Kanakapura
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Kanakapura
Karnataka • India |
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| District(s) | Bangalore Rural district |
| Coordinates | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
7.20 km² (3 mi²) • 637 m (2,090 ft) |
| Population • Density |
47,060 (2001) • 6,536.11/km² |
| Codes • Postal • Telephone |
• 562 117 • +08117 |
Kanakapura is a town and the headquarters of Kanakapura Taluk in the Bangalore Rural district in the state of Karnataka, India. Situated near the city of Bangalore, this town is famous for the production of silk and granite.
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[edit] Etymology
The place was originally under the Gangas and later under the Cholas, who administered it as a part of an area called Kilalainad. Later, the Hoysalas made it a major headquarters of a province (sime). Its name was changed as Kanakapura from its original Kanakanahalli. But earlier it is mentioned as Kanikaranahalli in two Hoysala records dated 1319 and 1317 A.D. from Hachchalu and Nyakanahalli (Kanakapura tq) villages respectively. Even a recent record dated 1662 A.D. by Mysore rulers from Malagala also mention the place as Kanikaranahalli being the headquarters of a sime. The local people universally call it as Kanikaranahalli, which is otherwise corrupted as Kankanahalli, says Buchanan. He further says Kanikaranahalli has a Tamil origin - Kani + Karna or Kanikara signifies a proprietor of land. `Kanikara’ literally means an accountant (Karnika) or a teller of fortune.
[edit] Geography
Kanakapura is situated 55Kms south to Bangalore on the banks of the river Arkavathi.
[edit] Taluk
There are 43 village Panchayaths in the taluk. The main potential of this taluk is mining of granite in quaries. The industrial activities include Silk Reeling, Twisting, Powerlooms, Brick Industries, Bamboo activities, Pottery and other rural industries. Agriculture is the main source of income for people in this Taluk. The Bee keeping industry has covered 38 villages and there are 150 bee keepers who are maintaining 300 bee colonies (Apiary). The State Government is providing training facilities to rural people to encourage bee keeping in rural area. The Government is also supplying bee samples under 50% subsidy of the normal cost through Zilla Panchayath to uplift bee keeping in Rural area. The main object of bee keeping is to get good yield in crops through cross pollination from bees in order to get honey, bee wax etc.
[edit] History
The fort in Kanakapura is said to have been erected by Jagadeva Raya, the chief of Channapatna. The remains of the fort can be now seen near the Arkavathi bridge. The town was twice burnt or laid waste by Tipu Sultan to prevent its being of use to the British army of their march to Shrirangapattana. The place was consequered by Mysore rulers in 1630 A.D. Tipu Sultan was running a huge workshop at Kanakapura with a steel foundry.
The place has a Government Silk Filature Factory founded in 1943. The Rural College here is a good memorial to noted Gandhian constructive worker S. Kariyappa.
[edit] Places to see
The main tourist attraction of Kanakapura Taluk is Sangama (confluence of the rivers Arkavathy and Kaveri) and Mekedaatu.
[edit] Religious Places
- Temples
- Ranganatha Temple: The Ranganatha temple is a huge structure with spacious inner area(Prakara) and a royal gateway (Rayagopura). Along the inner square shaped courtyard (Mukhamantapa) are niches enshrining stucco images representing Dashavatara. The pillars of this Mantapa are in Vijayanagara style with a cell to the right having images of Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha. Facing this is a shrine with a seated image of Anjaneya. The Navaranga has a seated image of Vishnu with attributes like Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Abhaya. Perhaps, this must have been the main deity as it is locally said that the present image of Srinivasa was installed as the original image was broken. The central sanctum sanctorum has a Shala Shikhara. There is an Ardhamantapa having niches without images. Beside the main sanctum is another cell outside to the right having a recent image of Ranganatha. To the left of the main temple is another shrine of a Padmavati with a small Ardhamantapa and a Navaranga. The annual Jatra is held for a span of nine days beginning from Ugadi, when a cattle fair is also held.
- Other Temples: The Ganesha temple is an ordinary square structure having an image in Vijayanagara style. In front of this is a modern marriage hall (Kalyanamantapa). The Kodandarama temple is also an ordinary structure in Vijayanagara style. The sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) has a brick and mortar tower (Shikhara). There is an open Mukhamantapa in front of the spacious Navaranga. Facing this temple is about the Kote Anjaneya, a small structure. The Kenkeramma temple is about 200 years old with a huge compound. This deity, regarded as the main village-diety (Grama-devate), will have special attraction for the devotees during its festival (Jatra) held for a week after Ugadi when about 5000 people assemble. Nearby is another Anjaneya temple whose image is believed to have been installed by Vyasateertha. The Valakotamma, another temple of the village deity has an image resembling Durga. The place has one Veersashiva Matha (religious institution) called Degula Matha. It has a stone inscription dated 1667 of Devaraja Wodeyar of Mysore, announcing certain grants made in the Virupasamudra village of one Timmamma, mother of a Dalavayi to the Matha.
- Mosques: The place has three mosques and the Jamia mosque inside the town is old, perhaps of Tipu’s time. There are three Dargahs one ascribed to Hazrath Syed Yakhub Ali, who is said to have lived here about 200 years ago. The Urus is held at this Dargah during the month of Bakrid when more than 5,000 people assemble. The second Dargah is ascribed to Kambli Peer and the Urus is held during Ramzan. There is also one more Dargah ascribed to Khan Khan Sab, an official perhaps of Tipu’s times and the Urus is held here during Ramzan.
- Churches: The place has a Roman Catholic church locally called the St. Rita’s, built in 1964.
[edit] Malagala
Malagala (two km from Kanakapura) situated across the Arkavathi river (now within Municipal limits) has a huge temple of Mahadeshwara with a spacious Navaranga, two Ardhamantapas and a Garbhagriha. Over the Garbhagriha is a brick and mortar Shikhara with many stucco images. The pillars of the Navaranga are in later Vijayanagara style. This temple is older than those in Kanakapura proper. To the left of the main temple is a separate modern shrine of Parvati. Outside the temple are two inscriptions. One damaged record dated 1375 A.D. of Bukkarya Odeya’s son Harihara Odeya announces one Mahasamanta Dodda Kallimaya Nayaka making some grants to the temple. The second record dated 1662 of Devaraja Wodeyar of Mysore records rich grants for the maintenance and car festival at the temple of Mahadeshwara and it also mentions Kanikaranahalli, obviously referring to Kanakapura. The annual festival (Jatra) and the car festival is held during Chaitra (a month in Hindu Calendar). There is also a Sidikamba in wood. Other temples of the place are Morasandamma (Gramadevata) and one more small shrine of Mahadeshwara.
[edit] Kallahalli
Kallahalli (five km from Kanakapura) is to be approached by a deviation road to the left from the Kanakapura-Bangalore road. The place is noted for its huge Srinivasa temple built in Vijayanagara style. The Garbhagriha has a standing image of Srinivasa (about two metres tall). There is a brick and mortar Shikhara over it. There is a spacious Navaranga in front of the Ardhamantapa with plain Vijayanagara pillars. The annual Jatra and car festival is held during Magha Poornima (an auspicious day in Hindu calendar) when more than 15 to 20,000 people assemble. The village also has an Anjaneya temple.There is also a choultry managed by the Dharmasthala trust.
