Kundgol

Pandit Sawai Gandharva

Rambhau Kundgolkar, also known as Sawai Gandharva, was born in Kundgol in 1886.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi travelled across India in search of a music teacher before becoming a disciple of Sawai Gandharva of Kundgol. Initially, Sawai Gandharva declined to accept him as a student, but later agreed to train him.

According to Dr. Gangubai Hangal, the late Abdul Karim Khan visited Dharwad in 1900 and taught Sawai Gandharva, a guru who produced many disciples, such as 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, Dharwad city boasts of the opera house Sawai Gandharva Natyagruha, named after the Hindustani Musician Sawai Gandharva, the native of Kundgol town near Hubli, on the Hubli - Bangalore rail line. Notable Hindustani classical vocalist Dr. Gangubai Hangal was born in, and remained a long-term resident of Hubli. She is regarded as a significant figure in the modern history of the genre.

On 5 March 1913, Dr. Smt. Gangubai Hangal was born into a family of musicians in Dharwad. Her mother, Smt. Ambabai, was a Carnatic singer, and her father, Sri Chikkurao Nadiger of Ranebennur, was an agriculturist. Dr. Gangubai was initiated into music by her mother. She learned music under the guidance of Sri Krishnamacharya Hulgur, and later under Sri Sawai Gandharva alias Sri Rambhau Kundalkar, a disciple of the late Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, one of the main architects of the Kirana Gharana school of music.

Shambulingeshwara Temple

Shri Shambulingeshwara Temple is an 11th-century Shiva temple located in Kundgol, Karnataka. It was built by the Western Chalukyas and features highly polished stones, fitted together using dovetail joints. The temple is known for its carved pillars and decorative architectural details.

Carvings near the temple entrance include lion faces with ornamental scrolls issuing from their mouths. The temple is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. Despite damage over time, the exterior walls still display decorative elements such as lotus motifs, kirtimukha faces, and numerous Brahmanical figures.

The temple was reportedly damaged during historical conflicts, and was repaired by a local chief in 1808–1809.

The Shri Shambhulingeshwara Temple at Kundgol is an example of Western Chalukyan architecture, characterised by the use of soapstone, intricate carvings, and lathe-turned pillars. Temples of this period often feature a stellate (star-shaped) plan and detailed sculptural ornamentation.