There are cities that sleep beneath the soil, waiting for someone to speak their name again. Barkur is one such city — once the beating heart of Tulunadu, today a quiet town in Udupi district, Karnataka, whose ancient stones carry stories that most of us have forgotten, or perhaps never knew.
Once celebrated as a city of 365 temples, a thriving port, a seat of commerce, culture, and conquest, Barkur served as the magnificent capital of the Alupa dynasty — one of the oldest and most enduring royal lineages of coastal Karnataka. For centuries, it commanded the coastline, welcomed merchants from distant shores, and gave birth to an artistic and spiritual tradition that still quietly survives in its inscriptions, temple courtyards, and crumbling fort walls. Yet, despite this extraordinary legacy, Barkur finds no prominent chapter in mainstream history textbooks. Its empire remains, in many ways, a forgotten one.
It is precisely this silence that barkuronline.com has refused to accept.
For over 25 years, BarkurOnline has been an unwavering digital guardian of everything Barkur — its history, its heritage, its people, and its pride. Long before "local history" became fashionable, this platform was diligently documenting, publishing, and promoting the rich legacy of this ancient town for readers across the world. It is only fitting, then, that BarkurOnline brings you yet another significant conversation in its continuing mission to restore Barkur's rightful place in Karnataka's historical consciousness.
In this special documentary-style interview, noted journalist, YouTuber, and social activist Vasanth Giliyar of Kundapura — a passionate voice for coastal Karnataka's culture and community — sits down with one of the region's most authoritative scholarly voices: Prof. Dr. Jagadish Shetty, former Professor, Head of the Department of History, and Principal of Poornaprajna College, Udupi. A historian of rare depth and dedication, Dr. Shetty has spent decades researching the inscriptions, dynasties, and cultural heritage of undivided Dakshina Kannada. His association with institutions like the Rashtra Kavi Govinda Pai Samshodhana Kendra reflects a lifelong commitment to preserving what time and neglect have tried to erase.
In this engaging conversation, in Giliyar's channel Coastal Mirror Dr. Shetty takes us on a remarkable journey through Barkur's past — the rise and reign of the Alupa kings, the architectural grandeur of its ancient temples and fortifications, its significance as a medieval port city, and the urgent need to protect what little tangible heritage still remains. His words are both a scholarly revelation and a heartfelt appeal.
"Barkur is not merely a town. It is a civilisation that deserves to be remembered."
For those who wish to explore our earlier in-depth conversation with Dr. Shetty on the history of Barkur, we warmly invite you to revisit this foundational interview published on our website: 👉 Interview with Dr. Jagadish Shetty — www.barkuronline.com
That interview remains one of the most referenced pieces in our archives — a testament to Dr. Shetty's vision and BarkurOnline's long-standing commitment to historical documentation.
Now, years later, the conversation continues — and Barkur's story is far from over.
Read on. Listen. Remember.
— Editorial Team, barkuronline.com Netting the Global Barkurians, One Story at a Time.