Nandavara
Nandavara is a village near the town of Bantwal, in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India.[1] It is located around 25 km from Mangalore, on the banks of the Netravati River.
Nandavara | |
|---|---|
town | |
  Nandavara Location in Karnataka, India | |
| Coordinates: 12.864816°N 75.039539°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Karnataka |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Nandavara had royal associations historically, a fact evidenced by the many palaces and temples built in the area (although none of the forts built by former royals exist in the present day). A few descendants of the royal family now reside in towns near Nandavara, such as Sajipa, Arkula, Kananthoor, Bajpe, Manjeshwara, Yermal, etc. These towns are within a 35 km radius of Nandavara. The Bangera Kings of Nandavara donated their belongings to the poor and needy, which was used by a few local communities in the past.
Nandavara is an ancient settlement and a political center historically. Nandavara was the capital of the Nanda Dynasty, which ruled the neighboring region for several centuries.
The name Nandavara is derived from a combination of two words, nanda and pura. The Nanda kings established their kingdom on the bank of the Netravati River, and built a fort and a palace. The place came to be known as Nandapura, which in course became well-known by the present name of Nandavara.
Sites of historical significance that exist today include the Sri Veerabhadra shrine, the Shri Vinayaka Shankaranarayana Durgamba temple, and the Sri Veera Maruti temple. The neglected Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Shankarnarayana Durgamba temple has been renovated and restored, and is equipped with facilities for social welfare activities.