Pattadakal Pattadakal (22 km from Aihole): It was the commemorative site for the Chalukyan rulers from the 7th to 9th centuries A D . The temples here include Kada Siddeswara, Jambulinga, Sangameswara, Mallikarjuna, Virupaksha and Papanatha. Koodalasangama (45 km from Aihole) : This important pilgrim centre is situated at the confluence of the Malaprabha and Krishna rivers. The Siva temple here is dedicated to Lord Sangameswara. In the temple complex, there are images of Basaveshwara, his consort Neelamma, Nandi and Ganesha. Temples in Dharwad district: This district boasts of a few major shrines, built in the 12th century by Kalyani Chalukyas and Vijayanagar rulers. These include Doddabasappa temple at Dambala (75 km from Dharwad); Someshwara temple at Lakshmeshwar (65 km); Nageshwara temple at Bankapura (30 km); Trikuteshwara temple at Gadag (75 km); Siddhadeva temple at Haveri (90 km); Adikeshava temple at Kaginelli (14 km from Haveri - the deity here was installed by saint Kanakadasa); Mallari temple at Gudda Guddaapura (5 km from Devaragudda station); Jain temple at Lakkundi.

BADAMI

Badami (44 km from Aihole): This was the capital of Chalukyas from the 6th to 7th centuries A D. Structural and rock-cut cave temples are located here. Bas reliefs of Nataraja, Mahishasuramardhini, Ganesha, Shanmukha, Ardhanareeswara and Harihara are noteworthy.

Aihole

This was the capital of early Chalukyas (6th to 8th centuries A D) . Situated on the banks of Malaprabha river, Aihole is well known as the cradle of Hindu temple architecture. There are about 125 temples divided into 22 groups. Temples of Durga, Ladh Khan, Gowda, Suryanarayana, Konti and Ramalinga Swamy are some of the important ones. Aihole is 34 km from Bagalkot.

Hampi

Founded by Harihara and Bukka in the early 13th century, Hampi was the famous capital of Vijayanagar rulers for two centuries. Once a showpiece of might and wealth, the city was ransacked in 1565 AD by invading Muslim rulers. The sacred Tungabhadra river flows through this vast terrain. The Hampi ruins, spread over 26 sq km, include many temples and remnants of palaces and other buildings. Hampi hills are associated with Ramayana. Sri Rama had first met Sugriva and Hanuman in the Matanga hill. The Sugriva cave, Kodandaramaswamy temple and Ragunathaswamy temple at Malyavantha hill stand testimony to these events. Virupaksha temple: Lord Siva is worshipped here as Virupaksheswara or Pampapathy. His consort Pampa, Brahma's daughter, is associated with river Tungabhadra. Devi Bhuvaneswari is worshipped in an ornate shrine. Sri Vidyaranya, Guru of the Vijayanagar empire, had worshipped the Goddess and was blessed with immense wealth, which he lavished for enriching the empire. The Brindavanam of Vidyaranya and a Madhwa Mutt are behind this temple. The eastern tower of the temple was built during the period of Krishnadevaraya. The architecture is such that an inverted shadow of the gopuram falls on the western wall through a small hole behind the sanctum. Festivals: The car festival in February and the divine wedding of Virupaksha and Pampa in December are important festivals. There is a mandapam dedicated to Sri Purandaradasa on the banks of Tungabhadra. An annual music festival is held during Jan-Feb in honour of the saint composer. Situated nearby are Sugriva cave, Vyasarajaswamy Mutt, Kothandaramaswamy temple and a temple of Hanuman, whose deity was installed by Vyasaraja. He is known as Yanthro Tharaka Anjaneya. The holy Chakra Theertham is situated near the Kothandaramaswamy temple. Monolithic Yoga Narasimha and Ganeshas are other noteworthy sculptures. Hazara Rama, Vittala and Krishna temples are known for their sculptural wealth but in ruins. Nava Brindavanam: Nine Brindavanams of Madhwa swamijis are situated in an islet formed in the Tungabhadra river. This place can be reached from Anekunti, the other side of Hampi. Access : The nearest railhead is Hospet (13 km); Aihole 156 km; Badami 189 km; Bangalore 373 km; Bellary 77 km; Guntakal 133 km; Hubli 154 km; Hassan 335 km; Hyderabad 416 km; Mysore 366 km.

Temples of SravanaBelogula

This popular Jain pilgrim centre is picturesquely situated between two hills Indragiri and Chandragiri. From time immemorial, this has been reputed as a seat of learning of Jainism. The monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara or Bahubali, a Jain saint, stands majestically on top of the hill (altitude 930 metres). The nearly 1000-year-old statue (17 metres high), created during the time of Chamundaraya, a minister of Ganga King Rajamalla, is said to be the tallest and one of the most graceful in the world. There are several Jain bastis on the hills and 43 images of Thirthankars. One has to climb about 500 rock-cut steps to reach the summit. At the plains, there is a charming Belagola Lake. Festival: A spectacular ceremony called Maha¬mastakhabhisheka is held once in 12 years, when the statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. Lakhs of Jain devotees from all over the world participate in this festival. It was last held in 2005. Access: The nearest airport is Mysore (93 km) and the nearest railhead is Hassan (49 km). Belur 86 km; Bangalore 160 km via Chennarayapatna and Nelamangala; Mangalore 221 km. Kalastigiri Falls (10 km from Kemmangundi): The falls cascading from the Chandra Drona hills flow right in front of Sri Veerabhadreswara temple. One can visit this holy spot on way from Kemmangundi hill station to Tarikere. Bababudangiri (32 km from Kemmangundi): Situated at an altitude of 1912 metres, this place is sacred for both Hindus and Muslims. Atri Maharshi and Anasuya were believed to have done penance here. Hindus revere it as Sri Dattatreya Peetam. A cave here is considered by Muslims as the samadhi of Bababudan, a Muslim saint, who is believed to have introduced the first coffee plantation in this hilly region with seeds brought from Mecca.

Temples Of Beluru-Halebid

Both Belur and Halebid enjoyed the importance of being the capitals of Hoysala rulers. Vishnuvardhana, who embraced Vaishnavism, constructed five Vishnu temples, known as Pancha Narayana shrines. They are at Belur, Melkote, Thonnur, Talakkad and Gadag. The Belur shrine was constructed to commemorate his victory over the Cholas at Talakkad.

Chennakeshava shrine: This temple, an architectural marvel, was built over a period of nearly 100 years. The main structure is star-shaped and is a homogenous architectural unit erected on a raised platform. The three doorways and outer walls contain ornate freizes and wonderful carvings.Lord Chennakeshava, a beautiful image radiating divine glory, is installed on a high pedestal.

