Itagi

Karnataka > Itagi

Itagi in Yalburga taluk can be easily reached from Gadag (about 40 km.) and is within the reach of Bhanapur, a Railway station in Gadag-Hospet line. It has the best of the Kalyana Chalukya temple called Mahadeva, described as "Devalaya Chakravarthi" (Emperor among temples) in early inscriptions, built by Mahadeva Dandanayaka, a commander of great Chalukya ruler Vikramaditya VI in 1112 A.D. This huge temple of fine polished pillars, intricately carved broad doorways and deep Bhuvaneshwaris in the ceiling with miniature carvings is a magnificent structure of ever lasting beauty. There are a number of other temples around it and there is a huge tank in front. A Saraswati Matha meant for the residence of students is also there. Percy Brown called the temple "as one of the best" after Halebid. Kukanur, 10 km. from here has the Navalinga temple complex of the Rashtrakutas besides the Mahamaya, Kalleshwara and Mallikarjuna of Kalyana Chalukya times.