Hiriyur

Hiriyur ಹಿರಿಯೂರು Ranganath
city
Vani Vilasa Sagara dam located near the Hiriyur taluk
Hiriyur
Coordinates: 13°57′N 76°37′E / 13.95°N 76.62°E / 13.95; 76.62Coordinates: 13°57′N 76°37′E / 13.95°N 76.62°E / 13.95; 76.62
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Chitradurga
Elevation	630 m (2,070 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	56,416
Languages
• Official	Kannada
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	577 598
Telephone code	08193
Vehicle registration	KA-16
Website	http://www.hiriyurtown.mrc.gov.in

Hiriyur (Kannada:ಹಿರಿಯೂರು) is a town and taluk headquarters located near Chitradurga in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Hiriyur is renowned for having the oldest dam in Karnataka, built on the Vedavati river, and named Mari Kanive. Hiriyur is situated along National Highway 4. Hiriyur is located 160 km north of Bangalore. All the buses from Bangalore going towards Hubli, Belgaum, Davanagere, Bellary pass through Hiriyur.

The climate is generally dry with low rain fall. During winter (November - February), the night temperature may come down to 18 degrees C.

Hiriyur is famous as a centre for regional (rural) markets. The 'santhe' attracts people from all over the district. It is also famous for the Mari Kanive, which is an architectural masterpiece constructed during the rule of the Mysore Wodeyars. The Mari Kanive irrigation project was initiated by Sir. Mark Cubbon, the British Resident of Mysore. C N Malige is one of the villages of Hiriyur taluk and it is situated between Hulithotlu and Adiralu villages. Sub office to this village is Aimangala. The National Highway 4 which passes through Hiriyur has for decades created a cluster of business catering to the commuters. Hiriyur is also famous for its 500+ years old temple of Lord Shiva. Famously known as "Terumalleshwara temple" it is also called as "Dakshina Kashi" by the devotees. It is believed that the famous devotee of Lord Shiva, "Hema Reddy Mallamma", was a resident of this town. Every year she travelled to Varanasi by foot. As she grew older and weaker, one day she prayed to her lord that "O lord I have become old and weak, unable to visit Varanasi and have your darshan, what do I do". On the night of that day Lord Shiva appeared in her dream and told her that she need not come to Varanasi to see him, he himself will come and reside in Hiriyur. As promised, Lord Shiva was believed to have incarnated in the "oraLukallu" (a stone of cylindrical shape used in the households of ancient India for grinding purpose). That stone which was worshipped by Mallamma later became known as Terumalleshwara.