KIKKERI

This is a hobli centre situated 14 kms northwest from the taluk centre Krishnarajapete. Records of 11th to 13th centuries refer to this place as Kikkeri, Kikkeripura which was an agrahara during the reign of Hoysalas. Records do not reflect the name ‘Sarvajnapura; another name generally attached to Kikkeri. A record dated 1113 A.D. from Hirikalale refers to this place as an administrative centre of 12 villages. The place has a ruined fort. Sixteen records are reported from this place. A record dated 1095 A.D. in the Palu Malleswhara temple below the big tank (Doddakere) registers the grant given to a certain Bramharasi Pandita for the service of the god Brahmeshwara by a certain Heggade Malliyanna who caused the construction of the temple and named it Brahmeshwara and as well as established a tank Kannegere. Now the temple is in a ruined state and requires restoration. A record dated 1133 A.D. from the nearby Tenginagatta refers to a certain Bammoja son of Haloja, a sculptor from Kikkeri who constructed the Hoysaleshwara temple at that place. It seems that these men were jointly responsible for the construction of the Malleshwara temple at Kikkeri also.