Bagalkot or Bagalakote is a city in Karnataka state of India. It is situated on the branch of River Ghataprabha about 530 kms northwest of state capital Bangalore. The legendary Chalukya Dynasty ruled Bagalkot District once upon a time, in northern Karnataka. Occupying a distance of 6593 sq. km, Bagalkot District is flanked by Bijapur district in the north and Gadag district in the south.
Bagalkot presents itself as a gateway to a number of day trips – notably to Badami Caves (covered earlier in this blog). Others include Kudalasangama and Almatti Dam.
Kudalasangama is an important center of pilgrimage for Lingayats. It is located about 15 kilometres from the Almatti Dam. The Krishna and Malaprabha rivers merge here and flow east towards Srisaila (another pilgrim center) in Andhra Pradesh. The holy resting place of Basavanna, the founder of the Lingayat sect of Hindu religion along with a Linga, which is believed to be self-formed, is here. A temple has been built here in Chalukya style. It is believed that in the 12th century, Jathaveda Muni Sarangamath had set up an education centre here and Basaveshvara, Channabasavanna and Akkanagamma were students. Basaveshvara spent his boyhood here and, after propogating his teachings, he is said to have become one with God at this place. The vachanas (poems) composed by him are dedicated to the presiding deity here, Sangamanatha.
The Almatti Dam is a hydroelectric project on the Krishna River. The Almatti Dam is the main reservoir of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project; the 290 MW power station is located on the right side of the Almatti Dam. The facility uses vertical kaplan turbines: five 55MW generators and one 15MW generator. Water is released into the Narayanpur reservoir after using for power generation to serve the downstream irrigation needs. The Almatti dam area has lavish parks, a rock garden, a musical fountain and recreation centres. Amusement park and also a three-star hotel for tourists are in the offing.
The old Bagalkot fort is in ruins owing to the construction & subsequent discharges from Almatti Dam.
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| Kudalasangama Temple |
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| Kudalasangama Temple |
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| Kudalasangama Temple |
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| Kudalasangama Temple |
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| Kudalasangama Temple |
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| Kudalasangama Temple |
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| Kudalasangama Temple – Basavanna’s resting place where the Krishna and Malaprabha rivers merge |
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| Boating near the temple |
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| Kudalasangama Temple – Basavanna’s resting place where the Krishna and Malaprabha rivers merge |
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| Kudalasangama Temple – Basavanna’s resting place where the Krishna and Malaprabha rivers merge |
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| Kudalasangama Temple Entrance |
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| Kudalasangama Temple Entrance |
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| Almatti Dam – Entrance Arch |
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| Almatti Dam – Entrance |
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| Almatti Dam – Entrance Lobby |
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| Almatti Dam – Entrance Lobby |
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| Almatti Dam – Entrance Lobby |
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| Almatti Dam – Entrance Lobby |
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| Almatti Dam – Entrance Lobby |
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| Almatti Dam – Gardens |
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| Almatti Dam |
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| Almatti Dam |
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| Almatti Dam – Gardens |
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| Almatti Dam – Gardens |
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| Almatti Dam – Gardens |
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| Almatti Dam – Entrance Lobby |
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| Almatti Dam – Rock Garden |
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| Almatti Dam – Rock Garden |
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| Almatti Dam – Rock Garden |
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| Almatti Dam – Rock Garden |
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| Almatti Dam – Rock Garden |
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| Almatti Dam – Rock Garden |
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| Almatti Dam – Rock Garden |
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| Almatti Dam – Rock Garden |
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| Almatti Dam – Silver Lake |
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| Bagalkot – Remains of the Bagalkot Fort |
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| Bagalkot – Remains of the Bagalkot Fort |
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