The mystery of an entire Talakadu city becoming a desert. The queen’s curse turned the city into a desert. There is a place in the south of India that has remained a center of mystery for centuries
That is why this place has completely turned to sand due to one night and many temples buried in this cave.
Talakadu—A Town of Legends and Sand
Talakadu is a historic town in Karnataka with many interesting stories and ancient sites. It was first ruled by the Western Ganga dynasty and later came under the control of the Cholas and the Vijayanagar empire. A famous legend says that a queen cursed the town, which caused sand to cover it. Today, people know Talakadu for its ancient temples, scenic beauty, and the unusual dunes that still cover parts of the area
Kings of Talakadu—A Glimpse into History
Several powerful dynasties ruled Talakadu over the centuries, giving it a rich royal history.
- Western Ganga Dynasty (4th–10th century CE)
- The earliest known rulers of Talakadu.
- They made Talakadu their capital and built many temples, especially dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- King Durvinita was one of the most well-known rulers of this dynasty.
- Chola Dynasty (11th century)
- The Cholas from Tamil Nadu captured Talakadu and ruled it for a brief period.
- They left behind temple architecture and inscriptions.
- Hoysala Dynasty (12th–14th century)
- The Hoysalas controlled Talakadu after the Cholas and added to its temple heritage.
- Vijayanagara Empire (14th–17th century)
- Talakadu later came under the Vijayanagara kings, who maintained control of the region.
- During this time, Srirangapatna became more prominent nearby.
- Wodeyars of Mysore
- Raja Wodeyar took control of Talakadu in the early 17th century.
- His takeover is linked to the famous legend of Queen Alamelamma’s curse, which led to Talakadu being buried in sand.
Beginning of the story
“Talakadu, near Mysore in Karnataka, was once a beautiful city. At one time, it had more than 30 temples, but due to a curse, sand has buried most of them. This Talakadu city wasn’t always like this.
But a king here did something like this, because of which the queen cursed this city; due to the curse, this city became a sandy desert.
Panchalinga Darshana
Talakadu is famous for its five Shiva temples, known as the Panchalinga temples. These temples are located along the banks of the Kaveri River and attract many devotees during special festivals.
The Panchalinga temples are five ancient temples in Talakadu, Karnataka. All are dedicated to Lord Shiva
- Vaidyanatheshwara Temple
- Arkeshwara Temple
- Pataleshwara Temple
- Maruleshwara Temple
- Mallikarjuneshwara Temple
What is special about the Panchalinga temple? This rare religious event happens once every few years when all five Shiva temples are worshipped on a single day. It draws thousands of devotees.
“Why did sand cover the town of Talakad?
Long ago, Thirumala Raja, a ruler from the Vijayanagar family living in Srirangapattana, became very sick. He went to Talakad to pray and offer rituals at the famous Vaidyeshwara Temple. “While he was there, his second wife, Queen Alamelamma, took charge.”
After hearing that her husband had passed away, Alamelamma decided to go to Talakad. Before leaving, she gave control of Srirangapattana to Raja Wodeyar of Mysore, who had been supporting them.”
But Raja Wodeyar became greedy. He wanted both Alamelamma’s royal jewels and possibly her too. So, when she left for Talakad, he sent his soldiers after her.
To protect her honour and the jewels, Alamelamma went to the banks of the Cauvery River. She threw the jewels into the river and jumped in herself. Before dying, she shouted a curse:
The curse of Talakadu
People believe this curse has kept Talakad covered in sand even today and led the Mysore royals to adopt most of their heirs since then.”
“A well-known legend says that Queen Alamelamma cursed Talakad in the 17th century, causing it to be buried under sand. After her husband, King Tirumala Raja, died, the Mysore Wodeyar rulers took control, which made her very upset. Before dying, she cursed them, declaring that Talakad would be covered in sand, a whirlpool would appear in the nearby town of Malangi, and the kings of Mysore would remain childless.
Temples Rise from the Sand
“The Archaeologica has restored some old temples in Talakad, but many remain buried in sand.
If you want to know more information about Talakadu, Karnataka, then stay updated with theunheardstories.com.
