Is Itagi on your itinerary?


Text content from an article in Hindu titled `Emperor of Temples' crying for attention'

The 12th Century Mahadeva Temple at Itagi in Koppal District with splendid sculptures is said to be one of the finest examples in the country in respect of magnificence and decorative details.

(ASI is working hard to restore the temple)


Though the temple is of historical and architectural importance, the authorities have failed in showcasing it to attract tourists. Even the district administrations of Bellary and Koppal have not bothered to expose its importance.

(En route from Koppal - you drive past some wall-paperish landscape)


Not many know about the temple though it is in the vicinity of Hampi, the capital city of Vijayanagar Empire and now preserved as a world heritage site. The Mahadeva Temple, which has a history that is older than Hampi, is at Itagi, 22 km. from Yelburga town and 15 km. from Koppal town.


The main temple has a Shivalinga, and people of Itagi and nearby villages have been offering pujas to it since its inception. It takes a few hours to watch the remnants of the temple and the architectural skill that glitter in daylight.


The exquisitely carved monuments, towers, pillars, and walls of the temple throw light on Chalukyan culture. A well-preserved inscription in medieval Kannada on a huge stone adjacent to the temple describes it as "Emperor of Temples" of the Chalukyan period built in 1112 A.D. by Mahadeva, a dandanayaka (army general) of King Vikramaditya VI. The inscription describes the style of rule of Chalukyan kings and details on the construction of the temple.


The temple roof is supported by 68 carved pillars. Of them, 26 are on the floor and the rest on the stone bench surrounding the hall and carrying the sloping eaves.


The carved columns are symmetrically arranged. The slabs on the central part of the ceiling have "Makaras" which spring from the jaws of "Kirtimuka" masks.


The temple has a "puskarani (teertha)" on its front side, which is still used by the villagers. An open well with steps behind the temple has dried up and weeds and shrubs have grown on it.


The temple and its surroundings have been neglected for the past few centuries. The sculptures around the temple are in a shambles. Though the Archaeological Survey of India has declared the temple complex a "protected monument", it has done nothing to preserve and develop it as a tourist spot.


The Koppal District administration recently celebrated "Itagi Utsav". But it turned out to be a government program without highlighting the importance of the region.

Location: Mahadeva Temple, Itagi, Karnataka 583232, India

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