Kundgol

Kundgol
Kundagola
town
Shambhulinga temple at Kundgol
Shambhulinga temple at Kundgol
Kundgol is located in Karnataka
Kundgol
Kundgol
Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates: 15°15′N 75°15′E / 15.25°N 75.25°E / 15.25; 75.25
CountryIndia
StateKarnataka
DistrictDharwad
Elevation
615 m (2,018 ft)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total
16,837
Languages
 • OfficialKannada
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Postal code
58113
ISO 3166 codeIN-KA
Vehicle registrationKA-25 ,KA-63
Websitewww.kundagoltown.gov.in

Kundgol, also known as Kundagola, is a panchayat town in Dharwad district in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Shambhulinga temple at Kundgol, Karnataka

Kundgol is located about 14 km south-west of Hubli and 32 km south-west of Dharwad.

This town is the birthplace of the Rambhau Kundgolkar (also known as Pandit Sawai Gandharva), a Hindustani musician[1].

History

Kundgol also comes under the core area of Western Chalukya Empire. The existence of 11th century Shri Shambhulingeshwara temple supports this claim. Before 1948, Kundgol was a non-contiguous part of the princely state of Jamkhandi.

Kundgol means "a place with many kunds (tanks or ponds)" in Kannada, the dominant language of Karnataka. This name likely reflects the historical presence of numerous water bodies in and around the town, which would have been vital for agriculture and daily life in the region. The suffix "-gol" can also refer to a village or settlement in some contexts, further reinforcing the idea of Kundgol as a community centered around its water resources.[2]

Kundgol was part of the Western Chalukya Empire and later came under the Vijayanagara Empire. It is particularly known for its ancient temples, with the Murugharajendra Math being a significant religious and cultural institution. Agriculture is an important part of the local economy, with crops such as sugarcane and cotton cultivated in the region.[3]

Hindustani music and Kundgol

Wade at Kundagol. Sawai Gandharva, Bhimsen Joshi, Gangubai Hangal are associated with this Wade
Wade at Kundagol. Sawai Gandharva, Bhimsen Joshi, Gangubai Hangal are associated with this wade

Rambhau Kundgolkar, also known as Sawai Gandharva, was born in Kundgol in 1886.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi travelled across India in search of a music teacher before becoming a disciple of Sawai Gandharva of Kundgol. According to biographical accounts, Sawai Gandharva initially declined to accept him as a student, but later agreed to train him.

According to Dr. Gangubai Hangal, late Abdul Karim Khan visited Dharwad in 1900 and taught Sawai Gandharva, a guru who produced many disciples like Dr. Hangal and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The Nadgir family of Kundgol is known for patronising Hindustani music.

To cater to the needs of cultural activities, Dharwad city boasts of the opera house Savai Gandharava Natyagraha, [6] named after the Hindustani Musician Savai Gandharva, the native of Kundgol town near Hubli, on the Hubli - Bangalore rail line. Notable Hindustani classical vocalist Dr. Gangubai Hangal was born in and remained a long-term resident of Hubli. She is regarded as a significant figure in the modern history of the genre.

Dr. Smt. Gangubai Hangal was born into a family of musicians on 5 March 1913 in Dharwad.[7] Her mother, Smt. Ambabai was a renowned Carnatic singer, and her father, Sri Chikkurao Nadiger of Ranebennur was an agriculturist. Dr. Gangubai was initiated into music by her mother. She learnt music under the guidance of Sri Krishnamacharya Hulgur, and later under Sri Sawai Gandharv alias Sri Rambhau Kundgolkar, a disciple of late Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, the main architect of kirana gharana school of music.

Tourism

Shri Shambhulingeshwara temple at Kundgol, Karnataka
Shri Shambhulingeshwara temple at Kundgol, Karnataka
Shri Shambhulingeshwara temple at Kundgol, Karnataka
Shri Shambhulingeshwara temple at Kundgol, Karnataka

Shri Shambhulingeshwara Temple is a large Shiva temple from the 11th century located in Kundgol,[11][12] built by the Western Chalukyas. It incorporates highly polished stones, which are dovetailed into one another. The temple features carved pillars with decorative imagery.

On the side of the doorsteps of the temple, there are carvings of the Lion face with a long scroll issuing from its mouth.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati. Although damaged, the exterior of the temple is decorated with imagery depicting lotuses, kirtimukha faces, and hundreds of Brahmanical images.

This temple was a victim of the Muhammadans. It was repaired by a former chief during 1808 and 1809.

Geography

Kundgol is located at 15°15′N 75°15′E / 15.25°N 75.25°E / 15.25; 75.25.[13] It has an average elevation of 61 metres (2,017 feet).

Demographics

Kundgol city is divided into 15 wards for which elections are held every 5 years. The Kundgol town Panchayat has a population of 18,726, of which 9,423 are males while 9,303 are females as per report released by Census India 2011[14].

The population of children of ages 0-6 is 2184 which is 11.66 % of total population of Kundgol (TP). In The Kundgol town Panchayat, the female sex ratio is 987 against the state average of 973. Moreover, the child sex ratio in Kundgol is around 1020, compared to the Karnataka state average of 948. The literacy rate of Kundgol city is 76.96 % higher than state average of 75.36 %. In Kundgol, male literacy is around 84.33 ,% while female literacy rate is 69.46 %.

Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 8.65 %, while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 2.86 % of total population in Kundgol (TP).

How to Reach

Kundgol is approximately 30+ km from Hubli. The fastest way to reach Kundgol from Hubli is by train. It takes approximately 1 hour. The cheapest way to reach Kundgol from Hubli is by train which would take approximately 1 hour.

There are KSRTC buses from Hubli, Dharwad, and the nearest towns to Kundagol. This town is also connected by the Railway network, and its Railway Station code is KNO.

Notable People

See also

1. SAMAVASARAN (Research Articles-2015), Dr. Appanna N. Hanje, Vidyashree Prakashan, Alagawadi. Cell-9886592927

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kundgol.
  1. ^ "Showcase: Tribute to a legend". The Hindu. 6 October 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  2. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (12 November 2025). "Kundgol (definition and history)". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  3. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (12 November 2025). "Kundgol (definition and history)". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  4. ^ "bhimsen-joshi-indian-classical-music". Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  5. ^ "News, on Bhimsen-joshi and Gangubai Hangal". Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Newsrelated to Savai Gandharva". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  7. ^ "dr-gangubai-hangal". Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  8. ^ Indian Temple Architecture. Adam Hardy. 1995. ISBN 9788170173120. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  9. ^ The Hindu Temple. Stella Kramrisch, Raymond Burnier. 1946. ISBN 9788120802247. Retrieved 4 February 2009. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  10. ^ "Close view of one of the entrance porches of the open mandapa of the temple at Kundgol". Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
  11. ^ "Chapter XIV, Karnataka, The Tourist Paradise". Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  12. ^ Kramrisch, Stella (1946). The Hindu Temple By Stella Kramrisch, Raymond Burnier. ISBN 9788120802247. Retrieved 12 March 2009. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  13. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kundgol
  14. ^ "Kundgol Town Panchayat City Population Census 2011-2026 | Karnataka". www.census2011.co.in. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
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