Hangal

Hangal, formerly known as 'Viratanagara', is a historic town in Karnataka. It is 80 km away from Hubli through NH 766E.

Location
Hangal lies about 75 km south of the city of Hubli-Dharwad, about 30 km west of the Tungabhadra river and east of the Arabian Sea. It is located on state road one, running north to south. A nearby body of water is the Anakere lake. The town is on level terrain in an agricultural district.

History
Hungal is recorded as Panungal in early documents. It was once the capital of a feudatory of the Kadambas. The Kadambas was an ancient dynasty of south India which ruled the region of the present-day state of Goa and nearby Konkan region from around AD 485 until the 11th century. They built temples in Hangal in the Jain tradition. In medieval epigraphs, it is known as Viratakote and Viratanagari, that is the fort and the city of Virata. According to local legends, it is believed to be the place where the Pandavas spent the thirteenth year of their exile.

Hanagal is also known for Agnihotra (three Kunda shroutagni) which was practised by Shrotriya Samrat Brahmashri Chayanayaji—Girishastri Kashikar—for seven generations till 1973.

Around 1031, the Hoysalas took and held Hangal. In 1060, Mallikarjuna of the Shilahara laid siege to Hangal.

In the 12th century, Hangal was held by the Kalalyani Chalukyas, rulers of the Deccan. The Chalukyas built temples in the Gadag architectural style, from grey-green coloured chloritic schist.

On 14 July 1800, English forces took Hangal from Dhoondia Punt Gocklah, a Marhatta rebel deserter.

Demographics
India census, Hangal had a population of 25,011. Males constituted 51% of the population and females 49%. Hangal had an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 67%, and female literacy was 60%. 14% of the population is under six years of age.

Politics
Srinivas Mane of Indian National Congress party is the MLA representing the Hangal (Vidhana Sabha constituency) since 2 November 2021.

Transport
Hangal is approximately 370 km from Bengaluru and 40 km from Haveri. The town can be reached from Bengaluru via Chitradurga and Haveri and from Dharwad via Hubli and Shiggaavi. The nearest rail head is at Haveri (railway station code HVR).

Temples
Hangal has many historic temples related to the Chalukyas and the Hoysalas.

Tarakeshwara Temple
The Tarakeshwara Temple is a large structure decorated with images and pillars dating to the Chalukya era in the mid-12th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in his form as Tarakeshwara. The images include scenes from the Ramayana.

The outer walls are designed with miniature shikaras of both Dravidian and Nagara style. The pillars of the open main hall are lathe turned wood. They have a bell shaped section and other decorations including elephants and diamond shaped motifs in bands. The elephants are carved so there appears to be a space between their trunks and the pillars. The band motifs vary in detail. The temple main hall has a large domed ceiling. It consists of concentric circles of cusped mouldings. At the apex, the ceiling falls rosette or pendant design. The overlying roof is a stepped pyramid shape.

Nearby is the ramal, an octagonal piece of stone in a corbelled lotus shape. It is 30 ft and is supported on eight pillars. There are memorial stones carved with religious (Mastigallu) and military (Veeragallu) scenes. Eight of them are guardians of eight cardinal points.

There is a sanctuary adjoining the main hall. The Nandi pavilion rests on twelve pillars and contains balcony seating. There is also a Ganesha temple of the Nagara style (northern curvilinear) shikhara (miniature temple decorations.)

Jain temple at the fort


The Jain temple in the Hangal fort is located on the premises of the department of horticulture. It dates to 1150 AD. The temple in the Hoysala style is beautifully decorated but there is need of conservation and restoration. The temple was built on a stepped plan. It had an open hall and sanctuary, now in ruins. The sculptural decoration included flowers, garlands, torana, animals, birds and deities. It was especially elaborate in the upper portion of the walls. The temple walls are also decorated with thin pilasters. The open hall has lathe turned pillars.

Lord Sarahunaath Temple
Lord Sarahunaath temple in the Suraleshwara near Hangal.

Veerabhadra Temple
The Veerabhadra temple is also located at the Hangal fort. Although highly decorated, it is in need of restoration work.

Billeshwara Temple
The Billeshwara temple is in the Hoysala style. This temple has elaborately carved jambs on the doorframe of the garbhagudi. At the bottom of each side, there are five carved figures. Manmatha is in the central projection. Rati is at his side. Daksha (the goat headed deity) is also present and all are flanked by attendants. The temple has a sanctuary face which is incomplete. The temple outer walls are decorated with designs of temple towers and carved diamond shaped depressions. The square panels show carved serpents with intertwined tails, animals, musicians, and foliage.

