Channarayapatna

Channarayapatna
—  city  —
Channarayapatna Location of Channarayapatna in Karnataka and India
Coordinates	12°54′N 76°23′E / 12.9°N 76.39°E / 12.9; 76.39Coordinates: 12°54′N 76°23′E / 12.9°N 76.39°E / 12.9; 76.39
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District(s)	Hassan
Population • Density	33,240 (2001[update]) • 5,090.35 /km2 (13,184 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	6.53 square kilometres (2.52 sq mi) • 827 metres (2,713 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 573 116 • Telephone • +08176 • Vehicle • KA-13

Channarayapatna is a town in Hassan district in Karnataka, India. It is an administrative headquarters of a taluk of the same name(Shravanabelagola MLA Constituency). It is located on the Mangalore–Bangalore National highway 48 in India. It lies at a distance of 148 km from Bangalore and 37 km from the district headquarters, Hassan. The nearest Railway station is at Holenarasipura, which is at a distance of 26 km and Hassan at a distance of 37 km.

Channarayapatna is a transport hub with a national highway NH 48 and 6 state highways intersecting here. The six state highways connect channarayapatna to Mysore, Arsikere, Holenarasipura(2 highways), Tiptur and Shravanabelagola while the national highway connects to Hassan and Mangalore.

Channarayapatna is a junction for pilgrims of lord Bhaghavan Bahubali of Shravanabelagola which is at a distance of 13 km and which is of great historical and cultural interest, nationally and internationally.

Etymology

In the 1850s, a local chieftain named Channigaraya ruled this town and hence the name became Channarayapatna. There are records to show that the place was also named Kolattooru and Amritanathapura, before becoming Channarayapatna.

Geography

Channarayapatna is in Hassan District in Karnataka state, India and located at 12°54′N 76°23′E / 12.90°N 76.39°E / 12.90; 76.39.^[1] It has an average elevation of 827 metres (2716 ft).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Channarayapatna has a population of 33,240. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Channarayapatna has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 78% and female literacy of 68%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Vokkligas (Gowda) community has its major share in population and it is the prominent caste in Constituency. Other than that Brahmins, Veerashaivas, Jains, Muslims, Kurubas and Christians are also part of the community.

Tourism

On August 5, 2007, the magnificent statue of Shravanbelagola was voted by Indians as the first of Seven Wonders of India[2]. 49% votes went in favor of this 1000-plus year old marvel of human architecture and religious faith.

There are many temples in and around the town; the most popular ones are Chandramouleshwara Temple, located in the fort and is a temple with a statue of a standing Shiva and Channakeshava Temple, located also in the fort area. The 'Gadde Rameshwara'Meaning 'Rameshwara temple in the midst of Paddy fields' and 'Olegeramma' temples are other temples to visit. A carnival is held around the month of November every year at the 'Olegeramma' temple. Nuggehalli is famous for Laxminarsimha temple, built in Hoysala yuga. Shravanabelagola has a world famous 58' monolithic, Bahubali statue atop a hill called Indragiri.

Olageramma temple hosts a Carnival sometime around November, or Kaartika Maasa. Thousands of people from around the town gather here to celebrate and for the blessings of Olageramma. Exotic, visually colourful rituals are associated with this. These include Fire walking, and taking new born infants and young babies by a priest tied to a cantilever on a circular ride, which is believed to be a blessing ride for the babies. All these follow day-long rituals and drums beating.. The carnival itself lasts a week.

Gadderameshwara temple is located away from the city in the midst of wet cultivated patches of land "Gadde"where the main crop is Paddy, Hence the name Gadde Rameshwara. This is again a Shiva temple where the deity is a Shivalinga or Rameshwara. This temple also has a 'Kalyani' a pond. It is a tradition here to perform a special pooja known as "Gutuku neeru", when there is a draught and shortage of rain fall. The main event of the pooja is to fill the shivalinga until it is completely immersed in water while chanting the Mantras. It's believed that we are blessed with rains on performing this pooja. This place is also used as a picnic spot by the locals. The new Channarayapatna railway station is coming up near this temple.

ANEKERE

It is located 5km from Channarayapatna, here the Channakeshava Temple, built in 1119 AD stands majestically, bearing testimony to the skills of architects of the Hoysalas. The temple has been recently renovated to preserve the rich heritege.

NUGGEHALLI

It is located 20km from Channarayapatna . The Chola kings constructed the temple of Nuggehalli Jayagondeshwara. It is an agrahara built by Bommanna Dandanayaka, a chieftain of Hoysala King Someshvara. Other fine specimens of Hoysalan architecture are the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple and the Sadashiva Temple in Dravidian style

NAVILE

It is located 30km from Channarayapatna and 10km from Nuggehalli. It is also one of the historical place in Hassan district,and a tourism place. Famous Sri Nageshwara swamy temple is located in Navile. This temple has an underground path to sri Renukadevi temple which is 1.5km far from Sri Nageshwara temple. This temple belongs to the "Mujurai" department. It is located besides Navile lake and has all the facilities like holy pond(kola) for bathing, Sri Nageshwara swamy kalyana mantapa, drinking water, hospital, medical, school from primary to high school, bakery, provision stores, Grama panchayath, library, park for rest with good nature. Sri Kempamma devi temple is also famous here. Navile village is well known since Asia's second largest underground canal [Baguru - Navile canal] from Bagur ends here. Through this canal the Hemavathi river flow towards Tumkur and Mandya districts. The village is also known as Nagara Navile and previously it was called as Uraga Mayura pura. Good transport facility is available from Channarayapatna in either routes i.e... bagur and nuggehalli, and also from tiptur. Trains are available from Bengaluru to Tiptur and hence the nearest railway station is Tiptur. Well known Kannada novelist S.L.Bhyrappa's native place Santheshivara is located near to Navile village. Srikshetra Kabbali is also very nearby.

