Kalya, an idyllic getaway
Located five km from Magadi town and about fifty km from Bangalore is Kalya. A remote village amidst vast ragi (millet) fields surrounded by rocky hillocks, Kalya is famous for the cave hill shrines of Gundina Basavanna, Kalleshwara and goddess Kali.
Apart from an Anjaneya temple, Kalya is known for the ancient monastery, Kalleshwara Mutt, which has cave temples housing the deities of Kalleshwara, goddess Parvathi and Nandi. Beside Kalleshwara cave hill shrine, there is another spacious temple housing the presiding deity of Kali.
The village at the foothills, with about 400 houses, Kalya (also called Kalvaripattana and Kalyanapura) is said to have been an important Jain centre. Centuries-old inscriptions and shrines were found at Kalya and at a nearby village called Sankhighatta, which is famous for the 11th-century basadi of Bhagavan Mahaveera built by Hoyasala king Narasimha I.
The beautiful hillocks, cave shrines and its panoramic village setting, Kalya, is said to have inspired the great philosopher and poet Vemana. Kalya is definitely a great weekend getaway from Bangalore.
This Mysore temple has a rich past
Inside the fortified area of Mysore's famous landmark, Amba Vilas palace, there are quite a few popular temples. One of them, Varaha or Shwetha Varahaswamy temple, has history dating back to Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar (1672-1704).
It is said that the deity of Varahaswamy, originally housed in a temple at Srirangapatna during the reign of Chikka Devaraja, was shifted about two hundred years ago to a new temple built in Mysore which became capital of the then princely Mysore state. Located at the southern entrance of Amba Vilas palace, Shwetha Varaha temple, has the presiding deity carved of pure white (shwetha) stone. A huge monument enclosed by lofty walls, Shwetha Varahaswamy temple has separate shrines housing the idols of Ranganatha, goddess Lakshmi, Garuda and Anjaneya.
In the early 18th century, during the reign of Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, this temple was renovated and rebuilt in Hoysala style. Beautiful stucco images and murals depicting the Ramayana, Bhagavatha and Mahabharata are added attractions of the Shwetha Varaha temple. Varaha is regarded as the third avatara (incarnation) of Vishnu's 'Dashavathara'. The festivities associated with the annual brahmothsava of Shwetha Varahaswamy temple are held for about two weeks during the months of Chaitra-Vaishaka (April-May).
Located five km from Magadi town and about fifty km from Bangalore is Kalya. A remote village amidst vast ragi (millet) fields surrounded by rocky hillocks, Kalya is famous for the cave hill shrines of Gundina Basavanna, Kalleshwara and goddess Kali.
Apart from an Anjaneya temple, Kalya is known for the ancient monastery, Kalleshwara Mutt, which has cave temples housing the deities of Kalleshwara, goddess Parvathi and Nandi. Beside Kalleshwara cave hill shrine, there is another spacious temple housing the presiding deity of Kali.
The village at the foothills, with about 400 houses, Kalya (also called Kalvaripattana and Kalyanapura) is said to have been an important Jain centre. Centuries-old inscriptions and shrines were found at Kalya and at a nearby village called Sankhighatta, which is famous for the 11th-century basadi of Bhagavan Mahaveera built by Hoyasala king Narasimha I.
The beautiful hillocks, cave shrines and its panoramic village setting, Kalya, is said to have inspired the great philosopher and poet Vemana. Kalya is definitely a great weekend getaway from Bangalore.
This Mysore temple has a rich past
Inside the fortified area of Mysore's famous landmark, Amba Vilas palace, there are quite a few popular temples. One of them, Varaha or Shwetha Varahaswamy temple, has history dating back to Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar (1672-1704).
It is said that the deity of Varahaswamy, originally housed in a temple at Srirangapatna during the reign of Chikka Devaraja, was shifted about two hundred years ago to a new temple built in Mysore which became capital of the then princely Mysore state. Located at the southern entrance of Amba Vilas palace, Shwetha Varaha temple, has the presiding deity carved of pure white (shwetha) stone. A huge monument enclosed by lofty walls, Shwetha Varahaswamy temple has separate shrines housing the idols of Ranganatha, goddess Lakshmi, Garuda and Anjaneya.
In the early 18th century, during the reign of Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, this temple was renovated and rebuilt in Hoysala style. Beautiful stucco images and murals depicting the Ramayana, Bhagavatha and Mahabharata are added attractions of the Shwetha Varaha temple. Varaha is regarded as the third avatara (incarnation) of Vishnu's 'Dashavathara'. The festivities associated with the annual brahmothsava of Shwetha Varahaswamy temple are held for about two weeks during the months of Chaitra-Vaishaka (April-May).