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Alphabetically Arranged List Of Villages In Hangal Sub-District
Sl. #|	Vil. #|	Village Name|	Post|	       Taluk Name

1|	604140|	Adur|	       Adur|	        Hangal

2|	604133	Ajagundikoppa	Mudur	       Hangal

3	604152	Akki Alur	Akki Alur	Hangal

4	604095	Akkivalli	Araleshwar	Hangal

5	604061	Aladakatti	Belagalapeth	Hangal

6	604065	Allapur	Sangur	Haveri

7	604092	Araleshwar	Araleshwar	Hangal

8	604178	Arashinguppi	Akki Alur	Hangal

9	604040	Badamgatti	Bommanahalli	Hangal

10	604080	Baichavalli	Baichavalli	Hangal

11	604052	Bailwal	Hullatti	Hangal

12	604147	Balambeed	Balambeed	Hangal

13	604121	Balihalli	Balihalli	Hangal

14	604151	Balur	Akki Alur	Hangal

15	604160	Basapur (M) Adur	Hirehullal	Hangal

16	604057	Basapur (M) Nidasangi	Yalavatti	Hangal

17	604099	Basavanagara	? ?

18	604072	Belagalapeth	Belagalapeth	Hangal

19	604049	Belavatti (Hunasikatti)	Belagalapeth	Hangal

20	604063	Bhingapur	Belagalapeth	Hangal

21	604101	Bidarakoppa	Hirekanagi	Hangal

22	604037	Bommanahalli	Bommanahalli	Hangal

23	604169	Byagawadi	Herur	Hangal

24	604182	Byathanal	Kusnur	Hangal

25	604062	Chandragiri	Belagalapeth	Hangal

26	604139	Channapur (M) Adur	Adur	Hangal

27	604076	Cheeranahalli	Baichavalli	Hangal

28	604156	Chikkahullal	Didogur	Haveri

29	604104	Chikkeri	Hangal	Hangal

30	604130	Chikkounshi Hosur	Chikkounshi Hosur	Hangal

31	604054	Dasharatkoppa	Kopparsikoppa	Hangal

32	604106	Dolleshwar	Surleshwar	Hangal

33	604173	Dommanala	Tilavalli	Hangal

34	604048	Dyamankoppa (Inam)	Belagalapeth	Hangal

35	604120	Dyamankoppa (Sarkar)	Shirgoda	Hangal

36	604055	Gadegundiyellapur	Hullatti	Hangal

37	604118	Gadiyankanahalli	Hirur	Hangal

38	604087	Gazipur	Kopparsikoppa	Hangal

39	604108	Gejjihalli	Hirur	Hangal

40	604107	Girishinkoppa	Hirur	Hangal

41	604138	Gondi	Gondi	Hangal

42	604102	Gotagodi	Hirekanagi	Hangal

43	604077	Gudagudi	Kopparsikoppa	Hangal

44	604171	Guddad Mattihalli	Sangur	Haveri

45	604060	Gundur	Belagalapeth	Hangal

46	604149	Gururayapatna	Akki Alur	Hangal

47	604186	Hallibail	Tilavalli	Hangal

48	604164	Hanamapur	Akki Alur	Hangal

49	604038	Hanamasagar	Bommanahalli	Hangal

50	604103	Handihal	Hirekanagi	Hangal

51	803103	Hangal (Town Municipal Council)	Hangal	Hangal

52	604116	Hanumanakoppa	Hirur	Hangal

53	604045	Haranagiri	Bankapur	Shiggavi

54	604122	Harlakoppa	Sammasgi	Hangal

55	604044	Harvi	Bankapur	Shiggavi

56	604056	Hasanabadi	Hullatti	Hangal

57	604148	Havanagi	Havanagi	Hangal

58	604155	Herur	Herur	Hangal

59	604174	Hirebasur	Tilavalli	Hangal

60	604154	Hirehullal	Hirehullal	Hangal

61	604098	Hirekanagi	Hirekanagi	Hangal

62	604137	Hirekounshi	Gondi	Hangal

63	604117	Hirur	Hirur	Hangal

64	604064	Hombli	Maranabeed	Hangal

65	604180	Honkan	Sheshagiri	Hangal

66	604097	Hosahalli	Hangal	Hangal

67	604041	Hospet	Bommanahalli	Hangal

68	604094	Hotanhalli	Araleshwar	Hangal

69	604187	Hulagaddi	Tilavalli	Hangal

70	604125	Hulaginahalli	Konankoppa	Hangal

71	604088	Hulaginakoppa	Hangal	Hangal

72	604053	Hullatti	Hullatti	Hangal

73	604071	Jakkanaikankoppa	Adur	Hangal

74	604050	Janagundikoppa	Belagalapeth	Hangal

75	604131	Janginakoppa	Shirgoda	Hangal

