Kotturu

Kotturu is a town and taluk located in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka, India. It is known as the home of Guru Kottureshwara, a 15th-century Shaivite saint. Every year, more than 200,000 devotees gather to participate in the car festival (Rathotsava) held in February. Kotturu is known for a popular dish called mandakki-menasinakayi, a combination of puffed rice mixed with savouries, served with chili pepper fritters. The chillies are slit lengthwise, stuffed with a mixture of salt and crushed cumin, dipped in lentil batter, and deep-fried. Historically, Kotturu was known for its cotton ginning industry and as the terminus of a railway line from Hospet. In 2019, this railway line was extended to Harihara and upgraded to broad gauge.