| Savadatti | |
| Other Name: | Saundatti |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | India Karnataka |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Karnataka, India |
| Coordinates: | 15.7833°N 75.1167°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Karnataka |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Belagavi |
| Governing Body: | Town Municipal Council |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 16 |
| Area Rural Km2: | 1555.27 |
| Elevation Footnotes: | _at hilltop[1] |
| Elevation M: | 858 |
| Population Total: | 41215 |
| Population Rural: | 311714 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Demographics Type1: | Language |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Kannada |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 591 126 |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Area Code: | 08330 |
| Registration Plate: | KA-24 |
| Iso Code: | IN-KA |
Savadatti [3] is one of the oldest towns in Belagavi district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is a celebrated pilgrimage centre located 78 kilometres from Belagavi and 41 kilometres from Dharwad. Savadatti is also the name of the taluk (sub-district), which was previously named Parasgad. There are several ancient temples in Savadatti.
The historical name of the Savadatti was Sugandavarti "Sougandipura". It was the capital of the Ratta dynasty (from 875-1230), until the capital shifted to Belagavi.
See main article: Branches of Rashtrakuta Dynasty.
18th century Savadatti fort was built by the Sirasangi Desai with 8 bastions.Savadatti fort has a Kadasiddheshwara temple, surrounded by four bastions. Around the Kadasiddheshwara temple in the inner chajja of the prakara there is a row of carvings of geometrical patterns with over two hundred designs, some painted.
Renuka Sagara is a reservoir formed by damming the Malaprabha River adjacent to Savadatti. The Dam is called by the name Navilu Tirtha, also the name of the adjacent village, Navilatirtha. The name Renuka Saagara is because of the Renuka (Yellamma) temple at Yellammagudda, Savadatti.
The temple of the goddess Yellamma or Shree Renukadevi, is a pilgrimage site for Shakti devotees. Every day, hundreds of pilgrims visit the temple. The congregation is especially large, crossing the one million mark, on two auspicious days in the year - Banada Hunnime and Bharatha Hunnime. The century-old temple of Yellamma is situated atop Yellammanagudda, amidst the picturesque Ramalinga Hills, about 5kmsfrom Savadatti. Between Savadatti and the temple is the magnificent fort of Paarusgad, dating back to the 10th century.
The Renuka Sagara, formed by the Naviluteertha Dam, touches the low-lying areas of Savadatti. There is a spot called Jogullabhaavi here, where there is a temple. Pilgrims take a holy dip here before visiting the Yellamma hill. This Samaadhi (grave) is in the Ramapura area of Savadatti.
Shirasangi a small village located approximately 25 kilometers from Savadati is famous for Shri Kalikadevi temple. The temple is known to be very ancient and is believed to be the place where Shringa maharishi worshiped Shri Kalikadevi. Shirasangi is also known for Shri Tyagveera Lingaraja Desai. Shri Lingaraj was one of the main donors to give land to K.L.E Society.
The town has temples dedicated to Ankeshwara, Puradeshwara, Nagarkere Mallikarjuna, Veerabhadra, Ulvi Basavaeshwara, Mouneshwara, Dyamavva and Venkateshwara, which is the largest.
The Puradeshwara temple in the later Chalukya style is a trikutachala with three ardhamantapas, a common navaranga and two mukhamantapas. Gurlhosur Chidambar temple is also an historical temple. All three garbhagrihas with pierced windows have shivalingas. The shikhara, now damaged, over the central garbhagriha is in Kadambanagara style and the navaranga pillars are lathe-turned. Inside the niches of the navaranga are images of Parvati and Veerabhadra. This temple has been renovated very crudely. On the day of Ugadi, the rising sun's rays fall directly on the main shivalinga. The outer walls have fine sculptures depicting Hindu mythology and there are inclined chajjas all round. The open mukhamantapa, a later addition, is also in the same style with massive pillars.
The Ankeshwara temple in Desaigalli, built by Rattas in 1048 is in the Western Chalukya style and is below the ground level. There are steps descending to the mukhamantapa. In front of the temple, there is an inscription carved into the wall by the builder, Ratta Chief Ankarasa.
On can get more info, from the http://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/ (which I do often).