Cycling to Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu, Mandya

Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu

Starting point from Bangalore: ~95 km
Starting location Budanoor, near Mandya
Cycling distance: ~60 kms (30 km one way)
Destination Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu
Road Condition: Road condition is very good. All the way from Budanoor, near Mandya to Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu is on state highway via Nagamangala road.

Before Start of Bicycle Ride

Sri. Anantha Padmanabha Temple,
Budanoor, Near Mandya

Original plan was to cycle on 9th June (Saturday) to Channarayapatna and cycle from there. Around 9 pm called the KSRTC driver who has taken me with cycle earlier. He said, KSRTC has changed buses from Volvo to Electric to nearby places like Hassan, Belur, Chikkamagalur etc. And not sure, cycle can fit in Electric Bus.

Did not want to reserve and take chance so decided to take cycle in my car till Budanoor, near Mandya, See the majestic Anantha Padmanabha temple and cycle from there. Budanoor is 7 kms from Mandya, took exit at Maddur from Bangalore-Mysore highway. Temple is about 750 mts from the highway.

Per history

Sri. Anantha Padmanabha Temple, Budanoor

Reached the temple about 8 am and priest Narasimiah had just started the daily puja rituals. He explained the origin of the temple and shared few details.

This Eka Koota temple is on Jagati and has Navaranga and Sukanasi. Navaranga has beautifully carved Bhuvaneshwari ( Carved Ceiling).

There are four pillars in the temple and the main deity of Sri. Anantha Padmanaba is majestic and beautiful with ornaments, garuda at the pedestal and Sridevi, Bhudevi at the sides of the idol.

Not much of carving around the temple unlike typical Hoysala temples of the region.

Found this opposite temple, any explanation ?

On the Way

Cycle ride to Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu is via Nagamangala road. Very good road with plenty of trees on the road side.

You will hear sounds of many birds and specially peacocks all the way.

An interesting thing is the smell of "Aalemane". Its place where jaggery is made out of sugarcane in traditional ways. If you are interested stop by and taste the fresh and hot jaggery.

Road is almost flat and plenty of small shops till Basaralu. Best to have breakfast near Mandya and then start the ride to Basaralu.

At the First Destination (Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu)

Ganapathi Statue at the entrance, Basaralu

You will be fascinated at the fist sight of the temple. Its the most magnificent temple I have seen in the recent past

Temple entrance is at the road level and have to take few steps. You will see the beautiful Ganesha idol to the left of the entrance structure.

Per Wikipedia, The temple was built by Harihara Dhannayaka around 1234 A.D. during the rule of the Hoysala Empire King Vira Narasimha

The temple is supposed to be Trikoota. Bu interestingly there are no Gopura ( Shikhara) for the other 2 deities but only for the main de

Tri koota Temple. One of the common style of Hoysala temples with one gopura and temple has Jagathi (Platform)
Have the Hoysala style of Navaranga and Sukanasi. There are 4 carved (Lathe) pillars
Gopura or Shikara of the temple has the Hoysala Symbol or Hoysala crest (emblem of the Hoysala warrior stabbing a lion)
Its a big temple with Pristine carvings inside and outside.

Sri Mallikarjuna, Basaralu, main deity

The sanctum sanctorum (Garbha Griha) has Shiva Linga and opposite to it is Nandi.

An interesting things is about the Bhuvaneshwari (Ceiling Carving) at the center. Usually, there will be nine of them in the Navaranga and the center one is most beautiful, in this temple its open to Sky!

Nandi opposite to the Shiva has beautiful carvings but one of its horns is broken.

Sri Suryanaraya, Basaralu

One of the other two deities are Sri. Surya Nayarana. Surya Narayana is to the right of the main Deity and did not look like there any Puja done for the idol.

Look at the carvings of the ornaments and the two small idols on either side at the bottom.

Naga and Nagini, Basaralu Sri Mallikarjuna Temple

To the left of the main deity, is the Naga and Nagini idols.

Basaralu, Sri Mallikarjuna Temple

Outside of the temple is delight to see. All the Layers on the outside wall is pristine.

Order is typical to Hoysala temple of Six Layers on the outide.

1. Elephants: Bottom Most

2. Horses

3. Lions

4. Idols from Hindu Epic (Ramayana, Mahabharatha)

5. Makara (Sea Creatures)

6. Hamsa (Swan): Top most

Tips:

Guard/Keeper of the temple is not a friendly person. He called the ASI (Astrological Survey of India) person and handed over the phone to me, I requested to take pictures and the gentlemen on phone agreed. If he says no, ask him to call his superior.

Guard/Keeper has problems even when I tried to take picture from outside of the temple.

Ride Details:

Date: 11th June 2023 (Sunday)
Weather: Good weather, Occasionally hot, max 30 °C

Start Time: 9:00 AM

End Time: 5:00 PM

Ride Time: 3H 42M