The Navarang Mandap is a masterpiece of Hoysala artisans. The polished pillars reflect one's image like the mirror. The dancing figures on the pillars are delicately carved. The Narasimha Pillar contains details about the temple and numerous deities.The outer walls of the shrine depict scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Sri Krishna Leela. A 40-foot¬tall stone pillar is another marvel, which appears to stand only with the centre of gravity.

An interesting feature is that a pair of large leather chappals is kept in a glasscase in the front mandapam. Local cobbler communitymen believe that the Lord treks to Bababudangiri daily to visit Lakshmi residing there. It is said that the Lord appears in their dream and informs them that His chappals have given way and that He needs a fresh pair. The cobblers then spread kumkum on the ground on which the Lord's footprints appear and prepare the chappals according to that size.

Other shrines :

Sowmyanayaki, Andal and Kappe Chinnigaraya are other important shrines in this vast temple complex.

Access:

Belur is 38 km from Hassan and 214 km from Bangalore.

Halebid: This city, one time capital of the Hoysalas, was known as Dwarasamudra. It was founded in early 11th century, but was ravaged by Muslim invasions by the end of the 14th century. Though many buildings had fallen prey, a few shrines like the Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples survived.

Construction of the Hoysaleswara temple was started in 1121 AD by Ketamalla, a general of King Vishnuvardhana. There are two shrines, one dedicated to Lord Siva as Hoysaleswara and the other to Shantaleswara. These are very similar to the Belur shrines in every detail. The most magnificent part of the temple is its outer wall, which is completely covered with freizes of amazing variety. The Kedareswara temple was built by Ballala II. The temple has three superstructures and some fine sculptures.

Access:

Halebid is 17 km from Belur and 27 km from Hassan.

Temples Of Shrimoga

Koodali (17 km from Shimoga): It is a renowned pilgrim spot where the rivers Tunga and Bhadra meet. Though a small village, a lot of Puranic importance is attached to this place. A Lingam, known as Sangameshwar, is installed on the riverside. There are shrines dedicated to Narasimha, Rameshwar, Devi Sharada and Brahmeshwar. The place is known as Narasimha Kshetra because of the presence of Lord Narasimha here. Prahlada is believed to have installed the deity, a Saligrama image. He is known as Chintamani Narasimha. Brahma installed the image of Sri Brahmeshwar with Devi Parvati. Sri Adi Sankara installed Devi Sharada's image on the river bank. There are shrines for Adi Sankara and Devi Sharada. There are several Brindavanams of Madhwa swamijis on the banks of the river. Harihar: The 12th century temple of Lord Harihar, built by Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, is worth visiting. In the sanctum, the huge image of the Lord is flanked by Parvati and Lakshmi. Nandi and Garuda are facing the sanctum. The star-shaped front mandapam is known for intricate carvings. Thirthahalli (52 km from Shimoga): Here is a shrine of Rameshwar on the banks of Tunga river. Sage Parasurama is believed to have installed the Lingam and done penance to redeem himself from the curse of having killed his mother. The place is associated with Pancha Pandavas. Situated about 7 km away is Bheemannaghatta Mutt, an ancient mutt belonging to Madhwa swamijis. It houses the deities of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and others worshipped by Bheemasena and an image of Narasimhamurthy worshipped by sage Durvasa. Amirtha Theertham (16 km from Theerthahalli): This is the birthplace of river Sharavati. A Lingam is installed at this sacred spot. Kalasa: The Siva temple here on the banks of Bhadra river is dedicated to Kalaseswar. This Swayambu Lingam is believed to have sprouted from the Kalasam of sage Agastya. Hence the Lord's name. The Lingam is enshrined in a silver mandapam in the sanctum. The beautiful image of Goddess Parvati is known as Sarvaangasundari. Lord Visweswara is enshrined on the outer prakaram. This place is revered as Dakshina Kashi. Oranadu Annapoorneshwari (8 km from Kalasa): The temple is situated in beautiful surroundings. Sage Agastya is said to have installed the deity. The sanctum was renovated in recent years by a learned astrologer, Venkitasubba Jois. It has been designed in a unique manner: the single image depicts the Devi standing on a peetam with Devi Gayatri, Sri Chakram, Shanku and Chakra in Her four hands. The sanctum is surrounded by Adi Sesha and the Padma Peetam is formed by Ashtagaja, Koorma etc.

Temples Of Sringeri

The word Sringeri is synonymous with Sri Adi Sankara, the great exponent ofAdvaita philosophy. The shrines of Devi Sharada and Sri Vidya Shankar stand glorious monuments to our culture and learning. The little town on the banks of Tunga river is in the midst of forests of the Western Ghats. Sringagiri is renowned since Ramayana days as sage Vibandaka and his son Rishyasringa had their hermitages here. Sri Adi Sankara was once on a visit to this place. As he was approaching the Tunga river, the spiritual and peaceful atmosphere and nature's harmony there impressed him. On a mid-summer noon, he witnessed a frog in labour being given shelter by a cobra, a sworn enemy, and was greatly moved. This prompted Adi Sankara to establish one of the famous Sankara Mutts and install a sandalwood image of Devi Sharada, the Goddess of Learning, in a small shrine. A stone sculpture of a snake offering hooded protection to a frog on the steps of the holy tank in Sringeri narrates this incident. Devi Sharada shrine: The Goddess is seated on Sri Chakra Peetam holding a Japa Mala in Her upper right hand with a parrot perched on top of the hand. The lower right hand shows Chin Mudra. While the upper left hand holds the Amirtha Kalasam, the lower left hand has a book. The sandalwood image of the Goddess, installed by Adi Sankara, was replaced by a golden idol about 700 years ago by Sri Vidyaranya. On the southern prakara, the processional deity of Devi Sharada is placed on Vyagyana Simhasana. Their Holiness Sri Mahasannidhanams sit on this Simhasana when they assume charge as new Peetathipathi. Shakti Ganapati with 10 hands and Shakti on his left thigh is enshrined on the western prakara. Bhuvaneshwari, a Panchaloha image, has a shrine to the west of Devi Sharada's sanctum. In the front mandap, the beautiful images of Rajarajeshwari and Mahishasuramardhini are eye-catching. A 35-foot-tall Deepa Sthamba is seen outside the Devi shrine. A small shrine dedicated to Sri Janardhana with Sridevi and Bhoodevi and the Brindavana of Sri Sureshwaracharya, a disciple of Adi Sankara and the first Peetathipathi of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetam, are located between Vidyaranya and Sharada temples. On Fridays and Navaratri festival days, the image of Devi Sharada is taken round the temple in a silver ratha. Pilgrims throng to witness this and offer worship. Adi Sankara shrine: The shrine of Sri Adi Sankara is to the left of the Sharada shrine. The image of Sri Sankara is seen on a two-foot-high peetam in Yogasana posture with a Lingam in front of him. The images of his four disciples are near the peetam. In the front hall, religious discourses are held regularly, attended by a large number of devotees. The graceful presence of the Swamiji elevates the divine and spiritual atmosphere. Vidya Sankar shrine: This Sri Chakra-shaped shrine is a jewel on the crown of Sringeri. A sculptured treasure house denoting a blend of Vijayanagara, Hoysala and Dravidian temple architecture, the shrine was constructed by Bharati Krishna Theertha, a disciple of Sri Vidya Sankara Theertha, some 700 years ago. The outer wall of this temple is a specimen of great craftmanship. In the sanctum, there is a Lingam dedicated to Sri Vidya Sankara, who entered samadhi at this particular place. He had ordained his disciples to open the samadhi only at the end of 12' years, when they would find an image of Chaturmurthi Vidyeswara similar to the one in Simhagiri shrine. However, they opened the samadhi before the completion of this period only to find the Lingam. There are 12 pillars representing the 12 Rasis, their Devatas and symbols. It is amazing to note that every month, the Sun's rays fall on a particular pillar representing that month. An idol of Saniswara is kept in oil. Narasimhavanam: A new bridge constructed across Tunga river leads the devotees to the abode of Sri Sri Mahasannidhanam. Pujas are performed for Lord Chandramouleeswara. Streams of devotees concourse here daily to have darshan of the Swamiji. The present Peetathipathi is Sri Bharathi Theertha Swamiji. There are also Brindavanams of the previous Peetathipathis in a marble mandap. Simhagiri: A shrine dedicated to Chaturmurthi Vidyeswara is here. Vidya Theertha had ordained making of this unique sculpture with four faces. It depicts Vidya Theertha flanked by his two disciples, and Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara on three sides. Above them are Lakshmi Narasimha, Chandra, Surya and a Lingam on top of them all. Malahanikareswara: There is a small hillock with sage Vibandaka's ashram on it. The shrine on the hill is dedicated to Lord Malahanikareswara. Rishyasringapuram (10 km): This village on the banks of Nandini, a tributary of Tungabhadra, is known for a shrine dedicated to Sringeswara, a Swayambu Lingam. Sage Rishyasringa is believed to have attained mukti here. Access: The nearest railhead is Shimoga (140 km), from where buses, vans and cars are available to reach Sringeri. There are buses connecting Sringeri to Mangalore (152 km), Bangalore (326 km), Belur (104 km), Mysore (259 km), Hassan (141 km) and Kollur (132 km).

