Sudi, is a

panchayat town A nagar panchayat (town panchayat; ) or Notified Area Council (NAC) in India is a settlement in transition from rural to urban and therefore a form of an urban political unit comparable to a municipality. An urban centre with more than 12,000 ...

in the

Gadag District Gadag is a district in the state of Karnataka, India. It was formed in 1997, when it was split from Dharwad district. As of 2011, it had a population of 1064570 (of which 35.21 percent was urban). The overall population increased by 13.14 perce ...

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. It is about 30 km from

Badami Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from CE 540 to 757. It is famous for its rock cut monumen ...

, 12 km from

Gajendragad Gajendragad (also called Gajendragada) is a town and a sub-district place in Gadag District, Karnataka, India. This place is known for its hill station and hill strip. Highest populated city after Gadag in the district. It is about 55 kilomet ...

and 3 km from

Itagi Bhimambika Bhimambika temple or Bheemavva temple, is a popular Mutt and temple located in the temple town of Itagi in Gadag District, Ron Taluk in Karnataka. It is About 13 km from Gajendragad Kalkaleshwara temple. Historical temple Bhimambika ...

temple. In the past it was an important town of the

Kalyani Chalukyas The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the Deccan Plateau, western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This Kannada people, Kannadiga dynasty is sometimes called the ''Kalyani Chalukya'' after its regal capital at Kalya ...

during 1000 AD. It is notable for rare stone carved monuments like ''Twin towered temple, Mallikarjuna temple and nagakunda (large well built of stone and carvings)'', and few other structural temples. For long time these structures were abandoned, but recently they caught the eye of the Indian Archaeological Department (ASI -

Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexande ...

History

Sudi belongs to the core area of Western Chalukya architectural activity in modern

(particularly

North Karnataka North Karnataka is a geographical region in Deccan plateau from elevation that constitutes the region of the Karnataka state in India and the region consists of 13 districts. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhi ...

). ''Padevala Taila'' (son of Nagadeva), continued to serve under ''Satyashraya'' (succeeded his father Taila in 997 AD) and his mother ''Attiyabbe'' made a grant in ''1005 A.D''. Satyashraya had two daughters. ''Vradhamabbarasi'' and Akkadevi and one son Kundin (''Kundiraja''). Akkadevi was a ''good administrator'' and was governing some division during the time of ''Satyashraya'' and his successors. Kundiraja was placed in charge of divisions like

Banavasi Banavasi is an ancient temple town located near Sirsi in Karnataka. Banavasi was the ancient capital of the Kannada empire Kadamba that ruled all of modern-day Karnataka state. They were the first native empire to bring Kannada and Karnataka t ...

12,000 and ''Santalige'' 1,000. Akkadevi and ''Kundin'', continued to govern (dating 8_October_1013 AD) some provinces of the

Chalukya Empire The Chalukya dynasty () was a Classical Indian dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynas ...

during the reign of

Vikramaditya Vikramaditya (IAST: ') was a legendary king who has been featured in hundreds of traditional stories including those in ''Baital Pachisi'' and ''Singhasan Battisi''. Many describe him as ruler with his capital at Ujjain (Pataliputra or Pratis ...

. Sudi was the capital of the

in 1100 AD.

king's daughter Akkadevi ruled the place. There are also historical records indicating that coins were manufactured (mint) in this town during that time.

Coinage

During Western Chalukyas (973 – 1189 south), The

Alupas The Alupa dynasty (ಅಳುಪೆರ್, ಆಳ್ವೆರ್) (circa 2nd century C.E to 15th century C.E) was an ancient ruling dynasty of India. The kingdom they ruled was known as ''Alvakheda Arusasira'' and its territory spanned the coa ...

, a feudatory, minted coins with the

Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...

and Nagari legend Sri ''Pandya Dhanamjaya''.

Lakkundi Lakkundi, also referred to as Lokkugundi, was a major city prior to the 14th-century, and is now a village in Gadag District of Karnataka, India. By 10th-century, it was already a major economic and commerce center with mint operations for South ...

and Sudi in Gadag district were the main mints (''Tankhashaley'') . Their heaviest gold coin was ''Gadyanaka'' (weighed 96 grains), Dramma (weighted 65 grains), Kalanju (48 grains), Kasu (15 grains), Manjadi (2.5 grains), Akkam (1.25 grains) and Pana (9.6 grain).

Shaivism, Pasupata school

Shaivism Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangi ...

gained importance and

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current ...

lost towards the closing years of the

Chalukya The Chalukya dynasty () was a Classical Indian dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynas ...

rule. Shaivism was dominant, and had several sects like

Shaiva Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangin ...

