The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c36.s1.1

c36.s1.1

THE modern town of Gersāppā lies upon the right bank of the Shiravatī river, which flows between the Bombay Presidency and the state of Maisur. It is the terminus of the navigable portion of the river, which, eighteen miles to the west flows into the Indian ocean. About a mile east of the present town, up several turns of the river, and upon the other side, are the site and ruins of the ancient town of Gersāppā, which is now overgrown with dense jungle. A few forest paths traverse the site, and it is by these, alone, that access is had to the only remains of note now standing. For the last three hundred years Gersāppā appears to have been in ruins, for the traveller Della Valle in A.D. 1623, who accompanied a Portuguese embassy to Venkatappa at Bednur, went by Gersāppā, where he found that the city and palace had fallen into ruin, and were overgrown with trees. The Shiravatī was the most beautiful river he had ever seen, and the country was so famous for its pepper that the Portuguese called the queen of Gersāppā the ‘Pepper Queen’. Pepper is still one of the chief garden products in these districts.