Penukonda

The lost capital of the Vijayanagara kings.

Penukonda is a small town nestled in the mountain ranges of chilla pahad in the state of Andhra Pradesh.The town speaks much of the bygone era of the vijayanagara rulers and their rich history.Penukonda which was once the summer capital of  the Vijayanagara Royals is now but in ruins. 

Gagan mahal palace

The palace which was constructed by Krishnadevaraya was administered till the death of the first  king of the Aravidu dynasty Aliya rama raya, according to the locals this palace was mainly constructed for the king's wives and this palace is located in the foot of the hill fort of Penukonda.

A portrait of King krishnadevaraya inside the palace

 The Kalyani

 

The biggest kalyana found in Penukonda is this kalyani which is beside a Anjaneya temple in the town.The Rajaguru of Krishnadevaraya, Sri vyasarajaru who was a saint from the dvaita school has consecrated an idol of anjaneya inside the tank which can be seen when the tank is dry,it was done for the welfare of the people of Penukonda.

The local Gram panchayat had a undertaken a project in 2016 where the tank was desilted  and water was pumped out of the kalyani to see the Anjaneya idol which had gathered crowd from the surrounding villages.

Pache parshwanatha temple

This jain temple gets its name from the parshwanatha idol made of jade which is one of the precious mineral and this was once a jain populated area but due to increased influence of Vaishnavism the jains in the area decreased considerably.

The Parshwanatha idol made of jade

Idol of Sri mahavira

Timmarasu jail

The jail was constructed to timmarasu who was the minister of krishnadevaraya and who was accused of poisoning krishnadevaraya's son.

Timmarasu jail

Canon balls and some artefacts which were excavated

Water tank

This tank of the same era tells us that we had more better sustainable water technologies before the westerners knew what is technology,indeed it is a medieval wonder which speaks of the glorious past.

Nandi well

A well is one o the very unique wells which is an ancient one,the well has an arch like that of the bull which is called as Nandi in telugu and kannada.

Nandi Step Well

The beautiful sculptures on the walls of Nandi step well.

Kaidala

Kaidala is a small village which is about 5 kilometres from tumkur town and this is one of the precious Hoysala temples in Karnataka.Kaidala is famous for it's Chennakeshava temple and Gangadhareshvara temple.Kaidala is believed to be the birth place of the famous legendary sculptor jakanachari.

The place gets it's name according to a folk legend that by challenging his son jakanachari according to his own terms had cut his right hand and in his last days he came to his birth place and stared to sculpt the chennakeshava idol with his left hand and the lord who was pleased by his dedication and devotion gave his right hand back and hence the place got the name 'Kaidala'.

 

The Gopura of the chennakeshava temple.The gopura has vijayanagar era features while the idol in the sanctum has features of hoysala sculpture.

 The Chennakeshava idol sculpted has chaturbhuja with shankha,chakra and gadha in the sanctum.

Garuda who is the prakara of the temple.

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The navaranga of the gangadhareshwara temple.

A Scientific view on the temple:

The architect of the temple has used the principles of interference and diffraction before the invention of it in 18th century that is it was used before 8 centuries.

The technique used is as follows:

1. A hole in the compound wall(slit hole)
2. A hole in the garuda temple(slit hole)
3. The 2 holes beside garuda idol
4. The 2 division lines near chennakeshava pada

Thomas young who had discovered this in the 18th century was used in 12th century of our country,this proves the magnificent scientific history of this country.

References:

ತುಮಕುರು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಇತಿಹಾಸ ಮತ್ತು ಪುರತತ್ವ.

Directions:

Kaidala is about 70 kilometers from bangalore, It is not well connected by public transport.

Heggunda

Heggunda, the older name being Hayagunda is small hamlet nestled in Tumkur district which is mentioned in the famous epic Ramayana,this is said to be the place where Lava and kusha tied the horse of the aswamedha yagna and fought with their own father Sri Rama

The village has two temples which has to be climbed and an other which is on the ground which is dedicated to Anjaneya.

THE 3 temples are of rich historical and folk value as it is connected to Ramayana and other hindu myths.

The temple of sri anjaneya is said to be built by King janamejaya who is known for his sarpa yagna.

The temple of vanakallu malleshwara is cave temple which also has a tirulgannada inscription.

                                       

The hill where lava and kusha is said to have tied the horse.The hilltop temple shrines a pillar which is worshipped even today.

The carving behind the hanuman temple

It is about to 60 kilometers from Bangalore.
Directions:Head towards NH 48 and take the sevice road and exit the NH near Dabaspete and go straight until you find a road leading to heggunda where  you need to take a right turn.