Kundgol is a panchayat town in Dharwad district in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Kundgol is Located in Dharwad District of Karnataka is about 14 km south-west of Hubli and 32 km south-west of Dharwad.

This town is the birth place of Rambhau Kundgolkar (popular as Pandit Sawai Gandharva), a well known Hindustani musician. Gangubai Hangal, Bhimsen Joshi are associated with is place.

History

Kundagol also comes under the core area of Western Chalukya, there is a 11th century Shabhulinga temple.

Prior to 1948, Kundgol was a non-contiguous part of the princely state of Jamkhandi.

Hindustani music and Kundgol

• Pandit Sawai Gandharva

Rambhau Kundgolkar known as Sawai Gandharva was born in 1886.

• Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi travelled all over the country looking for an elusive guru. Finally a musician advised him to return home as the best guru was actually very near to his home, Sawai Gandharva in Kundgol. At first the guru rejected Joshi saying his voice is not good but, finally agreed to take him after seeing his determination and thirst for music.

According to Dr Gangubai Hangal, 95-year-old doyen of Hindustani music, Late Abdul Karim Khan visited Dharwad in 1900 and taught Sawai Gandharva, a guru who produced many great disciplines like Dr Hangal and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The Nadgir family of Kundgol is known for patronising Hindustani music.

To cater to the needs of cultural activities the Dharwad city boasts of a opera house Savai Gandharava Natyagraha named after the great Hindustani Musician Savai Gandharva the native of Kundgol town near Hubli, on the Hubli - Bangalore rail line. The great celebrity in Hindustani music of the modern times. Dr. Smt. Gangubai Hangal also hails from this place and a resident of Hubli.

• Dr. Smt. Gangubai Hangal

was born in the family of musicians on 5 March 1913 at Dharwad. Her mother Smt Ambabai was a renowned carnatic singer and father Sri Chikkurao Nadiger of Ranebennur was an agriculturist. Dr Gangubai was Initiated into music by her mother. She learnt music under the guidance of Sri Krishnamacharya Hulgur and later under Sri Sawai Gandharv alias Sri Rambhau Kundgolkar a disciple of late Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, the main architect of kirana gharana school of music.

Tourism

At Kundgol there is a huge Shiva temple of 11th century called Shambulinga temple,built by Western Chalukya. It is built with highly polished stones, which are dovetailed into one another. The carvings and images on the pillars are well cut.

On the side of the door steps of the temple, carvings of the Line face a long scroll issuing from its mouth.

This temple dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. Although damaged, the exterior of the temple is decorated with lotus and kirtimukha faces and apparently hundreds of Brahmanical images.

This temple is victim of Muhammadans. It was repaired by a former chief (During 1808-9).