76	604084	Kadashettihalli	Savasgi	Hangal

77	604188	Kalguddi	Tilavalli	Hangal

78	604158	Kalkeri	Herur	Hangal

79	604163	Kallapur	Kallapur	Hangal

80	604069	Kalvekallapur	Adur	Hangal

81	604093	Kalveyellapur	Araleshwar	Hangal

82	604109	Kamanhalli	Manthagi	Hangal

83	604085	Kanchinegalur	Kanchinegalur	Hangal

84	604177	Kanneshwar	Kusnur	Hangal

85	604176	Karekyathanahalli	Kusnur	Hangal

86	604082	Kargudri	Kargudri	Hangal

87	604175	Kelavarkoppa	Kelavarkoppa	Hangal

88	604185	Kirwadi	Tilavalli	Hangal

89	604142	Kodiyellapur	Adur	Hangal

90	604127	Konankoppa	Konankoppa	Hangal

91	604134	Kondoji	Akki Alur	Hangal

92	604190	Koppagondankop	Tilavalli	Hangal

93	604086	Kopparsikoppa	Kopparsikoppa	Hangal

94	604066	Kudal	Sangur	Haveri

95	604096	Kuntanhosahalli	Hangal	Hangal

96	604168	Kusnur	Kusnur	Hangal

97	604128	Kyasanur	Chikkounshi hosur	Hangal

98	604146	Lakamapur (M) Adur	Balambeed	Hangal

99	604181	Lakmapur (Inam)	Akki Alur	Hangal

100	604112	Laxmipur	Sammasgi	Hangal

101	604075	Maharajpet	Kargudri	Hangal

102	604136	Makarvalli	Akki Alur	Hangal

103	604162	Malagund	Kallapur	Hangal

104	604183	Malapur	Tilavalli	Hangal

105	604090	Malligar	Hangal	Hangal

106	604110	Manthagi	Manthagi	Hangal

107	604046	Maranabeed	Maranabeed	Hangal

108	604047	Masanakatti	Masanakatti	Hangal

109	604126	Mattihalli	Sangur	Haveri

110	604119	Mavakoppa	Shirgoda	Hangal

111	604132	Mudur	Mudur	Hangal

112	604172	Mulathalli	Sangur	Haveri

113	604067	Naregal	Naregal	Hangal

114	604043	Neeralgi (M) Adur	Bankapur	Shiggavi

115	604073	Negavanigi	Kargudri	Hangal

116	604070	Nellibeed	Adur	Hangal

117	604039	Nellikoppa	Bommanahalli	Hangal

118	604124	Neralgi (Inam)	Konankoppa	Hangal 119	604059	Nitaginakoppa	Kargudri	Hangal

120	604079	Ramathirtha	Baichavalli	Hangal

121	604081	Rathnapur	Kargudri	Hangal

122	604113	Sagarvalli	Sammasgi	Hangal

123	604123	Sammasgi	Sammasgi	Hangal

124	604141	Sankrikoppa	Adur	Hangal

125	604089	Satenhalli	Hangal	Hangal

126	604091	Savasgi	Savasgi	Hangal

127	604115	Savikeri	Balihalli	Hangal

128	604150	Sevalal	Akki Alur	Hangal

129	604144	Sheegihalli (Shingahalli)	Adur	Hangal

130	604179	Sheshagiri	Sheshagiri	Hangal

131	604143	Shingapur	Adur	Hangal

132	604129	Shirgoda	Shirgoda	Hangal

133	604083	Shirmapur (M) Adur	Savasgi	Hangal

134	604100	Shivajinagar	? ?

135	604111	Shivapura	Manthagi	Hangal

136	604135	Shyadaguppi	Shyadaguppi	Hangal

137	604074	Sivajipur	Belagalapeth	Hangal

138	604161	Somapur	Tilavalli	Hangal

139	604170	Somasagara	Tilavalli	Hangal

140	604114	Sringeri	Balihalli	Hangal

141	604105	Surleshwar	Surleshwar	Hangal

142	604159	Tavargoppa	Sangur	Haveri

143	604078	Thimmapur (M) Nidasangi	Bommanahalli	Hangal

144	604184	Tilavalli	Tilavalli	Hangal

145	604145	Tumarikoppa	Sangur	Haveri

146	604157	Uppanshi	Sangur	Haveri

147	604153	Veerapura	Havanagi	Hangal

148	604042	Walageri	Masanakatti	Hangal

149	604068	Wardi	Wardi	Hangal

150	604167	Wasan	Tilavalli	Hangal

151	604051	Yalavatti	Yalavatti	Hangal

152	604036	Yaliwal	Bommanahalli	Hangal

153	604165	Yallapur (Inam)	Akki Alur	Hangal

154	604058	Yallur	Kargudri	Hangal

155	604189	Yathinhalli (M) Tilavalli	Tilavalli	Hangal

156	604166	Yethinahalli-M-Adur	Akki Alur	Hangal -->