Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, Karnataka

Address

Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, Karnataka

Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills Rd,

Berambadi State Forest,

Karnataka 571126

Moolavar

Gopalaswamy (Lord Krishna)

Introduction

• Location:
  • Situated in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.
  • Height: 1454 meters above sea level.
  • 220 km from Bangalore and 80 km from Mysore.
  • Located near Bandipur National Park, and is the highest peak in the park.
• Name Significance:
  • The name Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta comes from the dense fog (Himavad) that covers the hill throughout the year and the Venugopalaswamy Temple (dedicated to Lord Krishna) situated at the top of the hill.
  • “Betta” means hill in Kannada.
• Puranic Significance:
  • The Venugopalaswamy Temple was built by King Chola Ballala around AD 1315.
  • A car festival is held during Phalguna Masa (March-April), with celebrations lasting 7 days. The Ratha (car) made for the festival is dismantled after the event.
  • Santana Praapti: It is believed that people who pray at the temple for children will be blessed with offspring.
  • The Hamsa Theertha (Swan Lake) near the temple is associated with a story where a crow became a swan after bathing in the lake, and now no crows are seen in the vicinity.
  • The temple area offers views of the Madhumalai and Nilgiris hill ranges.
  • The temple was built during the reign of King Ballala of the Chola dynasty.
  • Sage Agastya is believed to have performed penance at this spot, and Lord Vishnu is said to have blessed the place.
  • Hamsa Theertha symbolizes harmony, salvation, and knowledge through the mythological significance of the swan.
• Special Features:
  • The temple is dedicated to Lord Venugopalaswamy, a form of Lord Krishna.
  • The temple’s architecture is inspired by the Chola dynasty, featuring a single-tier Gopuram and multifaceted walls.
  • The Mukha Mandapa (inner porch) has sculptures depicting the Dasavatara (ten avatars of Lord Vishnu) and Krishnavatara (form of Krishna).
  • The temple also features a Raasleela scene of Krishna playing the flute, surrounded by milk sellers and cows.
• Festivals:
  • The Shravana Masa (auspicious month) is considered significant for the temple and its festivities.

Century/Period

1315 AD

Nearest Bus Station

Gundlupete

Nearest Railway Station

Chamarajanagar

Nearest Airport

Mysore and Bangalore

Location on Map

lightuptemple