JOIN USWhen you have a car, every weekend is an opportunity to hit the road and explore new places in a city like Bengaluru! Our second road trip in a month was to this beautiful place called Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh. This was just supposed to be a drive to the highway and back. But come on, who doesn’t like unplanned adventure? After much discussion, we left our place in Indiranagar at around 3.30 am.
How did we go?
Lepakshi is around 130 km from Bengaluru and this is what makes it an ideal destination for a day trip and weekend as well. After a small pitstop for tea and some awesome bread omelette, we reached Lepakshi around 5.45 am, right in time for one of the most beautiful sunrises we have witnessed. To go to Lepakshi, one has to take the Hyderabad highway with wide and safe roads.
Significance of the place
Famous for the Veerabhadra Temple built in the 15th century by the Vijayanagara kings, Lepakshi is also known for the largest monolith of Nandi and Nagalinga in India.
What did we do?
We were taken aback by the ancient architectural brilliance. The temple of Veerabhadra is an ode to great vision, planning, detailing and patience. The gigantic Nandi sits around 200 metres away from the temple. Unlike other Nandis, this Nandi does not surrender and it looks as if it is sitting upright with pride, overlooking the entire village. As we were absorbing the aura of this beautiful monolith, the sun decided to come out and make the morning even more grand. It just took our breath away!
The temple is massive. It will take you around half an hour to one hour just to see the entire place! Right from the sculptures in the temple to the paintings on the ceilings, everything here is sure to leave you speechless and you will feel this newfound respect for the great Indian heritage and history!
There are many stories associated with this temple, the story of a Shiv devotee and legend of Jatayu (the bird from Ramayana) to name a few. Do talk to the locals there, you might just stumble upon a new story. It will be a unique experience in itself!
The mornings in Lepakshi are serene and cold. The morning prayers and peaceful atmosphere make this place divine. The villagers are friendly and enthusiastic. You might find a few travellers and photographers as one can’t get enough of the ancient architecture and sculptures. After taking a small halt in the village, we headed back to Bengaluru. By evening, we were home. I would urge you to visit Lepakshi at least once, if not for religious reasons, then for simply witnessing the architectural beauty. It’s a real treat for your mind, body and soul!
(The author can be contacted at ankuj11089@gmail.com)