Madhukeshwara Temple, Banavasi

Madhukeshwara Temple, Banavasi (9th century)

Kadambas king Mayurvarma was made Banavasi (in North Kanara District) his capital.Kadambas was an ancient royal family of Karnataka, who ruled from their capital of Banavasi.

India has rich cultural and historical heritage well preserved in its temple architecture and pilgrim sites.A glorious place Kadamba kings Capital Banavasi is in Sirsi Taluk,Uttara Kannada District.Its 20 km away from Sirsi.Its situated in the border of Uttara Kannada and Shimoga district.Nestled deep in the forests of Western Ghats, this temple town resides on the Varadha river.Banavasi means 'nestled in the forest'.

History of Banavasi-

It has a history rivaled by no other town in the entire state. Ptolemy, the ancient Greek geographer, wrote about a place called 'Bansi' in South India. Banavasi is the place where Pampa, the first poet of Kannada, wrote his epic poems. This was the capital of the Kadambas, the first kingdom of ancient Karnataka. This is where the temple architecture of the Chalukyas and the Hoysalas got its basic elements. This was the ancient place of learning to which scholars flocked from other states like Goa and Maharashtra.the famous Madhukeshwara Temple Built in stone nearly 1500 years ago, this temple is one of the earliest evidence of architectural splendor of the Kadamba era. Also Banavasi is mentioned in the Mahabharath epic.