The Kaitabheshvara temple (also spelt Kaitabhesvara or Kaitabheshwara, known also as Kotisvara) is located in the town of Kubatur (also spelt Kubattur or Kuppattur, and called Kuntalanagara or Kotipura in ancient inscriptions), near Anavatti in the Shimoga district of Karnataka state, India. The temple was constructed during the reign of Hoysala King Vinayaditya around 1100 AD. The Hoysala ruling famil y was during this time a powerful feudatory of the imperial Western Chalukya Empire ruled by King Vikramaditya VI. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the architectural signature of the temple is mainly "Chalukyan". Art historian Adam Hardy classifies the style involved in the construction of the temple as "Later Chalukya, non mainstream, far end of spectrum". The building material used i s soapstone. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India. Kaitabheshvara Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kubatur Village Anavatti in Soraba Taluk in Shimoga District in the Indian state of Karnataka. This temple is situated on the outskirts of Kubatur village, in a place popularly known as Kotipura. The temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India. History: The temple was constructed during the reign of Hoysala King Vinayaditya around 1100 CE. The Hoysalas was a powerful feudatory of the Western Chalukya Empire ruled by King Vikramaditya VI. The temple received extensive patronage from the Chalukyas, Seunas and Hoysalas. Lord Shiva of this temple was called as Kotishvara / Kotinatha as per the inscriptions in the temple. Kubatur was called as Kupp attur, Kuntala Nagara and Kotipura in the inscriptions. Kubatur was an important center of the also established itself as an important center of the Kalamukha sect during 11th century CE. The Kalamukha priest of the temple, Rudra Shakthi Deva was appointed as the Raja Guru by the Seuna king Simhana II as evident from his inscriptions. Connectivity: The temple is located at about 2 Kms from Anavatti, 4 Kms from Anavatti Bus Stand, 26 Kms from Hangal, 28 Kms from Shiralakoppa, 29 Kms from Soraba, 47 Kms from Haveri, 48 Kms from Haveri Railway Station, 99 Kms from Shimoga, 114 Kms from Hubballi Airport and 367 Kms from Bengaluru. The temple is situated at about 2 Kms from Anavatti on Anavatti to Hangal route. KSRTC buses and also several private buses are available regularly from Bangalore to Hangal. Buses are available from Hangal to Anavatti. Kubatur is well connected to Anavatti by Auto and other local means of transport. A TO Z INDIA JUNE 2022 PAGE 13 Raghavan Kaitabeshwara Temple, Kubatur, Karnataka Trip from Mundgod to Gokarna: