Kalagi town, earlier known as Kaluge, back in its heyday had a cluster of 101 temples built during the reign of Kalyani Chalukyas, who ruled between the 10th and 12th Centuries. While the town stands as a remarkable testament to the rich heritage and architectural prowess of the period, it lies in a dilapidated now due to the apathy of the authorities.
The historic town, once known as “garden of temples” is about 40 kilometers from Kalaburagi, the district headquarters of Kalaburagi district in north Karnataka. On visiting the place, one is disheartened to find that only about a dozen temples depicting its past glory stand today and even they are not in a good condition. Kalagi was also the capital city of Mahamandaleshwar of a local feudatory in a later phase. It is believed to have been a centre for political, educational, cultural and religious activities even during this phase.
