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Offered languages
- English
This full-day excursion allows you to visit world heritage site of Somnathpur and Talakadu, a town with an ancient mystery. Key highlights include a guided tour of the 13th-century temple of Chennakesava at Somnathpur, the 14th century Vaidyanatheswara temple at Talakadu, with its famous Queen’s curse and mystery of sand dunes. This experiential and guided tour is organized in a private car. We guarantee an experience that will stimulate all your 5 senses.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Itinerary
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1
Somnathpur is famous for the magnificent Chennakesava temple. It has been declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. This temple was built in 1268 by Somanatha, a general of King Narasimha III. We will explore the three shrines and three wonderfully carved peaks with a common Mandapa. The next couple of hours will be spent appreciating the 16 different ceilings, each depicting a different stage of a blooming banana flower, the central wall space adorned with images of deities with jewellery, bangles, crowns and anklets.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
2
Next, we will visit Keertinarayana temple, built using black granite and bricks, and a splendid example of Hoysala style of architecture. This was built to commemorate the victory of King Vishnuvardhan over the Cholas. The highlight of this temple is the 2-meter tall main deity of the Lord.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
3
Hotel pick up will be at 730 am and we will head towards Talakadu, located 130km from Bangalore. The journey will take 3 hours. Talakadu used to be a flourishing town with more than 30 temples during ancient times. The legendary Queen’s curse buried the entire town with sand dunes. We will visit Vaidyanatheswara temple, one of the 5 temples excavated from the sands. Over the next 2 hours, we will explore this granite structure built in the 14th century by Chola Kings and dedicated to Lord Shiva. We will also visit Pataleshwara Shiva temple where the Lingam is supposed to change colors through the day from red, black and white.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 18 years
- Footwear needs to be removed before entering temples and we have multiple temples on this itinerary. So slippers or slip-ons which can be easily removed, are preferable
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women.
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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