Prehistoric

Neolithic history is represented in this region by Mourya Mane, an ancient Stone Age Colony. Several Neolithic dwellings still bear paintings that are clear and intact even to this day at Onke Kindi. In this human settlement, there are traces of Microlithic, Megalithic, and Neolithic Ages. As per geologists, the Anegundi area is about four billion years old. To date, this village is a living heritage site. Pre-historic rock shelters and paintings are found in the Tungabhadra River valley.

Rock art

In Anegundi, there is a prehistoric settlement called Onake Kindi.^[3] The boulders have rock art, with some red and white markings depicting figures of humans and bulls. On another boulder, there is a circular diagram like a sun and moon with some symbolism. The rock paintings belonged to the Iron Age, dating back to 1500 BC; the faded circular painting is a very rare depiction of a megalithic style of burial, which includes a human body in the middle surrounded by a stone circle and burial goods. The site of megalithic dolmens is located up in the hills, locals call it Mourya Mane (mourya is short in the local language), about five to seven feet high sheet rock forms four walls, and another rock sheet used as a roof (Neolithic period). It is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away from Anegundi, the Neolithic dwellings in the Elu gudda hill range, from Benegal to Indaragi gudda. About 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from Anegundi, there are rock shelters and paintings, paintings found in the hill ranges called locally as Elu gudda Salu.

Rock Art at Onake Kindi, near Anegundi, Karnataka 4

Ramayana connection

Pampa Sarovar is related to Shiva and Parvati, both of whom were featured in Ramayana; Sabari, a devotee of Rama met here, the legends of Ramayana are pervading around Anegundi. The pilgrims consider Pampa Sarovara a holy place.

Pre-Vijayanagara period

Anegundi in Kannada means Elephant Gorge, and is older than Hampi. Anegundi history dates back to 3rd century BC, when the city was under the Ashoka Empire. Anegundi was ruled by various dynasties: Shatavahanas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara Empire and Bahamanis.

Vijayanagara period

In the early 14th century, an elephant enclosure in Kannada opened known as Anegundi, named after the elephants contingent of the Vijayanagar army.^[4] Kannada was the first capital of the Vijayanagar Empire and several other dynasties. In 1334, Deva Raya the Chief Minister of Anegundi became ruler of Anegundi. When Delhi Sultans invaded Warangal, Harihara and Bukka escaped and came to Anegundi, later founded the Vijayanagar Empire at Hampi. Today, the bridge has collapsed and is under construction. The river can be crossed in a coracle, a circular basket shaped made of cane and bamboo wrapped in a plastic sheet. Coracles were used as transportatoin during the Vijayanagara period. It is mentioned by Dominoes Paes, the Portuguese traveller in the 16th century, with a coracle carrying "about twenty persons and horses and oxen to cross the river."

During the 16th—18th centuries, Anegundi was ruled by Bijapur Sultans, Moghuls, Marathas and Tipu Sultan. According to the 1824 treaty between the British and Hyderabad Nizam, the king of Vijayanagar that ruled Hampi lost his kingdom and was provided a monthly pension of Rs 300. He was later forced to leave Hampi and make Anegundi as his official residence. Rani Lalkumari Bai, his last descendant, received monthly pension.

Anegundi Fort

Anegundi has a fort with many gates. There is a Ganesha cave temple. Vijayanagar kings used to pray before every battle at the Durga temple, and visited the Pampa Sarovar and Shri Lakshmi temple.^[5] Royal descendants of the Vijayanagar Empire still exist in Anegundi.