Aralaguppe, Nagamangala & Ranganathittu Bird Santuary

25-26 June 2023

Planned a two-day temple + nature trip. Our first stop was Sri Chennakesava Temple at Aralaguppe. The drive was about 3 hrs, including a short breakfast break, most of it along Mangalore/Hassan highway. Some patches in last few kms were good only for a SUV, (mud road) but my Honda City managed. I am not sure if this trip would have been possible in rains.

Aralaguppe is a remote small village in Tumkur district in Karnataka. Temple was built about eight hundred years ago by Hoysala kings. The temple looks contemporary to other Hoysala temples like the one in Somnathpura. It is similar in the platform shape, alignment of platform star endpoints with the main temple shape, remarkably similar lower five panel rows of the temple exterior walls, the clean circular cut columns, wonderful carvings, and reliefs, both inside and outside the temple. All the signs of a typical Hoysala temple. It is much smaller in size.

Note the lowest five rows on the temple wall. Similar to other Hoysala temples. Note the pointed star shaped platform and alignment of star points on the platform with super structure.

Main temple is dedicated to Vishnuji, has Ganeshji and Chamundeshwariji idols on the left and right, just outside the main garbhagruha entrance. It also has a separate entrance from outside for a Narasimha swaroop temple to the left. Nice carvings on the roof blocks in lotus shape. Significantly large and nicely carved main idols. High compound wall and gopuram was missing, probably un-restorable. Maintained by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). No one except and the caretaker (who arrived after we opened the compound gate) were at the temple. Peaceful and quiet place. Overall, a wonderful experience, except for last few kms of road. Sharing a few pics below. Clearly no pictures from inside the temple since photography is not allowed. Yet another thing pointed out clearly was the Hoysalas allowed the arctitects/sculptors to inscribe their names in the temple stones. Saw this in Somanathapura temple and this one. If you are interested in old temples see some more beyond the Belur, Haleebedu and Somanathapura temples built by Hoysalas, this could be a place to visit.

Notice the intricate carvings on the reliefs, and the side entrance to Sri Lakshmi Narshimha garbhagruha entrance. Also notice the names of the artisan on the panel below the relief in the second picture.

On to Soumyakeshava temple in Nagamangala, about fifty kms from Aralaguppe. Nagamangala is much larger town in Mandya district. This temple was built earlier … the newer aspects of Hoysala dynasty temples are absent, although internal carvings and reliefs could match the later Hoysala temples. A medium sized temple with a gopuram, a stumbh in front of the temple. A Live temple, where priests decide when the god can be visible to public and when it cannot (unlike the temple in Aralaguppe). Temple where regular crowd is present during aartis. We reached at a time when there was maha-abhishek was being performed for one of the Sheshnaga idols inside the temple. Wonderful 20-30 minutes spent in the temple during that time. About 30-40 people inside the temple, but the temple was big enough to accommodate them. A trikuta temple, with Sri Soumyakeshava, Sri Lakshmi Narsimha and Sri Krishna being the three deities. Did not take too many pictures. Sharing a few pictures of gopuram and the stumbh.

After a packed lunch, moved to the hotel in Srirangapatna. The hotel called Atmaveda Riverside Retreat is a nice, quiet place on the banks of Kaveri. Water in the river was not much and we could wade across about 30-40 feet wide river on stones in the riverbed. We enjoyed the evening tea on the bank of the river. Sat on stones in the middle of the river. Loved the kingfisher fish catching demo, – the way kingfisher was stationary above the river flapping wings (about 20 ft) and then dive into river to catch fish within a flash. Also saw fishes coming to surface of water and gobbling any tree leaves that fell into the water. Sat on stones in the middle of the river. Took pictures of birds. Sharing a few snaps from that evening and morning next day at the resort.

After my trip to Tadoba and tryst with the rented Nikon B500 camera, I have developed a liking for zoom cameras and photographing moving animals/birds/objects at distance. Bought Nikon P950 recently, and hence had planned a visit to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary. It took us about 15 mins in the morning to reach the sanctuary from the hotel. After paying Rs 950 for entry, boat ride and camera entry fee, when snaping at birds. Lots of common birds as compared to Bangalore Soulkere/Kaikondahalli lakes, a few new ones too. Saw a few crocodiles in their favourite pose. Also caught one in the water with its stout out of water at a distance. Sharing a few pictures from the bird sanctuary. If you are an avid bird watcher or get closer look at various birds do visit the bird sanctuary.

Sharing a few pictures from the bird sanctuary.