Temples Of Dharmastala

The holy shrine of Sri Manjunathaswamy is a unique pilgrim centre situated in the midst of green fields and coconut palms, fringed by hills. Here is a Siva temple under the trusteeship of a Jain family, and pujas are performed by Madhwa priests. It is a rare temple visited by pilgrims of all communities. Civil disputes are amicably settled in the name of God. Dharmadhikari Sri Veerendra Heggade serves as the representative of Lord Manjunatha. The presence of Dharma Devathas, who have come to settle here centuries ago, is felt by every devout visitor. Long ago, there lived a pious Jain by name Birmanna Heggade. His residence was known as Nellayadi Beedu. One day the guardian angels of Dharma came to his house. He treated them honorably and offered his residence itself to them when they asked for it. They revealed to him that they were Dharma Devathas - Kalarahu, Kumaraswamy, Kanyakumari and Kalaki. They ordained Birmanna to build a temple, do pujas and celebrate festivals regularly. They would speak to them through God Annappa and promised to make the place a glorious centre for Dharma and righteousness. Birmanna did accordingly. A Lingam from Kadri near Mangalore was brought and consecrated in the shrine as Sri Manjunathaswamy. In the temple complex, there are shrines for Dharma Devathas and Lord Annappa. Thousands of visiting pilgrims are offered food in the temple daily. The annual Deepotsava is held during Nov-Dec. A huge monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara (11.9 metres high) is another major attraction at Dharmasthala. A painting gallery and small zoological park are maintained by the temple authorities. Access: Mangalore 75 km; Bangalore 350 km.

