Chikmagalur perhaps a seemingly unheard of little city is however one of the most scenic and peaceful hideouts India has to offer. At a height of about 3400 ft, Chikmagalur is near the Sahyadri Mountains of Western Ghat, which is in the state of Karnataka.
This charming picturesque town is the first place in India where coffee was grown. The coffee as well as the tea trade still flourishes abundantly here.
As far as historically significant incidents go, this town is renowned for the temple of Kodanda Ramaswamy. This means ‘Rama with bow’. The site on which the temple is built is where folklore states Parashurama was subdued by Lord Rama. The story goes on to say that Parashurama met with Lord Rama and requested Lord Rama to show him the scene of his marriage. At which point Lord Rama placed Sita on his right and Lakshmana on his left.
The image of this scene is what is captured in sculpture and depicted on a Hanuman pedestal in the Garbhagriha area.
The temple itself is in the Hoysala style. However the rest of the temple premises seem to have been subsequently added on as their structure depicts Dravidian style. Thus it is believed that the temple was constructed in 3 stages.
The inner enclosed area of the temple as well as the outer walls and pillars are fully carved, depicting various aspects, forms and figures of Deshika, Sugriva, Muddukrishna, Madhava, Ramanujacharya, as well as Vishnu and his forms such as Hayagriva, Narasimha, Lakshminarayana, Kaliya-Mardana and Govardhanadhari. There are also figures of Lakshmi, Hunaman and Garuda Ganapati.
Around February each year a Jatra is held for the temple. In any case this temple is a must visit for any traveller interested in Indian culture and folklore, as well as travellers who would like to experience the ambience and serenity of this little town. If you are looking for a luxurious and comfortable Chikmagalur hotel then The Gateway Hotel KM Road Chikmagalur with its beautifully restored colonial architecture would be an ideal getaway.
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Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
