Talakadu is about 50kms from #Mysore, #Karnataka. TALAKADU, the erstwhile capital of the Ganga Dynasty (350-999 CE), once a flourishing city was ruled and conquered over by many dynasties - but now it is a lost forgotten town partially buried under the sands. Among the temples of Talakadu, the #Pathaleshwara, #Maruleshwara, #Arkeshwara, #Vaidyanatheshwara and #Mallikarjuna temples, the five Lingams believed to represent the five faces of Shiva. This Vaidyanatheshwara temple (also spelt Vaidyesvara), the largest, the most intact and ornate of the group bears Ganga-Chola-Hoysala #architectural features. Its consecration is assignable to the 9th century with improvements made up to the 16th century. Since, the temple has been expanded and rebuilt over time, the architecture of #temple appears to be mixture of many #kingdoms. Two huge Dwarapalakas standing at the entrance to the main shrine welcome us. The doorways are intricately carved and the outer walls too are enriched with sculptures. The Western Gangas ruled over most part of Mysore region from Gangavadi to Kolar in the later 4th century to 1004 CE. Raja Raja Chola-I captured #Talakadu and named it ‘Rajarajapura’. After hundred years, Talakadu was captured from Cholas by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana (1111-1141CE) in the battle of Talakadu and built KEERTI NARAYANA TEMPLE in 1117 CE (according to the Historian Adam Hardy). In 1634 it was conquered by Wodeyars of Mysore, from Srī Ranga Raya, the representative of the Vijayanagara Dynasty. The Wodeyar sent his soldiers to seize the jewels of the late ruler’s widow-ALAMELAMMA. While fleeing she is supposed to have jumped into the river Cauvery, cursing the Mysore ruler to remain heirless and Talakadu be filled with Sand.

The Vaidyanatheswara temple is located in Talakad, an ancient town. It is one of the Panchalinga Sthalas, the other four being in Talakad too. It is believed that one who obtains a darshan of the five Lingas will be absolved of all sins. Suggesting to avoid the visit during summer season. It'll be too hot to walk through sand/stone by barefoot. temple was constructed by the Chola kings in the 14th century. This temple was built in the Dravidian style and has two huge Dwarapalakas standing at the entrance to the main shrine. The doorways are intricately carved and the outer walls too are covered in sculptures. It's must visit place.

This temple, which is submerged in sand now, was built under the reign of the Chola Empire in the 14th century in Dravidian style of architecture. Navaranga, the main entrance of the shrine, has two Dwarapalaka statues of vast proportions, while the doorway located to the east of the main temple is engraved ornately. The main shrine has a giant Shiva Lingam which has the face of Lord Shiva carved behind it. Statues of Parvathi, Vishnu, Alamelumanga, Shivlinga with multiple rudraksha, Kalikambal and Ganesha are placed near the Shiva Lingam. The prakara or the huge corridor that envelops the temple has Shiva Lingas in many forms. Shrines of Shanmuga, Vinayak, Chamundeswari, Chandikeswara and Manonmani are also present here. A small shrine with the idol of Nandi, the ride of Lord Shiva, is located at the zenith of the temple. It is visited by hordes of devotees during the Panchalingadarshana as it is one of the five ancient temples with the Panchalingam.

Beautiful temple, unearthed from sand dunes. There is enough parking available. Shoes can be kept in a place, safeguarded by a person. The temple was open when I visited at 10 am. There are few shops in the vicinity for emergency water and Puja items. There is not much of a crowd; some school children came to visit the places. Otherwise, a peaceful and calm place. Some other temples are also excavated. If one wants to visit those places, there is a pathway available. Be prepared to walk.

Slice of history - Marvellous Hoysala architecture with carvings all around the temple - Swayambhu linga - and an amazing calmness you can experience as you step in - watch out for carvings with multiple meanings depicted in a single sculpture - good covered parking beside the temple - easy access , barring a few steps to be considered for elders - Delight for photography enthusiasts

A similar pattern from somnathpur which is nearby close to 20 km, But comparatively smaller in overall area covered. You will have enough parking for four wheeler and two wheelers. Shoe stand is available near to entry. The temple area is well maintain and very clean. Afternoon walking may be difficult because the floor was extremely hot. There are two temple inside the premises.

