Talakadu — October 2015

Last year my hosts in Bangalore took me on a great trip south to Talakadu (or Talakad). Talakadu is a small town about 87 miles (140 kilometers) south of Bangalore and about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Mysore. From Bangalore, you take the Kanakapura road south, go well beyond Kanakapura and well into the countryside. It is a pleasant drive.

Talakadu is famous for its temples, and for the temples being buried in the sand. In a conflict in the early 17th century, a curse was put on Talakadu that led to it being covered in sand. Wikipedia covers it well as does this story from the Deccan Herald.

Several of the temples have been excavated from the sand. These are actively used for worship and are being maintained and restored. This is the Sri Vaidhyanatheshwara Temple.

A wide view of Sri Vaidhyanatheshwara Temple

A wide view of Sri Vaidhyanatheshwara Temple

Here is another view. The lighter colored carving is new work replacing stone that had worn away in the intervening years. I have been unable to find the date when these temples were originally built.

The lighter stone is new construction replacing worn away stone

The lighter stone is new construction replacing worn away stone

The interior at the back is beautifully carved and decorated.

The interior is quite pretty

The interior is quite pretty

The raised area on the right has small rooms at the back. Perhaps sleeping areas for monks.

Beautifully carved columns in the back of the temple

Beautifully carved columns in the back of the temple

The bees enjoy the temple too.

Some bees have moved in

Some bees have moved in

Remarkable carvings are all over the temple.

A snake captured

A snake captured

More carving on the exterior of the temple

More carving on the exterior of the temple

Intricate carving on the temple

Intricate carving on the temple

This carving is near the active worshiping area of the temple. People touch the carvings.

Intricate carving on the active temple

Intricate carving on the active temple

Note that the front of the person looks like an animal on closer inspection. Many of the carvings look like multiple images depending on what part of the image you cover.

Note the face of an animal on the front of the statue

Note the face of an animal on the front of the statue

Elephant carving on the temple

Elephant carving on the temple

Amazing detail on the rain water drains.

Water drains are all around the temple

Water drains are all around the temple

These are carved stone interlocking rings.

The last two remaining stone rings on the temple

The last two remaining stone rings on the temple

Eucalyptus have moved into the area.

Eucalyptus on the sands

Eucalyptus on the sands

This is the Sri Keerthinarayana Temple which has undergone extensive renovation.

Sri Keerthinarayana Temple with extensivce reconstruction visible

Sri Keerthinarayana Temple with extensivce reconstruction visible

The entrance to the Sri Keerthinarayana Temple

The entrance to the Sri Keerthinarayana Temple

The area around Talakadu is quite lush. These pictures were taken in the fall after the monsoon.

Rice fields near Talakadu south of Bangalore

Rice fields near Talakadu south of Bangalore

We stopped for lunch at a the Jaladhama Back Water Holiday Resort on the Kaveri River. You take a boat across the river to reach the resort.

The Kaveri River a few miles from Talakadu

The Kaveri River a few miles from Talakadu

The river is calm and wide as this is part of a reservoir along the river.

This part of the Kaveri is a reservoir

This part of the Kaveri is a reservoir

Crossing the calm reservoir of the Kaveri

Crossing the calm reservoir of the Kaveri

Looking back across the river from the Jaladhama Back Water Holiday Resort

Looking back across the river from the Jaladhama Back Water Holiday Resort