Sri Nuggikeri Hanuman Temple, Dharwad

The Hanuman Idol was installed by Sri Janmajeya, son of King Parikshit Maharaj. But the temple was later destroyed by the Muslim invaders. Later Vyasaraya (1460-1539) during the period of King Krishnadevaraya in the Vijayanagara Kingdom got a dream regarding the demolished temple. He found a hanuman idol in the present nuggikeri lake and the temple was again re-installed in around 1500 A.D. Sri Vyasaraja installed 732 hanuman temples across south india. Though many idols were newly carved and installed but some were also from the ancient period which were in ruins and were re-installed. One such example of re-installing an old idol which belonged to time of mahabharata was Sri Nuggikeri Hanuman. Later the administration of the temple was handed over to the Desai Family by the King. Though the Hanuman statue was from during the period of Janmajeya- after math of Mahabharata but the present temple which stands today is atleast 500 years old. It is the oldest temple in this region of Maharashrta and Karnataka where the worship still takes place daily till today.