This temple is the first temple out of 5 temples you can explore by walk.. This temple is easier in terms of distance as it's located rite next to the road where cars reach. For other temples like Pathaleshwara and Maraleshwara it takes some walk in the sand for at least a mile. Temple is old and feel very authentic.. the architecture matches the chola style of building... ** You get food / water rite outside this temple ** It takes not much walk compared to other temples ** Car parking available ** Washrooms available ** No Covid related tests done ** No entry fee ** Well maintained ** Average crowd even on holiday

The temples of Talakadu, situated along the serene banks of the Kaveri River in Karnataka, India, weave a narrative of spiritual richness and architectural brilliance. Renowned for their historical significance and artistic grandeur, these temples form a sacred complex that transports visitors to a bygone era. Dedicated to various deities, the Vaidyanatheshwara Temple, Maruleshwara Temple, and others showcase an exquisite blend of Dravidian and Vijayanagara architectural styles. The intricate carvings on the temple walls narrate tales from Hindu mythology, adding a mystical charm to the surroundings. Talakadu's temples are not only repositories of art but also centers of spiritual energy. The divine ambiance, heightened by the rhythmic chants and rituals, creates a sense of tranquility for worshippers and curious explorers alike. The majestic Gopurams, adorned with vibrant sculptures, stand as gateways to a sacred realm, inviting devotees to experience the divine. Surrounded by the unique phenomenon of shifting sands, the temples possess an enigmatic aura that adds to their allure. As pilgrims and tourists alike immerse themselves in the spiritual and cultural tapestry of Talakadu, these temples emerge as timeless jewels, preserving the heritage and spirituality of the region.

A beautiful temple from the Hoysaleshwara Empire. The temples have been dug up from the ground and are truly mesmerizing. I would suggest you to give this a good 2-3 hours as there are around 5 temples with at least a 1km walk between them. The temple would require you to take off your slippers and walk barefoot. It charges you 5 rupees per pair. Please visit this for sure.

This hindu temple has lot of history hidden within it... It's recognised by archeological survey of India. Built under the rule of kings. Better to take a guide who can inform all the details of the temple

There are five temples in this complex - Vaidyanatheshwara, Maraleshwara, Pathaleshwara, Chowdeshwari, and Keerthinarayana. We hired a guide for 300 rupees who took you through all five temples. This seems like a good value for a personalized tour. The guide explained the history and stories behind the various sculptures in each temple. So he provided a lot of contextual information to enhance your understanding. It was a great experience overall and the complex is worth visiting. The guide, temples, and sculptures made it an interesting and educational trip.

This Temple is one of 5 Panchalinga temples. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is 2nd destination of Panchalinga temples. It is on left side when you cross about 1 km on path of Panchalinga. The temple is as old as more than 200 years. A must visit place of Talakadu.

Temple is very beautiful and small compared to Somnath temple. Bit u can see 5 Lingas and stone Bangles on the tip of square temple. Floor of the temple is very hot from 12.30 to 4.30pm so be protective to your feet. Parking place bit small but u park ur vehicle wherever you want. Talking about lunch, there’s Udupi mess they serve you best veg plate and they serve u very sweetly. Their mess looks too small and slum type but food quality is very good.

A very good ancient temple. A must visit.

The temples in Talakad are a recently discovered and are being preserved. The Panchalinga Temple is one of them. The best part is that this ancient temple along with the others have withstood the journey of time and still give an awesome experience. You can still perform Pooja in these temples

Let me first correct the name which is really at that historical sight. It is Vaidyesvara temple. Build with architecture of Gangas, Hoysalas and cholas with sculpture of vijayanagara kingdom times. It has a huge entrance with idols of dwarapalas in main temple entrance. The garba gudi has the idol of lord which is beautiful. The temple is surrounded by many shivalinga with nandi in side. It even has Devi mandir. Do notice the carvings of various ancient design. It has good parking and environment. If you feel my review was helpful, please like it and comment. Let me know for any questions.

A mysterious place with beautiful story behind it. It was completely masked under sand and later discovered. It is believed that ‘Talakadu’ has been named after two twin brothers Tala and Kadu. A famous tale has been associated with the history of Talakad now known as Talakadu. Once they were cutting down the tree and noticing wild elephants worshiping the same tree, in which they discovered the tree having an image of Lord Shiva and then drop their axes. Worshipping the tree, wild elephants miraculously transformed into the rishis and the tree restored itself. Every one present over that place of miracle obtained moksha and the place since then are called Talakadu. Now there are two stones representing twin brothers are placed in front of Veerabadra Swamy temple.

Very ancient lord Shiva temple. People believe that if you visit the temple, you will get rid of your health problems.

Talakadu Sri Vaidhyanatheshwara Temple in Mysore District, Karnataka, India is a captivating spiritual destination. With its rich historical significance and serene surroundings, the temple offers a peaceful retreat for visitors seeking solace and a deeper connection with ancient Hindu traditions. The intricate architecture, adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures, mesmerizes visitors, transporting them to a bygone era. The temple's location along the banks of the Kaveri River adds to its charm, providing an opportunity for scenic walks and moments of contemplation. Whether you're a devout pilgrim or a curious traveler, a visit to this temple promises a harmonious blend of devotion and cultural exploration.

