Banavasi

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Banavasi
village
Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi
Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi
Banavasi is located in Karnataka
Banavasi
Banavasi
Location in Karnataka, India
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Country  India
State Karnataka
District Uttara Kannada district
Population (2005)
 • Total 4,267
Languages
 • Official Kannada
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 581 318
Telephone code 08384

Banavasi (Kannada: ಬನವಾಸಿ) also known as Konkanapura is an ancient temple town in Uttara Kannada District in the South Indian state of Karnataka .Huen Tsang the Chinese traveler-monk who was in India between 630-644 AD, visited Konkanapura called Konkanapulo(referred in Chinese scripts)or Banavasi.

History

Banavasi is the oldest town in the Karnataka state.[1] It has grown up around the Madhukeshwara Temple built in the 9th century and dedicated to Lord Shiva[2] the supreme God in Shaivism, a major branch of Hinduism.

Madhukeshwara temple, Banavasi
Coin of the Kadamba king who calls himself on the coin "sri dosharashi," thought to be Krishnavarma II (ruled c. 516-540). The reverse of the coin has the legend shashanka, which means "moon." The Kannada letters and another coin can be seen in the entry for Kadambas of Banavasi

In 2006, a 5th-century copper coin was discovered here with an inscription in the Kannada script, one of the oldest such coins ever discovered.[3] The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums said that the coin's inscription in archaic Kannada proves beyond doubt that Banavasi had a mint in the 5th century.[4]

Adikavi Pampa, the first poet of Kannada, wrote his epics in Banavasi.

The town once was the capital of the Kadamba rulers, an ancient royal dynasty of Karnataka.[5] They established themselves there in A.D. 345 and ruled South India for at least two centuries.[6]

Location

Banavasi is surrounded by forest area and villages, with the Varada river flowing around it on three sides. It is located 374 km from Bangalore. The nearest railway stations are 70 km away in Haveri and Talaguppa. Sirsi, is the nearest town about 23 km,

Agriculture

The soil is fertile around Banavasi and rice, sugarcane, arecanut, spices and pineapple are grown there.

Attractions

The annual December cultural festival, Kadambothsava, is a huge gathering, organized by the state government, and featuring folk dancers, drama troupes, classical musicians, art exhibitions, while drawing together performers, artists, and writers from all of south India.

Banavasi has long been a cultural centre, especially the Yakshagana art form. Today local artisans craft and sell the classical folk art Yakshagana masks here.

Gallery

  • Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi

  • Nandhi (bull) in mahamantapa (hall)

  • Throne carved of Stone at Madhukeshwara temple

  • Elephant at the entrance

  • Madhukeshwara Temple

  • Sunset at Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi

See also

References

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  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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