Melkote - Talakad - Shivanasamudra

Trip members: Karthik, Prem, Gopu and Sai Praveen
Trip date: 25 and 26 August 2017
Road Trip Plan : Chennai - Hosur - Mandya - Srirangapatna - Melkote - Talakad - Shivanasamudra - Hosur - Chennai

Day-1

We started by car around 06:45. The plan was to stay in Srirangapatna one night and cover Melkote - Talakad - Shivanasamudra. We stopped at Hotel Sakthi Ganapathi. This is near Kanchipuram junction road. They serve South India food - very simple and delicious Idli, dosas, pongal, vada, pooris. We had breakfast here around 8 AM. It took longer time than expected as it was drizzling and quite badly maintained roads in the junction of Sriperumpudur and also on NH around Kanchipuram.

The whole route - stretch of NH 48 from Ranipet to Hosur is so smooth and cruising is possible. We crossed Krishnagiri and stopped for a tea break. We crossed Hosur around 11:45 AM and got into Mysore road via NICE road. The stretch of Mysore road is curvy, yet good to drive. There would be quite a number of speed brakers as we go through many towns and villages. We stopped at Hotel Haripriya at Mandya for lunch. The lunch was for Rs.72/- quite simple and typical Karnatak lunch. The masala vadai was piping hot and yummy with lots of onions and garlic.

We had booked Hotel Mayura Riverview in Srirangapatna. We reached the hotel by 2:30 and checked in. Hotel Mayura Riverview is one of the best locations a resort can be in. Our rooms were hardly 20m from the rich and beautiful Cauvery river. The view from the room was very serene and scenic. Anyone travelling around Mysore - please do visit this place - overnight stay is excellent. Atleast drop by the restaurant for a tea and you will cherish to moments. They also have Theppam ride - Rs.100 per person for 10-15 minutes ride in Cauvery.

We started to Melkote by 15:30. Its 50 kms from Srirangapatna to Melkote. Melkote is a historical town hosting few temples on a small hill. It is also one of the famous film shooting spots. The road leading to this remote location is curvy single road and mostly good roads. There are quite a number of speed brakers without any signs or paints on it. Take care while driving. We reached around 16:30.

The most famous spot is Raya Gopura. This is on top of the hillock. The Raya Gopura has 4 artistic pillars. One has to climb few steps - around 40-50 and see this place. The place offers great views of the surrounding location. Famous films shot in this location are Padayappa, Linga, Guru and many more. We spent around 45 minutes here.

On the way from Raja Gopura to Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, there is a twin Pushkarani - It is called Akka-Thangiyara kola - sisters. One has sweet water - edible and believed to be blessed while the other is quite slushy. The tanks have well laid beautiful steps - awesome place for photography.

We then visited Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple. The temple is dedicated to Cheluva-Narayana Swamy - Lord Vishnu. The temple has very artistic pillars. One pillar has all Gods inscribed on it, just behind the Garbhakriha and if performed pradakshinams, it is believed we go around the world. The other main sanctums are Goddess Nachiyar, Anjenaya and Ramanujar. We spent around 45 mins in the temple.

We reached back the resort by 7 PM and spent the evening by the banks of Cauvery. The dinner at KSTDC restaurant was good, nominal and tasty. We had our legs dipped in chill water on the banks of Cauvery before we retired for the day.

Day-2

As any trip, the day started around 6:30. After check-out, we were hungry and had breakfast at Hotel Ariyaas. The idlies, masala dosas, vada were good. The service was also quite good. This is just opposite to the road leading to KSTDC Mayura Riverview.

We set directions to Talakad. Talakad is a desert-like town on banks of Cauvery. A historic site, Talakad once had over 30 temples that today are buried in sand. Now it is a scenic and spiritual pilgrimage centre. Here the eastward flowing Cauvery river changes course and seems magnificently vast as here the sand on its banks spreads over a wide area. Talakad is known for five temples of the "Panchalinga Darshana".

The opportunity to visit all five Shiva temples in one auspicious day comes around once every twelve years. The five temples are thought to represent the five different faces or avatars of Lord Shiva. The temples are Sri Vaidyanatheshwara, Sri Maruleshwara, Sri Muduhuthore Mallikarjuneshwara, Sri Arakeshwara and Sri Pathaleshwara temples. The old city Talkad is completely buried beneath the hills of sand. More than thirty temples, it is stated, are beneath the sand, but the Kírti Narayana temlpe has been successfully excavated. The most imposing temple left uncovered by the sand is that of Vidyanatheshwara temple.

