Tourist places › Fort & Temple
Kedareswara Temple, Balligavi
A 12th-century Hoysala-style triple shrine in a village once known as a centre of learning
The Kedareswara Temple at Balligavi, in Shikaripura taluk, is a 12th-century example of the trikuta or triple-shrine layout, with walls carved in the mythological scenes and floral detail typical of Hoysala-era stonework, though the temple's earliest phase actually predates the Hoysalas under the Chalukyas.
Balligavi itself carries more history than its size suggests — it was once a recognised centre of learning and is remembered as the birthplace of the Veerashaiva saint Allama Prabhu. The nearby Tripurantaka Temple, about a kilometre away, is usually visited on the same trip.
Highlights
- Built in 1060 CE under the Chalukya king Vinayaditya and later expanded by the Hoysalas
- A trikuta (triple-shrine) layout dedicated to Lord Shiva, with detailed stone carvings on every wall
- Balligavi was historically an "agrahara of learning" and the birthplace of the Veerashaiva saint Allama Prabhu
Getting there
Outside current Malnad Yatra bus coverage; Balligavi is reached via Shikaripura town by private vehicle.