Temples of Kollur

Kollur is one of the seven Mukti Sthalams of Parasurama Kshetras situated in Karnataka. The other holy centres are Udupi, Subramanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana and Gokarna. The sacred shrine of Devi Mookambika is at the foot of a hill known as Kudashatri. River Sowparnika, originating in the hill, flows by the side of the temple. Yogis and rishis have performed penance on this holy soil. Skanda Purana speaks about the glory of this Maha Aranyapuram, where a sage by name Kola did penance. Devi Adi Shakti, who vanquished demon Mookasura, was extolled by the Devas as Mookambika. Devi Shakti appeared before Sri Adi Sankara too in this Kudashatri hills. The Swayambu Lingam with a golden rekha in the middle is worshipped as Siva-Shakti Swaroopa. The devout believe that all the three Shaktis - Mahakali, Mahasaraswathi and Mahalakshmi - are enshrined in this sacred idol of Mookambika. The Panchaloha idol of the Devi was installed by Sri Adi Sankara himself. He prescribed the various rituals and puja rites for worship and installed Sri Chakra before the Goddess. The Devi is in Padmasana posture holding Shanku and Chakra, and is showing Abhaya Varada Mudra. The images of Kali and Saraswathi are enshrined near Mookambika. The Sankara Simhasanam, a stone peetam in the shrine, is revered highly by devotees. Sri Adi Sankara used this place for meditation. Devotees meditate here and seek the Guru's blessings. An Anjaneya idol installed by Sri Vadi Raja, Lord Veerabhadra, Naga and Subramanya have separate shrines. A marble idol of Vinayaka with ten hands is enshrined on the southern prakara. The divine atmosphere that prevails in and around the shrine soothes one's mind with spiritual fervour and unfathomable quetitude. The hill Kudashatri has some excellent places for pilgrims to explore. Ambavanam and Chitramoolam, a cave, are believed to be places where Sri Adi Sankara did tapas. The waters of Sowparnika are said to possess medicinal properties and a bath in the river refreshes one's mind and body. Shukla Theertham is a tank one km away. There is a shrine of Sri Siddeswara. Access: Mangalore 146 km; Udupi 88 km; Kundapur 42 km. Kumbasi (8 km from Kundapur): According to Puranas, Gautama Rishi, who was doing penance in this land, was harassed by an asura by name Kumba. Pandavas, who were here on a pilgrimage, came to his rescue. Bheema invoked Lord Vinayaka, got a sword and vanquished the demon. Lord Vinayaka is a Swayambu Murthi and is in standing posture. There is a small shrine in the midst of the temple tank, which has Surya Pushkarni on the one side and Chandra Pushkarni on the other side. There are images of Hari and Hara and the Kamandala of sage Gautama. Pujas are offered to the Kamandala as Devi Ganga is believed to be present in it. Kodeshwara (5 km from Kumbasi): Lord Brahma is believed to have performed penance and had darshan of Lord Siva as Kotilingeswara. In the sanctum, the Lingam is enshrined in a shallow Peetam. There are shrines for Vinayaka, Parvati and Ardhanareeswara. Koti Theertham is the sacred water. The main festival is on Full Moon day during Nov-Dec. Sankaranarayana (24 km from Kodeshwara): The shrine of Lord Sankaranarayana is on the banks of Varahi river. A sage by name Kroda was doing penance here to have darshan of Hari and Hara in one form. There are two Swayambu Lingams in the sanctum. According to another legend, Siva and Vishnu appeared here to vanquish Kara and Ratta, demon brothers. There are separate shrines for Sri Venugopal, Subramanya and Panchamukha Anjaneya. A rare feature in this temple is that water is perennially seeping from the sanctum and prakaram. Theerthams: Agni Theertham is near the sanctum. Bhargava Theertham and Koti Theertham are outside the temple. Kroda Theertham is yet another sacred water on the hill. Gokarna (170 km from Mangalore): This is the sacred abode of Atma Lingam, brought by Ravana from Mount Kailas. When he was carrying it to Lanka, Devas tried to stop him. Vinayaka came to their rescue. He appeared before Ravana as a Brahmachari boy. When Ravana gave the Atma Lingam to the boy to hold it, Vinayaka kept it on the ground, and it got rooted. Even Ravana could not remove it. Hence the Devas named the Lingam Mahabaleshwar. The shrine faces west. Gokarna is hailed as one of the Parasurama Kshetras as the sage hurled his axe from here to redeem the land from sea. According to Puranas, at the time of Creation of the World, Lord Siva emerged from the ears of Bhoomidevi at this spot. Hence the Lingam that appeared here came to be known as Adi Gokarna (Go means Earth and Karna means ear). The sanctum of Mahabaleshwar reveals only a 3 feet by 3 feet square Saligrama Peetam. There is a golden rekha on the Peetam and a small hole in the middle, through which one can have a glimpse of the Siras of Atma Lingam. The six-foot-tall Lingam inside can be seen only once in 40 years when the Ashta Bhandana Kumbabhishekam is held. In this temple, devotees are allowed to perform puja toAtma Lingam. Other shrines: Chandikeswara, Vinayaka, Adi Gokarneswara and Dattatreya have separate shrines. Devi Parvati is enshrined behind the main temple. She is known as Thamra Gowri. An image of Lord Ganesha is installed outside the temple. A small dent visible on His head is said to have been caused when Ravana hit Him. Devotees congregate here for Sivaratri festival. Koti Theertham is the sacred tank. It is customary to have a sea bath here, make a Lingam out of sand and offer worship before proceeding to the temple. Pilgrims perform Shraddha for their ancestors on the shores of Gokarna. There are four other Siva shrines around Gokarna, together known as Pancha Maha Kshetras. They are Sejjeshwara, Gunavanteshwara, Murudeshwara, Dhareshwara and Mahabaleshwara. Sadhasringagiri: Indranila mountain to the east of Himalayas is the abode of Lord Vishnu, Mount Kailas is the abode of Lord Siva and Sadhasringagiri betwen the two is the abode of Lord Brahma. According to a legend, once an enraged Garuda uprooted this hill and flew down south. While the divine bird was flying over Gokarna, the weight became unbearable. Sage Agastya came to his rescue and got the hill dropped in the sea here. The hill picturesquely rises on the southern side of the sea. The scenic beauty is a feast to the eyes of the nature-lover. Situated on the hill is a shrine for Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Manikeswara and Siddeswara are also enshrined. Pandavas are said to have visited this place, and hence the other name Pandavakudi.

Temples of Udipi

 

Udupi is one of the seven Mokshapuris highly revered in the land of Parasurama. The sacred idol of Lord Balagopala installed by Sri Madhwacharya (1238-1317 AD) was originally worshipped by Devi Rukmini in Dwaraka in the Dwapara Yuga.

The advent of Lord Krishna to this divine land is dramatic. Long ago, once when Sri Madhwa was meditating near the Malpe Beach (5 km from Udupi), he saw a ship in danger due to severe storm. He saved the ship by his yogic power. As the Swamiji knew beforehand that the ship carried the idols of Krishna and Balarama, he accepted Gopi Chandana pieces that the ship's captain offered. He installed the Balarama idol in Vada Pandeshwara village near the shores and the Krishna idol at Udupi near the Chandramouleeswara shrine.

The idol of Krishna holding the churning rod in one hand and the rope in the other with a smile on his lips envisages the childhood pranks of the Lord in His Gokul days. Krishna is believed to have asked Viswakarma to make this idol for Rukmini, who adored it till the end of Krishna avatar. Arjuna had later hidden the image in the gardens of Dwaraka. It reached Udupi in course of time along with Gopi Chandana.

In ancient times, Udupi was known as Sivalli and Rajathapeetapuram. According to a legend, Chandra, the Moon God, who did penance in a forest here, was redeemed from the curse by Daksha Prajapati. In Sanskrit, Udu means star and Pa means leader. As Chandra was the head of the stars, the place came to be known as Udupi. Lord Siva is worshipped as Chandramouleeswara. The shrine opposite to Krishna temple enshrines the Swayambu Lingam. The Lingam changes colour thrice during the day - black in the morning, blue at noon and white at night. The temple tank is known as Chandra Pushkarni or Madhwa Sarovar.

There is another shrine for Lord Ananteswara. When Parasurama redeemed the land from sea, he crowned his devotee Ramabhoja as a king of this land. He performed Ashwamedha Yaga on this holy soil. While ploughing the land prior to the Yaga, he killed a snake accidentally. To redeem himself from Sarpa dosha, he made a silver peetam (Rajatha Peetam) with images of snake carved on it. Hence the name of the place Sivalli or Siva-belli. In the sanctum, Parasurama is worshipped in Linga swaroopa on this silver peetam as Ananteswara. There is a 40-foot-high Deepa sthamba outside the shrine.

Eight Mutts: Udupi is the seat of Vaishnavite Bhakti cult. The Dwaita Siddhanta of Sri Madhwa is propagated as a glorious tradition by the eight mutts established by the Guru at Udupi. The mutts are Palimar Mutt, Krishnapura Mutt, Sothe Mutt, Puthige Mutt, Sirur Mutt, Kaniyur Mutt, Admar Mutt and Pejawar Mutt. The heads of these mutts take full responsibility of the various pujas and rituals of Sri Krishna temple. Only Bala Sanyasis are selected to head the mutts and do pujas at the temple.

Paryaya festival: Each of the eight mutts is given a two-year term by turns in service of Lord Krishna. The Paryaya festival, the most important one in the temple, is held once in two years around January, when there is a ceremonial change of the head priest, called the Paryaya Swamiji.

