Kanakagiri (also known as Suvarnagiri) is a town in
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 ...
state of
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 was a provincial capital of the
Mauryan Empire
The Maurya Empire, or the Mauryan Empire, was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in the Indian subcontinent based in Magadha, having been founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, and existing in loose-knit fashion until 1 ...
and later became the capital of the
Nayaka dynasty who were the
Palegars (feudatory) of the
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire, also called the Karnata Kingdom, was a Hinduism, Hindu empire based in the region of South India, which consisted the modern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and some parts of Telangana an ...
.
It is also the site of the historical site
Kanakachalapathi Temple (''Kanakachalapathi Mandir'') which was built by the Nayakas.
Geography
Kanakagiri is situated in
Koppal district, 20 km northwest of the town of
Gangavati
Gangavati is a city, municipality and taluk in the Koppal district of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the main commercial hubs in the Kalyana-Karnataka region. It is also the largest city, in terms of area and population, in the Kopp ...
in the Indian state of
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 ...
.
Temple
Kanakachalapathi temple was built by the Nayakas of Kanakgiri.
Its halls and pillars are a unique example of
south Indian architecture
Dravidian architecture, or the South Indian temple style, is an architectural idiom in Hindu temple architecture that emerged from South India, reaching its final form by the sixteenth century. It is seen in Hindu temples, and the most distinc ...
from the
Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara () was the capital city of the historic Vijayanagara Empire. Located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, it spread over a large area and included the modern era Group of Monuments at Hampi site in Vijayanagara district, Bellary ...
period. The ''
gopuras'' and walls are adorned with sculptures, including statues of Rajas and Ranis in black polished stone, plaster models, and wooden statues of mythological figures.
Kanakagiri Jain tirth
Kanakagiri Jain tirth kshetra also known as Kanakadri and Hemantha Desha is situated at about 3 km from Maleyuru, Chamarajanagar district, 53 km from the Mysore city and 182 km from Bengaluru.
History
It is one of the important ...
is a complex of Jain temple built by
Western Ganga Dynasty
Western Ganga was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India which lasted from about 350 to 1000 CE. They are known as "Western Gangas" to distinguish them from the Eastern Gangas who in later centuries ruled over Kalinga (mo ...
in the 5th or 6th century.
A royal bath constructed by
Raja Venkatappa Nayaka
Raja Venkatappa Nayaka IV or Nalvadi lakshya (?–1858), was a prominent final ruler from the Nayak Dynasty of Shorapur (or Surapur) in present-day Yadgiri district of Karnataka state. He refused to accept the suzerainty of the British East In ...
in 1586 sits on the outskirts of Kanakgiri.
Fort
Hemagudda
Hemagudda near Kammatadurga is a village in the Gangavathi taluk of Koppal district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Hemagudda is located northeast to District Headquarters Koppal.
Hemagudda is from Gangavathi and from.
Importance
Hemagud ...
Fort, about 20 km from Kanakagiri
is next to the ''
Kammatadurga
Kammata Durga, also spelled as ''Kammatadurga'',(near Hemagudda) is a village in the Koppal taluk of Koppal district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Kammatadurga is located Northeast to District Headquarters Koppal.
Importance
Kammatadurga wa ...
Fort'' of ''Gandugali Kumara Rama''. The fort was constructed in the 14th century. The fort has a temple of
Durga Devi
Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars.
Durga's legend centres around c ...
celebrating Dasara.
Utsav
Kanakagiri Utsav is an annual fair associated with the Kanakachalapathi temple during
Phalguna
Phalguna ( sa, फाल्गुन ) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Phalguna is twelfth month of the year, and corresponds with February/March in the Gregorian calendar.Henderson, Helene. (Ed.) (2005) ' ...
.
Gallery
See also
*
Kanakagiri Jain Shri kshetra
Kanakagiri Jain tirth kshetra also known as Kanakadri and Hemantha Desha is situated at about 3 km from Maleyuru, Chamarajanagar district, 53 km from the Mysore city and 182 km from Bengaluru.
History
It is one of the importan ...
*
Temples of North Karnataka
Temples of North Karnataka
North Karnataka has innumerable sites in the Temple Map of Karnataka, India, with its some of its still surviving monuments going back to the 7th century AD. The Badami Chalukyas were the builders of rock cut caves ...
*
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire, also called the Karnata Kingdom, was a Hinduism, Hindu empire based in the region of South India, which consisted the modern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and some parts of Telangana an ...
*
List of Vijayanagara era temples in Karnataka
*
Vijayanagara architecture
Vijayanagara architecture of 1336–1565 CE was a notable building idiom that developed during the rule of the imperial Hindu Vijayanagara Empire. The empire ruled South India, from their regal capital at Vijayanagara, on the banks of the Tung ...
*
Mauryan Empire
The Maurya Empire, or the Mauryan Empire, was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in the Indian subcontinent based in Magadha, having been founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, and existing in loose-knit fashion until 1 ...
*
Hampi
Hampi or Hampe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Hampi (town), Hampi town, Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India.
Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire i ...
*
Anegondi
Anegundi previously called Kishkindha is a village in the Gangavathi taluk, Koppal district in the Indian state of Karnataka, It is older than Hampi, situated on the northern bank of the Tungabhadra River. Huchappayana matha temple (with bla ...
*
Karatagi
Karatagi is a town and taluk headquarters located in Koppal District in Karnataka, India. It is one of the most important commercial centres in the district. The town is made up of multiple paddy fields, which are irrigated by the Tungabhad ...
*
Gangavathi
Gangavati is a city, municipality and taluk in the Koppal district of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the main commercial hubs in the Kalyana-Karnataka region. It is also the largest city, in terms of area and population, in the Kop ...
*
Koppal
''Koppal'' is a district headquarters of Koppal district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Koppal is surrounded on three sides by hills. It was known as Kopana Nagara. The town has historical landmarks such as the Koppal Fort, Gavimath (a rel ...
*
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 ...
References
{{Koppal
Cities and towns in Koppal district
Tourism in Karnataka
Hindu temples in Koppal district
Vijayanagara Empire