Talakad or Talakadu is a desert-like town on the left bank of the Kaveri river 45 km (28 miles) from Mysore and 133 km (82 miles) from Bangalore in Karnataka, India. It once had over 30 temples, most of which now lay buried in sand
Among the temples of Talakad, the Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vaidyanatheshwara and Mallikarjuna temples, the five Lingams believed to represent the five faces of Shiva, form the Pancha pathi and have become famous. In honor of these five Shiva temples, a fair is held once every 12 years called Panchalinga Darshana, last held in 2009.
Talakad is famous by the curse of Talakad - by Alamelamma of the Wodeyar dynasty of Mysore - "Talakadu Maralagi, Malangi Maduvagi, Mysooru Arasarige Makkalagadirali"- the female Alamelamma cursed this way. (translation- "May Talakadu be filled with Sand, Malangi be a Whirlpool and Mysore Kings shall not have offsprings")
Things to See
- Vaidyanatheshwara Temple
- Maruleshwara Temple
- Pathaleshwara Temple
- Arkeshwara Temple
- Mallikarjuna Temple
- Coracle Boat ride in Kaveri river
Vaidyanatheshwara Temple, Talakad
