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Talakadu Panchalinga Temples

Talakadu, Mysuru, Karnataka
Lord Shiva
More in Karnataka

Type

Hindu Temple

Deity

Lord Shiva

Pincode

571164

Five ancient Shiva temples (Panchalinga — Vaidyanatha, Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Kirtinarayana) half-buried in sand dunes beside the Cauvery river — an extraordinary and eerie landscape. The famous Panchaling Darshana (viewing all five) once in 12 years during the Teerthavari festival draws 3 million pilgrims.

History & Significance

History

Talakadu was the capital of the Western Gangas and a prosperous temple city until the 15th century, when the queen of Mysore supposedly cursed the city to be swallowed by sand. Today the temples emerge partially from shifting sands and are uncovered during the Teerthavari festival (once every 12 years).

Plan Your Circuit

Nearby Temples

Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.

Ranganatha

A Vishnu temple in the Biligiri Rangana Hills (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary at an elevation of 1,700 metres — where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet. 'Biligiri' means 'white rock' in Kannada — the rock formation near the temple glows white in evening light. The scenic hill drive through the tiger reserve is an experience in itself.

Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple

Biligiri Rangana Hills, Karnataka28 km
Lord Ranganatha

Shiva

One of the most important Shiva temples in Karnataka, located on the banks of the Kabini river. Lord Srikanteshwara (Shiva with a blue throat) is the tutelary deity of the Mysuru region. Famous for the Nanjangud Banana (Nanjangud Rasabale), a GI-tagged rare variety of banana grown only near the temple.

Nanjangud Srikanteshwara Temple

Nanjangud, Karnataka38 km
Lord Shiva
Chamundeshwari Temple

A hilltop shrine atop Chamundi Hills overlooking Mysuru, dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the fierce form of Durga said to have slain the buffalo-demon Mahishasura nearby. A giant statue of the demon stands near the temple, and the thousand-step stone stairway up the hill passes a monolithic Nandi bull carved from a single rock.

Photo: Wikipedia "Chamundeshwari Temple" — CC-licensed via Wikimedia Commons

Chamundeshwari Temple

Mysuru, Karnataka41 km
Goddess Chamundeshwari

Ranganatha

A Vishnu temple on the historic island of Srirangapatna — the former capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan, despite being Muslim, was a devotee of this temple and gifted it precious jewels. The site also has Tipu's summer palace and the place where he fell in battle (1799).

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Srirangapatna

Srirangapatna, Karnataka44 km
Lord Ranganatha