Hangal, formerly known as 'Viratanagara', is a historic town in Karnataka. It is 80 km away from Hubli through NH 766E.

Location

Hangal lies about 75 km south of the city of Hubli-Dharwad, about 30 km west of the Tungabhadra river and east of the Arabian Sea. It is located on state road one, running north to south. A nearby body of water is the Anakere lake. The town is on level terrain in an agricultural district.

History

Hungal is recorded as Panungal in early documents. It was once the capital of a feudatory of the Kadambas. The Kadambas was an ancient dynasty of south India which ruled the region of the present-day state of Goa and nearby Konkan region from around AD 485 until the 11th century. They built temples in Hangal in the Jain tradition. In medieval epigraphs, it is known as Viratakote and Viratanagari, that is the fort and the city of Virata. According to local legends, it is believed to be the place where the Pandavas spent the thirteenth year of their exile. Hanagal is also known for Agnihotra (three Kunda shroutagni) which was practised by Shrotriya Samrat Brahmashri Chayanayaji—Girishastri Kashikar—for seven generations till 1973. Around 1031, the Hoysalas took and held Hangal. In 1060, Mallikarjuna of the Shilahara laid siege to Hangal. In the 12th century, Hangal was held by the Kalalyani Chalukyas, rulers of the Deccan. The Chalukyas built temples in the Gadag architectural style, from grey-green coloured chloritic schist. On 14 July 1800, English forces took Hangal from Dhoondia Punt Gocklah, a Marhatta rebel deserter.

Demographics

India census, Hangal had a population of 25,011. Males constituted 51% of the population and females 49%. Hangal had an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 67%, and female literacy was 60%. 14% of the population is under six years of age.

Politics

Srinivas Mane of Indian National Congress party is the MLA representing the Hangal (Vidhana Sabha constituency) since 2 November 2021.

Transport

Hangal is approximately 370 km from Bengaluru and 40 km from Haveri. The town can be reached from Bengaluru via Chitradurga and Haveri and from Dharwad via Hubli and Shiggaavi. The nearest rail head is at Haveri (railway station code HVR).

Temples

Hangal has many historic temples related to the Chalukyas and the Hoysalas.

Tarakeshwara Temple

The Tarakeshwara Temple is a large structure decorated with images and pillars dating to the Chalukya era in the mid-12th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in his form as Tarakeshwara. The images include scenes from the Ramayana. The outer walls are designed with miniature shikaras of both Dravidian and Nagara style. The pillars of the open main hall are lathe turned wood. They have a bell shaped section and other decorations including elephants and diamond shaped motifs in bands. The elephants are carved so there appears to be a space between their trunks and the pillars. The band motifs vary in detail. The temple main hall has a large domed ceiling. It consists of concentric circles of cusped mouldings. At the apex, the ceiling falls rosette or pendant design. The overlying roof is a stepped pyramid shape. Nearby is the ramal, an octagonal piece of stone in a corbelled lotus shape. It is 30 ft and is supported on eight pillars. There are memorial stones carved with religious (Mastigallu) and military (Veeragallu) scenes. Eight of them are guardians of eight cardinal points. There is a sanctuary adjoining the main hall. The Nandi pavilion rests on twelve pillars and contains balcony seating. There is also a Ganesha temple of the Nagara style (northern curvilinear) shikhara (miniature temple decorations.)

Jain temple at the fort

The Jain temple in the Hangal fort is located on the premises of the department of horticulture. It dates to 1150 AD. The temple in the Hoysala style is beautifully decorated but there is need of conservation and restoration. The temple was built on a stepped plan. It had an open hall and sanctuary, now in ruins. The sculptural decoration included flowers, garlands, torana, animals, birds and deities. It was especially elaborate in the upper portion of the walls. The temple walls are also decorated with thin pilasters. The open hall has lathe turned pillars.

Lord Sarahunaath Temple

Lord Sarahunaath temple in the Suraleshwara near Hangal.

Veerabhadra Temple

The Veerabhadra temple is also located at the Hangal fort. Although highly decorated, it is in need of restoration work.

Billeshwara Temple

The Billeshwara temple is in the Hoysala style. This temple has elaborately carved jambs on the doorframe of the garbhagudi. At the bottom of each side, there are five carved figures. Manmatha is in the central projection. Rati is at his side. Daksha (the goat headed deity) is also present and all are flanked by attendants. The temple has a sanctuary face which is incomplete. The temple outer walls are decorated with designs of temple towers and carved diamond shaped depressions. The square panels show carved serpents with intertwined tails, animals, musicians, and foliage.

