Talakad

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  ?Talakad
Karnataka • India
Map indicating the location of Talakad
Thumbnail map of India with Karnataka highlighted
Location of Talakad
Coordinates: 12°13′N 77°02′E / 12.22, 77.03
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation
• 700 m (2,297 ft)
District(s) Mysore district

Coordinates: 12°13′N 77°02′E / 12.22, 77.03

Talakad(also known as Talakadu) (Kannada:ತಲಕಾಡು) is a town on the left bank of the Kaveri river at a spot where the river makes a sharp bend. It is 45 km from Mysore and 185 km from Bangalore in Karnataka, India. A historic site, Talakad once had over 30 temples that today are buried in sand. Now it is a scenic and spiritual pilgrimage center.[1] Here the eastward flowing Kaveri river changes course and seems magnificiently vast as here the sand on its banks spreads over a wide area.[2]

Keethinarayana temple, Mysore district
Keethinarayana temple, Mysore district

Contents

[edit] History

The region of Karnataka is rich in the legacy of magnificent architecture left by different ruling dynasties over the centuries. The history of the ancient temple city of Talakad, a pilgrimage site, has become lost in time. The illustrious and powerful Western Gangas ruled from 350 to 1050 AD until they were overthrown by the Cholas in the 11th century.[1] Talakad came under the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century, followed by the powerful Vijayanagara Kingdom rulers and the Maharajas of Mysore.[3]

Sculpture from Talakadu Lord Shiva Temple
Sculpture from Talakadu Lord Shiva Temple

The Hoysala ruler, Vishnuvardhana, conquered the Gangas and Talakad. He built the impressive Vijayanarayana Chennakesava Temple at Belur.[4]

[edit] Temples

At Talakad sand covers the temples. Stone pillars, square at the base and made to fit into a wheel below the abacus, lie scattered about.[1] Among the temples of Talakad, the Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vaidyanathee-shwara and Mallikarjuna temples, the five Lingams believed to represent the five faces of Shiva, form the Pancha pathi and have become famous.[3].[5] In honour of these five Shiva temples, a fair is held once every 12 years called Panchalinga Darshana, last held in 2006. The Panchalinga Darshana is held on a new moon day in the month of Karthika when two stars conjoin, the stars of Khuha Yoga and Vishaka.

Temple Recovered from Sand Dunes at Talakadu
Temple Recovered from Sand Dunes at Talakadu

There is also a Vishnu temple, Keerthinarayana.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Temple tales. Deccan Herald. Retrieved on 2006-11-30.
  2. ^ Panchalinga Darshan: Sri Vaideshwara Temple. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
  3. ^ a b Talakad. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
  4. ^ Southern India - The Hoysalas. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
  5. ^ Panchalinga Darshan. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

The River Kaveri
Dams

Banasura Sagar Dam | Bangara Doddi Nala | Grand Anicut | Krishna Raja Sagara Dam | Madadkatte | Mettur Dam | Stanley Reservoir
Tributaries

Amaravati River | Arkavathy River | Bhavani River | Hemavati River | Honnuhole River | Kabini River |
Lakshmana Tirtha River | Lokapavani River | Noyyal River | Pambar River | Shimsha River
Cities and Towns

Karikal | Kodagu | Kollidam | Kushalanagara | Nagapattinam | Poompuhar | Srirangam | Srirangapatna | Talakad | Talakaveri | Thanjavur | Tiruchirapalli
Physical Features

Bay of Bengal | Deccan plateau | Hogenakal Falls | Shivanasamudra Falls | Western Ghats
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