D R Bendre Bhavan

D R Bendre Bhavan in Dharwad is a memorial to the Kannada poet Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre, built beside his house, Shree Matha. Bendre was born in Dharwad in 1896, was hailed as Varakavi, the gifted poet, and received the Jnanpith Award in 1973.

The building mixes traditional and modern design and is laid out by stages of the poet's life. Displays include rare photographs, portraits, quotations and extracts from his poems, along with manuscripts, letters, his writing desk, fountain pens, shawl and spectacles. A literary hall holds his books, first editions and translations, and recordings of Bendre reading his own verse can be heard. There is also an auditorium and a library, and workshops, talks, readings and book launches are held regularly. A landscaped garden with benches and a small open-air stage surrounds the building.