JOIN USA remote village which almost got submerged some eighty years ago in the backwaters of Kannambadi Katte (now KRS) under construction, Yadathore is now better known as Krishnarajanagara, a historic town which is the taluk centre consisting of seven taluks, six hoblis and 31 gram panchayats in charge of about 180 villages.
To rehabilitate the residents of a water-logged Yadathore, Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar picked the famed German architect Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel for forming a township which was inaugurated in the year 1934. Consequently, Yadathore became Krishnrajanagar, named after the king Krishnaraja Wodeyar.
Apart from the ancient temples of Arkeshwara and Kodandarama, visitors to KR Nagar are treated to beautiful spots like Chunchanakatte Falls and Kappadi.
Specks of history
About 15 km from KR Nagar is Chunchanakatte, a quiet village situated on the banks of Cauvery, forming wonderful waterfalls next to a sacred spot, locally called Dhanushkoti, where Sita is believed to have taken a holy dip.
Once a mythological forest spot, sanctified by the short stay of Lord Rama and Sita during their exile, Chunchanakatte has a small but historic temple built during the reign of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar.
The Dravidian-style temple has a presiding deity of Kodandarama along with Sita and Lakshmana. As the temple’s deity Rama has a kodanda (bow) in his hand, it is called the Kodandarama Temple.
The special pujas associated with the popular car festival of Chunchanakatte Kodandarama Temple are performed every year a day after the Sankranthi festival. The annual cattle fair, held here for about two weeks in the month of August, is one of the largest cattle fairs in Mysore district.
On the outskirts of KR Nagar is an eye-catching temple, which stands serenely on the banks of River Cauvery. It is an ancient temple consecrated with numerous shivalingas.
Apart from the main deity, a one-foot high udbhava murthy (self-manifested) and a shivalinga are worshipped as Arkeshwara or Arkanatheshwara. Beside the sanctum housing Arkeshwara is a small shrine dedicated to Goddess Parvathi.
The sun festival (Rathasaptami) and annual jathra culminating in a grand Brahmothosava of Arkesheswara Temple are held in the magha masa (February) every year. Some 10 km from KR Nagar is the village Dornahalli, surrounded by lush green paddy fields and palm groves. Also called Christian Koppalu, Dornahalli’s main attraction is its holy cross-shaped twin towered church, housing the statue of Saint Anthony.
Originally said to be a wooden doll fortuitously unearthed by a farmer furrowing the field, the miraculous statue of St. Anthony was enshrined (in mid-18th Century) in a small chapel which later became a presbytery (priests’ residence).
This church was built on June 13, 1964 and was consecrated on June 13, 1969. To commemorate the sacred event, an annual feast is celebrated here on June 13 every year.