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Re X-ploring Venugram

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by Vijay Lingayat

We always feel that Belagavi does not offer any places of historical value which are worth visit (as one visits the city of Vijapura/Mysuru), but in fact, there many places which have definite historical value. We often move around these places but never try to see and learn about their when/who constructed them, any other major events or personalities related to them, sculpture, wooden carvings, paintings, and most importantly if any old photographs available with them which may throw light on the city of old Belagavi.

Just a few places I have managed to see –

Vitthal Mandir Belagavi
VitthalDev Mandir, Vitthaldev Galli Shahpur Belagavi

1.

Vitthal Dev Galli temples: There are 6-7 Vaishnavite temples are situated here. Some temples are in good condition because still some Brahmins and Marwadi’s visit and perform poojas, except one which I guess (Murlidhar temple) adjacent to Dr. Javali’s hospital is in a dilapidated condition, which certainly seems most ancient. Also, in Shahapur Khade Bazar we find Mahadev temple and Maruti temple.

Balaji Mandir Belagavi
Balaji Mandir Belagavi

 

Adjacent to the Nucleus Mall there is a small temple and an old well (which is not visible from the outside).

 

Jattimath at Ramling khing Galli Belagavi
Jattimath at Ramling khing Galli Belagavi

 

The name of that well is Baragada Bhavi (12 pulley well ) at Hutatma Chowk and people used to fetch water from that well as far as they lived in Ganapat Galli as well.

 

Lokmanya Granthalaya Khanapur Road Belagavi
Lokmanya Granthalaya Khanapur Road Belagavi – Now Demolished) 

2.

Old stone-built houses in Tilakwadi, Hindwadi, near BogarVes, Shahapur, and Hosur (especially Rangubai palace in Ramling Khind and a house near Nath Pai garden on Deshmukh Road)

Rangubai Palace Ramling Khind Galli Belagavi
Rangubai Palace Ramling Khind Galli Belagavi
Rangubai Palace Ramling Khind Galli Belagavi
Rangubai Palace Ramling Khind Galli Belagavi

3. Ganapat galli watchtower, school nearby.

General Library Tower Ganpat Galli Belagavi
General Library Tower Ganpat Galli Belagavi

4. Jain basti’s in Kore Galli Shahapur (looks ancient), Hosur Basavn Galli, Shetty Galli. Remarkable about these basti’s are the towers built in front of these, stone carving is beautiful.

Jain Basti's in Belagavi
Jain Basti’s in Belagavi
Jain Basti's in Sheri Galli Belagavi
Jain Basti in Sheri Galli Belagavi
Jain Basti's in Belagavi
Hindwadi

5. Saraswati Vachanalay and Kreeda Bhavan, Kore Galli Shahapur.

Saraswati Vachanalaya Shahpur
Saraswati Vachanalaya Shahpur

6. There is some old Maths, like Kalmath in Kalmath Street. There was one math called Karanji Math in Kore Galli Shahapur, but today this is completely extinct and is being replaced by a new building.

Kalmath on Kalmath Road Belagavi
Kalmath on Kalmath Road Belagavi
Poornananda Bhavan Tilakwadi Belagavi
Poornananda Bhavan Tilakwadi Belagavi
Raghvendra Swamy Math Tilak Chowk Belagavi
Raghvendra Swamy Math Tilak Chowk Belagavi

7. Rajwada compound in Madhavpur Vadagaon. I have heard some interesting things about the people who lived here who were Sansthanik’s. I have also heard that still today there are some war weapons and some structures can be seen.

8. Dak bangla, near goaves. People talk about various strange things about this place (like, some say this Bangla was used by dacoits). No one knows exactly about this place. Looks like a haunted house. Today this place is being used by the government irrigation department. Also, in Kacheri Galli there is one old building which people say was used as a jail in old times, these days this is being used for government offices.

