Jonnagiri Ashoka Inscriptions

We came across this beautiful place after a long exhausting journey from Mantralayam in the month of October where the whether is its best and the cool winds make this place a perfect weekend getaway destination.

The place which has cotton fields extends to a vast length giving the eyes a retreat after a long exhausting journey.

 The place is made into a beautiful garden which gives it pleasant look which is funded by the Archaeological Department of Andhra Pradesh.

The inscription is not etched on to the stone deeply.

 Most of the letters cannot be seen clearly as the stone has eroded due to harsh weather.

 The inscription on a small stone which lies adjacent to the stairway leading to the hill.

 The board depicts the english translation of the inscription.

Jonnagiri is not only famous for its ashokan edicts but also famous for its diamond resources.

       The place comes to life during the monsoon season when the rain washes away the mud bringing 

       precious stones to the top and you can also be a millionaire if you go to jonnagiri for diamond  

       hunting but you should be lucky enough to find them.

       

Panchakuta basadi

Panchakuta basadi loacted in the small village of kamabadahalli is the best example of mixed blend of ganga and hoysala architecture.The village gets its name from the large pillar in front of the basadi since kamba(ಕಂಬ) in kannada means pillar and halli(ಹಳ್ಳಿ) simply means village.The Panchakuta basadi is the most finite example of the southern dvitala vimana type falling under the three classes nagara,dravida and vesara.

 The large pillar in front of the basadi which gives the village its name.

 The entrance to the jinalaya.

 The statue of bahubali 

                           Lord mahavira

 The exquisitely carved door frame

The five different shrines dedicated to different tirthankaras were constructed in different phases.The first phase consists of three shrines of equal size of brahmachhanda  type.The one facing west has rudrachhanda griva-shikhara and one facing east is vishnucchanda griva-shikhara

The three shrines have a common navaranga which has the shrines of adinatha,rishabhanatha and mahavira.

Kushmandini devi,one can notice the hoysala feature in the scupture.

 The temple compex of bahubali

 The main shrine of adinatha tirthankara.

 The idol of a tirthankara in the prakara.

A birds view of the temple.

places of interest nearby:

Shravanabelagola

Bindiganvile Vynatheya temple.

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.