Kundgol

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

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

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

Kundgol existed under the core area of Western Chalukya Empire. The existence of 11th century Shri Shambhulingeshwara temple reportedly supports this claim. Before 1948, Kundgol was a non-contiguous part of the princely state of Jamkhandi.^[2]

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 bodies of water 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.^[3]

Kundgol was a part of the Western Chalukya Empire and later came under the rule of 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.^[4]

• Pandit Sawai Gandharva

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

• Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi^[5][6]

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, the 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, ^[7] 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.^[8] Her mother, Smt. Ambabai, was a Carnatic singer, and her father, Sri Chikkurao Nadiger of Ranebennur, was an agriculturist. Dr. Gangubai was initiated into music by her mother. She learned music under the guidance of Sri Krishnamacharya Hulgur, and later under Sri Sawai Gandharv alias Sri Rambhau Kundgolkar, a disciple of the late Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, one of the main architects of the Kirana Gharana school of music.

• Shambhulingeshwara Temple^[9][10][11]

Shri Shambhulingeshwara Temple is an 11th-century Shiva temple located in Kundgol, Karnataka.^[12] It was built by the Western Chalukyas and features highly polished stones, fitted together using dovetail joints. The temple is known for its carved pillars and decorative architectural details.

Carvings near the temple entrance include lion faces with ornamental scrolls issuing from their mouths. The temple is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. Despite damage over time, the exterior walls still display decorative elements such as lotus motifs, kirtimukha faces, and numerous Brahmanical figures.

The temple was reportedly damaged during historical conflicts and was repaired by a local chief in 1808–1809.^[13]

Kundgol is located at 15°15′N 75°15′E / 15.25°N 75.25°E / 15.25; 75.25.^[14] It has an average elevation of 61 metres (2,017 feet).

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^[15].

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 compared to 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 the 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).

Kundgol is approximately 30+ km from Hubli. The fastest way to reach Kundgol from Hubli is by train. It takes 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 has the Railway Station code of KNO.

• Sawai Gandharva (born 1886), Hindustani classical vocalist.
• M. R. Patil, M.L.A (BJP, 2023)

• Western Chalukya
• Western Chalukya temples
• Lakshmeshwar
• Lakkundi
• Gadag
• Annigeri
• Dambal

• Kundgol Shambulingeshwara temple on Google Maps

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