Talakad is a historical site with very interesting legends associated with it. It is situated 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 Queen Alamelamma. Srirangapatna was ruled by Sri Ranga Raya from the 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 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 led an army against the Queen. The queen drowned herself in the river Kaveri with her jewels and cursed the city of Talakad, saying it would turn to sand and the Mysore kings would fail to have heirs. The curse still hangs over 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 tourists 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 anyone interested in archaeological structures and a variety of art and sculpture.
Pathaleshwara Temple
This temple, built by a Ganga king, is among the oldest temples they constructed in Talakad. There is a Shivalingam inside the temple, and the unique thing about it is that it changes colour. It turns red at dawn, black in the afternoon, and white at night.
There are idols of many different Gods inside the temple. There is a Mandapam inside the temple that houses deities of Lord Ganesha, Lord Natraja, Lord Murugan, Goddess Manonmani, and many more.
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 dedicated 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 the Hoysala rulers, but was later excavated in 1911 and the idol of Keerthi Narayan was installed.
Tirumakudal Narsipur
This town is around 15.6km away from Talakad and is popular for its ancient temples. Among all the temples, the most popular one is the Gunja Narsimha Temple. This temple follows the Dravidian style of architecture. This temple is a pilgrimage centre 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 near 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 feature beautiful wall carvings and paintings depicting scenes from Indian mythology.
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 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 to Mysore and then further plan the journey. Bus transportation is available in large numbers to take you from your origin to your 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
