Banavasi 's an ancient temple town in Uttara Kannada District bordering Shivamogga district in the south Indian state of Karnataka. History Banavasi's one of the oldest towns in the Karnataka state. It's grown up around the Madhukeshwara Temple built in the 9th century and dedicated to Lord Shiva the supreme God in Shaivism, a major branch of Hinduism. Recently a 5th century copper coin was discovered here with an inscription in the Kannada script, one of the oldest such coins ever discovered.… (More on Banavasi)