, Pasupata or Lakula, Kalamukha and Kapaliaka. The Pasupata school was important and had important centers at

Balligavi Balligavi a town in Shikaripura taluk Shivamogga district of Karnataka state, India, is today known as Belagami or Balagame. Its ancient names are Baligrama, Dakshina Kedara, Valliggame and Valligrame. Dakshina Kedara means Kedarnath of the Sout ...

, Sudi,

Srisailam Srisailam is a census town in Nandyal district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the mandal headquarters of Srisailam mandal in Atmakur revenue division. It is located about from the district headquarters Nandyal, from Kurnool, an ...

and other places.

Inscriptions

The

Cholas The Chola dynasty was a Tamil thalassocratic empire of southern India and one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of the world. The earliest datable references to the Chola are from inscriptions dated to the 3rd century BCE d ...

claim to have captured a large number of

feudatory princes with their women and sacked and burnt ''Mannandippai''. The

reverses are admitted in a Sudi inscription, dated in ''1050 A.D.'', of the reign of ''Someshvara''. It says that ''the 7 ministers granted the ''settis renewal'' of their corporate constitution (which had partly broken down in the stress of the war with the

)''. The

Chola The Chola dynasty was a Tamils, Tamil thalassocratic Tamil Dynasties, empire of southern India and one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of the world. The earliest datable references to the Chola are from inscriptions dated ...

king was killed at ''Koppam'', but the

Chalukyas The Chalukya dynasty () was a Classical Indian dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynas ...

were also pushed back from there by ''Rajendra''. Soon after the

raided

Kanchi Kanchipuram ('; ) also known as ''Conjeevaram,'' is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, from Chennaithe capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the ''City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple ...

, the

capital, burnt the city and defeated the

once again. A ''Sudi inscription'' (Thursday, 20_January_1060 AD), records that king ''Trailokyamalla'' was halting at his camp ''Puli'', a town within ''Sindavadi'' division after having made a victorious expedition to the southern region and conquered the

. Sudi has several stone temples built by Maha Samanthadhipati Naga Deva in 1100 AD that have caught the attention of the

State Archeological Department. Quite a few of these structures have been cleaned up. Besides age-old structures there is also a tower (called ''Hude'' in native language) located in the center of the village. The richness of these temples can be viewed in the images posted here.

Tourism

Twin Towered Shiva Temple

Twin Towered, Two Vimana, Jodakalasa Temple Later

monument, Before 1059-60, by Nageshwara by General Nagadeva administering Sudi.

Shri Chidambara Panchangam

Chidambara Panchanga is publishing from Sudi for many years. It was started by Late.Vedabrahma Shri Ramashastri Joshi.

Shri Shiva Chidambareshwara temple

Adjacent to the Shri Shiva Chidambareshwara temple there is a 29-feet Lord Shiva statue in a standing position which is rare in India & it was inaugurated by Shri Vishwesha Tirtharu, Pejawara Matha, Udupi. File:Alankara chidambara.jpg File:Chidambara Alankara.jpg

Mallikarjuna Temple

Mallikarjuna temple at Sudi is a later

(

) monument, 1054, Founded under princess ''Akkadevi'' Governor of Sudi

Naga Kunda (Well)

Nagakunda literally means King cobra tank at Sudi is a carved (Inner wall) temple tank. This is totally neglected by the people, ASI and Govt. of

. There is need of immediate conservation work to protect this monument.

Other monuments at Sudi

* Large Ganapati Statue * Ishwara Linga in a stone made shelter * Large Shiva linga * Hude (Tower) Sudi Large Basava statue 1

Other monuments at Sudi include a large Ganapati Statue and Nandi statue inside mantapa and a large Shiva linga.

Geography

It has an average elevation of . It is located adjacent to 2 streams called Hirehalla and Doddahalla and has total area of the town is . It is located from

, 42 kilometres from Gadag and 450 kilometres from

Bangalore Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

, the state capital.

Climate

The temperature ranges from minimum 23 degrees to 45 degrees during summer and from 15 to 29 degrees in winter. The rainfall of the area is 50 centimeters. Best time to visit is between low humid season from November and March.

Transport

The nearest airport is Hubli about 100 kilometres away. It is east of Hubli-Sholapur rail route, and the rail station (Mallapur) is 25 kilometres from the town. It is also connected by road to Hubli and Gadag. Sudi is reachable from Bangalore by a 12-hour bus ride, or with a combination of an overnight train journey from Bangalore to Ron followed by a short bus ride from Ron to Sudi.

Demographics

India

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

, Sudi had a population of 6,000. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Sudi has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 59% of the males and 41% of females literate. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Notes

References

* Sudi Kalanelege kayakalpa, Dr. D. V. Devaraj, Director,

State Archeology, Mysore, publication in Sudha Magazine {{coord missing, Karnataka Chalukya dynasty Shiva temples in Karnataka Western Chalukya Empire Archaeological sites in Karnataka Cities and towns in Gadag district