Mahadwara (Grand Entrance) of Kirtinarayana Temple , Talakkad buried under sand. Photographed in 1991.

They say ‘fact is stranger than fiction !!’

Talakad, located near Mysore in India, is a historical site that was once home to more than 30 temples, now buried under sand. The massive sand dunes that cover the area have sparked numerous myths and legends among the locals. Ongoing excavations have led to the recovery of several temples from the sand dunes. The photos included were taken by me at the same location, with a 24-year gap between them. The first picture shows us standing on the partially visible Mahadwara (grand entrance) of the Kirtinarayana temple, which has since been fully recovered and restored (as shown in the picture below).

Mahadwara (Grand Entrance) of Talakkad Kirtinarayana Temple . Recovered from the sand . 2015

Talakkad was established by the Ganga Dynasty during the first millennium CE, and subsequently by the Tamil Cholas from the 11th to the 12th centuries. The town later fell under the control of the Hoysalas in the 12th century. It was later conquered by the Vijayanagar rulers and the Maharajas of Mysore. Talakkad was engulfed by sand over 400 years ago, leading to various theories surrounding this enigma. According to scientific research, it may have been an ecological catastrophe triggered by a series of earthquakes. There is also a belief that the region was buried under a sediment mound when the Kaveri river altered its course due to a curse.

Legend has it that a curse dating back 400 years was believed to have originated from a series of events. In 1612, Srirangapatnam was ruled by Srirangaraya, the viceroy of the Vijayanagar Empire. When the viceroy fell ill, he visited a temple in Talakadu to pray, leaving his wife, Queen Alemalamma, in charge of the kingdom. Worried about her husband’s health, she too went to Talakadu, bringing along priceless jewels to adorn the deity at the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangapatnam. Taking advantage of the situation, King Wodeyar of neighboring Mysore seized Srirangapatnam and sent his soldiers after the Queen for her jewels. After the viceroy’s death, a grief-stricken Alemalamma handed over a nose ring made of a single giant pearl before tragically ending her life by jumping into the Cauvery river. Before her demise, she uttered a curse upon the Wodeyars, wishing for Talakad to become a barren desert, Malangi to transform into an unfathomable whirlpool, and for the Wadiyars of Mysore to remain childless forever.

The original words were like this : “Talkādu Maralaāgi; Mālingi maduvaāgi; Mysuru dhorege makkalagade hōgali !” (“ತಲಕಾಡು ಮರಳಾಗಿ; ಮಾಲಿಂಗಿ ಮಡುವಾಗಿ, ಮೈಸೂರು ದೊರೆಗೆ ಮಕ್ಕಳಾಗದೆ ಹೋಗಲಿ !”

It is astonishing that the curse remains true even today! Talakadu is submerged under layers of sand, and there has not been a male successor to the throne of Mysore since then.

Coincidentally, shortly after hearing about Alamelamma’s suicide, Wodeyar placed a statue of her at the Mysore palace and conducted prayers in her honor. Currently, her statue is revered as a deity within the palace.

Talakkad Kirtinarayana Temple being re-constructed . 2015

Talakkad Vaidyanatheshwara Temple

Monolithic stone rings at Vaidyanatheshwara Temple.

At the Vaidyanatheshwara Temple, you can admire the monolithic stone rings and a stunning 5-headed serpent figure with chain links, all expertly carved from a single stone.

Talakkad Pataleswara Temple recovered from sand but still below ground level

An evening at Kaveri basin. People waiting for coracle ride.

Talakkad is situated on the left bank of the Kaveri river, 45 km from Mysore and 133 km from Bangalore in Karnataka, India.

• Route 1 : Bangalore to Talakadu via Malavalli (distance 133km) Bangalore – Kanakapura – Hagaluru – Malavalli – Talakadu.
• Route 2 : Bangalore to Talakadu via Maddur (distance 133km) Bangalore – Ramanagara – Channapatna – Maddur – Malavalli – Talakadu.
• Route 3 : Mysore to Talakadu via T.Narsipur (distance 45km) Mysore – T. Narsipur – Madapura – Talakadu.