Nagarjunakonda and Ethipothla Falls

NargarjunaKonda-named after the famous Buddhist monk Nargujana is a island situated at  about 130 kms for Hyderabad. Reachable by a launch from the main land (always overloaded, hats off to Indian tourists to undertake journey, I felt the same when I toured Sikkim, The roads in such bad shape add  rain to it- all the same we  go ahead) another one hour journey, but worth every bit of it. This area is is purported to be a big learning center for Buddhist studies and ruled by  Ikshvaku  dynasty.

The construction of the dam submerged the valley along with many of the ancient sites. But then the authorities (ASI) have done a fantastic job in relocating many of the ancient sites to this island. Much Like Abu Simbel in Egypt. The museum  here is a treasure house of artifacts belonging to Hindu, Buddhist and Jain. Some of the Buddhist sculptures thought are out of the world. The along with the many other monument on the island make it a worth wile visit

The photographs clockwise show a ancient cyst burial site , the sacrificial spot where the aAshwamedha Yagana is performed, one of the many remains of the Vihara and a Hindu temple.

This is an interesting pond in the shape of a tortoise called Kurma Chiti the spot where the horse was sacrificed.

The Buddha stands in one of the open viharas as majestic one can imagine

And just a hours drive from this place is the Ethipothla falls-The board here says " the rain water of Nallmallai hill travels underground and emerges here and falls down the gorge....." A nice enjoyable place with the Banjaras dancing as the twilight falls........

And the falls is illuminated

       

Glimpses of Hyderabad

Got to spend some time in Hyderabad and get some lovely pictures
 Taramati Baradari 

The famed Numaish (Exhibition) of Hyderabad happens in December-January every year

The Charminar Ofcourse

The Mecca Masjid just across the Charminar

The Chowmohalla Palace : Possibly not known much-but is a treasure house-got to see a custom built Royce

The  sound and light show at Golconda-A must witness event

Temples of Gadag_Trikuteshwara Temple

The Trikuteshwara Temple complex in the heart of Gadag town is a architectural marvel of the Kalayani Chalukays. No where have I seen such marvelous Pillars. The Complex has the Trikuteshwara temple dedicated to Shiva and (daily workship is on here) the marvelous Saraswathi temple which is maintained by the ASI

The Temple complex

The Saraswathi Temple-each pillar is unique

View of the the famed square pillars so intricately carved and  exquisite I am yet to see anything comparable

The Kalayni Chalukya Imprint seen clearly

Temples of Gadag_Laksmeshwar

About 50 kms for Gadag lies Laksmeshwar-There are many temples, Basidi and a Muslim shrine and Masjid. The most famous and majestic is the Someshwara temple.  The precincts of this temple is as large as a small fort, surrounded by a high walled structure.  The mark of the chalukayas is all over, but I wonder if it is influenced by the Hoysala particularly the shape of sanctun santoruim.

Precincts of the temple-the corridors- A huge well

Uniqueness of this temple is the idol of shiva and parvati riding a bull. On the left of the photographs is a mirror which shows the reflection of Parvati on the bull in a orange dress

The Jumma Masjid built by the Bijapur sultans

Temples of Gadag_LAKKUNDI

Gadag-A district  endowed with many unique temples and architecture which I learn is  called the Gadag architecture or the western chalukyan architecture. I visited quite a few in this district and many more on the anvil. 

The first and the most beautiful are the monuments in Lakkundi. Situated about 12 kms from Gadag, a small town, boasts of many temples-more than 50, only a few have been restored by the ASI and they are truly master pieces. A museum maintained by ASI houses  many sculptures picked up in the vicinity of the town.

The Brama Jinalya

This headless image of a Thirthankara stands etched in time

The Kasi Vishweshwara temple -Probably unique clubbed to it is the Surya Temple. Richly decorated with tales form Mahabharata. Notice the architecture-Unlike the sand stones of Badami, Aihole , probably is the locally available stone and inspired by the north Indian architecture perfected by the earlier Chalukaians.

Classic view of the Surya temple from both sides 

 

The beautiful pillared Nanneshwara Temple seen across the road

This is a beautifully tank Bhavi-never seen a tank this beautiful laid out in the precints of  the mannikeshwara temple.

