Balligavi

All along the way Shikaripur in Shimoga district we see board proclaiming it as the land of sharana-meaning many veerashiva saints were born here and Just before Balligavi lies Ududati or Udugani-the birth place of one of the greatest women of our land-Akka Mahadevi. A prominent saint of veerashaivim along with Shri. Basavanna, she probably was the only women to  throw away her clothes. To set foot on this ground, where she was born was a wonderful. A temple stands at this location. 

Balligavi is about 12 kms from Shikaripura  and very close to the Kadamba capital Banavasi.   An area rich with history is aslo purported to be the birth place of the Hoysala queen Shantala.

The Kedarareshwara temple- a beautiful piece of architecture, the guide here explains the foundation to have been laid by the western Chalukyas and the super structure by the Hoysalas.

 The  annual festival on

The resplendent emblem of Hoysala


The ceremonial car-decorated and pulled along the streets of the village once a year

In the vicinity of this village there are supposed to be many other temples in ruins, A museum adjacent stores the sculptures found

This is the Bherundeshwara temple situated right in the centre of the village. Said to have been erected by a  General of the Chalukya, its a tough task to photograph the sculpture inside the locked doors, but is one of the best I have seen. The lower part are the legs of a human and the upper past that of the ferocious double headed bird swalloing humans in its huge beaks turned away in the opposite direction. The anger on the face of the bird, humans stuffed in the mouth and holding more in the hands,I know not the significance of this ferociousness.