Talakad: A capital lost beneath the sands

Michael Patrao explores the history of an ancient town in Mysuru, home to a rich architectural heritage

Talakad, located in the T Narsipura taluk of Mysuru district, is a town of great antiquity. It is situated on the left bank of the River Cauvery.

According to historian M H Krishna, the site of this ancient capital was once vast. In the 12th century AD, it is believed to have comprised seven towns and five mathas.

This once-glorious capital of a powerful bygone kingdom is now enveloped by an extensive stretch of sand dunes, spanning over a mile. For several centuries, these sands concealed temples of ancient splendour, only to be rediscovered through excavation.

The growth of the sand dunes has been particularly pronounced over the past 400 years. In some places, the dunes have risen to nearly sixty feet, burying much of the old town. The formation of these dunes is attributed to deforestation along the riverbank and the construction of a reservoir by Madhavamantri around 1346 AD.

The Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage in Mysuru notes that the dunes’ formation is influenced by geographical features such as the Mudukuthore hill, the Madhavamantri dam, and the slightly elevated watercourse near Mekedatu. Stratigraphic studies suggest that sand accumulation began during the late Vijayanagar period, in the 17th century.

The name ‘Talakad’ literally means ‘jungle’. Its Sanskrit form, Talavanapura, appears in an inscription attributed to the Ganga king Harivarma (circa 500 AD).

Talakad is renowned for the Panchalingas, five temples symbolising the five faces of Shiva. These temples line the banks of the Cauvery.

A pilgrimage to all five is known as the Panchalinga Darshana.

The Gangas

The early history of Talakad is closely tied to the Ganga dynasty. Surprisingly, few Ganga inscriptions have been discovered in Talakad itself — likely because many remain buried beneath the sands. Numerous Ganga monuments, including possible Jain basadis, may also lie hidden.

The earliest reliable record indicates that the Ganga king Harivarma resided in Talakad around 500 AD. The Gangas ruled this region for nearly five centuries, later becoming vassals of the Rashtrakutas.

By the end of the 10th century, the Cholas captured Talakad from the Gangas. The Ganga king Permanadi Gangaraja was defeated by Rajendra Chola. The Cholas retained control for over a century until 1116 AD, when, aided by a Ganga prince, the Hoysalas ousted them. The Cholas renamed the town Rajarajapura, a name which persisted even in Hoysala inscriptions of the 14th century.

Vishnuvardhana, the Hoysala king who expelled the Cholas from Mysore, adopted the title Talakadu-Gonda. Under his rule and that of his successors, Talakad flourished and served as the southern capital of the Hoysala dynasty.

R Narasimhachar, a historian and archaeologist, unearthed a Tamil inscription dated 1173 AD, which confirms that Vishnuvardhana built the Keerthi Narayana temple in 1117 AD.

This is the only Hoysala-style temple in Talakad, though distinct from the famed soapstone temples of Belur and Halebid. Constructed of granite and brick, only the four round navrang pillars and the deity are made of soapstone. The temple’s ornamented base follows its architectural contour.

Perumala Danayaka, a minister of Vira-Ballala III, founded a school at Malangi on the opposite bank of the Cauvery and endowed it with land. 

In the late 14th century, Talakad came under the control of the Vijayanagar empire. Its governance was entrusted to feudatories, notably from the line of Somaraja, until around 1634 AD.

Inscriptions from this period confirm continued temple patronage. Madhavamantri, a prominent Vijayanagar officer and native of Talakad, constructed the Madhavamantri anicut (dam).

New rulers

In 1610, Tirumala Raja represented the Vijayanagar dynasty at Srirangapatna. Historical accounts suggest strained relations between him and Raja Wodeyar of Mysore. However, Raja Wodeyar secured the favour of Emperor Venkatapati Raya of Vijayanagar, who granted him Srirangapatna in 1612.

From then on, Talakad remained under Mysore rule. Several Wodeyar-era inscriptions document generous donations to the local Vishnu and Shiva temples.

Notable temples

The Vaidyanatheshvara temple is the most ornately carved in the region and is built almost entirely of fine-grained granite. For a granite structure, its carvings are remarkably intricate.

Though the linga is of Chola origin, the temple structure appears later. The motifs — lions and gryphons — are more characteristic of post-13th-century styles than those of earlier Chola or Hoysala art.

Talakad and its surrounding areas host numerous other ancient temples, including the Gokarneshvara, Veerabhadra, Arkeshvara, and Mallikarjuna temples. The Bandarasamma temple, dedicated to the local village deity, holds an annual jatre (festival).

Historians have recorded these temples in meticulous detail, but their grandeur is best experienced in person. Talakad, once a flourishing capital for over a millennium, now stands as a modest municipality.