Sri Muduhuthore Mallikarjuneshwara is quite outside Talakad and we missed directions for it and so as unable to visit the temple.

The parking area is closer to Sri Vaidyanatheshwara temple. After visiting this temple, one needs to walk around for 2 other Linga temples - Sri Pathaleshwara and Sri Maruleshwara. We need to climb up paths in sand dunes - path is covered with shelters and walking on the sand would be difficult for elders and differently-abled. Other temples in this route are the stunning temple of Kirthi Narayana and Chowdeeswari amman temple.

Sri Vaidyanatheshwara temple is the largest of the four Linga temples we visited. The place is very serene and quite. We can see that the Nandhi is mounted on a height atop of a mandapa facing the gopuram of the temple. The temple has some good sculptures - prominently the stone rings hanging in one corner of the temple.

Enroute to climb the sand dunes to other temples, is located Veerabhadra Swamy temple. The temple is considered to be a locally significant.

Sri Pathaleshwara temple and Maruleshwara temple are excavated from sand dunes - they are around 25-30 feet deep in the sand dunes. It takes 10-12 minutes to reach this temple. From here, the Maruleshwara temple is around 400m on the sand dunes. The Maruleshwara temple hosts a smoking wood, upon which pilgrims pray and put a powder made out of 5 trees, sandal and sambrani.

Sri Pathaleshwara temple

On the way to Maruleshwara temple from Pathaleshwara temple, one can get down the sand dunes to visit Kirthinarayan temple or from the front side near the parking area. Kirthinarayan temple is fully excavated and restored by ASI. The artistic prakarams and pillars follow Hoysala architecture. Looks like the temple collapsed and has been restored by ASI.

The last in the route is Goddess Chowdeeswari Amman. The Goddess is well decorated and serene. The temple is located closer a Pushkarani, which is quite big and well maintained. However, all gates were closed.

We also visited Cauvery river point - a broad section of Cauvery river, where there is well organized parking slots (Rs.30/ parking fee), lots of small eateries. Lots of people take bat here and lot of small local boats - charging Rs.30 and Rs.50 per person for small and big trips.

We then started towards Shivanasamudra. On the way we located Arakeshwara temple. This temple is quite isolated from Talakad - The temple is quite small but serene and nice. We spent around 10 minutes as the priest performed Aarthi.

Onwards to Shivanasamudra, the route was very scenic and blissful. Curvy roads, bends, green on either side and hills all around, filled lakes, narrow bridges, Cauvery river criss-crossing here and there. We spotted a place with beautiful view where Shivanasamudra starts - it splits into 2 parts. An old bridge and multiple spots to enjoy grand views of Cauvery make the spot great for photography. We spent around 20 minutes here.

We then started towards Bharachukki view point. They collect Rs.20 as entrance and parking fee. The parking is well laid and has rest rooms built and small shops all around .However, beware of monkeys. The view point gives grand view the water falls. The water was quite enough to have a good pleasant view of the falls. We spent around 30 minutes here enjoying the view. As you move across the view point, you can get nice views.

We then went through the Dargah nearby entrance of Barachukki falls towards the hydroelectric powerplant. This place also offers nice views. One can see the bigger part of Bharachukki falls quite closeby from this location. Though fenced, do take care as the edges are very steep.

Back as per plan to visit Gaganachukki. we stopped to visit Madhya Ranga temple. Lord Ranganthar is the primary God here and we waited for 10 minutes to have dharshan as pooja was underway. We had an excellent dharshan in this ancient temple. The Lord is in reclining position. We also had Annadhana food at the temple - rice, sambhar, kesari and panchamirtham. It was 13:45 by the time we completed lunch.

We then stopped just behind the temple where river Cauvery was so vast looked like a sea. The spot was great for photographs and some were also taking bath. After spending 20-30 minutes here, we decided to drive back to Chennai.

We took the route of Kanakapura - NICE road, Hosur and to Chennai. We stopped by inbetween for sort breaks and for dinner near Vellore at Gayathri Aryaas. We reached back Chennai around 11 PM amidst rain in Chennai.

Tripmeter in 2 days - 1076 kms !