782 Dharwad District CHAPTER 17 PLACES OF INTEREST he district of Dharwad, a plateau situated 2,500 ft. above the mean sea level, forming part T of the extended curvilinear valleys of the western Ghats, has paved the way for the community living of the people in the district right from early times, due to its mountain ranges covered with natural forest, river valleys and vast plain lands. The district has innumerable places where architectural remnants of the Shatavahana, the Badami Chalukya, the Rashtrakuta, and the Kalyana Chalukya period, still exists. Besides the religious centres, one can see holy places where saints and sages lived, spots of natural beauty; towns of commercial and cultural importance; while few are significant as pre- historic centres, several others are important due to the political events of historic importance that occured therein. The river valleys, and places like Bankapur, Abalur, Galaganath, Chaudadanapur, Lakshmeswar, Lakkundi, Gadag, Kalkeri, Tilavalli, Rattihalli, Dambal, Hangal, Yalavatti, and many more may be mentioned of. In this chapter an endeavour is made to introduce to the reader not only the well- known places, but also those which have remained largely either out of reach or unfamiliar to the people. When viewed in the light of the rich archaeological background of the district, our survey can hardly be regarded as adequate. The architectural and sculptural remains in the District are quite rich and varied and hence the aim of this chapter is to introduce them concisely. (but, in a work of this kind only a concise account can be given). Likewise, places of enchanting natural beauty have also been included. The places are alphabetically arranged. The population of the places is noted within the parentheses as furnished by the census of India, 1991. Abalur : Abbalur, (Pop: 1,543) of the inscriptions was a large town in ancient period, is situated at a distance of four Km from the taluk head quarters town of Hirekerur. From early times, it was known as a famous centre of Jainism. However, its influence started waning from the 12th century A.D. When a proponent of Shaivism named Ekantada Ramaiah stood up against the Jains, the legend has it that, he cut off his own head during a religious disputation with the Jains and was brought back to life by Lord Shiva himself. The incidence is narrated by an inscription of 1200 A.D. found at the Someshwara temple. The same inscription mentions by name a few other Shivasharanas as well (vide. Places of Interest 783 E.I., V, PP 237-60). The Brahmeshwara and Someshwara temples earned glory on account of the miracle performed by Ekantada Ramaiah. The Brahmeshwara temple is a simple stone structure in the Chalukyan style.The stone inscription found on the right wall of the Someshwara temple, records that subsequent to the above cited miracle, a local officer named Sanka Gavunda offered armed resistance against the breaking up of the Basadi but was thwarted. Thereafter, Ekantada Ramaiah is said to have restored the structure and converted it into a Shaiva temple. This incident is depicted through sculptures. The Someshwara temple at Abalur is a triple-shrined (trikutachala) structure. The garbhagriha, ardhamantapa and parts of navaranga of this temple are believed to have been constructed by Ekantada Ramaiah, while the other parts of the temple, including the two other garbhagrihas, appear to have been subsequent additions. There is a common antarala immediately adjoining the three garbhagrihas, and there is an open ardhamantapa and a mukhamantapa in the front having kakshasana. The miracles said to have been performed by Ekantada Ramaiah are seen carved on the walls of the temple along with labelled inscriptions furnishing their details. On the right portion of the gateway is a sculpture showing Sankagavunda handing over a document to Ekantada Ramaiah and another sculpture depicting the breaking up of the Jina image and the consecration of the Shivalinga by the latter. Other prominent early sculptures show Shiva receiving a piece of cloth from the hands of Jedara Dasimaiah, Shiva performing a dance before potter Gundaiah, and Siriyala setty. These are believed to be some of the most ancient sculptures of Shivasharanas and epigraphical references about this legend has it that the celebrated poet-philosopher Sarvajna resided at Abalur. The grand idol of Nandi in the Brahmeshwara temple was originally known as Abaluru Basavanna. A fair called Basavanna jatra is held annually. A magnificient two-armed idol of Surya is found behind this Basavanna. Besides there is a Saraswathi temple adjacent to this Brahmeshwara temple. Abbigeri : (Pop: 7,525) Situated in Ron taluk, at a distance of about 12 Km from Ron, this village formed a part of Belivola 300 country in Naregal - 12 and is referred to in inscriptions as Abbeyagere or