Places of Interest

KOLARAMMA TEMPLE

The clan of Gangas ruled “Kuvalala” country before the advent of Cholas. Kolaramma (Pidariyar Chamundeswary of Saptha Matrikas) was their principal God. Cholas reconstructed the temple. It is in the east of the city. The temple is a very good specimen of Ganga- Chola art and architecture. The ‘L’ shaped temple has two sanctums with a common Mukha Mantapa. Kolaramma is installed in the south of the northern Garbhagriha. The Goddess is to be seen through a grid of mirrors standing in Mukha Mantapa. The other idols of Sapthamatrikas along with Ganesha and Veerabhadra are facing east. There is a Sree Chakra in this sanctum. The other chamber to the north of this sanctum is divided into two, the inner one housing the idols of Saptha Matrikas made of Mortar. The outer enclosure has the vigraha of Muka Nachch iyar facing north near the north wall. Covered with a cloth, it is a Vigraha having the name of Cheluramma. The Ganapathi idol has the cars that rcsemble Anjaneya and Garuda giving the impression of three Vigrahas in one. The Veerabhadra idol in the temple is also master piece.

ANTARA GANGE

It is a beautiful landscape, 3 K.M. west of the city, on one of the planes of Satha Sringa Parvatha. The sweet water gushing out from the mouth of Basavanna at Antharagange is a miracle to the devotees, an enigma to the learned and above all a thing of joy. The boulders here are naturally carved in different shapes. There is a Deepa Stambha on a hilltop from where one can see the seven villages situated on the hills. After having a Darshan of Jalakanteswara at the foot of the Hills, ascending 250 steps one will come to Antharagange where Kashi Visweswara is dwelling. On the other side, to the south, the road takes one to Therahalli. Gangadhareswara temple is at Therahalli built by Veera Ganga in thirteenth century A.D.

SOMESWARA TEMPLE

This is a grand temple being a specimen of Dravidian architecture build in a vast area with a big and beautiful outer Mantapa, Mukha Mantapa, Antharala and Garbhagriha. The open Mantapa is an epitome of stunning beauty. The Kalyana mantapa in the South west and the Vasantha Mantapa in the north -east are very good models of Vijayanagara art and architecture. Someswara Swamy is in the Garbhagriha in the form of Linga of 1.5 feet in height. The Bhuveneswaris of the Mukha mantapa, Vasantha mantapa and inner Dola mantapa of Kalyana mantapa have Ashta Dikpalakas beautifully chiseled. There is a sub temple for Parvathi in the North West corner. The Pushkarini of the temple is beautiful and the depth is astonishing. The construction is very good. The outer Dwara Gopura is in good shape and attractive.

KURUDUMALE

This village is 12 K.M. from Mulbagal town .The range of hills here in called Koundinya Giri the legend of this kshetra finds a place in Brahmanda Purana. The big Vinayaka vigraha of 13.5 feet invites one to bow before and pray. The Temple, though old in origin, has got Vijayanagara textured Mukha mantapa and Sukhavasi. The huge pillars here have finely carved figures on them. The door and the outer mantapa are highly decorated. There is standing Mushika in the outer mantapa in attendance of the Lord. In the north of this temple is the Someshwara temple built on a boulder basement. In the court yard of this temple a vigraha of Vinayaka of 7 to 8 feet height in invites one to stand and see. Though the god in Garbhagriha is facing east, the doors are in the South. Temple is a carved in stone. The deities of other temples which are dilapidated, are brought and kept here.

