Barkur or Barkoor is a historical place in Udupi district of Karnataka state, India. Barkur was the capital of Tulunad, A region where Tulu speaking people are in majority. At present most of the ancient structures at Barkur are in ruins.
Barkur was once the capital of Tulunad. The Tulunad ( Tulunadu ) is a region of Karavali in Karnataka where Tulu language is the mother tongue of majority people. Tulu Kings and chieftains ruled over this region. Tulunad includes present day Udupi, Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state and Kasargod district of Kerala state. Tulunad region lies between Western Ghats and Arabian sea of Karavali. Tulunad has unique culture,traditions and rituals which is different from other regions of Karnataka. Barkur village lies on the north bank of Sita nadi or river Sita.
Barkur fort which is in ruins. There is Kalyani ( lake ) inside. This fort was built by Tulunad Kings. Kotekeri Panchalingeshwara Temple, Maha Ganapathi Temple at Chowlikere, Shree Brahmalinga Veerabhadra Durga Temple, Mahathobara Shri Someshwara Temple at Moodakere, Kachhuru Sri Nageshwara Temple, Batte Vinayaka Temple, Sri Eknatheshwari Temple, Shree VenoGopalakrishna Temple, Kalikamba Temple ( Barkur Maha Samsthana ) are the Hindu ( Sanatana ) temples which are near to each other in Barkur. Bandarakeri Matha is also nearby. Katthale Basidhi ( Basidi ) supposed to be built by Bhutala Pandya one of Tulu ruler.
At Sagar ( Bharathi ) vegetarian restaurant one of the oldest at Barkur.