Hangal

Hangal, is a historic town in Karnataka, It is away from Hubli through NH 766E. Hangal lies about south of the city of Hubli-Dharwad, about west of the Tungabhadra river and east of the Arabian sea. It is located on state road one, running north to south. A nearby body of water is the Anakere lake. The town is on level terrain in an agricultural district. Hungal is recorded as Panungal in early documents. It was once the capital of a feudatory of the Kadambas. The Kadambas was an ancient dynasty of south India which ruled the region of the present-day state of Goa and nearby Konkan region from around AD 485 until the 11th century. They built temples in Hangal in the Jain tradition. In medieval epigraphs, it is known as Viratakote and Viratanagari, that is the fort and the city of Virata. According to local legends, it is believed to be the place where the Pandavas spent the thirteenth year of their exile. Hanagal is also known for Agnihotra (three Kunda shroutagni) which was practised by Shrotriya Samrat Brahmashri Chayanayaji—Girishastri Kashikar—for seven generations till 1973. Around 1031, the Hoysalas took and held Hangal. In 1060, Mallikarjuna of the Shilahara laid siege to Hangal. In the 12th century, Hangal was held by the Kalalyani Chalukyas, rulers of the Deccan. The Chalukyas built temples in the Gadag architectural style, from grey-green coloured chloritic schist. On 14 July 1800, English forces took Hangal from Dhoondia Punt Gocklah, a Marhatta rebel deserter. India census, Hangal had a population of 25,011. Males constituted 51% of the population and females 49%. Hangal had an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 67%, and female literacy was 60%. 14% of the population is under six years of age. Srinivas Mane of Indian National Congress party is the MLA representing the Hangal (Vidhana Sabha constituency) since 2 November 2021. Hangal is approximately from Bengaluru and from Haveri. The town can be reached from Bengaluru via Chitradurga and Haveri and from Dharwad via Hubli and Shiggavi.