Talakad is a historical site with very interesting legends associated with it. It is situated at a distance of 180 km from Bangalore and 45 km from Mysore. It is located in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka.
The legend of Talakad
The temples here are covered with sand. It is said that the city was cursed by a Queen Alamelamma. Srirangapatna was ruled by Sri Ranga Raya from Vijayanagar family. The king got afflicted with an incurable disease and went to the temple of Vaidyesvara in Talakad leaving the responsibilities on her wife, Queen Alamelamma.
On hearing that her husband was near to death, she left for Talakad to meet him and handed over the responsibilities to Raja Wodeyar of Mysore. The wicked king always wanted to capture the jewels and the property of Srirangapatna and therefore trolled an army against the Queen. The queen drowned herself with her jewels in the river Kaveri and cursed the city of Talakad that it will turn into sand and Mysore kings will fail to have their heirs. The curse is still levied on this city.
Delightful location for tourist
There are many beautiful temples in this city which makes it a prime location for tourists. The best time to visit this place is from September to February. The amazing story behind the fact that the city is submerged in sand makes tourist more curious about this cursed city.
Must visit places in and around Talakad
Talakad is a city of temples. This place is a must visit for all those who possess an interest in archaeological structures and varied forms of art and sculpture.
Pathaleshwara Temple
This temple was built by the Ganga king and is among the oldest temples constructed by them in Talakad. There is a Shivalingam inside the temple and the unique thing about this Shivalingam is that it changes colors. It becomes red at dawn and turns to black in the afternoon and during the night the color changes to white.
There are idols of many different Gods inside the temple. There is a Mandapam built inside the temple that has deities of Lord Ganesha, Lord Natraja, Lord Murugan, Goddess Manonmani and many more.
Stone vessel in Vaidyeshvara temple, Talakad. Image courtesy Harijibhv
Arkeshwara Temple
There is a vaastu yantram attached to a rock at the entrance of the temple. There is an odd belief that cows suffering from any disease can be cured if tied to that rock. The temple possesses idols of Durgai and Bhairavar. Abhayangara Lingam can also be seen in the temple.
Maruleshwara Temple
This temple is known for the huge Shivalingam present inside. This temple was also built by the Ganga kings. There are many different idols present in the Mandapam namely Ganapathi, Surya,Veerabhadrar, Maheshwara and many others.
Keerthi Narayana Temple
Keerthi Narayana Temple is a dedication to Lord Vishnu. The temple has a 9ft long statue of Lord Vishnu. Apart from Keerthi Narayan’s statue, there are idols of many other Gods inside the temple. It is a very old temple which was first built by Hoysala rulers, but was later excavated in 1911 and idol of Keerthi Narayan was installed.
Tirumakudal Narsipur
This town is around 15.6km away from Talakad and is popular for ancient temples. Among all the temples, the most popular one is the Gunja Narsimha Temple. This temple follows the Dravadian style of architecture. This temple is a pilgrim center for the devotees.
Mallikarjuna Temple
The temple is famous for the lingam of Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Brahmaraambigai. There are foot imprints on the lingam which are believed to be of Kaamadhenu. Deities of many other Gods can be seen here. There is an agricultural fair organized every year, which stretches over a week.
This village is situated nearby Talakad on the banks of the river Kaveri. There are two renowned temples namely Channakeshava Temple and Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple constructed in 1268 and 1269 respectively. Both the temples were constructed during the reign of Hoysala Dynasty. These temples depict beautiful carvings on walls and paintings portraying the incidents from Indian mythology.
Vaidyeshvara Temple (1000 AD) at Talakad. Image courtesy Dinesh Kannambadi
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How to reach Talakad
Reaching Talakad is an effortless journey. Here is how you can reach Talakad and enjoy your vacation.
By air
There is no domestic airport in here. The nearest airport is in Mysore. One can easily fly to Mysore as it is connected to major cities in India. The place is around 60 km away from Mysore. There are public and private buses available from here to Talakad. The journey is painless and comfortable.
By rail
There is no direct train to Talakad. One needs to come via train till Mysore and then further plan the journey. Bus transportation is available in huge quantity to take you from your source to the destination.
By road
Travelling via bus to Talakad is the only option to reach here. The route that can be followed is travelling to T.N. Pura which is 25 km away from Mysore and then taking a bus to Talakad via Hemmige. You can also book a bus journey to Talakad from Mysore or Bangalore.
Also See
Temples and sightseeing in Talakad
History and Dynasties of Karnataka