Lakkundi

Lakkundi, also referred to as Lokkugundi, was a major city before the 14th century and is now a village in the Gadag District of Karnataka, India. By the 10th century, it was already a major economic and commercial centre, hosting mint operations for South India. It was mentioned in Kannada and Sanskrit inscriptions and texts. By the 12th century, many Hindu and Jain temples had been consecrated here, along with public infrastructure such as stepwells and water reservoirs. Among the major temples are the Brahma Jinalaya (the oldest), Mallikarjuna, Lakshminarayana, Manikeshwara, Naganatha, Kumbheshvara, Nanneshwara, Someshwara, Narayana, Nilakanteshwara, Kasivisesvara (the most sophisticated and ornate), Virabhadra, Virupaksha, and others. As its importance and wealth grew, Lakkundi became one of the capitals of the Hoysala Empire.

In the 14th century, the city was targeted by Islamic Sultanates as they sought to plunder and establish political dominance over the South Indian Hindu kingdoms. The village of Lakkundi contains over 50 temple ruins, many of which are in poor condition and inhabited by bats. However, the major temples have been restored and are now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Lakkundi is an important centre for the study of Kalyana Chalukya era Hindu architecture, known as the "Lakkundi school" of architects and craftsmen.