a primitive temple structure

April 16, 2022

I was driving from Dharwad to Vakkund via Yadwad, Upinbetageri, Dodwad and Belvadi. About 3 kms before Belavadi, on the left hand side, this conical roof structure caught my attention. It's a very unique piece of construction made of stones and mud. Out of curiosity I stopped to take a closer look. The structure is approximately 11' x 11' in plan and 11' high. It has just one entrance, a 4' x 2' passage. The passage itself is 3' deep which means the walls of this stout little structure are 3' thick. Only the front wall is coated with a thick layer of lime. Also, two dark colored stones are embedded into the wall and the floor - they were coated with a thick layer of oil, the type of oil used for lamps in a temple. 

The walls are strong, its has been built like the protective walls of a large temple or a small fort. The stone & mud wall has a thick layer of plastering and then finished with coats of lime. Going by the quality of construction, my guess is this structure could be 300 to 450 years old. I feel originally all surfaces of the structure were plastered and coated with lime, making it a white domed temple. May be due to lack of resources in the present, only the façade is being finished in white. Try to imagine a smooth surfaced bright white structure in moonlight. It would have been a sight to behold.

View of the shrine through the entrance passage. The deity idol is small and dark, difficult to make out the features. The idol could be Hanuman's. A pleasant odor wafted from the passage, morning ritual had been performed. I did not enter the shrine.

The side & rear walls are reinforced with a slope of mud. I'm guessing the mud has been heaped this way for strength, I could be wrong, the purpose could be different.

This mud structure is situated at the base of a hillock atop which is a shrine dedicated to Gali Maradi Veerabhadreshwara. Surely the hilltop shrine is also an ancient one but its structure is modern. The temple arch is a neat little touch for the shrine. I think this shrine attracts crowds on important festivals, full moon days and new moon days,

During my trips, I've seen ancient stone & mud structures with flat roof but none with a peaked roof like this. Hoping the people of Belavadi and surrounding villages preserve this unique monument.

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