Joshi Shankara Narayana Temple, Bhatkal, Karnataka

Joshi Shankara Narayana Temple, Bhatkal, Karnataka

Joshi Shankara Narayana Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to combined form of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva located in Bhatkal Town in Bhatkal Taluk in Uttara Kannada District in the Indian state of Karnataka. This temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple was built in 1554 CE as per the inscription available in the temple. Bhatkal was named after the ninth century Jain grammarian Bhattakalanka Deva, who hailed from Haduvalli, the capital of the Saluvas. Bhatkal was also called as Bhatta Kala / Batikula / Bhatkala / Batikala during ancient times. Bhatkal was also mentioned as Vrittapura in a 16^th century CE inscription.

The Temple

This temple is a small structure consists of two blocks. Both the blocks are joined together. Each block has pyramidal form of roof. The front block measures 32 feet in length and 13 feet in breadth and the block behind measures 12 feet in length and 10 feet in breadth. The sanctum enshrines an image of Harihara. He is four armed. He holds trisula & gada in his upper hands and aksha mala & another gada in his lower hands. Garuda and Nandi can be seen near his feet. A dwaja sthamba of about 14 feet tall can be seen in front of the temple. The top portion of the sthamba has been lost completely.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 1 Km from Bhatkal Railway Station and 2.5 Kms from Bhatkal Bus Stand. Bhatkal is located at about 14 Kms from Murdeshwar, 21 Kms from Baindur, 37 Kms from Honnavar, 55 Kms from Kundapura, 88 Kms from Gokarna, 90 Kms from Udupi, 128 Kms from Karwar, 142 Kms from Mangaluru Airport and 144 Kms from Mangaluru. Bhatkal is situated on Karwar to Mangalore route (NH – 66). Bhatkal Railway Station is one of the major railway stations along the Konkan Railway line, which runs between Mumbai and Mangalore.

Location