamma. |
Chitradurga Fort:
Chitradurga, on the highway linking Bangalore with Hospet, is famed for its massive Kallina Kote (Palace of Stone) fort, a marvel of military architecture made impregnable by the Nayak Palegars. It has 19 gateways, 38 posterior entrances, a palace, a mosque, granaries, oil pits, four secret entrances and water tanks. Amidst rocky surroundings inside the fort complex on the hill are many temples. Ekanatha Temple and Chandravalli Caves are worth visiting. The Hidimbeshwara Temple is the oldest temple on the site. Other places of tourist interest in Chitradurga district are Brahmagiri, Vanivilas Sagar, Nayakanakatte, Jogimatti and Jatinga Rameswara.
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Bijapur:
The one-time capital of the Adil Shahi kings (1489-1686) is dotted with mosques, mausoleums, palaces, fortifications, watchtowers and strong gateways, with the massive Gol Gumbaz dominating the landscape for miles around. |
Gulbarga Fort:
Originally built by Raja Gulchand and later fortified by Ala-ud-din Bahman, the fort contains large buildings, mosques, temples, stables, ammunition dumps, carriages, 15 towers, 26 guns and several beautiful courtyards. The pièce-de-résistance of the sprawling fort is the 38,000 sq. ft. Jumma Masjid with its elegant domes and arched columns reminiscent of the great mosque of Cordoba in Spain. The crumbling ruins of Gulbarga Fort transport you to Karnataka’s glorious past, when kingdoms fell and others rose from their ashes. The Sultan Hasan tomb, the tomb of Ghias-ud-din, the fine mausoleum of Feroze Shah and family, the Haft-Gumbaz outside the city and Gulbarga’s many elegant mosques are also worth seeing. |
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