A weekend getaway

Though it was ruled by many powerful dynasties, Mulabagilu, a temple town located in Kolar district, has a rich cultural and philosophical history. It is of little wonder then that many people stop here on their way to Tirupati.

It was during the time of Madhwa saint Sripadaraja that the town became a spiritual learning centre for students from various parts of the country. Sripadaraja was initiated into the sanyasa deeksha by his guru, Sri Swarnavarna Teertha, when he was nine years old. Once he came back to Mulabagilu after his extensive study, he established a math of his own and began a gurukul as well. Sri Narasimha Teertha, a pond built by Sripadaraja, is located 1.5 km from the town.

Mulabagilu has several ancient temples. One such is the Anjaneya Swamy Temple. The deity of this temple is believed to have been installed by Arjuna after the Mahabharata war, from his Hanuman Flag. Another temple of interest here is the Virupaksha Swamy Temple that was built by Lakkana Dandesha, a chieftain under King Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara Empire, in 1450. It is located 3 km away from the town. Apart from these, one can also consider visiting the Someshwara Swamy Temple, which has a rare statue of Shanmukha and dates back to 950 AD.

With much to see and learn, Mulabagilu makes for a perfect weekend getaway or one-day visit for all, especially those in Bengaluru.