<!-- WP not a directory # [Billeshwara temple | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Hangal///Billeshwara///temple///1.JPG] # Alphabetically Arranged List Of Villages In Hangal Sub-District Sl. #| Vil. #| Village Name| Post| Taluk Name 1| 604140| Adur| Adur| Hangal 2| 604133 Ajagundikoppa Mudur Hangal 3 604152 Akki Alur Akki Alur Hangal 4 604095 Akkivalli Araleshwar Hangal 5 604061 Aladakatti Belagalapeth Hangal 6 604065 Allapur Sangur Haveri 7 604092 Araleshwar Araleshwar Hangal 8 604178 Arashinguppi Akki Alur Hangal 9 604040 Badamgatti Bommanahalli Hangal 10 604080 Baichavalli Baichavalli Hangal 11 604052 Bailwal Hullatti Hangal 12 604147 Balambeed Balambeed Hangal 13 604121 Balihalli Balihalli Hangal 14 604151 Balur Akki Alur Hangal 15 604160 Basapur (M) Adur Hirehullal Hangal 16 604057 Basapur (M) Nidasangi Yalavatti Hangal 17 604099 Basavanagara ? ? 18 604072 Belagalapeth Belagalapeth Hangal 19 604049 Belavatti (Hunasikatti) Belagalapeth Hangal 20 604063 Bhingapur Belagalapeth Hangal 21 604101 Bidarakoppa Hirekanagi Hangal 22 604037 Bommanahalli Bommanahalli Hangal 23 604169 Byagawadi Herur Hangal 24 604182 Byathanal Kusnur Hangal 25 604062 Chandragiri Belagalapeth Hangal 26 604139 Channapur (M) Adur Adur Hangal 27 604076 Cheeranahalli Baichavalli Hangal 28 604156 Chikkahullal Didogur Haveri 29 604104 Chikkeri Hangal Hangal 30 604130 Chikkounshi Hosur Chikkounshi Hosur Hangal 31 604054 Dasharatkoppa Kopparsikoppa Hangal 32 604106 Dolleshwar Surleshwar Hangal 33 604173 Dommanala Tilavalli Hangal 34 604048 Dyamankoppa (Inam) Belagalapeth Hangal 35 604120 Dyamankoppa (Sarkar) Shirgoda Hangal 36 604055 Gadegundiyellapur Hullatti Hangal 37 604118 Gadiyankanahalli Hirur Hangal 38 604087 Gazipur Kopparsikoppa Hangal 39 604108 Gejjihalli Hirur Hangal 40 604107 Girishinkoppa Hirur Hangal 41 604138 Gondi Gondi Hangal 42 604102 Gotagodi Hirekanagi Hangal 43 604077 Gudagudi Kopparsikoppa Hangal 44 604171 Guddad Mattihalli Sangur Haveri 45 604060 Gundur Belagalapeth Hangal 46 604149 Gururayapatna Akki Alur Hangal 47 604186 Hallibail Tilavalli Hangal 48 604164 Hanamapur Akki Alur Hangal 49 604038 Hanamasagar Bommanahalli Hangal 50 604103 Handihal Hirekanagi Hangal 51 803103 Hangal (Town Municipal Council) Hangal Hangal 52 604116 Hanumanakoppa Hirur Hangal 53 604045 Haranagiri Bankapur Shiggavi 54 604122 Harlakoppa Sammasgi Hangal 55 604044 Harvi Bankapur Shiggavi 56 604056 Hasanabadi Hullatti Hangal 57 604148 Havanagi Havanagi Hangal 58 604155 Herur Herur Hangal 59 604174 Hirebasur Tilavalli Hangal 60 604154 Hirehullal Hirehullal Hangal 61 604098 Hirekanagi Hirekanagi Hangal 62 604137 Hirekounshi Gondi Hangal 63 604117 Hirur Hirur Hangal 64 604064 Hombli Maranabeed Hangal 65 604180 Honkan Sheshagiri Hangal 66 604097 Hosahalli Hangal Hangal 67 604041 Hospet Bommanahalli Hangal 68 604094 Hotanhalli Araleshwar Hangal 69 604187 Hulagaddi Tilavalli Hangal 70 604125 Hulaginahalli Konankoppa Hangal 71 604088 Hulaginakoppa Hangal Hangal 72 604053 Hullatti Hullatti Hangal 73 604071 Jakkanaikankoppa Adur Hangal 74 604050 Janagundikoppa Belagalapeth Hangal 75 604131 Janginakoppa