Lakshmeshwara

Lakshmeshwara is a town, and newly created Taluk place along with Gajendragad in Gadag district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is about 40 km from Gadag and 55 km from Hubli. It is an agricultural trading town. Lakshmeshwara Temple dedicated to Shiva. There are many important temples in this historic town, including the other Shiva temple, the Someshwara Temple. There are two ancient Jain temples (Sannabasadi and Shankabasadi) in the town, as well as a notable Jamma Masjid. Lakshmeshwara is also home for many smaller shrines, a dargah, the Kodiyellamma temple, the Mukha Basavanna shrine, and a gigantic idol of Suryanarayana.

Lakshmeshwar is at It has an average elevation of 634 metres (2080 feet).

as of 2001 India census, Lakshmeshwara had a population of 33,411. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Lakshmeshwar has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 53%. In Lakshmeshwar, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Lakshmeshwara is famous for prolific culture and literature. It is a place with rich heritage in Karnataka hence it is called as Tirulugannada Nadu. Many kings have patronised the place. Lakshmeshwar or ancient Huligere or Puligere was the capital of Puligere 300. Puligere means pond of tigers. There are theories of the origin of the name Lakshmeshwara: Name itself suggest Lakshmi worshipped Shiva and Did Penance to be Goddess of wealth and main Deity of temple is Shiva. Other names include Purigere, Porigere, Purikanagar and Pulikanagar. Adikavi Pampa wrote his famous poetry in Lakshmeshwara. Many Jain saints and writers have flourished here. The temple complex with three main entrances is surrounded by high walls look like a fort. It is a splendid specimen of Chalukya architecture. In middle of the temple complex, there is a Someshwara temple, surrounded by many small temples mainly dedicated to Shiva, along the compound wall, built with granite, some halls in the complex meant for resting devotees.

Someshwara temple with the traditional structures of a temple includes a garbha griha, an ardha mantapa or halfway hall, a navaranga and a mukha mantapa or entrance porch. The Nandi and Shiva Parvati idols in the temple are exquisitely sculpted. These idols are referred to as Saurashtra Someshwara, as these idols were brought by a Shiva devotee from Saurashtra and installed at Lakshmeshwara.

Inside the Someshwara temple complex, behind the temple, there is an open step well. This step well, being richly carved and ornamented, is of architectural and artistic significance.