The ManjunathaTemple at Dharmastala is a very important centre of Jain pilgrimage, situated about 75kms east of Mangalore on the lower slopes of the Western Ghats. Dharmastala is frequented by hundreds of pilgrims every day. Regular buses connect Dharmastala to Mangalore.
MUDABIDRI
35kms northeast of Mangalore is the town of Mudabidri that has 18 Jain bastis. The oldest of them is the 15th century Chandranatha Basti colloquially known as the 1000 pillared hall. This impressive temple has a stone roof surmounted by a gabled and tiled wooden roof. Mudubidri is sometimes described as the Jain Varanasi.
VENUR
The tiny hamlet of Venur is about 15kms from Mudabidri with eight bastis and the ruins of a Mahadeva temple. On the banks of the River Gurupur stands an 11m tall Bahubali statue dating back to 1604.
KARKAL
Karkala situated 20kms north of Mudabidri has several important temples and a 13m high Bahubali statue completed in 1432. to the north is the Chaturmukha Basti built in the 16th century.
Mangalore has been an important port on the Arabian coast for centuries. In the 14th and 15th century, it traded with Persian and A rab merchants. It was a shipbuilding centre during the reigns of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. With Tipu’s defeat by the British in 1799, the city was incorporated as the capital of South Kanara district.
The modern port, 10kms away from the city centre is today India’s 9th largest cargo handling zone and is the major centre for the export of cashew nuts and coffee. The completion of a deep water port in 1976 coupled with the influx of large industries including petrochemicals and power plants has made this once quiet hilly city into a bustling metropolis southwest India. However, Mangalore has a nonchalant tropical ambience and makes a pleasant and relaxing stopover between Goa and Kerala.
One of the capitals of the Hoysala Empire, Belur is renowned for its magnificent Hoysala temple complex comprising of the Chennakeshava Temple, built by Hoysala Vishnuvardhana in 1116AD, is acknowledged as one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture, and is said to have been built to commemorate his victory over the Cholas.
The temple complex displays some stunning works of rich ornamentation and architecture, including the gigantic statue of Lord Vijaya Narayana, hand lathe turned filigreed pillars and numerous sculptures. The main entrance of the shrine is guarded by twin statues of a youth slaying a tiger the royal symbol of the Hoysala dynasty. The fringes decorating the walls depict scenes from the Ramayana. The temple also displays a sculpture of Shanthala devi, queen of King Vishnuvardhana, in the smooth circular platform in front of the shrine, and the winged figure of Garuda. Lord Vishnu’s carrier at the entrance facing the temple. The most marvelous specimen found at the temple, however, are the angled bracket figures depicting celestial nymphs.
The walled court of the ChennakeshavaTemple housed the impressive shrine of Chennigaraya, Viranarayana, Sridevi and Bhoodevi, within its precincts all displaying intricate carvings and sculptures.
Hassan is 115km from Mysore, and at an altitude of 957m above sea level. This picturesque town in the heart of the Malanad region is also the district headquarters. The original town, adjacent to the village of Channapatna, was founded in the 11th Century by Channa Krishnappa Naik. But it was the Hoysalas who brought worldwide acclaim to the region with their unique style of architecture.
Hassan is named after Goddess Hasanamba(the smiling goddess), who is the presiding deity of the town. Her temple is opened once a year for about a week, during the second Aahwayuja( October),and a big Jatra (Shandi or fair) is held on this occasion. Festive season are a good time to visit, as the whole town comes alive with music, colour and excitement. Hassan is surrounded by six other districts, and is well-connected by rail, road to all major cities of South India making it a convenient base to explore heritage centers like Belur, Halabeedu, Shravanabelagola and Somnathpur.
Image via Wikipedia
