It was Day 2 of our Haveri District trip, it was going to be a very hectic day, temples on the itinerary were:

Balambeed Temples – Kaleshwara & Rameshwara

Hanagal Temples – Tarakeshwar, Bileshwara, Jain temple

Tilavalli Temple – Shri Shanteshvara

Bandalike Temples – Trimurti Narayana, Someshwara, Shantinatha Basadi & Sahasralinga Temple

Talagunda – Shri Pranaveshwara

Balligavi – Kedareshwara Temple, Bherundesvara Pillar, Tripuranteshwara temple, Someshwara Temple, Panchlinga Temple & Jalasayana Temple

Started the temple hopping, right after we had a hearty breakfast at Hotel Renuka Darshini in Haveri, where I tried the Semiya Bhat (a savory semolina dish). I had added all the temple locations to my map, so we were ready to cover ground efficiently. The plan for the day was ambitious, with several temples lined up across the region. Our first stop was Balambeed, a quiet village known for its two ancient temples—Kalleshwara and Rameshwara.

Kalleshwara Temple – A Glimpse of the Kalamukha Sect

Balambeed is a small village located on the outskirts of Haveri. We navigated through the village, taking a right turn and following the map to locate the temples. Our first stop was the Kalleshwara Temple. As we approached the temple, it immediately struck us as somewhat incomplete. The vimana (superstructure) was missing from the top, leaving the temple’s roof exposed to the open sky. Despite its partial state, the temple was still relatively well-maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and there was an undeniable sense of history here.

The temple had a garbhagriha (sanctum), antarala (vestibule) and a spacious mandapa (hall). Opposite the garbhagriha, there was a Nandi. On the lintel above the entrance, there were carvings of the trinity —Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu—symbolizing the temple’s connection to these principal deities.

There is Ganesha on one side and Kartikeya on the other in the niches. As we walked around the temple, we discovered a Saptamatrika panel lying on the ground. These figures, representing the seven mother goddesses, were a common feature in temples from the Kalamukha sect, which is believed to have built this structure.

Rameshwara Temple – A Ruined Beauty

After exploring Kalleshwara, we made our way to the Rameshwara Temple, located just a short distance away. This temple, unlike Kalleshwara, was largely in ruins, but it still held an undeniable charm. Similar to the first temple, the vimana was missing, and the temple had an open mandapa supported by simple pillars. Despite the wear and tear of time, the carvings and details on the outer walls were striking.

On the lintel of the Rameshwara Temple, we found the familiar triad —Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu—once again reaffirming the temple’s connection to the trinity. What made this temple stand out were the intricate carvings of the Nagara and Dravida vimanas on the outer walls. These two styles of architectural design, one North Indian and the other South Indian, are typically seen in temple structures across India and their presence here indicated the temple’s historic importance as a crossroads of architectural traditions.

With these temples explored, we were ready to continue our journey. There were more sites to see. The quietude of the village, the ancient stones and the beautiful carvings transported us to a time when these temples were bustling centers of devotion and culture.

Unfortunately, I lost all my photos and videos when I misplaced my phone during another trip. I hope to revisit these places someday and recreate those memories through new photos and videos.

Stay tuned as we continue our exploration of Haveri’s ancient temples and uncover more hidden gems in the heart of Haveri district!