The
origins of Karnataka emerge through the mists of antiquity. Celebrated in
lore and legend, an array of dynasties that marched through this land is
thrilling. The grandiloquent temples, the sturdy Indo-Arabic edifices, the
Gomata colossus stretching itself to the very sky in all its naked glory,
transport one into a historic dream sequence. It is here the Vedantic trio
radiated through their lofty teachings and Basava preached for a life of
good conduct and self-surrender and Haridasas pleaded for spiritual vision
in celestial songs celebrating the glory of bhakti. It is also a land filled
with aroma of Jasmine & Sandalwood and has mines producing gold. Through
the mists of antiquity enveloping the origins of Karnataka, we find that it
was celebrated in lore and legend. It is claimed as the birthplace of
puranic heroes, Parasurama and Hanuman. The earliest references to this land
were made in Mahabharatha, Ramayana and Jain legends. Its two thousands
years of history reveals a profuse growth of its language, literature, art
and culture. The first poetical classic Kavirajamarga of emperor Nrupathunga
describes the land as stretching between Godavari and Cauvery. The area has
shrunk now but his description of the people as - "valiant fighters,
poets, rulers - beautiful, gentle, noble, virtuous, proud, fierce, wise and
of superior intelligence" is amply borne out by history. xx
Array
of Dynasties 
The
historian is thrilled by the array of dynasties that marched their armies to
battle and ruled over this land. The Chalukyas, Kadambas, Rastrakutas,
Hoysalas, Gangas, Vijayanagar Rajas, Hyder, Tippu and the Wodeyars have left
their king-sized footprints on its sands. The chroniclers of art note with
delight the exquisite Chalukyan carvings of the Badami - Aiyhole -
Pattadakal temple complex, as cradles of temple architecture. The bejewelled
and ornate sculptures of Hoysala temple at Belur, Halebid and Somanathpur
are poems in stone. It is here the skilled artists have treated stone like
ivory and executed filigree work of greatest finesse.
The massive
carvings of Vijayanagar Temples at Hampi with their florid exuberance is
another facet of the same craft.The over-ornate and voluptuous dancers
carved out of stone at the Halebid and Belur temples almost burst out graces
of Indian dancing. The sturdy, monumental Ibrahimrousa in Bijapur, the
layered fort which contains mystery of the whispering echoes at Golgumbaz -
the biggest dome ever constructed, are the last words in decorative
magnificence. They are among the finest specimens of Indo-Saracenic
architecture. The serene strength of the Gomata monolith standing aloft
stretching up to the very sky in all its naked glory is an embodiment of
renunciation. The smile that lights its masculine face washes
House
Boat