Talakadu

Nestled on the banks of the River Kaveri, Talakadu in Karnataka is a mystical place steeped with a rich past and cultural heritage. It is famous for the Vaidyanatheshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The town has been a witness to the rise and falls of several great kingdoms including Cholas, Pallavas, Gangas, Vijayanagar and Hoysalas. The place derives its name from two local chieftains Tala and Kada and this called Talakadu. Famous among devotees of Lord Shiva, visitors can witness the legacy of the town that still reflects in its age-old antiquity. There are a number of temples that are buried under the sand and are excavated once in every 12 years for special worship called 'Panchalinga Darshana'.The Panchalinga Darshana includes five major temples namely Vaidyeshwara temple, Arkeshwara temple, Vasukishwara or Pataleshwara temple Saikateshwara or Maraleshwara temple and Mallikarjuna temple. It is said that the Pataleshwara Shivalinga change colours according to the time of the day- red in the morning, black in the afternoon and white in the evening.