March 8 ! My first picnic on women's day ! Mom and her colleagues decided to go to places near by Mysore, so we started our journey from Yeshwanthpur in a mini bus at 8.00 AM.We stopped at Kamath for the unlimited breakfast . After a sumptuous breakfast , we headed towards 'HOLE ANJANEYA SWAMY TEMPLE'in Madddur.

Hole Anjaneya Swamy Temple Board

It is situated in banks of river Shimsha.Hanumantharaya as called by people there was installed by sri vyasarajaru and sripadarajaru.This temple is said to be around 550 years old of vijaynagara empire. Two fingers of this idol is very long and he is holding sougandhika flower,his tail has bells and he
has sun and moon on his head.It is said that this idol has been growing 1/2 inch from past 6 to 7 years.As per purohit of this temple ,different sounds of conch and bells are heard during lunar eclipse in closed doors of the temple.

Hole Anjaneya Swamy Temple

Hole Anjaneya Swamy

           After the darshana, we left to 'KARIGHATTA TEMPLE' app 45 km from the temple.Karighatta is a hill situated a few kilometres outside the 'island' town of Srirangapatna. It is situated off the Bangalore-Mysore Highway just before Srirangapatna. The name Karighatta translates to "Black Hill" in Kannada. The hill has a Hindu temple devoted to a form of Hindu god Vishnu, called "Karigirivasa". This deity is also referred to as “Lord Srinivasa” and is also called “Bairagi Venkataramana”. The epithet ‘Bairagi’ for this idol is derived from the fact that when ‘alankara’ (flower decoration) is done to the deity, the deity looks like a Bairagi (mendicant).It was too hot to spend any time there.

Karighatta Temple

Karighatta Temple

          Soon we moved towards 'SRIRANGAPATNA TEMPLE' by around 1.00 PM ..We hurried for the darshna since it was the closing time,luckly we could seek his divine blessings.From there we reached 'NIMISHAMBA TEMPLE' which is just 3 Kms from Ranganatha swamy temple.Sri Nimishamba is considered as the incarnation of Goddess Parvathi, the consort of Lord Shiva.

Our Bus

Nimishamba Temple

 It was asmost 2.30 there and we were all tired to the core.Since we carried lunch with us, we halted near the banks of river Cauvery just few Kms from the temple and had lunch(Vegetable bath, Holige,Vada,Curd rice) .It was atready 3.30.

Lunch Time !

Don't they look tired ? But i wasn't !

Now, we were confused whether to travel further or return back to Bangalore.
          After few discusions, we decided to go to 'MELKOTE' which is around 50 kms from Srirangapatna.Melukote is the location of the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, with a collection of crowns and jewels which are brought to the temple for the annual celebration. On the top of the hill is the temple of Yoganarasimha.It is learnt that they were presents from Krishnaraja Wodeyar III and his queens. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III also presented a crown set with precious jewels. It is known after him, as Krishnaraja-mudi. Vairamudi or Vajramukuta, another crown of great value, seems to be older than Raja-mudi and Krishnaraja-mudi.All the three crowns are kept in the safe custody of the Government at Mandya Treasury and brought to the temple on a specific annual occasion known as Vairamudi which literally means The Diamond Crown for adoring the image of Cheluvanarayana Swamy.Since most of us were too tired we did not climb the hill but had the darshna of Cheluvanarayana swami.

Our Group

Taking a break.

Inside Melkote Temple

Melkote temple campus

Melkote hill

          From there we returned back to Bangalore and reached at 9.00 PM.The journey was accompanied by music,songs, dance , games and yummy snacks.Thanks to mom and her friends for the trip ! Will cherish it for ever !