Bantwal

Bantwal is a village in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. It is also a town by the same name. Bantwal town is reverentially called as Vatapura Kshetra by some communities lived in Bantwal. Bantwal is situated on the banks of Nethravati River on the National Highway, which is 48 KM East of Mangalore.

In the olden days, the town of Bantwal was known for trade. However, the flooding caused by the Netravati River during the monsoons compelled traders and newer settlements to move to the adjacent township of B.C.Road due to its higher altitude. Gradually, most Government offices shifted to B.C. Road.

Prior to 1852, the Bantwal was the largest taluk in the entire of Kannada Province which comprised North Kannada District, Udupi District, Mangalore District and Kasaragod District with 411 villages. The total population of Bantwal is 1, 69,416.

In 1852, a portion of it was formed into the Taluk of Puttur. Bantwal was an enter pot for the produce of the province on its way to the Mysore and had derived great benefit of late years from the extension of the coffee trade. It contained about thousand scattered houses inhabited by Billava, Moplas, Bunts, Konkanis, and a few Jains.

Bantwal is flanked by the state of Kerala in the south, and the towns of Belthangady and Puttur in the east, the city of Mangalore in the west and Karkala in the north. Bantwal covers an area of about 720 km square. The National Highway 48 cuts through B. C. Road. The highway serves as the conduit for several arterial routes leading to neighboring towns with Mangalore. Mangalore is connected with other cities in Karnataka such as Mysore and Bangalore via NH-48.

The Netravati River passes through Bantwal . Some other places in Bantwal of tourist interests are Kadeshivalaya, Ajilamogaru, Alike, Karanje, Naraharibetta, Nandavara and Modankap.

Tourism of Bantwal comprises of age old temples, mosques and the Buddhist shrines. Some of the temples of Bantwal are Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple, Shri Tirumala Venkatramana Swamy Temple, Shri Vinayaka Shankaranarayana Durgamba temple, Shri Vinayaka Shankaranarayana Durgamba temple, Shri Seetharam Temple, Shri Chandikeswari Temple, Shri Hanumanth Temple and many other religious psots. Peoipel from various parts of India and Karnataka come and visit the place Bantwal.

Shri Karinjeshwara Temple: Shri Karinjeshwara Temple is situated at a place called Karinja of Kavalamudur village of Bantval taluk. Shri Karinjeshwara Temple is located at about38 km away from Mangalore and 14 km away from Bantwal. Shri Karinjeshwara Temple could be reached from (2 km) a place called Vogga on Mangalore-Belthangady route. Shri Karinjeshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati. Shri Karinjeshwara Temple stands high on the hill amidst beautiful surroundings. The view of the lake below the hill will certainly cool one`s eyes. Every year in months of February and March, the holy festival, Shivaratri, the festival of Lord Shiva is celebrated here with much festivity, which attracts large masses of people.

Mahalingeshwara Temple: Mahalingeshwara Temple is one of the oldest temples in the region and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Shri Tirumala Venkatramana Swamy Temple: Shri Tirumala Venkatramana Swamy Temple of Bantwal is very famous. It is believed that Lord Venkateshwara or Balaji came here all the way from Lord Tirupati.

Shri Vinayaka Shankaranarayana Durgamba temple: Shri Vinayaka Shankaranarayana Durgamba temple at Nandavara is another historical and famous temple situated in the banks of Netravati River.

Nara Hari Betta: Nara Hari Betta is the temple of Lord Shiva, which is also historically known as a place where Nara and Hari, incarnations of Lord Vishnu were supposed to have performed the penance. This hill top temple, Nara Hari Betta is also known for its lyrical ponds, which are in the shape of Shanka (Conch), Chakra (Wheel), Gadha (Heavy Weapon) and Padma (Lotus), the weapons of Vishnu. Taking a holy dip in these ponds on the day of Karthik Somvar is considered to be sacred according to the Hindu mythology.

Panolibail Kallurti Daiva Sthana which is most famous sthana situated in few km distance from Bantwal. This holy place famous for "Agelu". The Most Holy Saviour Church on the hills of Agrar three kilometres away from the town is more than three hundred years old and has got beautiful paintings on the walls similar to the ones at the St. Aloysius Chapel. Infant Jesus Church, Modankap is also a three hundred year old church which is the main church of the Bantwal deanery headed by the Vicar Var.

Some of the other temples are Gopalakrishna Devasthana, Shri Seetharam Temple, Shri Somanatheshwara temple, Shri Chandikeswari Temple, Rakhteshwari Temple, Hanumanth Temple, Shri Krishna Math, Mahamaya Temple in Borimar, Shri Narahari Temple, Kalladka, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Shri Panchalingeswara Temple.Vittal.