Know your neighbourhood - 29: Anekal Taluk

Overview: Anekal is the southernmost taluk of Bangalore District. Anekal occupies a big space while discussing the history of Bangalore. Like all the surrounding villages of Bangalore, Anekal too had a fort built by Chikka Thimme Gowda in the 17th century, after getting the territory from the General of Bijapur. The village later became a part of Mysore under Hyder Ali. Before Thimme Gowda, Anekal was under the rule of Hoysalas. The Hoysala temples and several inscriptions can still be seen around Anekal in villages like Narayanaghatta, Jigani and Haragadde. The idol of Chennakeshava temple in Anekal is believed to be consecrated by Arjuna during his exile and the temple was built by the Hoysalas. But unfortunately, this temple now stands in ruins near the bazaar street. Other ancient temples like Mallikarjunaswamy temple and a Devi temple are preserved in a temple complex. These temples date back to the 11-13th century and were probably built by the Cholas. Another popular and old temple in Anekal is Thimmarayaswamy temple, built during Bukkaraya II of Vijayanagara rule as per the inscriptions.

Chennakeshava temple, Anekal

Thimmarayaswamy temple, Anekal

Kambada Ganesha

Shiva temple, Anekal

A few km south of Anekal is a small waterfall known as Muthyalamaduvu or Pearl Valley, which is a popular picnic spot, but is good only during monsoons when the waterfall can be observed.

Muthyalamaduvu

Sarjapura, also in Anekal Taluk, was once known for Muslin cloth industry. Sarjapura Road, now teeming with designer cars, was once used as a trading route between Sarjapura and the Pete area for Muslin cloth. During Tipu’s reign, raw silk was produced in Sarjapura and used to be transported to other places including the Pete. There was a time when Sarjapura was a jagir, probably leased out by the Mughals to the Wodeyars. There is also a fort area in Sarjapur village, probably built during Tipu Sultan’s rule but now there are no traces of the fort. Sarjapur was also one of the points for the Great Trigonometrical Survey conducted in the 1800s. Just as Hennur was selected as the northern end, Agara on Sarjapur Road was the southern point for baseline. Sri Rama and Shiva temples can be seen in Sarjapura town which date back to the Vijayanagara times.

Sri Rama & Shiva temple, Sarjapura

Sarjapura Road also had some prehistoric rock painitngs, near Kannelli, which have been lost over time due to rapid urbanisation. Also, off Sarjapura Road is the village of Halanayakanahalli, which has an ancient Kodandarama temple.

Kodandarama temple, Halanayakanahalli

Narayanaghatta, a small village near Chandapura, is an ancient village lost in the expansion of the city limits. The village is popular for the 6th century temple dedicated to Sree Varadaraja Perumal, now known as Sri Rama temple. The temple was renovated during Hoysalas in the 12th century and is considered as one of the three Vishnu Kshetras in Bangalore District along with Bannerghatta and Chunchaghatta. Also in the village is the Shiva temple and Maramma temple dedicated to the village Goddess.

Narayanaghatta

Haragadde: A small hamlet near Jigani was known as Paragalani during the Hoysala period. A 12th century inscription from the Hoysala era Chennakeshava temple mentions about grants made by a Hoysala officer Puravadiraya offering grants to the Mahajanas of Paragalani. This temple was in ruins until late 2000s after which it was renovated by Dharmasthala Manjunatha Trust.

Chennakeshava temple, Haragadde

Jigani: Now mostly an industrial town, this was a very important village during the Hoysala period. The ancient Varadarajaswamy temple ruins can still be seen in the village with inscriptions from 1307 CE mentioning the valour of Puravadiraya.

Varadaraja temple, Jigani

Mugalur: On the banks of the river Dakshina Pinakini is the village of Mugalur with great antiquity. The Bete LakshmiVenkateshwara temple near the river dates back to the Vijayanagara times and is a live temple with exquisite carvings. Opposite to this temple is the Beereshwara temple which has several Hero Stones installed in the premises. A little west of the temple is the Veerabhadra temple also from the Vijayanagara period. Chikka Tirupati and Kalunte Agrahara are the popular pilgrimage sites close to Mugalur.

Bete Venkateshwara temple, Mugalur

Beereshwara temple, Mugalur

Veerabhadra temple, Mugalur

Dakshina Pinakini, Mugalur

Muthanallur: On entering this little village one gets to see a big lake, extending over 1000 acres, and is believed to be around since the Vijayanagara times. The lake is popular among bird enthusiasts and on the banks of the lake is the old Veerabhadra temple, which has been renovated lately.

Muthanallur Lake

Veerabhadra temple, Muthanallur

Hennagara: Near the bustling locality of Chandapura is the industrial village of Hennagara, also popular with the bird watchers. Hennagara also has an ancient Chola era Shiva temple, though the structure looks more from the Hoysala times.