<p>Bhalki town, which is at the northern tip of the state is well-known for its historical signifance. Bhalki was known as Shivapuri in earlier times, and the town is known for its many Shiva temples. Footwear was a no-no once one stepped into the town. <br /><br />There are 12 Shiva lingas in the town, with a lot of references to the Ramayana and the Mahabaharatha. The great devotee Kumbara Gundaiah hailed from these parts. His samadhi (memorial) can be found here even today. <br /><br />Sadly though, with such a rich history, the place doesn’t seem to have seen any progress. There are no proper roads that connect to the famous Rameshwara temple. The temple itself is in poor shape. <br /><br />Litterateur G B Visaji points out that elected representatives and the department concerned have not bothered to do much to save the temple. <br /><br />During the Nizam’s rule in pre-Independence India, none of the temples in the region were renovated. <br /><br />But even post-Independence, the government has not paid much attention to these temples. <br /><br />There is a pushkarni (tank) in front of the Rameshwara temple, that had water to the brim even during the severe drought that hit the region in 1972. <br /><br />It is important that these structures are maintained and preserved.</p>
<p>Bhalki town, which is at the northern tip of the state is well-known for its historical signifance. Bhalki was known as Shivapuri in earlier times, and the town is known for its many Shiva temples. Footwear was a no-no once one stepped into the town. <br /><br />There are 12 Shiva lingas in the town, with a lot of references to the Ramayana and the Mahabaharatha. The great devotee Kumbara Gundaiah hailed from these parts. His samadhi (memorial) can be found here even today. <br /><br />Sadly though, with such a rich history, the place doesn’t seem to have seen any progress. There are no proper roads that connect to the famous Rameshwara temple. The temple itself is in poor shape. <br /><br />Litterateur G B Visaji points out that elected representatives and the department concerned have not bothered to do much to save the temple. <br /><br />During the Nizam’s rule in pre-Independence India, none of the temples in the region were renovated. <br /><br />But even post-Independence, the government has not paid much attention to these temples. <br /><br />There is a pushkarni (tank) in front of the Rameshwara temple, that had water to the brim even during the severe drought that hit the region in 1972. <br /><br />It is important that these structures are maintained and preserved.</p>
