Basavakalyan

City in Karnataka, India

Basavakalyana is a historical city and municipal council in the Bidar District of the Indian state of Karnataka. It was the capital of two dynasties—Kalyani Chalukya and Kalachuris of Kalyani. It is famous for the world's tallest Basavanna statue, which stands 108 feet (33 m) high. It is one of the major cities and industrial hubs of Bidar district.

Before India's independence, Basavakalyan was called Kalyani. After independence and division of states on linguistic basis in 1956, Kalyana was renamed as BasavaKalyan in memory of Vishwaguru Basavanna, a social reformer who established Anubhava Mantapa (spiritual democracy) in 12th century India. Basavakalyan was ruled by Western Chalukyas, Kalachuris of Kalyani, Yadavas of Devagiri, Kakatiyas, Delhi Sultanate, Bahamani Sultanate (Bidar, Gulbarga), Bidar Sultanate, Bijapur Sultanate, Mughals and Hyderabad Nizams.

It was the royal capital of the Western Chalukya (Kalyani Chalukyas) dynasty from 1050 to 1195. Someshvara I (1041–1068) made Kalyana as his capital, recognised as Kalyani Chalukyas to differentiate with Badami Chalukyas. Later ruled by Someshvara II, Vikramaditya VI, Someshvara III, Jagadhekamalla III and Tailapa III. King Someshwara I (1042–1068 CE) moved the capital from Manyakheta (present Malkhed in Kalaburagi district) to Kalyani. During the 10th to 12th centuries he ruled nearly half of India, most of the western Deccan and South India. King Vikramaditya VI had scholars in his court such as Someshwara, Bilhana (poet of Kashmir) and Vigyaneshwara (legal expert). On 26 February 1077 Coronation of Vikramaditya VI started Chalukya Vikrama Varsha Jalsangi Temple.

The earliest examples of the Kalyani Chalukya style are found at Kuknur. The Kalleshvara and Navalinga temples here bear resemblances to early Chalukya group of Aihole and Pattadkal. The Jaina temple at Lakkundi near Gadag forms the next step in the improvement of this style introducing a greater ornamental effect in the treatment of the surface. The Kalyani style of architecture reached its maturity and culmination in the 12th century. Kasi Vishveshvara at Lakkundi, Mallikarjuna at Kuruvatti and Mahadeva Temple (Itagi) are the finest examples produced by the later Chalukya architects. The Saraswathi and Someshwara temples at Gadag are in a mutilated condition. There are nearly one hundred monuments of the period, scattered all over the Deccan, giving us information about the artistic excellence attained by the later Chalukyas of Kalyani.

Kalachuris of Kalyani succeeded Kalyani Chalukyas continued Kalyani as there capital. During the 12th century the Kalachuris of Kalyani King Bijjala (1156–1167) assumed the throne, and Basaveshwara was appointed as his prime minister. Basaveshwara led a social movement to stop untouchability and gender discrimination, Shivasharana revolution took place. Basaveshwara motivated many with the Vachana sahitya, and more than 600 people became writers called Vachanakaras.

The centre of a great social and religious movement. In the 12th century, because of the social reformer Basava, it became a seat of learning. Basava, Akka Mahadevi, Channabasavanna, Siddarama and other Sharanas are associated with Basavakalyan. Basava, who fought against casteism and orthodoxy in Hinduism. Vishwaguru Basavanna was a great revolutionary who established spiritual democracy called "Anubhava Mantapa" in the 12th century in India(Anubhava Mantapa – which is also called as the "First Parliament of the World". It was led by Saint Allamprabhu), and gave practical solutions to all kinds of problems mankind was suffering at that time. His teachings are time tested, scientific and proven. Basava Tatva is never ending inspiration to achieve the welfare of mankind.

Basavakalyan is located at It has an average elevation of 621 metres (2037 feet).

As of the 2011 Census of India, the city of Basavakalyan had a population of 69,717 of which 36,116 were males while 33,601 were females. Kannada language is spoken by the majority of the population. Marathi, Hindi and Urdu are also spoken in the town. The population of children with aged between 0 and 6 was 9,949 which was 14.27% of the total population of Basavakalyan (CMC). In Basavakalyan, the sex Ratio was 930 females to 1,000 males, against the Karnataka state average of 973 female to 1,000 males. Moreover, the child sex ratio in Basavakalyan was around 879, compared to the state average of 948. The literacy rate of Basavakalyan was 77.46%, higher than the state average of 75.36%. Male literacy rate was around 82.46% while female literacy rate was 72.13%.