Navagraha Kindi (or window): A unique feature of Sri Udupi Krishna temple is that the Lord is worshipped only through a window with nine holes. It is fully silver-plated and carved exquisitely. Situated to the west of this is the Kanakadasa Mandap. When Kanakadasa came to this village, he could not enter the Krishna shrine because he belonged to a low caste. He continued to worship the Lord, standing outside and singing His glory. One day, to the surprise of all, the western wall gave way on its own and the Lord's image turned towards this opening. Kanakadasa had the special privilege of worshipping Sri Krishna in full view. Since then, the tradition here has been to worship the Lord only through the window. From this window outside, one can any time have a good darshan of the Lord.

Pujas & rituals: The day at Udupi temple begins at 4 a.m. to the accompaniment of conch and Nagari sounds and Vedic chants. A series of pujas and abhishekas are performed to the Lord. The Nirmalya Visarjan is followed by Ushatkala puja, Panchamirtha puja, Udhwardhana puja, Kalasa puja, Go (cow) puja, Alankara puja and Maha puja. These are followed by Brindavana puja. Devotees are then fed.
Evening pujas start at 4.30 p.m. These include Samara Seva, Ranga Seva and Seevili Seva. The deity is then kept on a silver palanquin and taken in a procession round the sanctum. This is known as Ekanta puja, when the Lord is kept on a silver bed.

Chenna Kesava shrine: This shrine is situated behind the sanctum. Here, the Lord is seen with Shanku, Chakra, Gadha and Lotus on His hands, as He gave darshan to Kanakadasa. Behind this is the eastern entrance of the sanctum, which is open only on Vijayadasami day. On the prakaras, there are images of Garudalwar and Hanuman. The two prakaras, Suryachala and Chandrachala, are used for cultural and religious purposes. A Tulasi Brindavanam, situated near the Dwajasthamba, is held in high reverence. A 12-day festival is held during Nov-Dec.

Sri Madhwa shrine: The shrine of the founder of Udupi temple is situated next to the sanctum. There are images of Sri Vadiraja and Lord Subramanya on the outer prakara. The silver Simhasana, used by Sri Madhwa, is held very sacred. Only the Paryaya Swamiji will be seated on this while blessing the devotees.

Madhwa Sarovar: The holy Ganga is said to appear in this tank once in 12 years.

Festivals:

During January, a seven-day grand festival, known as Saptotsava, is celebrated. These include daily car and float festivals. On Makara Sankranti day, three Rathas carrying the images of Krishna, Chandramouleeswara and Ananteswara are taken out in processions.

The seventh day car is known as Brahma Ratham, when all idols are kept near the Krishna image and all the eight Matathipathis perform pujas and the ritual of Aarattu (holy dip of the images) in Madhwa Sarovar. Golden flowers are showered on the idol of Sri Krishna. This is known as Swarnotsavam. The practice of arranging timber in the form of enchanting chariots is peculiar to Udupi.

The other festivals include Laksha Deepa, Tulasi Puja, Madhwa Navami, Navaratri, Deepavali, Krishna Janmashtami and Sri Ramanavami.

Shakti & Subramanya temples: King Ramabhoja established four Shakti temples and four Subramanya temples in the four corners of Sivalli. The Shakti temples are at Puttur, Kannarpadi, Bailur and Kadiyali. The Subramanya temples are at Tangodu, Mangodu, Aritodu and Muchilkodu.

Durga shrine: There is a shrine dedicated to Durga on a hillock some 5 km from Udupi. Indra's consort Shashidevi is believed to have performed penance here.

Bhaajaga Kshetra: This is the birthplace of Sri Madhwacharya, situated 12 km from Udupi. Sri Madhwa is also considered a reincarnation of Hanuman. There are shrines for Bheema, Pancha Pandavas and Vayu.

Access:

Mangalore 60 km; Kollur 88 km

Subramanya: The Lord Subramanya temple is situated in picturesque surroundings. The sacred hill is known as Kumara Parvat and rivers Kumaradhara and Tharpana originate here. In the sanctum, Lord Shanmukha is seated on a peacock. Images of Vasuki and Adi Sesha are installed below the Lord. The sanctum is full of ant-hills. A Garuda sthamba, installed in front of the sanctum, is believed to ward off the poisonous breath of Nagas.

There are shrines dedicated to Lord Uma Maheswara and Kukke Lingam (basket). According to a legend, a basket full of Lingams was once found here, which gives this place the name of Kukke Subramanya.

Vyasa Sampuda Narasimha Sannadhi: There is a Narasimha shrine of great importance in this temple. Images of Vittal, Rukmini, Lakshmi Narasimha and a box with Saligramams are worshipped. The Saligramams are said to have been given by sage Vyasa to Madhwacharya, who gave them to his disciples. The box is always kept closed. There is a Madhwa mutt in the shrine.

Legend says that Garuda was once chasing Vasuki, the Naga king, who took shelter in a cave. Lord Subramanya gave protection to Vasuki. It is said that even today, Garuda is never seen in this place except during the Car Festival, when the divine bird is seen circling the car thrice.

Adi Subramanya shrine: This ancient shrine is on the other side of river Tharpana. The Lord is said to have done penance to get rid of the sin of Brahmahatti (annihilation of Tharakasura). Lord Subramanya is worshipped in an ant-hill and mirrors and idols of Naga are offered.

Festivals:

Shashti, Vaisaka and Narasimha Jayanti are major festivals. Naga Shanti and Sarpa puja are special offerings in the temple.

Access:

Mangalore 103 km; Hassan 97 km; Dharmasthala 40 km. Subramanya can be reached from Dharmasthala via Uppinangadi.

Temples of Manglore

This port city, whose original name was Mangalapura, finds mention in seventh century inscriptions. The city, known for its scenic beauty, is situated at the confluence of Netravati and Gurpur rivers.

Mangaladevi temple(3 km): The Shakti temple, which gives Mangalore its name, was originally built by the Ballalas and rebuilt in 968 AD by Kundavarma II, an Alupa ruler. The present temple is said to have been constructed by one of the Nayak kings.

Sri Manjunatha temple, Kadri(5 km): The temple situated on Kadri hills is dedicated to Lord Manjunatha.

Access:

Mangalore is air-linked to Bangalore, Mumbai etc. It is well connected by train and bus services. Bangalore 365 km; Belur 154 km; Hassan 180 km; Mysore 265 km; Sringeri 135 km; Kollur 119 km; Udupi 60 km.

Katil(30 km): River Nandini flows round the beautiful shrine, dedicated to Devi Durga Parameswari. The river is considered the daughter of the Divine Cow Kamadhenu. She was cursed by Rishi Japali for refusing to come to Bhooloka with him to relieve it of a drought prevailing at that time.

