Gajendragad (also called Gajendragada) is a Town Municipal Council city in Gadag district, Karnataka, India, with population of 32,359 as of 2011 Census data. It has an average elevation of 643 metres (2109 feet). It is about 55 kilometers from the district headquarters Gadag, 110 kilometers from Hubli, 200 kilometers from Belgaum, and 450 kilometers from state capital Bangalore. The name Gajendragad is a combination of Elephant and a fort. Local people generally call it as Gada. Gajendragad is a pilgrimage destination due to its Kalakaleshwara temple.
History
Gajendragad is surrounded by the historical places associated with Badami Chalukyas and Western Chalukya and the places are Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Mahakuta, Banashankari, Sudi, Mahadeva Temple at Itagi and Kudalasangama. Rastrakuta Monuments at Kuknur. The Gajendragad fort and town were built and renewed by Shivaji.
Ghorpade The founder of the Ghorpade family was Valabhasinh Cholaraj Ghorpade and then the descended Bahirjirao Ghorpade. The Royal families of Kapsi and Gajendragad owe their origin to Vallabhasinha and the Chiefs of Sondur are descended from the third son of Cholraj.
Treaty of Gajendragad
After the Second Mysore War, Tippu Sultan had to engage in an armed conflict (during 1786–87) with the Marathas and the Nizam. The war concluded with the treaty of Gajendragad. Tipu Sultan ceded Badami to the Marathas. Tippu Sultan would release Kalopant and return Adoni, Kittur, and Nargund to their previous rulers. Badami would be ceded to the Marathas. Tippu Sultan would also pay an annual tribute of 12 lakhs per year to the Marathas. In return, Tippu Sultan would get all the places that they had captured in the war, including Gajendragarh and Dharwar. Tipu would also be addressed by the Marathas by an honorary title of "Nabob Tipu Sultan Futteh Ally Khan".
Tourism
Kalakaleshwara temple
The pilgrim Kalakaleshwara temple, is a huge mountain with the temple carved into it. This is a weekend destination which could be wound up in a day's time. One can see many windmills lined on the hill opposite the hill on which the temple is located.
Sudi
Mallikarjuna Temple, Twin Towered Temple, Ishwara in a stone made shelter and Naga Kunda are prime attractions of Sudi.
Itagi Bhimambika
The temple of Bhimambika, about 13 km from Gajendragad
Banashankari
It is known for temple of Banashankari, and Annual car festival.
Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal and Mahakuta
Badami Aihole Pattadakal Mahakuta Mahakuta is the source of an important Badami Chalukya inscription called Mahakuta Pillar inscription.
Kuknur
MahaMaya temple, Navalinga Temples at Kuknur.
Kudalasangama
At Kudalasangama the rivers Krishna and Malaprabha merge (sangama) here, This place is closely associated with the 12th-century poet and social reformer Basavanna. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Sangameswara, worshipped in the form of a linga. The temple is an ancient monument built in the Chalukya style architecture. This place is well developed as one of the great tourism place.
Kalakaleshwara temple
A little known pilgrim of North Karnataka. Gajendragad is a Town Municipal Council lying amidst hills, in one of which is encapsulated Kalakaleshwara temple of Lord Shiva (known as Dakshina Kashi), who is worshipped in the form of Kalakaleshwara. There are some large steps that lead you up to the temple. It is a traditional temple with Udbhava Linga. There we can find God Veerabhadra temple also in the same premises. But one would definitely be amazed at the story in which the significance of the destination lies. Just outside the temple exit is a small square water reservoir called AntharaGange. It is an evergreen water resource that constantly falls along the roots of Peepal tree into the pond all throughout the year. It is said to be flowing even in the peaks of summer season and has an unknown root.
Mythology More amazing is the story attached to this destination that has taken a few lives too. These were the daring people who wanted to try to learn more about a miracle that happens on the previous night of Ugadi, New Year of Kannadigas. The pandit/pujari of the temple prepares a solution of limestone, and keeps it ready for application along with a brush, inside the temple. The next morning, the jobs done. But the temple is painted on its own and this happens without fail every year. A hookah that is also kept along with it seems to be used when seen the next morning.
MMTC's wind farm Minerals & Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC) Limited under the ministry of commerce and industry. MMTC's Gajendragad plant started in 2007, the plant has delivered electricity power of over 102 million units to Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) Limited. The plant generate a total capacity of 15 MW of power, with 25 wind energy generators, can each generate 600 KV.
Environmental issues
Windmills set up to generate wind energy, are posing a threat to the very existence of rare hyenas and wolves at Gajendragad. Earlier Gajendragad was recognized as a safe haven for highly endangered species like the Indian grey wolf and striped hyenas, but wind farming and windmills with huge noisy fans and human traffic to maintain these machines have driven away these species from their habitat.
Notable people Raghavendra Acharya - scholar in Vedanta, Vyakarana (Grammar), Nyaya (Law), Mimamsa and Alankar, lived in Gajendragad Prahlad Balacharya Gajendragadkar - served as the Chief Justice of India from 1964 to 1966, was native to Gajendragada.
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