JOIN USBasrur village, located on the banks of River Varahi near Kundapur town, was once a bustling port town. Foreign sea traders like the Portuguese and Dutch preferred its natural harbour for trading their merchandises. But today, the village is known for its temples. Many of the temples were built or renovated by Alupa, Keladi, Vijayanagar and other dynasties that ruled this region in different periods.
Basrur possibly got its name from the Basu tribes that migrated from north India. According to oral history, Basrur was originally called Vasupura as it was ruled by Vasuchakravarthi. It is also said that Basrur was named after the native basuri tree (Ficus virens). One of the historical inscriptions, dated 1155 AD, mentions Basrur as ‘Hosapattana Basurepura’. It is said that the old Basrur, which was affected by devastating floods had to be rebuilt. But, the floods impacted the port town’s eco-system and sea trade negatively.
Once home to merchants, artisans, weavers, sculptors, artists and courtesans, Basrur still retains some of its ancient topographical features. The village has seven residential blocks or streets — called yelu kerigalu with distinct names like Mandi Keri, Vilasa Keri, Basadi Keri, Ravutha Keri (solders’ street), Gudikara Keri (artisans’ street), Mel Keri (upper locality) and Mudlu Keri (eastern locality).
In each and every keri of Basrur, one can see one or the other religious shrine. It is said that once the village had as many as 40 spirit shrines and 30 temples. But today, many of them are untraceable. The village also has 2 mosques and 2 churches. This cosmopolitan culture has long been a tradition in Basrur.
Among the historical temples of Basrur, Nakhareshwara Temple (also known as Basrur Mahalingeshwara Temple) has Alupas’ inscriptions dated 12th century, and an epigraph of the Vijayanagar period. Another structure that attracts a visitor’s attention is the 11th century Adinatheshwara Temple and the appealing Mahalasa Narayani Temple. Once ruled by Tulunadu dynasty, Basrur has an ancient temple dedicated to Tuluveshwara, but except for a small nandi facing a ruined mud-wall structure beside a namesake Ashwatha Katte, nothing much is left of this temple.
St Philip Neri Church of Basrur and Holy Rosary Church of nearby Kundapur were built in the early 16th century. For more than 100 years, the Holy Rosary Church has been running an orphanage and a school for the needy children from surrounding villages of Kundapura town.
Basrur’s earliest epigraphy refers to the years (1154 and 1176 AD) when Alupa kings Kaviyalupendra and Kulashekara made grants to Basrur’s ancient Nakhareshwara and Adinatheshwara temples. Alupas, who ruled Tulunadu for centuries, made Hattiyangadi their capital in the early 8th century. Famous for its ancient Siddivinayaka Temple, Hattiyangadi is 10 km from Basrur.
Basrur became an important trade centre from 14th century onwards during the reign of Vijayanagar dynasty. Many temple inscriptions of the Vijayanagar period found in and around Basrur mention numerous names of successive governors who gradually developed Basrur into a prominent port town.
Basrur port remained a major commercial centre for more than 200 years from 1500 to 1750. Portuguese, who mainly traded rice and black pepper, dominated the sea trade over the Dutch till the fall of the Vijayanagar kingdom. Later, with the support of Keladi Nayakas and the Maratha king Shivaji, Dutch traders subjugated the Portuguese sea merchants.