Devi Parashakti came here to annihilate Arunasura. When he was enamoured of the beauty of the Goddess, She took the form of a bee and killed the asura in the midst of the river.

Devi Durga is a Swayambu Lingam. An image of the Devi in sitting posture holding Shanku and Chakra is also installed. Devotees throng the temple on Fridays and during Navaratri festival.

Temples of Madikera

The place derives its name from king Madduraja who ruled the region in the 17th century. Known for its coffee plantations and orange orchids, Madikere is full of natural beauty. It is situated at an altitude of 1170 metres and is 120 km from Mysore. Sri Omkareshwara temple is popular among pilgrims and other tourists.

Bhagamandala (35 km from Madikere): This is the holy Sangam of Cauvery and Kanaga rivers. Bhaganda Maharshi is said to have done penance and installed a Lingam at the confluence of the rivers. The Lord is known as Sri Omkareshwara Temple Bhagandeswara after the sage.

It is customary for pilgrims to have a holy dip at the Sangam before proceeding to Thalakavery, the origin of Cauvery. Performing Shraddha is considered sacred by the devout.

Thalakavery (44 km from Madikere & 9 km from Bhagamandala): This charming village, nestling amidst thick forests of the Western Ghats, is the birthplace of Cauvery. Lakhs of devotees concourse here throughout the month of Thula (Oct-Nov) for a holy dip at this spot.

Cauvery originates in a mini tank which has a perennial spring below. Situated in front of this is a bigger tank in which pilgrims take the holy bath. Pujas are offered to the small tank and shrine.

Cauvery is the prime Goddess of the people of Kodagu. There is a small shrine with a Lingam, said to have been installed by sage Agastya. Goddess Parvati and Vinayaka are worshipped here.

According to Puranas, sage Cavera, who did penance on the hills and propitiated Brahma, was blessed with Lopamudra as his daughter. This divine girl was married to sage Agastya. River Cauvery is another divine aspect of Lopamudra who flowed as a river from the Kamandala of Agastya to enrich the southern region by the grace of the Almighty.

The hill, which is 1288 metres high, is known as Brahmagiri. Saptha Rishis were said to have performed penance here. Seven Homa Kundams, used by the rishis, are seen on the hills even today.

