Page 533 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

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u Chitradurga
Chitradurga district. 200 km
(124 miles) NW of Bengaluru.
n Kamana Bhavi Extension, 8th
Ward Fort Rd; (08194) 234 466. £ @
Located at the base of a rugged
chain of hills, this town was a
prominent outpost of the
Vijayanagar Empire (see pp534–5).
Later, in the17th–18th centuries,
it became the head quarters of
a line of local chiefs known as
Bedas, until it was occupied by
Haider Ali (see p521) in 1799 and
The two-storeyed Vidyashankara Temple at Sringeri then by the British.
The Fort, defined by walls of
y Sringeri matters, while the mathas huge granite blocks, rises above
still function as centres of the town. A series of three gates
Chikmagalur district. 100 km
(62 miles) NE of Mangaluru. £ @ spiritual learning. leads to the irreg ular inner zone,
_ Navaratri (Sep/Oct). Standing on a paved terrace strewn with striking granite
are two temples overlooking the boulders. There are several small
The small settlement of Sringeri, Tunga river, which is crammed temples here, as well as a number
tucked away in the forested with sacred fish. The smaller of ceremonial gateways erected
ranges of the Western Ghats, is temple, dedicated to Sharada, by the Bedas. The platforms and
today an important pilgrimage a popular form of the goddess pavilions within the compound
centre and one of the most Saraswati, is the principal desti- of the Sampige Siddheshvara
powerful seats of orthodox nation for local pilgrims. Next Temple mark the spot where
Hinduism in South India. to it is the 16th-century the Bedas were crowned. The
This was where Vidyashankara remains of rubble and mud-built
Shan karacharya, Temple, where the granaries and residences, and
(see p652), the Shankaracharya is a large circular well can be
great 9th-century worshipped in the seen nearby.
philosopher and form of a linga.This In the town below, the local
social reformer, stone structure, which Government Museum displays
established the first Floral offerings at stands raised on a artifacts from surrounding sites.
of his four mathas; Sringeri’s temple high platform, is laid On the main street, the 17th-
the other three are at out on an almost century Ucchalingamma Temple
Joshimath in the Himalayas (see circular star-shaped plan. Friezes should not be missed.
p191), Puri (see p316) to the east depicting the many forms of
and Dwarka (see p431) to the Shiva and Vishnu embellish T Fort
west. Today, his successors (also the faceted walls. The hall that Open daily. &
known as Shankaracharyas) precedes the inner sanctum has E Government Museum
wield tremendous influence in massive piers carved as rearing Tel (08194) 224 202.
both religious and temporal yalis (mythical leonine beasts). Open 9am–5pm Tue–Sun. ^

The fort at Chitradurga, with gateways and shrines dotting the boulder-strewn landscape
A spectacular view of the magnificent Mysore Palace

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