The Banganga Tank (Code : 037)

- Archival Photo Print

The Banganga tank and the Walkeshwar temple complex were built in the 1127 AD 
The temple was destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16th century, and rebuilt in 1715 AD.

Legend has it that Lord Rama halted at this spot on his way to Lanka in pursuit of the demon king Ravana who had kidnapped his wife Sita. As there was no fresh water readily available (only sea water), Rama shot an arrow into the ground and water gushed forth, supposedly all the way from the sacred Ganges river. The name Banganga stems from ‘ban’ arrow and Ganga. 

Legend relates Lord Rama and his brother Laxman to the origin of Walkeshwar temple too. It is said that the Shiva Linga here was made by Lord Rama after he got tired of waiting for his brother to bring a Shiva Linga from Benares. Lord Rama constructed a linga out of sand ‘valu’.  Thus the name Walkeshwar corresponds to the Sanskrit words ‘ Valuka Ishwar’ (idol made of sand).  Dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, it is a UNECSCO World Heritage Site.