Talakad

An ancient temple complex, it is surrounded by myth, legend and a combination of strange natural phenomenon. Talakad has a collection of medieval temples which strangely get swallowed in shifting sand dunes and clears every 12 years. Located on the banks of the Cauvery about 50 km to the East of Mysore, Talakad was once the capital of the Gangas, which was then captured by the Cholas, Hoysalas and then the Vijayanagar kings. Most of the temples are dedicated to Shiva, the prominent being the Panchalinga temples. The complex is believed to have been cursed by Alamelamma, the wife of a local chieftain, whose jewels were demanded for decorating the deity at Srirangapatna. The complex mysteriously loses the accumulated sand once every 12 years and a series of pujas take place called Panchalinga darshana when devotees can see all the temples.