Picnic is always fun, it’s a place where kids can play as much as they want, and adults can relax and unwinds themselves. What more fun when picnic spot is near the lake & have a short trek with it. Yes true! This time we went to a picnic to Mandaragiri Jain Temple.
MANDARAGIRI JAIN TEMPLE
Mandaragiri has evolved as one of the popular Jain pilgrim destinations.This whole complex has
- A Jain Statue: This statue is of Chandranatha Thirthankara which is a smaller scale model of the Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola.
- A peacock look temple: is a Gurumandir which has a peacock feather look. The 81ft gurumandir is first of its kind in Jain history. It has a 5 foot Guruji idol in this mandir. This gurumandir is built in the memory of the Digambar Jain ascetic Acharya 108, Sri Shanthinsagarji Mahara. This place is ideal for meditation. It also has a lot of paintings on the inner circular walls depicting the life of the saint.
- A temple on the top of the hill: It houses a hill with 4 ancient Digambar Jain temples, compounded by a high wall. You have to climb 435 steps to reach the top and if you want to have a closer look at the temples from within you can ask for the keys from the caretaker. His room is on the midway at the right side of the stairs while you climb up.
MANDARAGIRI CONNECTIVITY
Mandaragiri Jain Temple is ideally located on NH 48(1.5 Kms within) and in the Tumkur district of Karnataka, India. It is
- 70 Km from Bangalore
- 10 Km from Tumkur city
This temple is very close to the highway thus easily accessible by buses as well.
JAINISM IN INDIA, KARNATAKA
Jainism is one of the ancient religions of India. Though the Jain’s are spread all over India, their main concentrations are in Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
Jainism has always held a predominant position in Karnataka. For centuries Jainism was Karnataka’s state religion. More than 2000 Jain inscriptions are found in different parts of the state.
Though the Jains do not worship any transcendental God and are supposed to be atheistic, they have constructed magnificent temples and have evolved a complex set of rituals. Purifying the soul through meditation and asceticism, trying to put an end to all misery and attaining the highest liberation or nirvana is the aim of all human existence.
OUR PICNIC OUR WAY
This picnic was a sudden plan, as it was just best before the outbreak of Covid-19. To avoid any interactions anywhere this place is an ideal picnic spot. We had a heavy breakfast at home and headed for this place at around 1 PM and reached at 2.30 PM. It is approximately 1.5 hrs drive from Bangalore city (65 to 70 Kms).
This temple is 1.5 kms from the main highway so accessibility is not an issue as you can get auto etc, from the highway.
As we reached there we first opt to go to the temple uphill. To reach uphill we need to climb 435 steps which obviously was fun for kids but a bit tiring for us. The temple remained generally close but we can always take the keys from the caretaker room, situated beside the stairs.
Temple was close when we went, but the view from the top is very mesmerizing as from one side we can see the peacock feather shaped gurumandir and statue, from the other side you can have a look of a large lake and mountains, even we can view a train passing on the nearby track, so altogether it’s calm and serene.
After spending some time there and enjoying little off-roading we reached the lake. It is a nice location for a picnic. As we had our arrangements for the packed snacks we had fun there. Do remember there is no shop or restaurant in that area, so it is necessary to carry your food and water. Also as it is not a regular tourist place so no arrangements for public convenience as well.
After spending quite, the quality time there we came back to the statue and the gurumandir. You can visit up to the statue and spending some time in the gurumandir and meditating is a very good option.
One can easily spend 3 to 4 hrs altogether and relax. Going during the early morning or in the evening is good but if the weather is soothing even afternoons are okay.
EXPERIENCE OUR PICNIC
Want to experience our picnic virtually. Click on the link below and have a real-time feel.
SOME IMPORTANT POINTS NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED
- Do carry your water and food as there is no shop or restaurant near that place.
- Lack of public convenience
- This place is ideal for all age groups of people.
TO SUM UP
“Live and allow others to live, hurt no one, life is dear to all living beings” with this teaching of Jainism, I feel this place is must go as it unwinds you physically and spiritually.
BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD
Before we move on we would love to have your comments below