Lost Temples of Karnataka: Koodli

Overview: On our visit to Mattur, we chanced upon an opportunity to visit Koodli, around 15 kms from Shimoga. Koodli has a very old history of human occupation. The villages around Koodli are said to be inhabited from 2nd century under the Chutu-Satavahana occupation of Vaijayanti(now Banavasi). This place was then occupied by the Kadambas, Badami and Kalyani Chalukyas and Hoysalas. And around the 16th century, they Keladi Nayakas established themselves under the Vijayanagara rule.
The Rameshwara temple at Koodli, dated back to 12th century is situated at the confluence of the rivers Tunga and Bhadra. Its a simple Hoysala temple without any intricate carvings. The temple in east-west orientation has a Garbagriha, Antarala and a closed Sabhamantapa with a central raised podium accommodating the structure of Nandi.
The pillars in the Sabhamantapa are lathe turned and polished. The sanctum has a Shiva Linga.

There is another temple beside this temple called Chintamani Narasimha temple.

Another attraction in Koodli is the Shankara Mutt which was built by Sringeri swamiji on his return from pilgrimage. The details can be found in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koodli
We were fortunate enough to have blessings from the present Swamiji at the Mutt.

How to reach: Bus: KSRTC buses and also several private buses ply regularly from Bangalore to Shimoga. Private vehicles can be hired from Shimoga to Koodli.
By Bike/Car: Take the NH4 to reach Tumkur, before reaching the town, turn left towards Shimoga. Travel to Shimoga via Tiptur and Arsikere.
Food/Accommodation: Plenty of options available for accommodation at Shimoga suiting all budgets.
Map:

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The forgotten story of a migration: Nacharamma of South India

This is a story of Nacharamma (fictionised by me to some extent), which is not documented in any inscriptions or ancient texts, but has been told by the ancestors of the community, and also been researched by some historians like M Keshavaiah, Dr Pranarthiharan and a few others.

Overview: Around the early 17th century, the Pilgrims set to sail across the Atlantic to become the first settlers of America. Much before this, a small but no less interesting migration took place in the Southern India of a community called the 'Sankethis'.
It was the summer of 1420 CE, in a place called Sengottai, in Tamil Nadu, along the foothills of the Western Ghats bordering Kerala. The place was flourishing with knowledge of the Vedas where Agraharams were set up. One of the prominent communities of learned people was the Sankethi Iyer community, also known as Sangeethi, derived from the name of the place- Sengottai or Shankotta. Another theory says that they were The group followed Adi Shankara…

Clock Towers of Bangalore

Overview: In the middle of the 18th century, when home clocks and watches were not so common, there was the practice of having huge clocks on top of iconic buildings or religious places having visibility from all the corners. Clock towers were in fashion all across the globe in the 18th to 20th centuries, and some of them had bells as well, which used to ring at every hour. Bangalore too, has had its share of clock towers, though the city has never been known for its clock towers. The iconic Clock tower once stood at the Russell Market in Shivajinagar, which no longer stands today as it was brought down sometime during the middle of the 20th century.
A few standing clock towers can be seen at the City Market, Baldwin Boys school, Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic, Central College, Police training grounds, St John's Church, Corporation office and the newly constructed towers at South End circle and Omkar Hills. Most of these clocks have been provided by HMT.

Know your neighbourhood-3: Madivala, Agara, Koramangala, Bellandur

Overview: Now famous for high rises, branded showrooms and startups, the villages of Madivala, Agara, Koramangala and Domlur are the villages which have seen an ancient past.

Madivala village was a flourishing agrahara under the Cholas and Hoysalas. There is an ancient Chola era temple, which was later expanded by the Hoysalas behind the road opposite to the Silk Board. This Someshwara temple is of high historical importance, with Tamil inscriptions all along the outer walls of the temple. The most important being the 1247 CE inscription which talks about the grants of some lands near the big tank of Vengalur (2nd inscription of the city name after the one in Begur). This inscription is by an official Pemmataiyar of Veppur (Begur) for the deity Sembeshwaram (Someshwara) at Tamaraikkirai (Tavarekere).

Agara is situated at the junction of the ORR and Sarjapura Road, and is in existance since the Gangas. A 870 CE Ganga inscription mentions about the fixing of sluices to 2 tanks (Agara Lake…

the light baggage

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