I had almost one week time to report to my new job. So instead of being a couch-potato, we (with parents and sister) planned for a visit to Nanjangud (A pilgrimage for devotees of Lord Shiva) in Mysore district. A very nice place to visit and I tried to gather som information about the city and the temple of Lord Nanjundeshwara. Here it is, read on... :) Nanjangud is one of the oldest city in the southern India, it has history of more than 12 centuries. A peaceful city developed on the bank of river Kapila is wellknown for the temple of Lord Shiva. Shiva is also known as 'Nanjundeshwara' and so the name 'Nanjangud' to the city. The Nanjundeshwara temple was built during 9th century by the Gangas (one of the prominent kingdoms in southern India at that time). And later in 13th century the temple was expanded by Hoysalas. The temple premises also includes few temples of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Parvati (Wife of God Shiva), Chandikeshwara, and 66 Nayannar statues. Eight foot statue of 'Nandi', the mythological vehicle of Lord Shiva was established within the themple premises during mid seventeeth century. The main 'Shikar' of the temple is approximately 120 foot and was built by the Third Krishnaraja Wodeyar during 1845 AD.

The Main Shikar posted by pqrshanth

View from the river bank posted by pqrshanth

The river Kapila flows peacefully to the north of the temple (from temple to river its just 300 to 400 meters). Devotees visiting the temple usually take a dip in the river first and then they visit the temple. Another wellknown thing about Nanjangud is the once famous 'Nanjangud tooth powder'. This brand of tooth powder was so popular during post independece that for transportation itself a railway track was laid between Mysore and Nanjangud. How to go there: Nanjangud is 20 KMs from Mysore (Approx 170 KMs from Bangalore). Plenty of buses plying Mysore and Bangalore. Better to avoid Mondays -- favourite(!!!) day of Shiva, since number of devotees will be more on Mondays.

Taken @ Matupatti dam, on the way to Munnar, Kerala.

January 15th, 2003: My parents and friends had come to Bangalore city railway station, to send me off to Chennai. My entire luggage was dumped in 'Brindavan Express'. Platform full of buzzing activity and I was off to Chennai. That was my third visit to Chennai city. My first visit to Chennai was 3 years back for an entrance examination in ONGC. I had come down with my graduation classmates and that was a very short visit of less than a day (18 hrs). Second one, you can't call it a visit actually, was of few minutes. That was the ones when train (Sanghamitra express had stopped while going and coming from Mughalsarai to Bangalore). But this time my destination was Chennai, unaware of how long I'm gonna stay there. July 2nd, 2005: Finally my long stay at Chennai came to an end. Huh! This was really long stay, almost two and half years - to be specific Two years, Five months and Seventeen days. I started back the journey with my Chennai roommate in his Josh machine (For Ikon Flair) on Saturday morning at 3.45 AM. Just before starting from Chennai, it rained few drops as if to say good bye to me(!!!). Finally I'm getting "Bangalored". Bangalore, I'm coming.