A toy story: wooden toys of Channapatna, Karnataka
“Welcome to the Land of Toys” says the green signboard as you drive down to Channapatna on the Mysore-Bengaluru highway. Located about 60 km from Bengaluru, the town is also…
Pattadakal and Badami: Evolution of Chalukyan temple architecture
The exquisite temples of Pattadakal and Badami in the southern state of Karnataka are yet another illustration of the rich and unique heritage of India. Located less than 500 km…
Poetry on stone: Sculptural magnificence of the temples of Halebid & Belur
South India’s 4,000-year-old history has witnessed the rise and fall of various powerful dynasties including the Pallavas, Cholas, Cheras and Hoysalas. Many of these rulers built elaborate temples that were…
Srirangapatnam: slice of royalty with the all pervading spirit of Tipu Sultan
Located about 25 km from Mysore is the bustling town of Srirangapatna or Srirangapatnam. Apart from being a popular pilgrimage destination, the town of Srirangapatna boasts of a rich past.…
Mammoth and monumental: Gommateshvara (Bahubali) at Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola town and Jainism Nestled between the Indragiri and Chandragiri hills, Shravanabelagola in Karnataka is one of the oldest and most significant Jain pilgrimage centers in India. Dating all the…
Five reasons why a trip aboard Karnataka’s Golden Chariot is a journey of a lifetime
Life is like a journey, taken on a train. With a pair of travelers at each windowpane. I may sit beside you all the journey through, Or I may sit…
Keladi Rameshwara Temple: of timeless art and architecture
The history of South India dates back over 4000 years and this period saw the rise and fall of multiple dynasties like the Cholas, Cheras, Pallavas, Pandyas etc. Most of…
Mysuru off the beaten track- Part II: Of museums and spirituality
Mysuru as mentioned in this post is a city of many facets. Though it is the second largest and populous city of Karnataka, it is a city with oodles of…
Nageshvara-Chennakeshava temple: monumental twin temples of Mosale
While the magnificence and ornate architecture of the Hoysala temples is, usually, synonomous with the temples of Belur and Halebidu, a visit to the sleepy hamlet of Mosale proved me…
Rosary Church, Shettihalli: a journey back in time.
A recent visit to Hassan took us to one of the most stunning places I have visited of late. About 25 km from Hassan, on the Hassan-Shettihalli Road, lies the…