A delight to sit on the steps and marvel the skills of the  artisans 

Balligavi

All along the way Shikaripur in Shimoga district we see board proclaiming it as the land of sharana-meaning many veerashiva saints were born here and Just before Balligavi lies Ududati or Udugani-the birth place of one of the greatest women of our land-Akka Mahadevi. A prominent saint of veerashaivim along with Shri. Basavanna, she probably was the only women to  throw away her clothes. To set foot on this ground, where she was born was a wonderful. A temple stands at this location. 

Balligavi is about 12 kms from Shikaripura  and very close to the Kadamba capital Banavasi.   An area rich with history is aslo purported to be the birth place of the Hoysala queen Shantala.

The Kedarareshwara temple- a beautiful piece of architecture, the guide here explains the foundation to have been laid by the western Chalukyas and the super structure by the Hoysalas.

 The  annual festival on

The resplendent emblem of Hoysala


The ceremonial car-decorated and pulled along the streets of the village once a year

In the vicinity of this village there are supposed to be many other temples in ruins, A museum adjacent stores the sculptures found

This is the Bherundeshwara temple situated right in the centre of the village. Said to have been erected by a  General of the Chalukya, its a tough task to photograph the sculpture inside the locked doors, but is one of the best I have seen. The lower part are the legs of a human and the upper past that of the ferocious double headed bird swalloing humans in its huge beaks turned away in the opposite direction. The anger on the face of the bird, humans stuffed in the mouth and holding more in the hands,I know not the significance of this ferociousness.

Monuments of Ikkeri and Keldi

Sagar town in Shimoga District can be an ideal base to visit many a tourist site-Jog falls being  prominent on the list. Among the many historic monuments, I could though manage Ikkeri and Keldi. Sagar itself is a beautiful town - a tinge urbane and the idyllic slow pace of a village. This was one place I felt would be ideal to settle down .

Ikkeri is only a few km away from Sagara and the Prominent among the Keldi Nayakas who  ruled from Ikkeri is Rani Chennama, who is said to  have given shelter to for a long time to Shivaji's son Rajaram

Aghoreshwar Temple Ikkeri

A first look at the mantap, would make believe it to be mausoleum of a Muslim saint, but then here is Nandi - facing Shiva as usual. This explains the influence of the Muslim architecture which was widely adopted by the later Vijayanagar kings and their feudals.

Spectacular carving outside and inside especially in the sanctum sanatorium  is a treat to see.                                                                                                                                                      

The complex has a couple of smaller shrines  and is  littered with many  ruined sculptures. The best is this  one, Beautiful carved sandals is probably an indication to the beauty of the sculptures had it survived. I wonder who could these three scandal represent

On the other side of Sagar, again a few km away is Keldi. The Nayaka ruled from here, before they shifted their capital to Ikkeri.

Rameshwara temple at Keladi- The miniature temples carved on the wall - a style of  kalyani chalukyas?   

The best thing here is the mythical two headed bird called Gandaberunda in kannada on the ceiling  (also forms a part of the  official emblem of Karnataka State). What could be the significance of the ferocious bird ?-clutching elephants in its claws and lions in its beak .

Saundatti

Saundatti-famous for the Renuka Yellama temple boast of a fort too. I would look at the imposing bastion but could never make it to the  fort. This time I made sure to visit.  th a temple inside.  Built by Jayappa Naik in the 16th century and later conquered by Hyder ali, the fort stands in good shape though some canon shot of the war could be seen along the walls.

The Stalls at the temple

Well this should be a easy guess



Enroute to savadatti is this dam site Naviltheertha. A nice picnic place 

Kittur Rani Chennamma Memorial, Bailhongal

Search for some sites connected to history and you are sure to  get it.  Bailhongal is one such town in Belgaum District. Heart swells with pride by the mention of the warrior queen Kittur Rani Chennama, who died fighting the British. Here in Bailhongal she was imprisoned and killed. Setting my foot on this hallowed grounds of her samadhi was a heart warming experience.

Some ancient history too at Bailhongal, Ramalingaeshwara temple, Simple in architecture houses many ancient inscription,



A municipal water tank circa 1950   

A vast campus of the  Agriculture Research Centre here grows variety of crops for research