Mulabagilu Virupaksha Temple and Avani

Date: 1-May-15

The previous day’s heavy rainfall had left us without electricity, internet, and television connectivity. Rather than spending the day indoors, we decided to head out on a spontaneous road trip. Finding new one-day destinations around Bangalore has become increasingly challenging for us, but after some research, we came across the ancient Virupaksha Temple in the Kolar district. The plan sounded perfect for a relaxed day of exploring history, architecture, and lesser-known places.

The journey begins

Despite the bright and sunny weather, Thilak, Rajath, and I were excited about the trip. After charging the camera batteries and getting everything ready, we set off in our Nano at around 10:45 AM.

Virupaksha Temple is located in Virupaksha Village in Mulabagilu Taluk of Kolar district, approximately 100 km from our home in BTM Layout. Thilak remembered an Adigas restaurant near Kolar and suggested stopping there for lunch before visiting the temple. We took the route via KR Puram, Hoskote, and Kolar and reached the restaurant at around 12:30 PM, just in time for lunch.

After enjoying a delicious meal, we continued towards Mulabagilu. The roads were in excellent condition, making for a smooth drive. About 30 km later, just before entering Mulabagilu town, we took a right turn towards Virupaksha Temple. Without Google Maps, we would have almost certainly missed this turn.

Mulabagilu Virupaksha Temple

We reached the temple at around 1:30 PM. There were hardly 10–15 visitors, and the afternoon sun was unforgiving.

Built during the Vijayanagara Empire, the temple bears a striking resemblance to the famous Virupaksha Temple in Hampi. Even from the entrance, the architecture looked impressive. Adjacent to the main temple stands a beautiful Kalyana Mantapa supported by numerous intricately carved pillars. The temple corridor is spacious and adds to the grandeur of the complex.

Inside the Garbhagudi, the priest performed a pooja and shared some fascinating details about the temple’s history. We noticed that there were two Shiva Lingas inside the sanctum. When asked about them, the priest explained that the temple is around 700 years old and that one of the Lingas is believed to be an Atma Linga. According to local belief, the Atma Linga changes colour three times a day: appearing blood red in the morning, white in the afternoon, and honey-coloured in the evening. The priest also pointed out a specific spot near the Nandi statue facing the sanctum. He told us that devotees stand there with their eyes closed and hands stretched above their heads while praying. It is believed that one can feel vibrations caused by divine energy. Many devotees were performing this ritual, and Thilak and Rajath also spent a few moments in prayer there.

After receiving prasada, we spent some time exploring the temple complex. While the temple was reasonably well maintained, it seemed to carry traces of a rich yet forgotten past. The condition of Virupaksha village, however, was quite different. The village appeared economically underdeveloped, and we felt saddened by the challenges faced by the local community.

Avani

Avani is located just 8 km from Virupaksha Village. Thilak had visited this place earlier and wanted to trek to the temple situated atop Avani Hill. However, the intense afternoon heat had already drained much of my energy, and the thought of trekking under the blazing sun was not appealing. Eventually, we agreed to visit only the temple at the foothill and leave the hill trek for another day.

The drive from Virupaksha to Avani was beautiful. Although the road was narrow, lush green fields stretched on both sides, making the journey extremely pleasant. At around 2:45 PM, we reached Avani.

The first sight of the temple completely exceeded my expectations. Standing against the backdrop of Avani Hill, the temple looked stunning. Behind it rose the famous Avani Hill, dotted with massive boulders of varying sizes. While the hill itself did not appear particularly steep or intimidating, the relentless heat convinced me to firmly reject any trekking plans for the day.

Ramalingeshwara temple

The temple at the base of Avani Hill is the historic Ramalingeshwara Temple. Believed to have been built in the 10th century, the temple is exceptionally well maintained by the Archaeological Department of Karnataka. Constructed in the Dravidian architectural style, the complex consists primarily of four shrines dedicated to Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha, and Shatrughna.

Several other shrines dedicated to Vinayaka, Veerabhadra, Parvathi, and other deities are also located within the temple premises. The temple has a rich historical and cultural significance. The intricate carvings, beautifully sculpted pillars, and architectural details kept us fascinated throughout our visit.

We spent some time relaxing within the temple complex, hoping the weather would cool down enough for us to attempt the trek up Avani Hill. Even after waiting for nearly half an hour, the sun remained relentless. Reluctantly, we decided to postpone the trek and promised ourselves that we would return another day to explore the hill.

A change of route and an unexpected incident

For the return journey, Thilak suggested taking a different route through KGF (Kolar Gold Fields). I was excited about the idea because I had visited KGF once before and remembered a street lined with beautiful old British-era houses. I wanted to show that area to Thilak. KGF is approximately 30 km from Avani via Bethamangala.

The road from Avani to KGF was mostly in good condition, except for one stretch that had deteriorated into a muddy track filled with waterlogged potholes. Apart from that section, the drive was enjoyable. Just before reaching Bethamangala, however, we encountered an unexpected situation. Thilak met with a minor accident. Fortunately, he was able to continue driving until we reached Bethamangala, where we stopped at a government hospital. There was no doctor available at the time, but thankfully a nurse attended to him and provided the necessary treatment. After resting for a while, he felt much better.

By the time we left the hospital, it was already 5:30 PM. Rajath and I suggested that we skip KGF and head straight back to Bangalore. However, Thilak was determined to continue with the plan.

A brief stop at KGF

We eventually reached KGF town, but it was far more crowded than we had expected. Unfortunately, I could not locate the street with the old British-era houses that I had wanted to revisit. Since it was getting dark and we were unsure of the exact route, we decided not to spend too much time searching and instead began our journey back home.

After Kolar, we joined NH4 and continued towards Bangalore. The drive was smooth, and at around 8:30 PM, we finally reached home, bringing an eventful day to an end.

Travel snapshot

What began as an unplanned escape from a day without electricity turned into an enjoyable heritage road trip filled with ancient temples, scenic countryside roads, and interesting discoveries.

The magnificent architecture of Virupaksha Temple, the historical charm of Ramalingeshwara Temple at Avani, the beautiful rural landscapes, and even the unexpected challenges along the way combined to make the journey memorable. Although we could not trek Avani Hill or explore KGF as thoroughly as we had hoped, both places gave us a reason to return someday.

• Onward: BTM Layout > Silk Board > KR Puram > Hoskote (via NH4) > Kolar > Virupaksha Temple
  Return: Virupaksha Temple > Avani > Bethamangala > KGF > Bagarupet > Kolar (via NH4) > Hoskote > KR Puram > Marathalli > Silkboard > BTM Layout
• Total distance (To & Fro): 280 km
• Mileage (Car): 22.5 km/l
• Fuel expense: 859 Rs
• Total expense: 1492 Rs

Route Map