Therahalli: Ancient village tucked in the Shatashringa hills

Overview: Silently Hidden on the top of a hillock belonging to the Shatashringa range is a very old temple dedicated to Lord Gowri Gangadheeshwara. Though the temple is in ruins, the structure still holds the beauty and reflects the beauty of the architecture of some of the ancient dynasties of South India. This temple was originally built by the Gangas around 1200 years ago, then was taken over by the Cholas and the Vijayanagar rulers. The temple can be reached by foot or by road which leads right up to the temple at the top. The climb to the top by foot is very exciting with odd shaped rocks and some old mantapas and some small ruined temples on the way. Not to mention the breathtaking view of the Kolar city which can be experienced all through the ascent. The local villagers also use the same path to climb up and down the hill. We anyway went by car all through to the top.

The entrance to the temple is through a huge gopuram which is probably now half its size compared to what it used to be. Inside the temple premises there are some old stone sculptors and the main temple. The temple was locked but on request the caretaker opened the doors and we had a glimpse of the lord. The temple opens early in the morning and then again in the evening when the puja is done.
Outside the temple on the walls we could see many inscriptions in Tamil and Old Kannada. We also saw a tower on top of a huge rock which was looking great. After spending time in this place, we left the place with loads of memories.

How to reach: Bus: KSRTC buses and also several private buses ply regularly from Bangalore to Kolar. From there, Therahalli can be reached by autorickshaw.
By Bike/Car: Take the NH4 towards Kolar, Just before entering Kolar near the NH4, turn left towards Therahalli.
Food/Accommodation: Kamat Upachar is a good option for food on NH4 near Narsapura.
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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