Located in the Tumkur district of Karnataka, Devarayanadurga is a popular temple town. Perched at a height of about 3950 feet above sea level, this one forms for an engaging day trip from Bangalore. The place, whose name translates into “Fort of the Gods”, is home to a number of temples, hillocks and a wide… Continue reading Photoessay: The temple town and hills of Devarayanadurga
Located about 150 km from Bangalore, Melkote also spelt Melukote is one of Karnataka’s hidden gems. Also known as Thirunarayanapuram, the town is perched on a hill which is called Yaadavagiri. A popular piligrimage centre, the town is famous for its temples dating back to the Hoysala period. One of the main temples of Melkote is… Continue reading Photoessay: Rustic Charm and Streetscapes – around the sacred town of Melkote, Karnataka
Located about 140 km from Bangalore and 45 km from Mysore, Talakad (also called Talakadu) is a popular tourist and pilgrimage center. A historic site associated with a rather interesting mythical tale, Talakad was once home to about 30 temples most of which have been buried under sand today. The main temples of Talakad are the the… Continue reading Photoessay: Sri Vaidyanatheswara Temple, Talakad, Karnataka
There is no denying the fact that the Hoysala rulers who ruled South India including Karnataka from the 10th century to 14th century AD, were great patrons of art and architecture. The fine temples in the state of Karnataka are testimony to this fact. An example of brilliant craftsmanship, the level of structural and sculptural… Continue reading Panchalingeshwara temple, Govindanahalli, Karnataka
Driving through the busy Bangalore Mysore highway, it is common for one to encounter several interesting sights spanning history, architecture, craft, culture and religion. The region is famous for several ancient temples dedicated to forms of Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Hanuman. The Aprameya Swamy Temple located in the little village of Doddamallur in Channapatna taluk… Continue reading Photo essay: Aprameya Swamy Temple, Doddamallur, Channapatna
As mentioned in my previous posts, visiting flower markets in any city is my favourite and always on my ‘to do’ list. Last month, I decided to visit the flower market in namma Bangalore, as it was quite sometime since I visited last. Well, I was in for a pleasant surprise as the market had… Continue reading Photo essay: Bengaluru flower market, K R Market
“When we perform in an all women squad, I always essay the role of ‘Bhima’” said Gouramma an established leather puppet artist from a remote village in Ramnagar in Karnataka. The glint of pride in her voice was unmissable as she narrates how this art has been an integral part of her life. Her parents… Continue reading Togalu Gombeyata: traditional form of puppetry – of art, drama and song
As mentioned in several of my earlier posts, India is a treasure trove of magnificent temples and ancient monuments. There are several such ‘hidden gems‘ in the form of beautiful, ornate temples dating back centuries in and around the bustling IT city of Bengaluru. Yet another addition to this wonderful list is the Ramalingeshwara group of… Continue reading Photo essay: Ramalingeshwara group of temples, Avani
Picture this: lush greenery, meandering roads lined with the prettiest of flowers, unending carpets of coffee and verdant hills playing peek-a-boo with fleeting clouds. Sounds like paradise on earth? Well, this is Coorg aka Kodagu for you. At an altitude of 1525 meters and a distance of 270 km from Bangalore, it is the most… Continue reading Charismatic Coorg: of Cauvery, coffee and culture
Located about 20 kilometers from Kundapur and just about 8 km from the temple town of Barkur is a rare temple, the Nandikeshwara temple of Mekekattu . Legend has it that this temple located near Saibre katte in Shiriyara village was built by Parashurama and dates back to over 1000 years. Another theory says that the… Continue reading Mekkikattu Nandikeshwara Temple: worshipping the holy bull