Temples of Mysore

This charming city, renowned through the ages, was the capital of Mysore rulers. The sprawling and beautiful palace, the lovely Chamundi Hills, Sri Krishnaraja Sagar and Brindavan Gardens are all great delight to the tourists who step into this magic city, still exhuding old-world charm.   Chamundi Hills (13 km; Altitude 1073 meters): The shrine of Goddess Chamundeshwari commands a panoramic view of Mysore city on the plains below. Sri Chamundi is the tutelary Goddess of the Wodeyar kings, who lavished lots of gifts to the temple. The gopuram was constructed by Krishnaraja Wodeyar (1794-1868). The Goddess is worshipped as Mahishasuramardhini. There is a life-size statue of demon Mahishasura, whom the Devi vanquished at this holy spot. Shrines dedicated to Siva as Mahabaleshwara and Vishnu as Lakshmi Narayana are situated near the Chamundi temple. Navaratri: This festival is celebrated in a spectacular manner. The grand Vijayadashami procession marks a colourful finale in a royal way. Nandi: This giant monolithic sculpture, about 5 metres high and 7.6 metres long, was consecrated during the reign of Dodda Devaraja (1659-¬1672). Known for excellent workmanship, this Nandi is equal in importance to those at the temples of Thanjavur and Lepakshi. Deva Ganga and Pathala Vahini are sacred waters on the hills. Shrines in Mysore Palace: The Lingam at the ancient shrine of Thrineeswara is said to have been installed by sage Thrina Bindu. The Goddess is Tripurasundari. There are other shrines dedicated to Varahaswami, Bhuvaneswari, Devi Gayatri and Lord Krishna. Other shrines: Markandeya Ashram and Jwalamukhi Tripura¬sundari shrine are other holy spots. Access: Mysore is 140 km from Bangalore. Temples around Mysore Srirangapatnam (20 km): This holy town is situated in an island formed by the waters of Cauvery. Puranas speak of this place as Gautama Kshetra. The sage, who had his ashram on the banks of Cauvery, is believed to have founded the shrine of Lord Ranganatha. Historical evidence dates back to the reign of Ganga king Thirumalaiya (897 AD). Srirangapatnam is also revered as Adi Rangam like Srirangam near Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu is known as Andhya Rangam and Sivasamudram in Karnataka as Madhya Rangam. Sri Ranganathaswami temple: It is one of the largest temples with a lofty gopuram. The Lord is reclining on Adi Sesha with the Goddess in His chest. The images of sage Gautama and Goddess Cauvery are enshrined at the holy feet of the Lord. Saints and Alwars are enshrined on the prakarams. Two pillars in front of the inner entrance are called Chathurvimsati. The 24 forms of Vishnu with their names are engraved thereon. In the north-west corner is the shrine of Ranganayaki Thayar and the sacred feet of the Lord. Pattabhirama with Sita and Anjaneya at His feet and Lord Rajamannar are wonderful sculptures. There is another Krishna shrine, which is very popular among the devotees. The images of Srinivasa and Panchamukha Anjaneya, installed by Guru Vyasaraya, are noteworthy. Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali, who ruled the region, had great respect for Lord Ranganatha. They donated much to the temple. Other shrines nearby: The temples of Gangadhareswara and Lakshminarayana are worth visiting. Rare images of Hamsa Gayatri, Dakshinamurthi and Sri Adi Sankara are worshipped. Sri Nimishambika shrine (20 km): This ancient Siva shrine is dedicated to Mouktikeswara and His consort Nimishambika. Lord Lakshmi Narasimha is also enshrined. The temple, very popular among the pilgrims, is situated on the banks of Cauvery. Melkote (48 km): The sacred hill shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Narayana is worshipped since Krutha Yuga. Vedadri, Narayanadri Yadavagiri, Yathisailam and Dakshina Badrikachalam are the Puranic names of Melkote. The presiding and processional deities were given to Brahma by Lord Vishnu Himself. Brahma gave one idol to Sanatkumara, who installed it in Bhooloka for the benefit of Mankind. The processional deity, Sampatkumara or Ramapriya, was worshipped by Sri Rama and His son Kusha. This deity later came to Krishna in the Dwapara Yuga, who later installed it in the shrine. Sri Ramanuja, the Vaishnavite saint of the 11th century, earned the patronage of Jain king Bittideva, who embraced Vaishnavism and changed his name to Vishnuvardhana. The king built five shrines known as Panchanarayana temples. At that time, Narayanapuram was in ruins, devastated by the invasion of Muslim rulers. Both the idols of Narayana and Ramapriya were lost for some reasons. Ramanuja had a vision in which Lord Vishnu revealed to him the place where the idol of Narayana was hidden. He found the image among Tulasi shrubs in an ant-hill in Yadavagiri and installed the deity again in the temple. Ramanuja also brought back the processional deity of Ramapriya from the court of a Muslim ruler, whose daughter was keeping the idol in her custody. The princess, an ardent devotee of Ramapriya, also reached Melkote and attained mukti here. She is known as Beebi Nachiyar, whose image is also installed near the Lord. The enchanting idol of Lord Vishnu is holding Shanku, Chakra and Gadha. The image of Ramapriya is in the Ranga Mandapam in front of the sanctum. The shrines of Vaikuntanatha, Chakrathu Alwar and Anjaneya are on the prakarams. Goddess Yadugiri Nachiyar and Kalyani Nachiyar have separate shrines in a sculptured mandapam. The Melkote temple is flanked by mutts belonging to different sects of Vaishnavites. Much significance is attached to the idol of Ramanuja in this temple. When Ramanuja wanted to go back to Srirangam, he made an image of himself and installed it in this temple. The other two images of Ramanuja are in Sriperumpudur (his birthplace) and Srirangam (his Brindavanam). Festival: The spectacular 10-day Vairamudi festival during March-April attracts lakhs of pilgrims. The diamond crown is said to have been given to Krishna by the divine bird Garuda when He was taking it to Vaikunta from the Paathaala Loka. Krishna decorated Ramapriya with this crown, and it came to Melkote along with Ramapriya. The crown is held so sacred that it is seen on the Lord's head only at the time of the Vairamudi festival. Vaikunta Ekadasi is another important festival. Theerthams: Kalyani Theertham, Narayana Theertham, Padma Theertham, Veda Pushkarni and Vaikunta Ganga are held sacred. A shrine dedicated to Lord Yoga Narasimha is on this hill. Prahlada, an ardent Vishnu devotee, is said to have installed the deity here. Access: Melkote can be reached by road either from Srirangapatnam via Pandavapura, a distance of 30 km, or from Mysore. Nanjangud (23 km): This temple town is situated on the right bank of river Kapila. The Siva temple, dedicated to Lord Nanjundeswara or Srikanteswara, is built in Dravidian style. A beautiful Rajagopuram adorns the eastern entrance. According to a legend, when the Devas and Asuras churned the Milky Ocean, there appeared poison before they got the sacred nectar. When no human or Devas could stand the poison, Lord Siva drank the poison. Realising that the poison would harm the Lord, Devi Parvati held His throat stopping the poison there. Lord Siva's neck turned blue. This legend earned Him the name Neelakanta. This aspect of the Lord is worshipped in the Nanjangud shrine. Siva and Parvati have separate sanctums. Lord Vishnu as Adi Kesava is installed in between these two shrines. Lord Subramanya as Dandayudhapani, Prasanna Vinayaka, Durga and Sharada have separate shrines. The 63 Saivite saints are immortalised in life-size images on the southern prakaram. The temple is known for its wealth of sculptures. The Siva Leelas are of exquisite craftmanship. The Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan was a great patron of this temple. His elephant was cured twice of major ailments with the grace of Nanjundeswara. Hence Tipu Sultan called the Lord Hakim Nanjundeswara and presented to the shrine valuable jewellery and a Maragatha Lingam, which is installed by the side of the Goddess' shrine. Sage Parasurama did penance on this holy soil. There is a shrine for him near the Swarnavati river. An ancient mutt of Sri Raghavendra is situated in the town. The Guru's image is said to have been found in river Cauvery by a king, who consecrated it in the mutt. Vidyanidhi Prasanna Somnathpura was the ancient name of this town. It is situated on the left bank of Cauvery. The Hoysala temple built in the 12th century, dedicated to Lord Kesava, is known for its sculptural beauty. It was constructed by one Somnatha, a minister in the court of Hoysala King Veera Narasimha Devarasa. The three main shrines are dedicated to Lord Kesava, Lord Janardhana and Lord Venugopala. A sukanasi for each shrine and a common Navaranga have been constructed. Sixty-four cells around the shrine are now empty. The temple is a perfect example of Hoysala art. A local belief is that Jaganachary, the master sculptor, had to break a few sculptures when the whole shrine started moving heavenward as gods, enamoured of the shrine, wished to take it. Talakkad (48 km): Skanda Purana speaks of this place as Siddaranya Kshetra and Gajaranya (as elephants lived here in large numbers). Once two hunters Tala and Kada saw elephants worshipping a Lingam with lotus flowers. When they were cutting a tree, a blow fell on the Lingam and it started bleeding. However, a heavenly voice bade them to treat the wound with the leaves of the tree itself. They did so and Lord Siva appeared before them and gave mukti to the hunters and the elephants there. The place thus acquired the name Talakkad after the two hunters. There are five Siva shrines on the banks of Cauvery, which flows in all directions here. The Pancha Linga Darshan falls in accordance with a rare astronomical conjunction. Devotees take a holy dip at the Theerthams and worship at the five shrines of Vaidyanadeswara, Arkeshwara, Vasukeeswara, Maraleswara and Mallikarjuna. These five shrines denote the five faces of Lord Siva. Vaidyanadeswara temple is the most important one built by the Vijayanagar rulers. Keerthinarayana temple was built by Vishnuvardhana. Talakkad had more than 30 temples. An unfortunate feature of Talakkad is that most of the temples lie under sand dunes. It is said that the place was devastated by the curse of queen Allamelamma. She immersed herself in Cauvery for the illtreatment meted out to her by the ruler of Talakkad. Thirumukkudal(24 km from Talakkad): It is the holy sangama of rivers Kabini and Cauvery. The shrine of Lord Siva as Agasteeswara, installed by sage Agastya, is on the banks of Cauvery. Water is seen trickling from the head of Lord Siva. Sivasamudram falls, known as Bluff, is a popular tourist spot. There are two ancient shrines of Someswara and Jaganmohana Ranganatha. The Ranganatha shrine is known as Madhya Ranga. Narasipur: The Lakshmi Narasimha temple here is popular among the pilgrims. The Lord is seen having a balance and kundumani in His hands. The place is revered as sacred as Kashi. Biligiri Ranganna temple (120 km): This Vishnu temple of Puranic fame is situated amid thick forests on top of the Biligiri Ranga Hills at an altitude of 1566 metres. Known as Swetachalam, the hill and the various Theerthams are held as sacred as those of Tirumala. Sage Vasishta and his wife had worshipped Lord Vishnu for being blessed with a progeny. They got Shakti as their son, followed by Parasara, Vyasa and Suga as the illustrious lineage. Sri Rama and sage Parasurama are said to have worshipped Sri Ranganatha. The presiding deity, installed by Vasishta, is worshipped as Srinivasa, Venkateswara and Ranganatha and His consort as Alarmelmanga, Lakshmi and Ranganayaki. There is a separate shrine for Lord Gangadhareswara. The sculptures of Saraswathi, Krishna and Anjaneya on the pillars are noteworthy. Access: This place can be reached by road via Kollegal, Yelandur or Chamarajnagar. Mahadeswara Hills (144 km): The Siva temple on top of this hill is dedicated to Sri Mahadeswara. It attracts a lot of pilgrims round the year besides on special occasions like Sivaratri. Map

