Anegundi

Neolithic history is represented in this region by Mourya Mane, a several-thousand-year-old Stone Age Colony. Several Neolithic dwellings still bear paintings that are clear and intact even to this day, at 'Onke Kindi'. This is the rare human settlement where we will find traces of Microlithic, Megalithic, and Neolithic age of human life in one spot. Anegundi area is older than the Vijayanagar empire and is also older than the planet. As per geologists, the Anegundi area is about four billion years old. To date, this village is a living heritage site in its true sense. The nearest Pre-historic sites are HireBenekal, Chikkarampur, Mallapur, Venkatapur and Anjanahalli. Pre-historic rock shelters and paintings are found in Tungabhadra river valley.

At Anegundi there is a religious monastery called saraswati peetam established by Kalahasthacharya. The mutt follows Advaitha sampradaya of shankaracharya. This is the guru peetam of vishwakarma present pontiff is shri shri kalahastendra saraswathi swamiji. The mutt has its main branch at Anegundi, padukuthyar of udupi district.

At Anegundi there is a prehistoric settlement called Onake Kindi.[3] The boulders with rock art, a rock with some red and white markings had figures of humans and bulls. On another boulder, there is a circular diagram like a sun and moon with some symbolism. Actually, the rock paintings belonged to Iron Age, dating back to 1500 BC and the faded circular painting a very rare depiction of a megalithic style of burial also includes a human body in the middle surrounded by a stone circle and burial goods. The site of megalithic dolmens is located up in the hills, locals call it Mourya Mane (morya means short in the local language), about five to seven feet high sheet rock forms four walls, and another rock sheet used as a roof (Neolithic period), it is about 10km away from Anegundi, the Neolithic dwellings in the Elu gudda hill range, from Benegal to Indaragi gudda. About 1.5km from Anegundi, there are rock shelters and paintings, paintings found in the hill ranges called locally as Elu gudda Salu.

Rock Art at Onake Kindi, near Anegundi, Karnataka 4

Anegundi the ancient town Kishkindha of Ramayana, is a lively settlement that has mahals and monuments (Gagan Mahal), there are forts and palaces, ruined temples, and lush green padi fields.

Pampa Sarovar related to Shiva and Parvati featured in Ramayana, Sabari a devotee of Rama met here, the legends of Ramayana including Hanuman, Sugriva all are pervading around Anegundi. The pilgrims consider Pampa Sarovara a holy place.

Anegundi in Kannada means Elephant Gorge, it is older than Hampi, in fact the mother kingdom (cradle city of Vijayanagara). Anegundi history dates back to 3rd BC century was under Ashoka Empire. Anegundi was ruled by various dynasties like Shatavahanas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara Empire and Bahamanis. Now this place is a well-known tourist distination.

Early 14th century, elephant enclosure in Kannada known as Anegundi, named because of elephant contingent of Vijayanagar army.[4] The first capital of Vijayanagar Empire and the capital of several other dynasties. In 1334, Deva Raya the Chief Minister of Anegundi became ruler of Anegundi. When Delhi Sultans invaded Warangal, Harihara and Bukka escaped and came to Anegundi, later founded the Vijayanagar Empire at Hampi. The Tallarighatta gate (Talwar Ghatta) (erstwhile toll gate) is the entrance to Anegundi from Hampi side, the collapsed modern day bridge under construction between Hampi and Anegundi across the Tungabhadra river. Crossing the river in a coracle (boat) which is a circular basket shaped made of cane, bamboo and wrapped in a plastic sheet. "Coracle was used to ferry people in the Vijayanagar time also", it is mentioned by Dominoes Paes the Portuguese traveller in the 16th century, there is mention of carrying "about twenty persons and horses and oxen to cross the river."

During the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, Anegundi was ruled by Bijapur Sultans, Moghuls, Marathas and Tipu Sultan. According to 1824 treaty with the British and Hyderabad Nizam, the king of Vijayanagar who was ruled from Hampi lost his kingdom, was provided a monthly pension of Rs 300, forced to leave Hampi and make Anegundi as his official residence, Rani Lalkumari Bai last descendant who received monthly pension.

Anegundi has a Fort with many gates; there is a Durga temple and the Fort entrance, and there are also tombs laying scattered around. There is a Ganesha cave temple. Vijayanagar kings used to pray before every battle at the Durga temple, then they used to visit Pampa Sarovar and Shri Lakshmi temple.[5] Royal descendants of Vijayanagar Empire are still exist in Anegundi.