15 February 2018: After coffee @ Cafe Coffee Day we left Dharmasthala around 8.00 am towards Horanadu a distance of 120 kms. We stopped briefly at Ujire for breakfast & kammarkund. We had to cross the Lakya Dam, Kudremukh. The Lakya Dam is a check dam built across the river Lakya, a tributary of the Bhadra river.
The dam was constructed by Kudremukh Iron Ore Company. The dam is
situated in a protected forest area inside the Kudremukh National Park.The route is marked by narrow winding ghats, dense vegetation and thick forests. We reached Horanadu by 11.00 am - The Malnadu area was swathed in bright sunlight and Annapoorneswari Temple is surrounded by captivating hills & forest cover. Annapoorni means Goddess of food and devotees who visit this temple must partake of the food served here as the offering of the Goddess. The deity is a gold idol and is said to have been installed several centuries ago by Sage Agastyar. We had awe inspiring darshan of this powerful deity who seems to have a magnetic attraction on devotees who stand transfixed during prayers. We did rice seva and and also consumed liberal quantity of "panagam" - an elixir comprising jaggery water, ginger,pepper,cardamom & lemon juice, an amazing thirst quencher. After a brief debate we decided to have the annadanam - free meal offered by the temple - a simple but incredible meal of rice, rasam,sambhar,butter milk & payasam. The visit over we clambered back into our Etios Sedan and departed for Shringeri.
Rich vegetation enroute to Horanadu
Annapoorneswari Temple
The sole Brahmanas that day for availing of Prasadam (Free Meals from the Temple Kitchen)
The Dining Room is spick & span
The Temple Chariot being decorated for a forthcoming festival
Plenty of accommodation available for pilgrims
The temple is surrounded by thick forests
The Bhadra Nivasa - a spacious complex providing rooms
I'm impressed by the forests and vegetation surrounding the temple of the food goddess, as well as by the concept of free meals. Your pictures, as usual, are worth "a thousand words".
Beautiful temple and encircled by rich vegetation and forest! Look the temple provides plenty of rooms for devotees and nice feasting hall. Hope u enjoyed the food
I'm impressed by the forests and vegetation surrounding the temple of the food goddess, as well as by the concept of free meals.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures, as usual, are worth "a thousand words".
I had hoped to see what you got in your plates for the free meal at the temple. Or was an empty plate the reason it was free. LOL
ReplyDeleteThe custom in the temple does not permit pictures of the food to be clicked :(
ReplyDeletelooks like a fun filled pilgrimage!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful temple and encircled by rich vegetation and forest! Look the temple provides plenty of rooms for devotees and nice feasting hall. Hope u enjoyed the food
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