Avvegeri. Altogether eleven inscriptions have been reported from this village, the oldest of which records a grant of 24 mattars of land, a flower garden and an oil-pressing mill to God Chennakeshava by Queen Devaladevi (A.D. 1113). A second epigraph of A.D. 1125, lying in front of the Sutta Basappa shrine records a land grant made to God Someshwara, and a third epigraph of A.D. 1174 (Manikyeshvara) recording a gift made by sixty resident families (Aravattokkalu) of Abbigeri to God Kuppeshwara. Yet another epigraph of A.D 1186, records a gift made by Vikramaditya VI to the same deity. An inscription of Kalachuri Bijjala refers to a gift made to the Moolasthana Devaru. An inscription of A.D. 1541 commemorates the death in war of one Timmanna of Honnapur, and another inscription records a gift made in circa 17th century A.D. by Barigeyara Madevanayaka for the religious Picotta - Dharmada Bhavi. Several of the temples named in the inscriptions are fully dilapidated. Some of these, however, have been later renovated. The Ishwara temple of the Kalyana Chalukyan period has been renovated, but its garbhagriha, antarala, ardhamantapa and the Shivalinga are all part of the original structure. The dilapidated Jyotirlinga shrine outside the village is of the Kalyana Chalukyan period. The ancient shrine of Sutta Basappa has been renovated. An attractive 10th Century idol of Chamundi is found near the shrine of Udachavva, seated in lalithasana posture upon a corpse. All over the village Hero- stone and relics are scattered. Besides the shrines of Hanumantha, Basavanna, Veerabhadra, Durgamma, Kalikamba, Dyamavva and Kariamma, it also has a Mosque and a dargah. A theatrical company from Abbigeri was quite well-known during pre-independence period. 784 Dharwad District Adargunchi : (Pop: 5,309) Situated in the Hubli taluk, at a distance of nine Km to the south-east of Hubli, so far, three inscriptions have been reported from here. The antiquity of this place is traced back to the Rashtrakuta times on the strength of a tenth century inscription lying in front of the Hanumantha temple. A circa 13th century inscription refers to a piece of dry land which belonged to the Uchhangi Basadi of Kanoora gana; and, a Circa 14th century hero-stone mentions the death of a gavunda in the battle field. The Doddappa temple, a Jaina Basadi at the entrance of the village, is venerated by people of all castes. This entirely modern temple consists of a garbhagriha, an antarala, and a ardhamantapa. It houses an approximately eight ft. tall image of a Tirthankara seated in padmasana posture. The lion-seat, upon which the Tirthankaras image is placed, has an unpublished inscription of four lines containing details of its installation. The attractive carvings upon the door- frame of the antarala of this temple holds our attention. Among the other shrines in the village are included those of Kalmeshwara, Basavanna, Veerabhadra, Mailara, Ishwara, Beeradeva, Bharamappa, Hanumantha, Dyamavva, Udachamma, Kariamma and Satamma. There are, three Mosques and a dargah. A month after Ugadi festival, its urus is held. Adur : (Pop: 4,132) Situated in Hangal taluk, it is located at a distance of 16 km. from the Haveri railway station. It is an ancient place and is noted for an inscriptions of A.D. 750 of Kirtivarma II of the Badami Chalukya dynasty . Inscriptions refer to this place, as Pandiyuru and Pandipura. There are seven inscriptions at this place, which formed part of Panungal-500 country, is on the bank of Varada river. The above inscription of 750. A.D. now kept in the Kannada Research Institute of Dharwad, records a gift made to a Basadi constructed by Dharma gavunda, by his grandson Sripala and another person named Drona gavunda. An inscription of A.D. 1034, assigned to the reign of Jayasimha II mentions the construction of the Banashankari temple. Another inscription of A.D. 1044 tells about the construction of the Kalleshwara temple and a Kannekere (new tank) by Kaliga during the reign of Dandanayaka (commander) Ecchaiah. The same temple obtained a gift from Aytavarmagauda and others in A.D. 1067. A 12th century hero stone records the death of Soma Gavunda of Kaginele in a battle; and another inscription commemorates the death of a village headman or gauda. On the basis of the fact that the inscriptions mentioning the Kalmeshwara temple are near the Kalleshwara temple. it is surmised that the latter temple is the one intended. The temple has a garbhagriha, an open antarala and a ardhamantapa; an idol of Veerabhadra is found placed behind Shivalinga here. The columns of the antarala are adorned with a sacred motif over which passes a makara torana with carved figures of beautiful Nandi, Kartikeya etc. There are seen two Suryabimbas in the ardhamantapa, one of which is of the Rashtrakuta and the other of the Kalyana Chalukya style.