Visit to Sirsi and Banavasi Temples:

Set amidst the picturesque landscape of Uttara Karnataka, Banavasi is home to one of the oldest temple in the state. Known as the capital to Kadamba, it’s popular for its stunning sculptures and rich architecture. Supported by the Thousand Shiva Lingas and the Banashankari temple – it’s a great weekend explorer for anyone keen on understanding temple structures and the culture up-north in Karnataka.

We began our journey by driving from Dharwad towards Banavasi and during this travel alone, we were greeted by pleasant winds and beautiful sights. The journey included roads through dense forests and small villages with the mighty Varada river surrounding us on our travel, all around the city. The drive from Dharwad took us seven hours but it didn’t seem as tiring as we thought it would be, the surroundings and beautiful weather managed to keep our spirits high all through the ride. 

While unknown to many in the outside world, this small temple town is, in reality, home to some of the most antique temples and sculptures in the world. Once ruled by the revered Kadamba dynasty, the royals spent much of their time in the capital city of Banavasi building and developing temples, dedicated to different gods. In fact, Legend has it that the Madhukeshwara Temple was built in the ninth century to pay respects to Lord Shiva, the supreme god in Shaivism.

Sirsi is another town that is close to Banavasi and has rich historical significance. If you visit Banavasi, then make sure to spare some time out for Sirsi too. It is a short ride away from Banavasi and one can reach Sirsi via Haveri,  the diversion from Pune – Bangalore highway.