Unkal is one of the areas which come under Hubli-Dharwad in North Karnataka

North Karnataka

North Karnataka is an arid plateau from elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra...

, it is on old Pune - Bangalore highway NH4. Chandramouleshwara Temple is very near to Unkal circle and Unkal Lake (on Old NH4 Between Hubli and Dharwad

Dharwad

Dharwad, also known as Dharwar, is a city and a DISTRICT PLACE in India's Karnataka state.Dharwad is the administrative seat of the Dharwad District. The municipality of Hubli-Dharwad covers an area of 200.23 km²...

). Exactly opposite to the temple you can locate the very beautiful Nrupatunga Betta. In the backdrop of Betta, the temple looks Very beautiful.

Chandramouleshwara Temple at Unkal, Hubballi

Chandramouleshwara Temple at Unkal ( Probably historical name was Unukallu), the Chalukya architectural monument located in the suburbs of Hubbali, it is one of the good example of the Chalukya Architecture.

Chandramouleshwara the exquisite 900 year old temple, It is no less a marvel when compared any popular tourist destination like the famous Chennakeshava Temple of Belur

Belur

Belur may refer to any of the following:* Belur, Karnataka, town in Karnataka, India* Belur, West Bengal, India, a locality on the west bank of the Hooghly River* Belur Math, the religious abbey located in Belur, West Bengal, India...

. The temple was built on the lines of Badami

Badami

Badami , formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples...

, Aihole

Aihole

Aihole is a temple complex in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is a very popular tourist spot in north Karnataka. It lies to the east of Pattadakal, along the Malaprabha River, while Badami is to the west of both....

 and Pattadakal

Pattadakal

Pattadakal is a village in Karnataka. It lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River in Bagalkot district. It is 22 km from Badami and about 10 km from Aihole...

 temples. The monument of national importance, declared as protected monument so under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites (Act (1958)) by Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

Details

• Unlike other Shiva
  Shiva
  Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
  
   temples in the North Karnataka
  North Karnataka
  North Karnataka is an arid plateau from elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra...
  
   region, the Chandramouleshwara Temple has four doors in as many directions besides two big Shivalingas.

• The temple has sculpted walls and pillars of black granite stones. Images of dancing Lord Ganesha
  Ganesha
  Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
  
   and jaalandhra at Chandramouleshwara Temple are a visual delight.

The architectural style that developed in this part is known as the Chalukya style. Certainly not solely because of their faith in religion.

Perhaps they wanted to overawe their enemies and subjects with an enormous show of wealth and power, represented by these temples. Or perhaps they wanted to impress their subjects with a show of love for the religion. Or perhaps they wanted to atone for the sins they had committed by killing innumerable innocent people in the bloody wars they fought. The temples were built by teams of architects, artists, sculptors and masons, who remain anonymous.

Inscriptions

The presence of two 12th-century stone inscriptions in Unkal village show that the temple belongs to 11th or 12th century.

Conservation and Restoration of the temple

There is an urgent need of Conservation and Restoration of the Chandramouleshwara temple at Unkal.

The temple primises serves as a playground for children and youngsters to play cricket. It has become a victim of government apathy and urbanization. There is virtually no approach road to this temple, encroachments on all the four sides of the temple. The roads leading to the temple are very small with arrack shops and other illegal trades. One has to cross rows of houses and narrow lanes to reach Chandramauleshwara temple. The local representatives should take interest and also work towards the restoration of this glourious temple which is the one and the only in and around Hubballi-Dharwad.

Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun work very long back, started work on a compound wall to prevent further encroachments, but the work is still half done. Nothing has happened so far in restoring the glory.

Unkal Lake

Unkal Lake is one of the water sources of Hubli-Dharwad and also a picnic spot.

See also

Western Chalukyas Western Chalukyas The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical... Western Chalukya architecture Western Chalukya architecture Western Chalukya architecture , also known as Kalyani Chalukya or Later Chalukya architecture, is the distinctive style of ornamented architecture that evolved during the rule of the Western Chalukya Empire in the Tungabhadra region of central Karnataka, India, during the 11th and 12th centuries... Banashankari Temple Amargol Banashankari Temple Amargol Amargol is located in between Dharwad and Hubli and adjucent to Navanagar. It is famous for the ancient temple dedicated to Banashankari.Banashankari Temple at Amargol is 4 km from Unkal lake and Chandramouleshwara Temple Hubli... Halasi Halasi Halasi also called as Halsi or Halshi, is a town in Khanapur Taluk, Belgaum District in North Karnataka, Karnataka, India. It is 14 km from Khanapur and about 25 km from Kittur. It is famous for having been the capital of a branch of Kadamba Dynasty... Kundgol Kundgol Kundgol is a panchayat town in Dharwad district in the Indian state of Karnataka.-Introduction:Kundgol is Located in Dharwad District of Karnataka is about 14 km south-west of Hubli and 32 km south-west of Dharwad.... Annigeri Annigeri Annigeri is a town in Navalgund taluk of Dharwad district in the state of Karnataka, India, located 20 km west of Gadag en route to Hubli and 35 km from Hubli-Dharwad.-Introduction:... Bankapura Bankapura Bankapura is a panchayat town in Haveri district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is in Shiggaon taluk, is just 2.5 km from the Pune-Bangalore national highway NH4, 22 km from Haveri town. Bankapur is about 45 km from Hubli-Dharwad... Tamboor Tamboor Tamboor is in Kalghatgi Taluk, Dharwad District in North Karnataka, India. It is about 8 km from Kalghatagi.Tamboor is a town about 11 km from Kalghatgi NH 63, 3km from main road in Karnataka state, India....

Lakshmeshwar Lakshmeshwar Lakshmeshwara is a town in Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district, North Karnataka, in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is about 50 km from Gadag and 55 km from Hubli. Lakshmeshwara is an agricultural trading town.... Chaudayyadanapura Chaudayyadanapura Chaudayyadanapura is a small village in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri District in North Karnataka, Karnataka. All facets of Indian civilisation are exemplified in an exquisite Mukteshwara temple, with the highest degree of refinement.-Introduction:The North Karnataka is one of the richest areas of... Galaganatha Galaganatha Galaganatha is a small village located in Haveri Taluk and Haveri District, North Karnataka.It has a famous temple called Galageshwara Shiva Temple built by chalukyas. This large temple faces east and is situated along the Tungabhadra river. The rivers Tunga and Varada join at this place.- History... Haveri Haveri Haveriis a town in Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Haveri District. The name Haveri is derived from the Kannada words havu and keri, which means place of snakes. Haveri is famous for its cardamom garlands. It is said that Haveri had around 1000 maths in ancient days. One of... Hooli Hooli Hooli is in Belagavi / Belgaum District in North Karnataka India.It is about 9 km from Saundatti.-Introduction:Hooli has so many temples, every temple has its own well. Even at remotest location on the hills has couple of temples.... North Karnataka North Karnataka North Karnataka is an arid plateau from elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra... Tourism in North Karnataka

External links

• Chandramouleshwara Temple Unkal Hubli-Dharwad on Google Maps

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