Talakadu
ತಲಕಾಡು
The ancient Western Ganga capital buried by sand dunes on a bend of the Kaveri River, with several temples of a thousand years old peeking out.
Talakadu sits on a bend of the Kaveri River about 45 km southeast of Mysuru. It was once the capital of the Western Ganga dynasty. Legend says a queen's curse caused sand dunes to engulf the town, and more than 30 temples are still buried under the sand. Visitors can see excavated temples such as the Vaidyeshwara Temple, dating back about 1,000 years, and the Kirtinarayana Temple. You need to walk barefoot over the sand, which gets scorching at midday. The riverbank has shallow spots for wading and bamboo basket boats. It is often visited on the same day as Somanathapura.
Opening hours
Approx. 06:00–20:00 (temples close at midday)
Nearby sights
- Chennakeshava Temple, Somanathapura
- Shivanasamudra Falls
- Lalitha Mahal Palace
- Srikanteshwara Temple, Nanjangud
- Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum
- Chamundi Hill & Chamundeshwari Temple
- Karanji Lake
- Nandi Statue, Chamundi Hill