Tourist Interests

Madhukeshwara temple

Banavasi has grown around the Lord Madhukeshwara temple which was built in the 9th century by the Kadamba dynasty. This architectural marvel has seen many modifications in later years as every dynasty which ruled Banavasi contributed its share to its present shape. This is evident visually as one goes from the ornate sculptures as one enters to the sombre simplicity of the innermost sanctum sanctorum. Some splendid monolithic stone works like the stone couch and the triloka mantapa depicting heaven, earth and the nether world are some of the highlights of the temple.

There is a belief that visiting this temple is equivalent to visiting all of Hinduism’s main temples. Around the main temple are idols depicting Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu from all their main abodes including Varanasi, Tirupati, Rameshwaram, etc. There is a striking half idol of Ganesha and it is believed that the other half is in Varanasi. There is also an unusual idol of Lord Narasimha with a peaceful face.

There is a five-hooded Naga sculpture dating back to the 2nd century. It has an inscription in Prakrit (the old language) which states that Princess Sivaskanda Nagashri had this installed when she had a Vihara and tank constructed at the site.

Around the village..

Several other temples dot the village and its surroundings giving one a good history lesson of Karnataka. There is one temple in Banavasi with the idol facing west to show that God can be worshipped regardless of the rules that Hinduism has evolved over the years. In most Hindu temples, the idol faces east

The River Varada flows at the edge of the village and its banks are the ideal place to relax with a book. Near the Tourist Complex, there is the Pampa Vana, a grove dedicated to the famous poet Pampa. It is believed that Kalidasa drew his inspiration for the “Meghaduta” from Banavasi. Sit at the Pampa Vana and who knows, you could become a writer yourself!

A walk (or cycle ride) around Banavasi will also show you the ancient wall of the city and the surrounding moat dated to be more than a thousand years old. The ASI is setting up an exhibition of the findings of their excavations in and around Banavasi which will give the visitor an understanding of the evolution of the history of the region.

Surrounding Banavasi..

After spending a day wandering around Banavasi, explore the region around. Itineraries have been prepared for a 75km radius around Banavasi.

Options include visiting ancient temples that take you through the history of Karnataka, visiting sacred groves where the bio-diversity has been preserved over the years, waterfalls such as those at Jog (one of the highest in Asia), nature spots such as Honnemarudu, visiting a plantation and having lunch with the hosts or the Gudavi bird sanctuary which hosts thousands of birds each year.

The temples at Ikkeri, Keladi, Balligavi, Thalagunda, Kotipura, Bedsagaon and Sahasralinga offer oases of peace to the religious and non-religious alike. Each of these temples is unique in architecture and built across several centuries in styles that are unique to the dynasty that built them. Each temple also has its own interesting story of how it came to be built and how the main deity came to be there. Our trained guides will help you to understand the history as well as the mythology of each temple.

The region is blessed with plenty of rainfall as well as rivers that meander across the terrain. When these rivers descend from the Western Ghats, they result in some spectacular and scenic waterfalls. The most famous of these is the Jog falls, one of the highest in Asia. There are also the Unchalli and the Magodu waterfalls where you can have a picnic lunch and listen to the soothing sounds of water.

Honnemarudu is situated on the backwaters of the Sharavati dam where an adventure academy has come. This makes for a good day trip from Banavasi.

Visit the sacred groves at Yelkundli where a natural forest has been preserved with its bio-diversity intact giving you a good picture of the splendour of the Western Ghats.

Mr Rehman Sheikh and his family are happy to host you on their plantation where pineapples, bananas, arecanut, pepper, paddy, etc. are grown. Mr Sheikh is known as the “Pineapple King”. A visit to his plantation will help you understand why. Returning from the plantation, stop by at Mr S M Hegde’s house. He has a room full of Ganesha idols in all shapes, colours, sizes and made of varying materials. Finally, stop off at the Gudnapur Lake to watch a beautiful sunset. Gudnapur also has the Rani Mahal, a fifth century structure still being explored by the ASI. A beautiful statue of Mahavira inside gives you a glimpse of the religious tolerance in those days.

Many of these places are as yet unknown to most tourists. So what you can experience is our great natural and cultural heritage in total peace.