A must visit place. Great place with history and mythological facts attached to this place. The place has got 5 temples … three shiva temples, one ammavaru (goddess) temple and one Vishnu temple. Every temple has its importance … Vaidyanatheswara temple believed to help cure health problems, pathaleswara temple believed to get rid of Naga Dosham and shivaling would be in brown colour (unlike regular black stone), Vishnu statue is 11 feet tall and looks beautiful. You would feel divinity and pious after visit. It takes more than 1.5 hours to visit all these temples. All these temples are sunk in sand dunes of Kaveri river and excavated in 2009.

Great place with history and mythological facts attached to this place.Vaidyanatheswara temple believed to help cure health problems. This history is very intrested if you want know means you can get their guiding person. That person tell the all the story about this place.

Good place to visit if you're interested in historical monument. Not so well maintained. You might need a guide to get detailed information of the surrounding who charge you around ₹350.

Very nice place. Walking on the sand and going around the temple would be awesome

There are 5 temples of lord Shiva in thalakadu on the banks of river kaveri one among the temples is vaidyanatheswara temple which is above the ground level ,you can visit other temples here too ,all tha temple pathways to be reached by walking in sand ,worth a visit for a days trip ,careful about kids as monkeys snatch away eatables from hand.

This temple has awesome architecture and when you enter the premises it instantly gives you those postive vibes. You can park your car nearby temple there is a parking area. Nice one day trip from Bangalore. And please eat food from local mess it's highly recommended they cook some delicious food.

Beautiful temple with exortic sculptures architectures. This entire temple was filled over the sand due to extreme flood in Kaveri river.

Amazing temple and a must visit. 3 out 5 shiva temples are here with chowdeshwari temple and venkatramana temple, making it total of 5 temples in one spot. Other 2 are mallikarjuna and arekeshwara temple making it complete panchalingeshwara.

A must visit place in mysore as it carries historical story behind it. Rooftops have been setup so I felt comfortable walking in the sand . Worth of time and effort

Amazing Shiva Temple. Must see if you visit Talakadu

A very beautiful place to visit. There are five temples in total . There's no much crowd . Parking facilities are also available. The architecture and sculptures are marvellous. Wear a good sports shoes as the path is sandy and really long !

Elegant,Historic places of 8th Century ruled by Gangas.

Temple is divine but the transport road not maintained

Vidyanathaewara is oldest 🛕 in talakadu and it's one of the lingu out of panchalingu and this lingu is worshipping for good health

An ancient temple with unique great history. Huge territory which nice to discover and explore.

Nice place to visit.

Temple complex is vast and clam. I would appreciate if government improves the infrastructure of the temple and maintain cleanliness around the premises

Nice ancient place with temples.. This is the main temple... Don't get confused with other temples beside it.

Nice historical place and you can take a holy dip at the Cauvery river.

Sri Vydyanatheshwara temple is one of the historical place the place is called talakadu of Mysore area there no ticket to visit temple, Hera to Mysore 1 hours journey

It is one of the ancient Panchalingeshwara temples, situated in Talakaadu. It is a beautiful Shiva linga temple in the desert. It is a unique experience to walk through the sands, on the way to Paathaaleshwara & Maraleshwara temples, with an arched roof for protection from sun & rain. One can visit the river Cauvery, which flows nearby.Wash room facility is available.

A very beautiful place to visit. There's no much crowd . There are five temples , Parking facilities are also available. The architecture and sculptures are marvellous.

The Vaidyanatha temple was constructed by the Chola kings who ruled this part of Karnataka in the 14th century. This temple was built in the Dravidian style and has two huge Dwarapalakas standing at the entrance to the main shrine. The doorways are intricately carved and the outer walls too are covered in sculptures. There is a beautiful figure of Ganesha riding on his vehicle, the mouse.

Temple architecture is nice. To visit other temple like maraleshwara, pathaleshwara and keerti narayana temple you can walk around the temple but you have to walk in Sand! Around atleast for 1Km..as at every 0.5 Km you find first Pathaleshwara and then at another 0.5 you find Maraleshwara...and then when you go around again as sand walk you find keerti narayana temple and then again as move further in circle you find chowdeshwari amma temple and gokarneshwara temple.. all these are in circle around vaidyanatheswara temple..I would advise to wear slippers while walking in sand as sometimes there are some fallen branches which might pinch your feet..you will find some fruits , icecreams and cool drinks available near pathaleshwara temple..available until 6 PM..you can find lunch near by vaidyanatheswara temple..there is a small mess and udupi mess also

Awesome place 6 old temples in total. if you get a guide for cheap rate it would be really worthy