Transport

In terms of geographical area, Channarayapatna is second biggest taluk in Hassan district. It is well connected by Roads to all main commercial cities of Karnataka. Channarayapatna is situated on Bangalore–Mangalore national highway, NH 48, at a distance of about 150 km from Bangalore and about 208 km from Mangalore, the Main port city of Karnataka. It is also connected to the Royal city, Mysore and on the other side to Karwar, another emerging commercial port of Karnataka. Channarayapatna has a well planned Bus stand where one can board a bus to any part of Karnataka without much wait.

Shravanabelagola, an important tourist and pilgrimage place, is just 11 km away, and regulal shuttle busses are run from here. One can just alight from a bus from anywhere at anytime during the day and find a bus to Sharavanabelagola There are no Train links as yet. But a Railway line is being built to connect Hassan and Bangalore Via Channarayapatna. During last Mahamastakabhisheka held on February, 2006, the Hassan-Shravanabelagola railway line via Channarayapatna was commissioned. The new line is a part of Hassan-Bangalore new broad gauge line. But Railways stopped operating train service on July 12, 2006 as it has not been able to complete the line up to Bangalore.

However, one can reach Channarayapatna by rail route via Hassan. Channarayapatna By Train (Nearest station Hassan) One can easily reach Channarayapatna via Bangalore if one is travelling from Northern part of India.

Religion

Channarayapatna has three main temples. Chandramouleshwara Temple, with an imposing Basava on the Garudadwara, Channakeshava Temple carved in an exclusive Chalukya style, and a Kote Ganapati Devasthana, at the place where main door of the fort of Channigaraya existed. In addition to this Olageramma temple on the outskirts and near the 'Kere' the local reservoir.

The Chandramouleshwara Temple is believed to be the only Shiva temple that has a standing idol of Lord Shiva (Chandramouleshwara). A 10-day puja celebration is held during the Hindu month Kartika that peaks with a 'Rathotsava' A chariot ride for the Lord. The whole town joins in this colourful occasion. This event coincides usually with the 'Danagala Jaatre' an animal fair, held annually.

The Channakeshava Temple is an exquisitely carved temple. The idol of Channakeshava in black soapstone is a superb piece of Sculpture. A 10 day pooja festival is held for the deity during the Hindu month of Chaitra. The Main deity is decorated with a variety of flowers and grandeur during this period. This culminates with the wedding ceremony to the lord. All these days a procession of the 'Panchaloha Idols' of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi is taken around the town.

'Kotebaagilu' Ganapati temple is a temple complex by itself. As a tradition, Ganapati or Vighneshwara is installed at the entrance of the erstwhile fort, to bless one and all who enters and exits the town. This complex hosts other temples like, a Navagraha Temple, A Sitarama mandira and at a stone throwing distance a Raghavendra swamy mandira.

'Olageramma' temple hosts a Carnival sometime around November, or Kartika masa. Thousands of people from around the town gather here to celebrate and take the blessings of 'Olageramma'. Exotic, visually colourful rituals are associated with this festival. These include 'Fire walking' and taking new born infants and young babies by a priest tieed to a cantiliver through a circular ride known as 'Sidi', which is believed to be a blessing ride for the babies. All these follow a day long ritual and Drum beating. The carnival itself lasts a week.

Channarayapatna also has a large population of Muslims. They have been a part and parcel of the growth of the town. All Muslim festivals are also celebrated in a big way particularly, Moharram. Here Hindus and Muslims mingle easily to get the blessings of the Almighty. The famous 'Huli Vesha' men painted in tiger colours, associated with this is very popular.

Economy

Agriculture is the major economic activity. The town is a noted trade center for Coconut and Jaggery. Coconut, Raagi, Jowar, Potato and Sugarcane are the major crops along with Paddy in water bedded areas.

Industries

Hemavathi Sahakara Sakkare Karkane ,sugar factory operates at Srinivasapura near Channarayapatna ( Its now called 'Sri Chamundeswari Sugars Ltd.', KMF (Karnataka Milk Federation)has built a Milk powder plant near chamadihalli ,Many small-scale and COIR industries are also situated here.

Education

Navodaya Vidhya Samste, Government College and Adhichunchanagiri Vidya Samste are premier educational institutions in Channarayapatna Town. There are other private institutions for Primary and higher primary education till High School such as Hemavathi Convent, Cambridge Convent, Chitanya Vidya Shale, Shalini Vidya Samste, Nagashree Vidhya Samste and many more. Government Women ITI College and TCH college is also located in Channarayapatna

Politics

Janata Dal Secular (JDS) and Congress(INC) are the two major political parties in Channarayapatna, Former minister Late H.C Srikantiah of Congress is from this constituency. JDS leader C.S. Putte Gowda is MLA from 2008 till date.

Notable people

* S.L.Bhyrappa
* Kote Nagaraj
* Nanditha (Playback Singer)

References

1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Nuggihalli
2. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.