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Hiriyur Terumalleshwara CF

Hiriyur is a town and taluk headquarters located near Chitradurga. Hiriyur is renowned for having the oldest dam in Karnataka, built on the Vedavati river, and named Mari Kanive.

History

Hiriyur is is famous for the Mari Kanive (Vani Vilaasa Sagara), which is an architectural masterpiece constructed during the rule of the Mysore Wodeyars. Hiriyur is also famous for its 500+ years old temple of Lord Shiva. Famously known as Terumalleshwara Temple, Hiriyur it is also called as "Dakshina Kashi" by the devotees. It is believed that the famous devotee of Lord Shiva, "Hema Reddy Mallamma", was a resident of this town. Every year she travelled to Varanasi by foot. As she grew older and weaker, one day she prayed to her lord that "O lord I have become old and weak, unable to visit Varanasi and have your darshan, what do I do". On the night of that day Lord Shiva appeared in her dream and told her that she need not come to Varanasi to see him, he himself will come and reside in Hiriyur. As promised, Lord Shiva was believed to have incarnated in the "Oralukallu" (a stone used for grinding purpose). That stone which was worshipped by Mallamma later became known as Terumalleshwara.

The ancient name of Hiriyur was "Ghanapuri". The "Yeppattu Kannina Setuve" ("the seventy eyed bridge") located near Hiriyur is noted for its architecture. The patterns in the bridge resemble human eye, and there are seventy eyes.

National geological monument

Mardihalli Pillow lavas national geo-monument at Mardihalli village near Hiriyur has been declared the National Geological Monuments of India by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of geotourism.