 Bankapura is a panchayat town in Haveri district in the state of Karnataka. The town is under Shiggaon taluk and is well connected by air, road and rail. It is almost 2.5 km from the Pune-Bangalore national highway NH4, 22 km from Haveri town. Bankapur is about 45 km from Hubli-Dharwad. Bankapura is also a popular historical tourist place. Tourists can visit different places like the Nagareshwara temple, Bankapur fort and the peacock sanctuary.
History of Bankapura The town of Bankapura has a rich history. Several beautiful temples have been built here during the rule of the Chalukyas. However, during the invasion of Ali Adilshahi in about 1567 most of the temples were destroyed. A fort in the town of Bankapura houses the Ranganatha Nagareshwara temple. The temple has 66 pillars carved out of grey stone. The fort is now completely in ruins. There is also a beautiful mosque in the fort. The place holds a historical significance to Jains. Adipuran, a Jain religious text was composed here. Bankapur fort has been ruled by many mighty kingdoms and powerful rulers like the Kadamba of Banavasi, Ganga Dynasty, Chola Dynasty, Rashtrakuta Dynasty, Hoysala Empire, Chalukya Dynasty, Vijayanagar Empire, Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Demography of Bankapura As of 2001 India census, Bankapura had a population of 20,264. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bankapura has an average literacy rate of 59%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with 58% of the males and 42% of females literate. Tourism in Bankapura There are many tourist places in Bankapura that are visited by many tourists from different places. The town has almost 50 popular archaeological monuments in Haveri District like Siddeshwar temple, Haveri and Galaganatheswar temple, Galaganatha in Haveri taluk, Lord Shiva temple in Chaudayyadanapura, Tarakeshwar temple at Hangal, and many others. The Government of India now considers Bankapur as a conservation reserve for peacocks. Nagareshwar Temple The remarkable Bankapur fort area houses the eye catching 66 pillared Nagareshwar Temple. The fort area comprises 139.10 acres of land of, which 52.10-acre has been kept for the popularly known Mayura Vana, the abode of the peacocks for three decades. Bankapura Peacock Sanctuary The peacock sanctuary in Bankapura is the only second sanctuary in the country that is exclusively engaged in the conservation and breeding of peacocks. There are more than 1,000 peacocks and peahen in the sanctuary. The Government of India had declared Bankapura as a peacock sanctuary on June 9, 2006. Here the peacocks are seen happily dancing in the sprawling sanctuary. Even the officials of the Department of Veterinary Sciences have shown great interest in the conservation of these birds. The high mound and deep trenches of the land have provided a perfect home for these birds. The sanctuary is located on the cattle breeding farm which was set up way back in 1919 during the First World War period. There are many other birds like wood peckers, great-horned owl, babblers, magpie, robin, green bee eater, nightjar, spotted maina, paradise flycatcher, Indian robin, spotted dove, parakeets, kingfisher, grey hornbill, blue tailed bee eater, blacked winged kite, tailor bird etc. |
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