Places to visit around Bangalore / ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು/ Bengaluru part-7

33 Mahimapura          
         Type :Hillock,Temples
         Nearest Town: Dabspet
         Distance from Bangalore: 45 kms .
         Direction: Via NH4 towards Dabspet , one will get a left turn indicating towards Mahimapura . This crossing is about 15 kms from toll booth.

       About: A flight of around 250 steps takes us to the top of this small hillock. There is a simple yet beautiful temple at the top with various carvings on the pillars resembling Chola style of architecture. It is believed that Lord Garuda did penance here to get rid of the sin of eating the dead body of a demoness and after Lord Vishnu was pleased, he appeared before Garuda in the form of a mound of jaggery.  Various hills like Savanadurga, Shivagange, and Nijagal betta are visible from the top. At the base of the hillock is a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman who is carved out of a single stone and is 12ft tall.

Lord Ranganatha Swamy Temple

Shivagange

Lord Hanuman

34 Aladahalli
          Type: Hillock, Temple.
          Nearest Town: Dabspet.
          Distance from Bangalore: 50kms.

          Direction : Via NH4 towards Dabspet , Take left turn after crossing Mahimapura Crossing . Travel till the dead end then take a right turn . To reach the hill. Land mark near the NH4 is newly opened Tejkamal Pharmaceutical ltd.

          About : The main idol of the temple, in the form of a solid black granite pillar, is the only one of its kind in the entire State. The Lord is depicted in the form of artistically carved fish and tortoise incarnations (Matsya and Koorma avatars). All other Ranganatha Swamy temples have sleeping, sitting or standing idols of the lord in his human form. This is the only temple in which the lord has been depicted in the form of his earliest incarnations. Aladahalli was once upon a time known as Yajnavalka Ashrama.There is a cave temple dedicated to goddess Lakshmi at base of the hill . The climb is very easy but can be made interesting by doing some rock climbing . 

lord Ranganatha Swamy temple

References:
1.http://www.indiatraveltimes.com/travelogue/mahimapura.html
2.http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/may062004/metro6.asp       

More places to visit around Bengaluru. Click here..

Related Posts:
1. Shree Ramalingeshwara Cave Temple, Hosadurga 
2. Huthridurga Fort
3. Places to Visit in Ramanagaram