Anegondi (Anegondi)(ಆನೆಗೊಂದಿ)
is a small town, in the Gangavathi
talluk of Koppala district. This is located at a distance of about ten
kilometers from Hospet of Hampi fame towards the left bank of TungabhadraRiver
(North banks). The name Anegondi is attributed to the fact that kings of
Vijayanagar had the elephant contingent of their army at this place. This place
was also known as Hastinavati, Kunjarakona and Kishkinda at different points of
time in history and mythology. Arabian travelers have referred to Anegondi as
‘nAgunDim’ and Pais the traveler from Portugal calls it ‘sEnagondim’. This is in a rocky region and
acts as a natural fortress providing protection from enemies. Consequently, it
was chosen as their capital city by kings belonging to different dynasties.
This place has played a crucial role both before and after the formation of the
Vijayanagar dynasty. Kampilaraya and Kumara Rama confronted Mallikafar a
commander of Allauddin Khilji at this place. Later on it was a part of VijayanagarKingdom. It was ruled by the kings of Araveedu dynasty after the fall of
Vijayanagara. Srirangaraya of Anegondi is deemed to have built the fortress and
the temple at Srirangapattana in the 15th century. It was ruled by
the Shahi dynasty of Bijapur, Mughals and Marathas during the 16th
and 17th centuries. It was invaded by Tipu Sultan in 1777A.D. and
later came under the British rule. They handed it over to the kings of Anegondi
who were in charge of it till 1949.
Anegondi houses nine Vrundavanas of Madhva seers and
they are called Nava Brindavanas. There are many places of tourist attraction
in Anegondi such as Pampa sarovar, (pampA sarOvara) Sheshashayee temple, Vaali
Bhandara, Anjaneyadri, (The hill top Hanuman temple) Gagana Mahal, Ranganatha
temple, Rishymuka hill, Chandramouleshvara temple near the ruined bridge, Jaina
basadi and an old palace. The ruins of Anegondi fort are scattered around. The
wall paintings of Huchchappaiah Math are worth seeing.
Reference:
Anegondi; Architectural Ethnography of a RoyalVillage by Tobert, Natalie (Illustrated by Reed, Graham)
2000, pp. 241
About the book: This
innovative multidisciplanary study, which draws on anthropology, architecture
and ethno-archaeology, focuses on the inhabitants and dwellings of a royal
village in central Karnataka, only a short distance away form the ruins of
Vijayanagara. With more than one hundred annotated drawings this volume
presents a detailed survey of over fifty houses, ranging from simple one-roomed
dwellings to elaborate mansions inhabited by the descendants of the ruling
houses of Anegondi.