Why in news? The state government is considering Lakkundi, a prominent centre of Kalyana Chalukya architecture, to include in the Hampi circuit.

Highlights:

• A proposal to include Lakkundi in the Hampi Circuit has been sent to the Government of India
• The state government is already in process of making the village as tourism hub.
• At present, the village of Lakkundi has approximately 50 temples, most of which are in various stages of ruins.
• Most of these temples showcase impressive work of architecture and temples also showcase a blend of both Hinduism and Jainism
• For instance, the oldest and the grandest Jain temple Brahma Jinalaya, dating back to 1007 CE, has statues of Hindu gods and goddesses along with that of Mahavira, Parsvanath and other important Jain figures.
• The Virupaksha Temple in Lakkundi, dating back to 1010 CE, is still an active temple, and easily one of the most visited temples in the area

About Lakkundi

• The erstwhile city of Lakkundi, one of the capitals of the Hoysalas, is a place of great cultural significance.
• Located in the present-day Gadag district in Karnataka.
• By 10th-century, it was already a major economic and commerce center with mint operations for South India, one mentioned in Kannada and Sanskrit inscriptions and texts.
• Lakkundi is one of the most important centers for the study of Kalyana Chalukya era Hindu architecture, the so-called Lakkundi-school of architects and craftsmen
• Temples are of Shaivism, Jainism and Vaishnavism, though most temples include diverse iconography such as Surya and of Vedic deities such as Brahma.

Inscriptions

• Over two dozen Kannada and Sanskrit inscriptions from different Hindu dynasties have been found at Lakkundi.

Step wells

• Lakkundi has a number of step wells, some functioning as water tanks for the temples.
• These are artistically built with small canopied niches enshrining lingas.