Shirgoda Hangal 76 604084 Kadashettihalli Savasgi Hangal 77 604188 Kalguddi Tilavalli Hangal 78 604158 Kalkeri Herur Hangal 79 604163 Kallapur Kallapur Hangal 80 604069 Kalvekallapur Adur Hangal 81 604093 Kalveyellapur Araleshwar Hangal 82 604109 Kamanhalli Manthagi Hangal 83 604085 Kanchinegalur Kanchinegalur Hangal 84 604177 Kanneshwar Kusnur Hangal 85 604176 Karekyathanahalli Kusnur Hangal 86 604082 Kargudri Kargudri Hangal 87 604175 Kelavarkoppa Kelavarkoppa Hangal 88 604185 Kirwadi Tilavalli Hangal 89 604142 Kodiyellapur Adur Hangal 90 604127 Konankoppa Konankoppa Hangal 91 604134 Kondoji Akki Alur Hangal 92 604190 Koppagondankop Tilavalli Hangal 93 604086 Kopparsikoppa Kopparsikoppa Hangal 94 604066 Kudal Sangur Haveri 95 604096 Kuntanhosahalli Hangal Hangal 96 604168 Kusnur Kusnur Hangal 97 604128 Kyasanur Chikkounshi hosur Hangal 98 604146 Lakamapur (M) Adur Balambeed Hangal 99 604181 Lakmapur (Inam) Akki Alur Hangal 100 604112 Laxmipur Sammasgi Hangal 101 604075 Maharajpet Kargudri Hangal 102 604136 Makarvalli Akki Alur Hangal 103 604162 Malagund Kallapur Hangal 104 604183 Malapur Tilavalli Hangal 105 604090 Malligar Hangal Hangal 106 604110 Manthagi Manthagi Hangal 107 604046 Maranabeed Maranabeed Hangal 108 604047 Masanakatti Masanakatti Hangal 109 604126 Mattihalli Sangur Haveri 110 604119 Mavakoppa Shirgoda Hangal 111 604132 Mudur Mudur Hangal 112 604172 Mulathalli Sangur Haveri 113 604067 Naregal Naregal Hangal 114 604043 Neeralgi (M) Adur Bankapur Shiggavi 115 604073 Negavanigi Kargudri Hangal 116 604070 Nellibeed Adur Hangal 117 604039 Nellikoppa Bommanahalli Hangal 118 604124 Neralgi (Inam) Konankoppa Hangal 119 604059 Nitaginakoppa Kargudri Hangal 120 604079 Ramathirtha Baichavalli Hangal 121 604081 Rathnapur Kargudri Hangal 122 604113 Sagarvalli Sammasgi Hangal 123 604123 Sammasgi Sammasgi Hangal 124 604141 Sankrikoppa Adur Hangal 125 604089 Satenhalli Hangal Hangal 126 604091 Savasgi Savasgi Hangal 127 604115 Savikeri Balihalli Hangal 128 604150 Sevalal Akki Alur Hangal 129 604144 Sheegihalli (Shingahalli) Adur Hangal 130 604179 Sheshagiri Sheshagiri Hangal 131 604143 Shingapur Adur Hangal 132 604129 Shirgoda Shirgoda Hangal 133 604083 Shirmapur (M) Adur Savasgi Hangal 134 604100 Shivajinagar ? ? 135 604111 Shivapura Manthagi Hangal 136 604135 Shyadaguppi Shyadaguppi Hangal 137 604074 Sivajipur Belagalapeth Hangal 138 604161 Somapur Tilavalli Hangal 139 604170 Somasagara Tilavalli Hangal 140 604114 Sringeri Balihalli Hangal 141 604105 Surleshwar Surleshwar Hangal 142 604159 Tavargoppa Sangur Haveri 143 604078 Thimmapur (M) Nidasangi Bommanahalli Hangal 144 604184 Tilavalli Tilavalli Hangal 145 604145 Tumarikoppa Sangur Haveri 146 604157 Uppanshi Sangur Haveri 147 604153 Veerapura Havanagi Hangal 148 604042 Walageri Masanakatti Hangal 149 604068 Wardi Wardi Hangal 150 604167 Wasan Tilavalli Hangal 151 604051 Yalavatti Yalavatti Hangal 152 604036 Yaliwal Bommanahalli Hangal 153 604165 Yallapur (Inam) Akki Alur Hangal 154 604058 Yallur Kargudri Hangal 155 604189 Yathinhalli (M) Tilavalli Tilavalli Hangal 156 604166 Yethinahalli-M-Adur Akki Alur Hangal -->