Pilgrimage tourism in Raichur District is a very enriching experience as there are a number of places of worship located here in the district. Naradagadde, Kurugadda, Jitamitragadde, Manvi, Mahamalleshappa, Devarbhupur, Kadlur and Balaganur are the most important centres of pilgrimage situated in the district of Raichur.
One of the most important pilgrim centres for the Hindus in the district is Naradagadde, which is about 15 miles from Raichur. It is surrounded by the Krishna River and the place is held to be very sacred. The annual fair held in the month of Phalguna, i.e., about March, attracts thousands of pilgrims. The island of Kurugadde near Devarsugur is a well known festival centre for the Smartas. The island, along the course of the Krishna River, houses a temple where the presiding deity is Sripada Srivallabha. The place is visited by pilgrims all throughout the year. Jitamitragadde, another island in the river course of the Krishna, is a sacred place for the Hindus who visit the place all the year round for a holy bath.
Gabbur, in the Deodurg taluk, is famous for the many ancient temples found here. The most important of the temples are those of Male-Shankara, Venkateshwara, Ishwara, Bangara Basappa and Lord Hanuman. In addition to these, there are several ruined temples, two or three mathas, a few cisterns and a gateway called the Chandi-gage with a temple on either side of it. The Male-Shankara temple is built of rough grey stone and has a high plinth. The carving in the temple is plain on account of the roughness of the stone. There are two inscriptional tablets at the northern and western entrances and there is a large cistern in front of the temple. The temple of Venkateshwara consists of three shrines, two of them containing the images of Lord Vishnu and the third a linga. The carving on the outer walls of this temple, representing figures of various deities and animals, are elegant, the figures of elephants being particularly striking. On the eastern side of the temple, there is a large cistern, with beautifully carved masonry steps all round, called Sat baoli or seven cisterns.
One of the mathas here is called Ganni Gudi Matha. It has a beautifully carved door. There is a tank, which is now in ruins. The Bangara Basappa temple has a shrine with an image of Lord Ganesha, two images of Nandi (one is of fairly large in size and the other is a small one) and an inscriptional tablet. Gabbur has enclosure walls round it, which are of different periods and in different states of decay. The square form of their bastions is considered to be Muslim in design. Found at Kavital in Manvi taluk is a temple called Tryambakeshwara dating back to the medieval period. The temple has three shrines, two of which contain lingas. The exterior of the temple is plain, but the masonry work is very impressive.
Gandhal, in Raichur taluk, which is situated about 20 miles south of Raichur, has a well known temple of Panchamukhi Prana Devaru (Hanuman with five faces) on a hillock. Visitors to Mantralaya (now in Andhra Pradesh) make it a point to visit this temple also. Matmari, in Raichur taluk, is looked upon as a holy place. It has a temple dedicated to Veerabhadra and the well-known Matha of Sri Saviradevaru Channaveera Shivacharya Swami is nearby.
The district is also of religious significance due to the many fairs, festivals and Jatra that are held here. A well known place of pilgrimage for the Hindus is at Manvi. A number of fairs and festivals are held here. Of these, the most important ones are the Karemma Jatra which is held for about two days in the month of January, amd the Yellama Jatra which is held for about seven days in the month of February. Also of significance is the Mahamalleshappa Jatra held usually about January and the Sanjeevaraya Jatra held about December. Manvi is also the birth-place of Jagannatha Dasa who is noted for having spread the Bhakti cult. In the Lingsugur Taluk, the Amareshwara Jatra is held for about three days in the month of March. It is a very popular jatra which attracts a large number of people. This fair is held at Devarbhupur and is particularly popular with the Veerashaivas of the district.
The Kadlurayya fair at Kadlur held in the month of Margashira in December attracts a good number of people. Hanumanji Jatra at Balaganur, Sindhanur taluk, held in Vaishakhain the month of May, lasts for three days. A cattle show is also held as an adjunct to the religious fair.
The Syed Shams Alam Hussainali Urus held about August is a great Muslim festival. Muslims from all over the district and also from outside congregate at Raichur on this occasion to offer prayers.
Thus mentioned are the various places of pilgrimage tourism located in the Raichur district.
