Hosakote
|
Hoskote ಹೊಸಕೋಟೆ |
|
|---|---|
| city | |
 Hoskote
|
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| Coordinates: 13°04′N 77°48′E / 13.07°N 77.8°ECoordinates: 13°04′N 77°48′E / 13.07°N 77.8°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Bangalore Rural |
| Elevation | 891 m (2,923 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 56,980 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 562114 |
| Telephone code | 91-80 |
| Vehicle registration | KA-53 |
Hoskote is a taluk in Bangalore Rural District. Headquartered at the Hoskote town, it consists of five hoblis - Anugondanahalli, Jadigenahalli, Kasaba, Nandagudi and Sulibele. Agriculture, apiculture and horticulture are primary occupations of people here, although the industrialization in the recent times in Hoskote and places around has thrown up new opportunities for the people. Hoskote is the largest taluk in Karnataka having 333 villages.
Hoskote town is the headquarters of the Hoskote Taluk, and lies at the intersection of NH-4 and NH-207 and as such is a busy town with both resident and floating population. Hoskote has a medical college and research institute known as MVJ Medical College & Research Centre.
Hoskote is known for its moderate climate throughout the year. The town is around 900 m above sea level making its climate usually 1 or 2 degrees cooler than Bangalore.
Hoskote, 25 km from Bangalore was a pre-historic centre. According to a copper plate grant dated 1494, given to a Veerashiva Matha the place was founded by Thamme Gowda, the chief of Sugatur. The place is also noted for a large tank with an embankment which is two miles long, and when full, forms a sheet of water not less than 12 km in circumference. Thammegowda is said to have constructed this tank and by raising an armed force, he annexed places like Anekal, Mulbagal and Punganur (A.P.). His successors ruled till 1638.. Shortly after, the territory was conquered by the Bijapur army and subsequently conferred as a Jahgir on Shahaji, who resided at Bangalore. He had an officer called Yeshwantrao posted here. On the capture of these districts by the Mughal army under Khasim Khan in 1687, they became part of the Sira Province. In 1756, Hoskote was taken by the Mysore army, but was subdued by the Marathas (Peshwa). It changed hands several times until it was finally annexed by Haider Ali in 1761.
The old fort area has the Avimukteshwara, Varadaraja and the Vithoba temples. The Avimukteshwara is a very large Dravidian structure ascribed to Thammegowda, the chief of Sugatur. It has three cells in a line, the middle cell enshrining a figure of Virabhadra, the one to the right Shivalinga and other to the left Parvati. There is an oblong Ardhamantapa with its entrance having Dwarapalakas. There is a spacious Navaranga with rows and rows of Vijayanagar pillars having very interesting reliefs sculptures depicting Shaiva episodes. Inside the Navaranga are placed impressive sculptures of Ganapati (two handed) and Subrhamanya (with two hands) having early Vijayanagara features. In front of the temple is a fine Dipasthambha, about 7.5 metres tall with a circular pedestal. It is in the Maratha style. On a pillar to the left of the Mukhamantapa is carved a standing figure of a Bhakta, described as representing the chief Thamme Gowda. A similar figure is also seen on one of the pillars of the Kalyana Mantapa. Behind the temple (outside) was an ashmound and many stone tools had been located. Other temples of the place are Varadaraja, Anjaneya (two), Vithala (Panduranga), Kashi Vishveshwara, Sri Rama etc. The Varadaraja temple has two Garbhagrihas, with the central one having a standing image of late Vijayanagara workmanship and the left cell has the seated image of Devi. The pillars of the Navaranga are in Vijayanagar style (renovated) and have many relief sculptures. It has been said that the temple was renovated around 1830 by the then Tahsildar Biligiri Rao. He is also said to have built the Anjaneya temple (also called Agrahara Anjaneya) near the tank sluice. Another Anjaneya temple in the fort area has a tall image in profile, about one metre height. An unpublished Tamil record is seen near this (pete Anjaneya) temple. This temple which appears to have been renovated recently has a Navaranga having four beautifully carved black stone pillars. It is said that they originally belong to an old Shiva temple of Dravidian style. Some of the relief sculptures here depicting Shiva Purana episodes are of fine quality. Among the interesting are a huntress armed, with bow and arrow removing a thorn from one of the legs, Tandaveshvara with Vishnu as a drummer and Brahma and Subrahmanya as attendant musicians, Narasimha as a drummer, Bedara Kannappa, Yama seizing Markandeya, Bhikshatana Shiva resting his right hand on a basket borne on the head of a dwarf and receiving alms from a woman, etc.
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