Nanjangud

The town is famous because of the huge temple dedicated to Lord Nanjundeswara also referred to as Srikanteswara. It is believed that sage Gauthama stayed here for some time and installed a Lingam, the idol form of Shiva. Nanjangud is also known as Dakshina Kashi or Varanasi of the South.[3]

The temple was originally built by the Ganga rulers in the 9th century during their occupation of this region. The residing deity of the temple was later called Hakim Nanjunda; as given by the Tippu Sultan as it is said a favorite elephant of his was cured after prayer was offered to the deity. The same story is attributed to Hyder too (as per Mysore Gazetteer)! It is said and inscribed in the temple history that his favourite and beloved elephant was bestowed with eyesight by the Lord, after Tippu Sultan's vow with the local deity. The Sultan then had a Lingam made of jade along with an emerald necklace and donated it to the temple. The Vaidya Nanjundeswara, even today is said to be a healer for his believers, and one can see even today worshippers doing Urulu seve, a ritualistic practice after taking bath in the Kapila river. You will find a very old Bilva tree, near the main deity block, its custom to view the tree for full blessings, no one has the idea as to how old this tree is. The main bilva leaves is considered very auspicious and very sacred for Shiva Puja.[7]

Veda Brahma. T. S. Vishweshwara Dikshith is the composer of world-famous Sree Srikanteshwara Suprabhata Stotram of Lord. Srikanteshwara of Nanjangud. Sri. T. S. Vishweshwara Dikshith was a learned Sanskrit scholar in several Vedas (Yajur Veda in particular) and specialised in Ghana Krama - which is the essence of the Vedas. He also composed the Sree Sharada Suprabhata and Sree Chandramoulishwara Suprabhata of Sri Sharada temple, Sringeri and Sri Chandramoulishwara temple in V. V. Mohalla, Mysore respectively. He was a Ghana Pati and had mastered several Shastras such as Alankara Shastra, Jyothishya Shastra (Astrology), Tarka, and Vyakarana (Literature) to name a few. He received several awards and accolades from the Maharaja of Mysore, their holiness the pointiffs' of Sringeri Sharada Peetham and Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam respectively for contributions made to Sanskrit Literature. He was also a founding member of "Sri Surasaraswathi Sabha" under the able guidance of Jagadguru Sri Srimad Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswamigal, who was the 35th Acharya of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham

Twice every year thousands of worshippers gather for the famous Chariot Festival locally known as the Dodda Jathre and the Chikka Jathre. Idols of Lord Srikanteshwara, Goddess Parvathi, Lord Ganapathi, Lord Subramanya and Lord Chandikeshwara are kept in five separate chariots and a traditional puja is performed to the idols early in the morning on the Jathre day. After the puja, chariots are flagged off. Thousands of devotees pull the Chariots carved out of wood, across the streets of the old town. The town remains immersed in festivities on the Jathre days.

Near Nanjangud is the sangam, where the Kapila and Kaundinya rivers meet. This place is termed as Parashurama Kshetra which is where the sage Parashurama is said to have cleansed himself from the sin of beheading his mother.[3]

It is said that Parashurama got immense peace of mind at this place which he did not get anywhere else. So he decided to make a penance at the place where Nanjundeshwara temple presently exists. At that time, only Adi Keshava Temple existed (which is now by the side of main-shrine). While cleaning up the place with his axe, he accidentally hit the head of Lord Shiva, who was performing penance underground. Blood started flowing and Parushurama was frightened to have committed another sin. Then Lord Shiva consoled him not to worry and build a temple of his, adjacent to Adi Keshava's. Lord Shiva also told Parashurama to perform penance at Nanjangud. Parashurama performed at the place where his temple presently is located. Lord Shiva was then immensely happy with it and gave blessings that those who visit Nanjangud should definitely visit Parashurama temple to complete their pilgrimage effectively and fruitfully. [8]

The oldest railway bridge in India

The bridge is across Kabini river, which has been declared as the oldest bridge with both railway line and road on the same bridge by the Government of India. It is located at the entrance of temple town here.

The Kabini Bridge was built by DalvoyDevraj in 1735 with brick, sand and stone in Gothic style. Though it was built before the railway tracks were laid, the bridge was and is more commonly labelled as a Railway bridge. The Kabini Bridge has a series of Gothic arches of 10ft span with 8ft wide intervening piers. The earth cushion over the arch crest is over 5 feet. The foundations are laid on rocky strata and built in lime concrete. The bridge is of stone masonry with lime concrete filling and mortar. It has 51spans of 10 feet and before 1902 it existed as a road bridge ferrying bullock, camel and horse carriage traffic across the Kabini. A narrow gauge Railway line was being built from Mysore to Nanjangud in 1902 and the Railways used the arched bridge to connect it to the Nanjangud railway station. Trains ran on this bridge from 1902 to 2007. The last train to run on this heritage rail infrastructure was on January 17, 2007 when the Railways decided to put a stop to meter gauge trains and operate broad gauge trains. Since broad gauge needs a different alignment from narrow and meter gauges, a new bridge was built across the Kabini.[9]

The bridge, built in 1735, is now 283 years old and a Heritage Monument declared by the Government of India.[10][11]

More than 200 year old Shiva Temple, situated at CHIKKAIANA CHATRA village just 50 meters off OOTY Road the -Mysore-Nanjanagud Highway, Karnataka 571302, India (LatLong - 12.156037, 76.680267), Recently taken under the care of Karnataka Muzrai Department and rejuvenated the last couple of years. A calm and unexplored temple worth visiting.

Dattaatreya Temple is located near Chamundeshwari Temple near to the banks of River Kapila. Sri Maha Sharabheshwara and Sri Pratyangira Devi is also installed in this temple.[12]

This temple is also known as Hemmaragala Huchu Gopala Santhana Venugopala Swamy or “Koundinya Maharshi Kshetra ”.,[13] located 13.3 km from the main Nanjangud Srikanteshwara temple. The main idol is famously called as Tribhangi Kolalu Gopala, It is believed to be around 1800 year old and know for granting children for childless couples.you can find lot of real case testimonial on the YouTube channel. A must place to visit for childless couples

Legend has it, that the main deity was installed by Koundinya Maharshi, a famous sage and an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha and a scholar[14].

As per the discussion with the main priest & old history, The Chola King  who one ruled this region had 12 Female children and wished & prayed the main deity, Sri Venugopala swamy for a male child  in order to continue his direct lineage. The lord appeared in the dream of king but to his surprise, the next day queen again gave birth to a baby girl. This made the king very angry and he criticized his queen badly, saddened by this the queen promises to commit suicide in front of the main deity, by putting forward her request to change the baby girl to boy, the next day.

As a miracle the next day in the brahmi lagnam (morning 3.30 am) the child turns into male. Witnessing this the queen with love and devotion calls the god “Huchhu Gopala”. For this as thanks giving the Chola Maharaja ( King) made the stone floaring to the Kalyaani.

Now also lot of couples visit the temple to get blessed with children. Here you will find the sacred stick which believed to be of Koundinya Maharshi

Upon entering, one can view columns or pillars depicting the architecture of Vijayanagara times and the Udbhava Narasimha, lion god is holy and amazing to watch.The main idol is adored by Sri.Krishna in Tribhangi style, with the Gopikas, cows, Gopala and Sanath Kumara Also, the Utsava murthy which is kept reminds us of the old times[15]