Jamkhandi

Jamkhandi is a town in Bagalkot district of northern Karnataka that was once the seat of the Patwardhans, a Maratha princely family. Its name is linked with a Chalukyan temple to Jambukeswara, and local tradition also tells of a sage, called Jambhu in one version and Jamadagni in another, who is said to have meditated in caves here.

The main sight is the Patwardhan Palace, whose interiors recall the court life of the former rulers. On a hilltop stands the Melgiri Kemp Lingeshwara Temple, dear to residents and popular for sunrise and sunset views. Seven natural lakes have supplied the town with water through its history. Another legend ties the area to Jatayu, the bird of the Ramayana who reported the abduction of Sita. A cattle fair is held every March.