>Wistleblow at 12:48, 3 July 2021

2021-07-03T12:48:53Z

New page

{{More citations needed|date=April 2008}}
{{original research|date=December 2020}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Barkur
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| nickname =
| pushpin_map = India Karnataka#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Karnataka, India
| coordinates = {{coord|13.4668|N|74.7498|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Udupi District]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of = 11,256
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate =
| website =
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kundagannada]], [[Tulu Language|Tulu]]
}}
'''Barkur''' (also spelt '''Barcoor''') is a cluster of three villages, Hosala, Hanehalli, and Kachoor, in the [[Brahmavara]] taluk, [[Udupi district]] of [[Karnataka]] state in [[India]]. The place is located on the bank of [[Seetha River|River Seetha]]. It is also called as 'temple town'.<ref name="What's the buzz in Barkur?">{{cite web|title=What's the buzz in Barkur|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/supplements/travel/what-s-the-buzz-in-barkur-751508.html|accessdate=18 December 2019|work=Deccan Herald|date=3 August 2019}}</ref>

Barkur is located 16 km from [[Udupi]], another ancient city, and 3 km from [[Brahmavar]]a, a [[tehsil|taluk]] of Udupi. The Seetha River flows through Barkur and joins the [[Arabian Sea]].<ref name="Immersed in heritage">{{cite web|title=Immersed in heritage|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/immersed-in-heritage/article3611579.ece|accessdate=13 January 2015|work=The Hindu|date=7 July 2012}}</ref>

==History==
Barkur was the ancient capital of the [[Alupa kingdom]]. Alupa kings are vassals of [[Kadamba dynasty|Kannada Empires]]. It was known as Barakanyapura and later as Barakkanur.<ref name=":0" /> The rulers were known as Tuluva rulers. They spoke [[Tulu language]]. Many ancient inscriptions found in Barkur are in [[Kannada language]]. Few are in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Tulu language|Tulu]] languages. These are an essential part of history of [[Karnataka]] . The Coastal Town of Barkur was also a flourishing port in the 15th and 16th centuries. At that time Barkur was referred as Capital of [[Alupa dynasty|Alupa]] kingdom.

Apart from the Alupa rulers, Alupa rulers made Barkur as their capital. Archaeological findings suggest that Barkur was a province under the [[Vijayanagar Empire]] in the 14th century A.D. Pandarideva was the Governor of this province under the regime of [[Harihara II]].<ref>{{cite web|title=14th century bronze idols discovered|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/14th-century-bronze-idols-discovered/article6683438.ece|accessdate=5 January 2015|work=The Hindu|date=5 January 2014}}</ref>
There are remains of two forts built by the Alupas and Vijayanagara governors. It was also a sub capital of the [[Hoysala Empire|Hoysala kings]] for some period.

According to [[Mappila|Kerala Muslim]] tradition, Barkur was home to one of the [[Islam in India|oldest mosques]] in [[Indian subcontinent]]. According to the [[Legend of Cheraman Perumals]], the first Indian mosque was built in 624 AD at Kodungallur with the mandate of the last ruler (the Cheraman Perumal) of [[Chera dynasty]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Jonathan Goldstein |title=The Jews of China |publisher=M. E. Sharpe |year=1999|isbn=9780765601049 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Z6DlzyT2vwC |page=123}}</ref><ref name="SimpsonKresse2008">{{cite book |author1=Edward Simpson|author2=Kai Kresse|title=Struggling with History: Islam and Cosmopolitanism in the Western Indian Ocean|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w0qHKA7zEaEC&pg=PA333|access-date=24 July 2012 |year=2008|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-70024-5|pages=333}}</ref><ref name="Kupferschmidt1987">{{cite book|author=Uri M. Kupferschmidt|title=The Supreme Muslim Council: Islam Under the British Mandate for Palestine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ChEVAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA458|access-date=25 July 2012|year=1987|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-04-07929-8|pages=458–459}}</ref><ref name="Raṇṭattāṇi2007">{{cite book|author=Husain Raṇṭattāṇi|title=Mappila Muslims: A Study on Society and Anti Colonial Struggles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlb5BrabQd8C&pg=PA179|access-date=25 July 2012|year=2007|publisher=Other Books|isbn=978-81-903887-8-8|pages=179–}}</ref> According to ''[[Qissat Shakarwati Farmad]]'', the [[Mosque|''Masjids'']] at Kodungallur, [[Kollam]], [[Madayi]], Barkur, [[Mangalore]], [[Kasaragod]], [[Kannur]], [[Dharmadam]], Panthalayani (Koyilandy), and [[Chaliyam]], were built during the era of [[Malik Dinar]], and they are among the oldest ''Masjid''s in [[Indian Subcontinent]].<ref>Prange, Sebastian R. ''Monsoon Islam: Trade and Faith on the Medieval Malabar Coast.'' Cambridge University Press, 2018. 98.</ref>

