Ramlingesvara Temple Complex, Aihole

Dec 16, 2011

Driving on Pattadakal-Aihole road, about a kilometer before Aihole you can see a dirt road and an arch on your left hand side. Less than half kilometer away are Ramlingesvara and Galaganatha groups of temples, on the bank of Malaprabha where the river flows South to North. Few tourists visit these temples.

Ramlingesvara temple complex has a tall shed, for it's theru. Presence of a theru is an indication that pooja is performed and an annual fair is also happens. An arch to welcomes visitors.


The arch as seen from inside.


River Malaprabha and Basavanna on a pedestal. Notice the small Shivalinga near Basavanna's feet?


A gateway to reach Malaprabha waters and an mantapa where visitors could rest.
.

Mantapa seems to be pretty old.


A dooway? Does it mean the mantapa had some kind of walls?


Few small temples; these remind me of shrines in Huligyammanakolla.


Temple with pyramid shaped Shikhara.


Sculpture of three pairs of feet. A family of husband, wife and a kid? Or is it Rama, Sita and Lakshmana.


This is the main temple- Ramlingesvara Gudi has two garbhagudis. The temple doors were locked, I could not see anyone here to ask for information. The temple's sloping front seems to be a Kadamba touch. Rituals are performed here daily.


Basavanna facing the Garbhagudi. Holy ash ~ Angara is kept in the stone-cut bowl with a pedestal.


A large stone bowl. No idea what this was used for.

Back side of the temple.


Another temple dedicated to Shiva Linga.


Temple's interior.

This place reminds me of Hunasikatti near Kittur. Malaprabha flows South-North there also. I head back the way I came, towards Galaganatha temple complex, about 250m away.

Ramlingesvara Temple Complex Coordinates: 16°0'26"N 75°52'44"E

.........

Bengaluru Kote ~ Bangalore Fort

...Gulli and I walk down from Tipu Sultan Palace.


ASI board at Bangalore fort entrance.
The name Bangalore stems from Bengaluru, in a reference to it in a Ganga inscription, circa 890 AD., found near the Begur temple, begur. Kempegouda, a feudatory of the Vijayanagar empire, built and fortified the city in 1537 AD., and gave it its name. The city was leased to the Mysore King Chikkadevaraya by the Mughals, in 1689 AD. He expanded the existing fort to the South and built the Sri Venkataramana temple within its boundaries.
Hyder Ali secured Bengaluru as Jagir in 1758, further expanded, and strengthened it by 1761 AD.
Lord Cornawallis captured the fortified city in 1761 AD. but handed it back to Tipu Sultan a year later as per the Srirangapatna Treaty.
The original fort was oval in plan, with round bastions and huge gateways at important places Delhi Bagilu (Gate) and Yelahanka Bagilu in the North, Ulsur Bagilu in the East, Kanakanahalli Bagilu and Mysore Bagilu in the South and Kngeri Bagilu in the West. Remnants of these are still in existence by a dry most.
Only this part of the fort now remains intact, consisting of a dungeon and a small Ganesha temple. The three successive gateways here, linked the royal enclosure to the civilian area. The granite walls are sloping with beautiful stucco carvings. A tablet embedded on the wall indicates that this was where Lord Cornawallis breached the fort, when he took possession of it.
The dungeon bears witness to the confinement of Sir David Baird and other Englishmen, prior to 1785 AD on a tablet placed here.

Massive walls. I was disappointed to see that grill barring visitors going up those steps.


Massive gateway and doors.

Door hinges.


One of the exposed pivots. The stubby shift must be at least 50mm in diameter,


A Ganesha temple.

Mooshika.


Gulli takes a break.


Elephants form a Mantapa for Shivalinga.


Doorway as seen from inside.


Floral art decorates a column.


Doorway to inner fort.


Hoysala signature - Sala fighting a lion.


Doorway to dungeons.


Another gateway.


Can't stop admiring these solid walls.


A turret. Fort care-taker said this is a solid structure, its not hollow.


An open well. Gulli said there's no water in it.


Amazing piece of construction. Every stones dressed to match its neighbor.


Ugranarasimha.


Shivalinga.


Three fish share one head. Two more places with 'three fish one head' image are Munvalli fort Hanuman temple and Harihar Hariharesvara temple. Fish with elongated nose. A similar fish can be seen on Vindhyagiri, Shravanabelagola. A sitting monkey can be seen to the bottom right corner.


I asked the care-taker if he would let us see the rest of the fort. A stiff no :(

Gulli and walked down to City Market vegetable market. The place was packed with vendors, hamalis and buyers. Shopping was a different experience here. We walked to SP road, engaged an auto-rickshaw to take us home....

.........