Veeranarayaswamy Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Hubli Airport is about 57 km from Gadag, the nearest airport to the city.

• By train

  Balganur, Kangihai and Gadag Junction are the nearest stations, and they connect well with other cities in Karnataka. Gadag Junction is a major junction on the South Western Railway's Hubballi division.

• By road

  Buses are the best way to travel between places in Gadag district.

Why devotees come here

Veeranarayaswamy Temple stands in Gadag city, the administrative headquarters of Gadag district in Karnataka. It is dedicated to Narayana, also called Vishnu, and is a protected monument. Its architecture combines Kalyani Chalukya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara styles.

The primary deity here is Narayana, also known as Vishnu. The image of Veeranarayana, meaning brave Narayana, shows him standing with a conch, a wheel, a club and a lotus in his four hands. Legend says Kumara Vyasa completed his Kannada Mahabharata in this temple, at a particular pillar in the hall, after receiving divine inspiration from his deity.

The temple is known to have been built around 1117 by the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, after he converted to Hinduism. Vijayanagara kings renovated it in the 14th century, and a Madhwa saint reconsecrated it in Vijayanagara times. Other accounts date the first building to the 11th century, under the Chalukyas of Kalyani. Overall, the temple reflects Kalyani Chalukya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara styles.

The entrance and the gopura tower are in Vijayanagara style. In the courtyard, the eagle pillar and the gathering hall are in Hoysala style. The tower is said to have been carved by the sculptor Jakanachari. The Archaeological Survey of India, through its Karnataka division, protects the site as a monument.

Tips for your visit

• If you drive, map the exact route before you set out, because the interior of the district is sparsely populated.
• Gadag Junction's station code is GDG.

Questions people ask