==Temple Architecture==
The temples at Barkur have a distinct architecture. The sloping terracotta-tiled roofs bear resemblance to the temples of Kerala, but they do not have gopurams, a common feature of the Dravidian style South Indian temples.
;Chowlikere Ganapathy Temple
Chowlikere Ganapathy Temple was constructed 900 years back,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.trayaan.com/2013/01/ruins-of-barkur.html|title=Ruins of Barkur|date=2013-01-15|newspaper=Trayaan|access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref> during the Chola Period. The Bairagi Ganapathy Temple is entirely hewn out of stone with a slanted stone roof and etched stone pillars. The stone walls of this temple display beautiful sculptures and it is apparent that this mammoth structure has withstood the ravages of time. The Panchalingeshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is Barkur's largest temple, and is one of the oldest in the town. Its double-storied gateway, with a pillared verandah on either sides, is most alluring. The rear side of the temple has an elephant-back-like curvilinear structure. The pillars that surround the circumambulatory path of the temple are decorated with carvings depicting mythological characters.

;Kathale Basadi
[[File:Kattale basadi.jpg|thumb|Kattale basadi]]
A 20-feet monolithic stone pillar is erected at the entrance.<ref name=":0" /> The temples were elegantly designed with carvings and embellishments, but are now in ruins. The twenty-four dents in the stone are the only evidence of the existence of idols of the twenty-four Jain thirthankaras.<ref>{{cite web|title=It is now a window to the past|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/450480/it-now-window-past.html|accessdate=31 December 2014|work=Deccan Harald|date=30 December 2014}}</ref> There are three main structures in a big courtyard with a victory pillar at the entrance. Archaeologists say that they were built between the 8th and 12th century A.D. Built by the Alupa rulers, the Jain Basadi, unlike most South Indian temples built in the Dravidian style, does not have a gopuram. The sanctum sanctorum is surrounded by stone walls otherwise known as Prangan, with sloping stone pillars over it. The original Mahavira idol was destroyed but has been replaced by stone tablets with animal figures that are a later addition.<ref name="Immersed in heritage"/>

Katthale Basadi consists of Navranga with Nagkaali, Shiva, Vishnu and Jain deities with separate temples. It proves the existence of changing kingdoms with various rulers trying to control the city both politically and in terms of religion.<ref>{{cite web|title=The ruins of a long lost kingdom of glory: Barkur|url=http://www.newskarnataka.com/exclusive/The-ruins-of-a-long-lost-kingdom-of-glory-Barkur|accessdate=31 December 2014|work=news Karnataka|date=30 December 2014}}</ref>

==Barkur Fort==
The Barkur fort was built by [[Harihara I]], founder of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]].
The Barkur fort is spread across 20 acres of land. Inside the fort there are ruins of the kingdom. There are pillars used to tie horses and elephants which formed the part of the army. This fort was excavated several years ago by the archaeologists in a few acres of land, which is now an excursion site.<ref>{{cite web|title=Take a tour to Mangalore and Barkur|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/article314390.ece|accessdate=5 January 2015|work=New Indian Express|date=2 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Tulu Nadu]]
*[[Hattiangadi]]
*[[Basrur]]
*[[Udupi District]]
*[[Brahmavara]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Barkur}}
*[http://www.barkuronline.com Barkuronline.com]
*[http://www.udupipages.com Udupipages.com]
*[http://www.konkanrailway.com Konkan Railway]
*[[History of Tulu Nadu]]

[[Category:Villages in Udupi district]]
[[Category:8th-century Jain temples]]

Barkur - Revision history

>Wistleblow at 12:48, 3 July 2021