Balligavi a town in Shikaripura taluk Shivamogga district of Karnataka state, India, is today known as Belagami or Balagame.

[2] Balligavi during these times had six mathas, three puras "extensions", five vidyapithas "places of learning", and seven Brahmapuris.

Legend has it that Balligavi was the capital of an Asura king (demon) and hence was called Balipura (city of Bali).

The Pandavas came here while on their Vanavasa (forest sojourn) and installed the Panchalinga (five lingas); hence the name Panchalingeswara to the well known temple here.

Balligavi is also the birthplace of the great Virashaiva saint Allama Prabhu[4] and is closely associated with Vachana poet Akka Mahadevi who was born in nearby Udugani (also known as Udutadi).

[7] The central shrine has a linga (universal symbol of Shiva) made from black marble (Krishnashila).

[8] The outer walls of the open mandapa (hall) have carvings of women wearing fine jewellery.

[9] The superstructure (tower) of the vimana are very well decorated with sculptures of Tandaveshwara, Varaha, Uma Narasimha, Bhairava etc.

[13] During medieval times, Balligavi was a seat of learning to multiple religious faiths and was home to many monuments and structures built by the Chalukyas.

[14] More than 80 medieval inscriptions have been discovered in Balligavi and belong to the Hindu (Shaiva, Vaishnava), Jain and Buddhist traditions.