Koppal district

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  ?Koppal
Karnataka • India
Map indicating the location of Koppal
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Location of Koppal
 Koppal 
Coordinates: 15°21′N 76°09′E / 15.35, 76.15
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area 7,190 km² (2,776 sq mi)
Headquarters Koppal
Subdistrict Koppal, Gangavati, Yalburga, Kushtagi
Population
• Density		 1,196,089 (2001)
• 166 /km² (430 /sq mi)
Deputy Commissioner
Codes
• Telephone
• Vehicle
• ++ 91 (0)
• KA-
Website: www.koppal.nic.in

Coordinates: 15°21′N 76°09′E / 15.35, 76.15

Koppal district (Kannada ಕೊಪ್ಪಳ) is an administrative district in the state of Karnataka in India. The district headquarters is Koppal. The district occupies an area of 7,190 km² and has a population of 1,196,089, which 16.58% were urban as of 2001.[1] The Koppal district was formed after split of Raichur district.

Koppal district has four talukas, Koppal, Gangavati, Yalburgi, Kushtagi.

In the past Koppal was referred to as 'Kopana Nagara'. Hampi, a World heritage center, covers some areas of Koppal District. It is situated approximately 38km away. Anegundi, is also a famous travel destination.


Contents

[edit] Tourist Attractions

Most notable of the many buildings dating from this period[2] are the Mahadeva Temple at Itagi in the Koppal district, the Kasivisvesvara Temple at Lakkundi in the Gadag district, and the Mallikarjuna Temple at Kuruvatti and the Kallesvara Temple at Bagali, both in the Davangere district.[3] Other monuments notable for their craftsmanship include the Siddhesvara Temple at Haveri in the Haveri district, the Amrtesvara Temple at Annigeri in the Dharwad district, the Sarasvati Temple in Gadag, and the Dodda Basappa Temple at Dambal, both in the Gadag district.


[edit] The Mahadeva Temple

Mahadeva Temple at Itagi in the Koppal district, 1112 CE, an example of dravida articulation with a nagara superstructure
Mahadeva Temple at Itagi in the Koppal district, 1112 CE, an example of dravida articulation with a nagara superstructure

Soapstone is found in abundance in the regions of Haveri, Savanur, Byadgi, Motebennur and Hangal. The great archaic sandstone building blocks used by the Badami Chalukyas were superseded with smaller blocks of soapstone and with smaller masonry.[4] The first temple to be built from this material was the Amrtesvara Temple in Annigeri in the Dharwad district in 1050 CE. This building was to be the prototype for later, more articulated structures such as the Mahadeva Temple at Itagi.[5]

The 11th-century temple-building boom continued in the 12th century with the addition of new features. The Mahadeva Temple at Itagi and the Siddhesvara Temple in Haveri are standard constructions incorporating these developments. Based on the general plan of the Amrtesvara Temple at Annigeri, the Mahadeva Temple was built in 1112 CE and has the same architectural components as its predecessor. There are however differences in their articulation; the sala roof (roof under the finial of the superstructure) and the miniature towers on pilasters are chiseled instead of moulded.[6] The difference between the two temples, built fifty years apart, is the more rigid modelling and decoration found in many components of the Mahadeva Temple. The voluptuous carvings of the 11th century were replaced with a more severe chiselling.[7]


Domical ceiling in Mahadeva Temple at Itagi, the Koppal district
Domical ceiling in Mahadeva Temple at Itagi, the Koppal district


Open mantapa (hall) at the Mahadeva Temple in Itagi, the Koppal district, 1112 CE
Open mantapa (hall) at the Mahadeva Temple in Itagi, the Koppal district, 1112 CE
Figure sculpture at Mahadeva Temple in Itagi, the Koppal district
Figure sculpture at Mahadeva Temple in Itagi, the Koppal district

The Mahadeva temple at Itagi dedicated to Shiva is among the larger temples built by the Western Chalukyas and perhaps the most famous. Inscriptions hail it as the 'Emperor among temples'.[8] Here, the main temple, the sanctum of which has a linga, is surrounded by thirteen minor shrines, each with its own linga. The temple has two other shrines, dedicated to Murthinarayana and Chandraleshwari, parents of Mahadeva, the Chalukya commander who consecrated the temple in 1112 CE.[9]

[edit] Kuknur

In Karnataka their most famous temples are the Kashivishvanatha[10] temple and the Jain Narayana temple at Pattadakal, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.[11] Other well known temples are the Parameshwara temple at Konnur, Brahmadeva temple at Savadi, the Settavva, Kontigudi II, Jadaragudi and Ambigeragudi temples at Aihole, Mallikarjuna temple at Ron, Andhakeshwara temple at Huli, Someshwara temple at Sogal, Jain temples at Lokapura, Navalinga temple at Kuknur, Kumaraswamy temple at Sandur, at Shirival in Gulbarga and the Trikunteshwara temple at Gadag which was later expanded by Kalyani Chalukyas. Archeological study of these temples show some have the stellar (multigonal) plan later to be used profusely by the Hoysalas of Belur and Halebidu.[12] One of the richest traditions in Indian architecture took shape in the Deccan during this time and one writer calls it Karnata dravida style as opposed to traditional Dravida style.[13]

9th century old Kannada inscription at Navalinga temple in Kuknur, Karnataka
9th century old Kannada inscription at Navalinga temple in Kuknur, Karnataka


[edit] References

  1. ^ [www.censusindiamaps.net/page/India_WhizMap/IndiaMap.htm]
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ The Mahadeva Temple at Itagi has been called the finest in Kannada country after the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebidu (Cousens in Kamath (2001), p 117)
  4. ^ Cousens (1926), p 18
  5. ^ Foekema (2003), p 49
  6. ^ Foekema (2003), p 57
  7. ^ Foekema (2003), p 56
  8. ^ Kamath (2001),pp 117–118
  9. ^ Rao, Kishan (2002-06-10). Emperor of Temples' crying for attention. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
  10. ^ [2]
  11. ^ Vijapur, Raju S.. Reclaiming past glory. Deccan Herald. Spectrum. Retrieved on 2007-02-27.
  12. ^ Sundara and Rajashekar, Arthikaje, Mangalore. Society, Religion and Economic condition in the period of Rashtrakutas. 1998–2000 OurKarnataka.Com, Inc. Retrieved on 2006-12-20.
  13. ^ Hardy, Adam. Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation, the Karnata Dravida Tradition, 7th to 13th Centuries. Artibus Asiae, Vol. 58, No. 3/4 (1999), pp. 358-362. JSTOR. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.

[edit] See also


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