This place is of historical importance to Karnataka as much as to locals of the area since it holds the name in our religious scriptures as Ekchakrapura (एकचक्रपुरा). This is where Pandavas lived for a year during agyaatvaas (अज्ञात वास) and Bakasur was killed here. It is also famous that Sri Amaranarayana Swamy Temple has an idol consecrated by Lord Indra (Historically king Vishnuvardhana of Hoysala dynasty (12th century AD) and place where great worshipper and poet Sri Narayappa (Tatayya) lived and buried live.
We start for KR Puram at 11.15 AM and follow the route to Hoskote, H Cross, Kaiwara to Kailasgiri. We have a few places on our card which we can cover in three hours.
My Rating of the place – 3/5
How to reach Kaiwara and Kailasagiri
This place is about 60 KM from KR Puram railway station. There are two routes to reach Kaiwara and Kailashagiri. One is via Devanhalli and another via KR Puram, Hoskote.
As such road till end is very good. But 4 KM before route becomes slightly narrower and there may be huge congestion specially on festivals. We also faced acute traffic congestion as it was New Year day.
Some of the temples and Mutt in Kaiwara are associated with poet Tatayya also known as Saint Narayanappa (1730-1840 AD). He was a great worshipper of Lord Vishnu and Tirupati. Once, there was a fire near
Lord Venkateshwara’s foot at Thirupathi, and it was Tatayya who extinguished the fire. He wrote many keertans in Kannada and Telugu which are sung even today in different Ragas. He used to live and meditate in Kaiwara and also was buried live in Kaiwara on his wish.
Sri Amaranarayana Swamy Temple
Lord Venketeshwara of Tirupati is installed here in form of Sri Amaranarayana. Sri Tatayya worshiped both Amaranarayana and Tirupathi Thimmappa here. According to legends the Amaranarayana idol in the temple is installed by Lord Indra. The temple is also associated
with Lord Indra’s victory over Vritrasura. We find a lot of Hymns in Rigveda on conquest of Vritrasura by Lord Indra. It is said in Rigveda that Vritasura had wound water from a hill. Indra installed Deities of Lord Narayana in five places – Sri Amara Narayana in Kaiwara, Sri Desh Narayana in Budigere, Sri Veera Narayana in Yadokodi, Sri Adi Narayana in Yallodi and Sri Lakshmi Narayana in Gadag.
Sri Yogi Narayana Mutt – The main shrine of Saint Kaiwara Tatayya. This is the place where the great worshipper and poet Tatayya was buried alive as a ritual of Jeevasamadhi. This is just about 1 KM from Sri Amaranarayana Swamy Temple. It was a large crowd here which shows how revered was the poet in his time.
Bheemalingeswara Temple
This temple is dedicated to Shiva. Pandvas lived in Kaiwara for an year during their Agyaat Vaas (अज्ञात वास). Bheema, one of the brothers of
Pandavas killed a man eater demon Bakasura in a hill near this place. After killing he installed a Shivalinga here and for killing Brahmin demon all Pandavas and Draupadi performed penance here. On later date some people constructed temple here what we see today.
Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, Vaikunta and Tatayya Cave
Yoganarasimha swamy Temple is at a distance of about one kilometer from the Mutt on a small hill called Vaikunta. There is a cave here in which Thatayya meditated and attained the supreme spiritual enlightenment.
Tatayya did all his meditation in a cave here and local call it as Gavi. During his period of meditation, a tiger and a leopard guarded him and few years later he was enlightened. Here we can see the statues of great saints of India like Shankaracharya, Padmacharya, Ved Vyas and Ramanujacharya, Bhakt Ramdas and Kanak Das.
View from top hill- Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, Vaikunta and Tatayya Cave
Kailasagiri cave temples
These are recent man made caves. There is no information onsite as who are building these caves. You have to walk about 700 meters (no steps but 30 degree steep) easy walk to reach these caves from car parking. There is enough car parking space.
Inside caves are small temples having the idols of Lord Shiva (4 facets), Devi Parvati and Lord Ganesha. As the caves have the idols of family of Lord Shiva it is known as Kailashagiri.
There is a water pond I think natural one just adjacent to Kailashagiri caves.
The below spot known as Bheema-Bakasura Betta could not be covered due to lack of time. I heard we have to cross about 500 steps to reach the rock which should be a bit tough as heard.
Bheema-Bakasura Betta or Chamundi Betta
The legend is that Bheema and Bakasura fought here during Mahabharata period. The view of the surroundings is lovely. It also has a small temple dedicated to Goddess Chamundi and a natural spring known as Lakshman Tirtha.
Epilogue
For a day excursion this place is as good as Nandi Hill, Lepakshi, DD Hills, Gudibande Fort, Turahalli, Srirang Patna or Makalidurga. You can have a pleasant drive as road is good till end and greenary is also there after Hoskote. Take your own eatables and water.
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