MULBAGAL

It is in the South East of Karnataka and as such called Mudala Bagilu (The eastern door). Near the bus-stand there is the temple complex of Anjaneya. The God Anjaneya here is to be decorated with Kedage, (Screw pine flowers) every day. The idols of Rama-Sita Lakshmana are in this temple. Lakshmi Narasimha,Venugopala and other deities are housed is the sub-temples . Tirumala Venkatesha , Kanchi Varadaraja , Tirupathi Govindaraja are also there in this complex. Some beautiful paintings, Dashavathara Kostas can be seen. It has abig outer Gopura

NARASIMHA THEERTHA/ SRIPADARAJU MUTT

Sripadaraju mata in the town and Brindavana of the Sripadaru is at Narsimha Theertha which is 2 KM away. One can see the place (cave) where Sri Vyasa Rayaru learnt his lessons of Dwaitha philosophy. The Yoga Narasimha Swamy on the boulder is swayambhu. Rathotsava is conducted in the month of jyesta (june-july)

AVANI

It is a viIIage 12 K.Ms from Mulbagal. It has a temple complex of Ramalingeswara Swamy, Sita Parvati temple on the hills and the piller inscription of Deevabbarasi, a Nolamba queen of the first millennium of Christian era. The Saraswathi temple of Shankar mutt is a worthy place for meditation. The temple complex of Ramalingeswara swamy has the temples for Lakshmaneswara Bharateswara and Shatrughneswara . There are shrines for Vali, Sugreeva and Angada also. Avani is called Dakshina lttya . The legend says that this is the place of Valmiki Ashrama; where Sita gave birth to Lava and Kusha. To illustrate the point there is “Lava Kusha linga” temple here (two linga idols in one: pannvatta which is a rare phenomenon in shilpa sastra). On the way to the hills one can see the natural tank -Dhanushkoti and Horaler Gundu.

BANGAURU THIRUPATHI

The Temple resembles Tirupathi Venkateshwara and is at Guttahalli on the way to Bethamangala from Mulbagal. It is known as Bangaru Tirupathi . The temple is situated on a small hillock and the god is facing east. The deity is to be seen through the window carved in western wall. Varaha , Yinayaka , Anjaneya Shrines are there on the way to the temple. Padmavathi temple is there on another hillock. There is a big pond (Kalyani) in front of this complex. Pilgrims congregate is large numbers during Shravana month.

VIRUPAKSHI

Lekkanna Dandesha a general of Vijayanagara and the author of Shiva Tatlva chintamani built this temple at Virapakshi . Which is 4 K.M from Mulbagal. Apart from the main temple which is exquisitely carved and decorated, there is a temple for Simha Vahana Durga . Durga is having four arms. A lion is in attendance in front of Parvathi in the temple. The beautiful temple tank is called Manmatha Pushkarini. The enlrance Gopura of the temple is in good shape and is quite majestic.

KOLAR GOLD FIELD

KGF or Kolar Gold Fields is a mining region and taluk, in the Kolar District of Kamataka state, India. Robertsonpet is the headquarters of Kolar Gold Fields. It includes the township of the same name, viz. K.G.F, where reside mainly the families of the employees of Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML) and BEML (formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited). KGF is about 30 kilometers from Kolar and 100 kilometers from Bangalore. To the east of KGF is a ridge of hills of which Dod Betta Hill is 31 ‘5 feet above sea level. The town was known for gold mining for over a century, which was eventually closed in 2001 due to low level of gold production. India’s first power generation unit was created to support operations of the KGF in early 1900s’

BUDIKOTE

Budikote or the ‘Fort of Ash’ is a small village situated in Bangarpet Taluk of Kolar District in Karnataka state of India. It is about 15mi (24km) from kolar Gold Fileds the nearest city. It has an old fort, hence the name. It is also the birthplace of Hyder Ali, father of Tipu Sultan.

KOTILINGA

It is 6KM from K.G.F. on the way to Bethamangala. lt has thousands of Shiva Lingas lined in the precincts . Built in 1980 it has another eleven temple for various deities. The presiding deity of the place is Kotilinga. It has a huge Shivalinga of more than 100 feet in height. Basavanna in a matching shape and size is also consecrated here. The main attraction of the temple is a huge linga measuring 108 ft (33 m) tall and 35 ft (11 m) tall Lord Nandi idol , surrounded by lakhs of small lingas spread over an area of 15 acres (61,000 m2). The Lord Nandi idol is installed over a platform which is 60 feet (18m) in length, 40 feet (12 m) in width and 4 feet (1.2 m) in height. There are eleven small temples constructed within the premises for various deities.