Inscription from the Time of Vikramaditya I Unearthed

In April 2025, a rare inscription dating back to the 7th century AD, during the reign of Vikramaditya I of the Badami Chalukya dynasty has been discovered at Madapura Lake in Nyamati taluk, Davangere district.

Key Details

Dimensions & Script: The inscription, approximately five feet in length, features 17 lines written in Old Kannada script.
Historical Context: The inscription dates to the reign of Vikramaditya I (654-681 AD) and records an act by Singhavenna, an officer of the region, who waived taxes for villagers and made a land donation of six acres for the construction of the lake.
Landholding Insights: It mentions that the donated land was previously owned by 77 families of Ballavi, offering a glimpse into ancient landholding patterns.
Administrative Significance: Ballavi, as an administrative unit, consisted of around 70 villages, revealing the organized governance of the time.
Cultural Significance: The inscription also features a 17th-century relief sculpture, indicating the site's continued cultural and religious importance over centuries.