Ram Mandir Acharya Galli Shahpur Belagavi
Ram Mandir Acharya Galli Shahpur Belagavi

9. Shahapur saraf katta. This is now completely extinct, as it was removed as a part of the master plan some 15 years back. There used to be a number of old Jewelry shops there. I have heard people from all over India used to come to Shahapur saraf Katta to buy Jewelry in old times.

10.Masjid’s and Darga’s. The prominent one which comes to my mind is Belagavi Khade Bazar masjid and Darga besides DCC bank and another darga near police headquarters.

Dargha-e-Hadhrat sayed umar al-Basheban at Bhendi Bazar Belagavi
Dargha-e-Hadhrat sayed umar al-Basheban at Bhendi Bazar Belagavi
Jamiya Masjid - Khade Bazar Belagavi
Jamiya Masjid – Khade Bazar Belagavi

11. There are many structures and monuments in the Cantonment Area and places of worship.

St.Mary's Church Camp Belagavi
St.Mary’s Church Camp Belagavi

This list can be comprehensively updated by citizens. I am sure these will an eye-opener for everyone about Belagavi’s glorious past. People must learn about the preservation and restoration of these invaluable structures.

24 thoughts on “Re X-ploring Venugram”

  1. ALL THE ABOVE ANTIQUE AND IMPORTANT LOCATIONS SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED TO KARNATAKA TOURISIM SO THAT IT MAY GO NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL.UNFORTUNATELY THE TEMPLE DAKSHIN KASHI IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE PHOTOS.

    Reply
  2. The library u have mention in khade bazar i used visit when i come to belgaum for my school vacation.
    I also remember i used to visit Shanivarcha Bazar along with my grandfather for buying butter and some other household item.i have special attachement since it is my biirth place.I have becocme really nsotalgic after seeing all places from Belgaum.

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  3. Beautiful pictures, Mr. Vijay Lingayat. Thanks for posting…first of its kind post of the “Heritage Buildings” of Belgaum.

    Let us all pledge to preserve these precious monuments which are a link to our culture and heritage and which are under tremendous threat of urban expansion and builder lobbies.

    Every brick that we lose from these monuments, we lose a valuable element of our past.

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    • These were some monuments which people never see. We havnt Covered the Kamal Basti then.. People know about them but we are looking at other

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  4. Thank you for this informative article. Our house is in Arharya Galli and during exam time, I would wake up early and visit all the temples on Vitthal Dev Galli. It is especially wonderful during Karthik maas, when they do bhajans at Vithoba mandir. When I visit Belgaum now, I do make it a point to go again. Last time when I took my kids, my daughter asked why don’t I donate to renovate and maintain the Murlidhar mandir. Someone could take up this as a project to keep our heritage alive. Make a plea for donation and I am sure you will get it. Thanks again to Mr. Lingyat and AAB for publishing it.

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  5. Hi Vijay , wanted to add that Vitthal Dev mandir in shahpur has treasures like original paintings of Raja Ravi Verma.. these are displayed during Kishna Janamastmi only.. good to see AAB taking such initiatives.. And thanks Mr Lingayat.. for taking us back to old memory lanes…

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  6. All the photographs are very nice.It is enough to take us in retrospect.How ever there are many other old places like urban bank at raviwar peth,veerasoudha,kapilashwar mandir,Maruti mandir at Marutigalli and so many others .Please explore and take photographs and post for our collection.Thank you

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  7. Thanks for enlightening lots of readers(including me) of your esteemed web-site, displaying memorable photographs with their history of the heritage and historical monuments of Belagavi City(Old Belgaum) Preservation and maintenance of these buildings is the utmost need of this day. .

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  8. It hearts that Lokamanya Granthalaya was demolished. Some more buildings are in Tilakwadi which are architecturally beautiful, hope they will not see the fate of Tilak Granthalya.

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  9. It hurts that Lokamanya Granthalaya was demolished. Some more buildings are in Tilakwadi which are architecturally beautiful, hope they will not see the fate of Tilak Granthalya.

    Reply

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