Malkheda originally known as Manyakheta (IAST: Mānyakheṭa,Prakrit: "Mannakheḍa"), and also known as Malkhed, is a town in Karnataka, India. It is located on the banks of Kagina river in Sedam Taluk of Kalaburagi district, around 40km from Kalaburagi.
The city reached the peak of its prosperity during the 9th and 10th centuries, serving as the Imperial capital of the Rashtrakutas and historical heart of Jainism where most Jain present at the time. At Manyakheta, there is a historical fort whose restoration is in progress based on a proposal submitted by HKADB (Hyderabad Karnataka Area Development Board).
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census, Malkheda had a population of 11,180 with 5,679 males and 5,501 females and 2,180 households.
Manyakheta rose to prominence when the capital of Rashtrakutas was moved from Mayurkhandi in present-day Bidar district to Mānyakheṭa during the reign of Amoghavarsha I. He is said to have built the imperial capital city to "match that of Lord Indra". The capital city was planned to include elaborately designed buildings for the royalty using the finest of workmanship. After the fall of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas, it remained the capital of their successors, the Kalyani Chalukyas or Western Chalukyas until about 1050 CE. According to Dhanapāla's Pāiyalacchi, the city was sacked by the Paramāra king Harṣa Sīyaka in CE 972-73, the year he completed that work.
Manyakheta is home to two ancient institutions.
The Jain Bhattaraka Math. The temple of Neminath (9th century CE). The pillars and walls of the temple date back to between the 9th and 11th centuries. The idols include tirthankaras, choubisi (24 tirthankaras), Nandishwar dvipa and idols of yakshi. There is a famous panchdhatu shrine with 96 images. In the same temple, there are other historical images. The last bhaṭṭāraka of the Malkheda seat who reigned during the year 1950–61, was Bhaṭṭāraka Devendrakīrti.
The famous Mahapurana (Adipurana and Uttarapurana) was composed here by Acharya Jinasena and his pupil Gunabhadra in the 9th century. The mathematics text Ganita Saara Sangraha was written here by Mahaviracharya.
The renowned Apabhramsha poet Pushapadanta lived here.
From 814CE to 968CE Manyakheta rose to prominence when the capital of Rashtrakuta Empire was moved from Mayurkhandi in present-day Bidar district to Mānyakheṭa during the reign of Amoghavarsha I (Nrupatunga Amoghavarsha), who ruled for 64 years and wrote Kavirajamarga the first classical Kannada work. Amoghavarsha I a Jain ruler, patronised several Jain scholars, including the mathematician Mahaviracharya and intellectuals Ajitasenacharya, Gunabhadracharya, and Jinasenacharya, who contributed to the development of Kannada literature during his reign. This period is often regarded as a high point in the development of Kannada literary culture. According to Dhanapāla's Pāiyalacchi, the city was sacked by the Paramāra king Harṣa Sīyaka in 972–73CE, the year he completed that work. In the year 1007 CE, Rajendra Chola destroyed the capital as per inscription in Tanjore Big Temple. Most probably the destruction was so much that today nobody knows the exact location where the Rashtrakuta's capital existed. After the fall of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas, it remained the capital of their successors, the Kalyani Chalukyas or Western Chalukyas until about 1050CE. It was later ruled by the Indic Kalyani Chalukyas, Southern Kalachuris, Cholas, Yadavas, Kakatiyas and the Turko-PersianDelhi Sultanate, Bahmani Sultanate, Bidar Sultanate, Bijapur Sultanate, Mughal Empire and Nizam of Hyderabad by 1948.
Transport
Malkheda is well connected by road and rail. Malkheda lies on State Highway 10. Malkaheda is 40km southeast to the District Headquarters Kalaburagi district and 12km west to the Taluk Headquarters Sedam. There is also a railway station near the village, Malkhaid Road.
12Georg Bühler, 'Pâiyalachchhî Nâmamâlâ', in Beiträge zur Kunde der Indogermanischen Sprachen, vol. 4, edited by Adalbert Bezzenberger (Göttingen, 1878) and B. J. Dośī, Pāia-lacchīnāmamāla (Prākṛta-Lakṣmināmamālā) (Bombay, 1960): v. 276
↑Georg Bühler, 'Pâiyalachchhî Nâmamâlâ', in Beiträge zur Kunde der Indogermanischen Sprachen, vol. 4, edited by Adalbert Bezzenberger (Göttingen, 1878) and B. J. Dośī, Pāia-lacchīnāmamāla (Prākṛta-Lakṣmināmamālā) (Bombay, 1960): v. 276
↑"Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath (2001). A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002) OCLC: 7796041
India