Temples of Banglore

This bustling and delightful city, situated at an altitude of about 1000 metres, was founded by Vijayanagar chieftain Kempe Gowda (1513-1569). He established four towers around the outer limits. These are still seen on Bellary Road, at Lalbagh, Ulsoor and Gavi Gangadhareswara temple at Gavipuram. The people of modern Bangalore still retain their traditions and values. Temples continue to be major centres of religious, social and cultural activities. Gavi Gangadhareswara temple: Sage Gautama had worshipped Lord Siva in this cave temple. The sanctum facing south, which is a rare feature, is flanked by the shrines of Devi Parvati and Durga. The images of Shanmukha and Ayyappa and those of Chandra, Surya and Bhairava are exquisitely carved. In the front yard; there are stone monoliths of sun and moon discs. On Makara Sankranti evening, the sun's rays pass through the horns of the Nandi briefly to fall on the Lingam. Veeranjaneya temple is situated at a gradient about a km from this shrine. Atop, there is a huge statue of Rama embracing Hanuman. The temple offers a panoramic view of the suburbs below. Bull temple: In Kannada, Basava means bull, which gives the name Basavanagudi to the locality. The temple has a giant bull (4.6 metres tall), carved out of a single boulder. It is a sculptural masterpiece. The annual Groundnut Fair is held here during Nov-Dec. Dodda Ganapati, a magnificent image of the Lord, is enshrined adjacent to the Bull temple. Karanji Anjaneya temple is situated near the Bull temple. Prasanna Veeranjaneya temple is on a hillock at Raagi Gudda in Jayanagar IX Block. Enshrined here are Lord Siva and Rama. At the foot of the hill, there are shrines for Vinayaka, Navagrahas and Rajarajeshwari. Hanumat Jayanti and Ramanavami are important festivals. Devagiri Varaprada Sri Venkateshwara temple:Suburban Banashankari II Stage is identified with this famous Balaji temple. An attractive gopuram beckons the visitor. The image of Lord Balaji appears to be a replica of the idol at Tirumala. Vinayaka and Alamelumanga Thayar are enshrined on either side of the sanctum. Navagrahas and Hanuman have separate shrines. Vaikunta Ekadasi and Saturdays attract a large number of devotees. Thirukalyana Seva is an important offering. Banashankari temple: The Devi shrine at the southern limits of Bangalore is much sought after by devotees. The Goddess is seated on a Lion. Hundreds of people congregate here for the Raahukaala puja on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Srinivasa Prasanna Venkataramanaswamy temple: The Wodeyar rulers built this Vishnu temple nearly 300 years ago. It is situated near Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace. Sri Dharmarayaswamy temple: It is a Dravidian-style shrine situated at Nagarathpet. There are three towers. In the sanctum, Dharmaraya, Krishna, Arjuna, Draupadi and Bhima are worshipped. Karaga festival is celebrated during March-April. Karaga, an earthen pot symbolising Shakti, is taken out in a spectacular procession to the Sampangi Tank on the night of Chaitra Poornima. Other shrines: Sri. Subramanya and Devi Kanyaka Parameswari temples at Sajjan Rao Circle, Kaadu Mallikarjunaswamy and Venugopala Krishnaswamy shrines at Malleswaram; Someshwara and Subramanya temples at Ulsoor; Chinmaya Mission's Sri Krishna temple at Indirangar, ISKCON's Sri Radha Krishnachandra temple at Magadi Road and Sri Anjaneya temples at Mahalakshmi Layout and Banaswadi. Around Bangalore Kolar (65 km): The Kolaramma temple was built during the pre-Chola period and renovated subsequently. A holy stream called Antaragange flows nearby. Sri Neelakanteshwara temple is situated at the foothills. Other shrines: Temples of Ganesha and Someshwara at Kurudumale (12 km); Anjaneya temple at Mulbagal (29 km); Virupaksha temple (5 km from Mulbagal); Rameshwara temple at Avani (13 km from Mulbagal); Shankaranarayana temple at Malur (32 km) and Markandeshwara temple on Vokkalery hill; ; Anjaneya temple at Tekal; Venkataramanaswamy temple at Guttahalli on the banks of river Palar; Chandeshwari temple at Srinivaspur (24 km from Kolar) known for the figures of Saptamatrika; Chandramouleeswara temple at Chintamani (32 km from Kolar); Veerabhadra and Channakeshava temples at Chikballapur (76 km from Kolar). Sivaganga (60 km): This holy hill (altitude 5000 feet) near Tumkur has been a popular pilgrim spot.The hill appears to a viewer as a huge Nandi, Ganesha or Lingam in different angles. Sri Gangadheeswar'a temple is situated inside a cave-like structure. When ghee is offered during abhisheka, it turns butter. This is a rare phenomenon. This butter is considered to possess medicinal properties.   Goddess Honnadevi, standing on Rakta Beejasura, is in another shrine. Adi Sankara had installed a Sri Chakram in front of the Devi. Sapta Mathas, Chandikeswara, Dikbalakas and Navagrahas have separate shrines. On top of the hill, there is a shrine for Sri Virupaksheswara inside a cave with a perennial spring, known as Patala Ganga or Olakkal T'heertham. On Makara Sankranti day, Ganga is believed to worship Siva in the form of rain. In Hebbur (Tumkur taluk), there is a shrine dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi Sharadambal. Devarayanadurga (79 km): This hill temple near Tumkur is dedicated to Narasimha, installed by Dhurvasa. There are separate shrines for Lakshmi Devi, Dhurvasa and Sri Ramanuja. Opposite to this hill there is another shrine of Narasimhaswamy, whose image was installed byBrahma. Ghati Subramanya (52 km): The temple of Lord Subramanya (17 km from Dodaballapur) is visited by thousands of pilgrims round the year. Nandi Hills (60 km): This is a popular hill resort situated at an altitude of 1,478 metres. Rivers Pennar, Palar and Arkavati originate here. There is a temple of Yoga Nandiswara. At the Nandi town at the foot of the hill, there is a shrine of Bhoganandiswara. Yediyur (52 km from Tumkur): Sri Siddhaligeswara temple. The annual car festival during March-April is largely attended by devotees.