Bankapura is a panchayat town in Haveri district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is in Shiggaon taluk, is just 2.5 km from the Pune-Bangalore national highway NH-4, 22 km from Haveri town. Bankapura is about 45 km from Hubli-Dharwad. An historical site, Bankapura is famous for the Nagareshwara temple, Bankapura fort, The Bankapura Peacock Sanctuary. Baada, the birthplace of Kanakadasa is near to Bankapura.
History
Under the
Chalukyas, many temples were built here, but during an invasion by Ali Adil Shah I, the
Turko-Persian Sultan of Bijapur in about 1565 most of the temples were destroyed. A fort, now in ruins, at Bankapura houses the Ranganatha Nagareshwara temple, which has
66 pillars carved out of grey stone. There is also a mosque in the fort. The place is of historical significance to Jains. Adipuran, a Jain religious text was composed here.
Bankapura fort (454 CE), was ruled by
Kadamba Dynasty of Banavasi, Gangas, Cholas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Chalukyas, Emperors of Vijayanagara, Turko-Persian Adil Shahi of Adil Shahi, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.
During the 9th century, Bankapura was in the honour of
Bankeyarasa (in 898 CE) who was a feudatory of the
Rashtrakuta Emperor
Amoghavarsha I.
In the 11th century the
Kadambas took over, followed by the
Hoysalas ruler
Vishnuvardhana.
- Invasion by the Bahamnis
In the 16th century, the
Turko-Persian Bahmanis invaded Bankapura and Mustapha Khan of Bijapur annexed the fortress after a pitched battle for more than a year. The Nawabs of Savanur and the Marathas ruled for a short duration before Hyder Ali and Tipu took possession. Later, Bankapura was ceded to the British.
- Inscriptions
In the Nagareshwara temple, at the entrance to the mukhamantapa, there are large clear inscriptions written in old Kannada.
It is known from history that the great poet of Kannada literature, Ranna, visited Bankapura to meet Ajithsenacharya, who became his teacher.
Bankapura Fort
Inside the ruined Bankapura fort, conquered by the
Turko-Persian, there is a temple built by the
Chalukyas known as
Aravattaru Kambada Gudi. Bankapura is an important historical place where many battles were fought by a succession of rulers. In spite of the vandalism the Nagareshwara temple remains ornate.
Nagareshwar temple
The impressive Bankapur fort area has the eye catching 66 pillared Nagareshwar temple (locals call it as
Aravattu Kambada Gudi - means
60 pillars temple in Kannada) was built (in a depression to conceal it from invaders) in the 11th century in Chalukya style (in a depression). There are many well carved pillars. The fort area comprises of land of, which is reserved for the popularly known
Mayura Vana, the abode of the peacocks for three decades. As per the 16 inscriptions, has references to the history of this place, it was dedicated to Shiva. The temple also once it was a centre for study and research on Jainism. During rule of
Mustafa Khan the temple, the back corners of the temple hall completely damaged including number of carvings in the exterior wall panels
but the pillars, the artistic carvings and the ceiling designs are intact.
The peacock sanctuary
Bankapura is a conservation reserve for
peafowl by the Government of India.
Demographics
India [[census]],
External links
