imported>Tom.Reding at 14:49, 26 May 2021

2021-05-26T14:49:00Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Banavasi
| other_name =
| nickname = Pampana Banavasi / ಪಂಪನ ಬನವಾಸಿ
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = Banavasi Madhukeshwara temple.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi
| pushpin_map = India#India Karnataka
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Karnataka, India
| coordinates = {{coord|14.5341|N|75.0177|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Uttara Kannada]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 4267
| population_as_of = 2005
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kannada]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 581 318
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 08384
| registration_plate = [[Sirsi, Karnataka|Sirsi]]
[[List of RTO districts in India#KA.E2.80.94Karnataka|KA]]-31
| website =
| footnotes =
| official_name =
| subdivision_type3 = [[Taluq]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Sirsi, Karnataka|Sirsi]]
}}
'''Banavasi''' is an ancient temple town located near [[Sirsi, Karnataka|Sirsi]] in [[Uttara Kannada]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Karnataka]]. Banavasi was the ancient capital of the Kannada empire Kadamba who ruled entire Karnataka state. They were the first native empire to give prominence to Kannada and Karnataka.

==History==
Banavasi is the oldest town in the [[Karnataka]] state.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Kamat
| first =Jyotsna
|date= 6 August 2006
|url=http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/archaeology/banavasi.htm
|title=Ancient City of Banavasi
|access-date=2006-08-17
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060820140705/http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/archaeology/banavasi.htm| archive-date= 20 August 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref> It has grown up around the Madhukeshwara Temple built in the 5th century and dedicated to [[Shiva]]<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.bangalorebest.com/discoverbangalore/sightseeing/banvasi.asp
|title=Banavasi- 'Kadambothsav'
|publisher=BangaloreBest.com
|access-date=2006-08-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204041050/http://www.bangalorebest.com/discoverbangalore/sightseeing/banvasi.asp
|archive-date=4 February 2012
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> the supreme God in [[Shaivism]], a major branch of [[Hinduism]].
[[File:Madhukeshwara_Temple.JPG|thumb|Madhukeshwara temple, Banavasi]]
[[File:Coin of Kadamba king Sri Dosharashi.jpg|thumb|left|200px|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 [[Kadamba Dynasty|Kadambas of Banavasi]]]]
5th-century copper coin was discovered here with an inscription in the [[Kannada script]], one of the oldest such coins ever discovered.<ref>{{cite web
|date=5 February 2006
|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb72006/state171017200626.asp
|title=5th century copper coin discovered at Banavasi
|newspaper=Deccan Herald
|access-date=2006-08-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614050035/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb72006/state171017200626.asp
|archive-date=2006-06-14
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

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

The town once was the capital of the [[Kadamba Dynasty|Kadamba]] rulers, an ancient royal dynasty of Karnataka.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Kamat
| first = Jyotsna
| date = 5 August 2006
| url =http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/deccan/kadamba.htm
| title =Kadambas of Banavasi
| access-date =2006-08-17
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060904155219/http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/deccan/kadamba.htm| archive-date= 4 September 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref> They established themselves there in A.D. 345 and ruled South India for at least two centuries.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.med.unc.edu/~nupam/postg1.html
|title=South Indian Coins - The Kadambas of Hangal
|access-date=2006-08-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815104329/http://www.med.unc.edu/~nupam/postg1.html
|archive-date=15 August 2006
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

Banavasi contains some of the oldest architectural monuments in southern [[India]].

==Location==
Banavasi lies in Malenadu region and is surrounded by forests and villages, with the Varada river flowing around it on three sides. [[Sirsi, Karnataka|Sirsi]], is the nearest town about 23 km away. It is 400  km from [[Bengaluru]]. The nearest railway stations are 70  km away in [[Haveri]] and [[Talaguppa]]. The district Headquarters is [[Karwar]].

==Agriculture==
The soil is fertile around Banavasi and paddy, wheat, sugarcane, arecanut, spices and pineapple are grown. Its specially known for pineapples, bananas and ginger. There are many pineapple farms on the edge of the village.

==Attractions==
The annual December cultural festival, '''Kadambothsava''', is a huge gathering, organised by the state government, and featuring folk dancers, drama troupes, classical musicians, art exhibitions while drawing together performers, artists, and writers from throughout [[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 ==
<gallery>
Image:banavasi1.jpg|Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi
Image:banavasi2.jpg|Nandi (bull) in ''Mahamantapa'' (hall)
Image:banavasi3.jpg|Throne carved of Stone at Madhukeshwara temple
Image:banavasi4.jpg|Elephant at the entrance
Image:banavasi.jpg|Madhukeshwara Temple
Image:Madhukeshwara_Temple_at_Banavasi.JPG|Sunset at Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Kadamba Dynasty|Kadambas of Banavasi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Banavasi}}
* [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/archaeology/banavasi.htm Ancient City of Banavasi]
* [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb72006/state171017200626.asp 5th century copper coin discovered at Banavasi]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070213125920/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/sep42005/sundayherald102257200592.asp Bouncing off to Banavasi]
* [http://coinindia.com/galleries-kadambas-banavasi.html Coins of the Kadambas of Banavasi]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=RUX8-PzWohgC&pg=PA402-IA5&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false The Kadamba Kula: A History of Ancient and Mediaeval Karnataka]
* [http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/97865/uthara_1.pdf?sequence=1 A study of regional organization at Banavasi]

{{Historical Places in Karnataka}}
{{Uttara Kannada}}

{{Karnataka topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kadambas]]
[[Category:Former capital cities in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Uttara Kannada district]]

Banavasi - Revision history

imported>Tom.Reding at 14:49, 26 May 2021