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Keladi and Ikkeri are the two historically important locations in Shimoga district (State: Karnataka). They are at a distance of 70 to 80 kms from Shimoga. Both Keladi and Ikkeri were once the places where kings ruled large areas in the ancient times for many centuries. It is hard to imagine this as they are today small villages.
Since 1500 AD, Keladi has been ruled by several dynasties across centuries. Keladi was the birthplace of Keladi Dynasty and at a later point the capital was shifted to Ikkeri, just a few kilometers away, which remained their capital for more than a century.
Rameshwara Temple of Keladi built in Dravidian style around 1500 AD. The temple has excellent craftsmanship.
Aghoreshwara Temple, the magnificent temple of Ikkeri is a Shiva Temple.
Due to heavy rains, I was able to spend very less time here and click only few shots. There was rain water everywhere. We will still explore these unexplored places or little known places a bit more in detail very soon.
The Jalakanteswara Temple in Vellore Fort at Vellore (State: Tamil Nadu) is the home for exquisite Kalyan Mandapam (marriage hall). Built approximately between 1542 - 1565 AD, the architecture is a mix of Dravidan and Chalukyan style of architecture.
It is believed that, British had planned dismantle this and export it to their land to be kept in the museum before the independence of India. Fortunately for India, they did not succeed.
Here, on the outer pillars there are sculptures of soldiers riding the horse who belonged to Vijayanagar infantry.
Each pillar has upon its faces, figures from one to two feet in height. They are well proportioned and magnificently carved.
The very ornate pillared pavilion has a raised central platform used for the reception of the deity and his consort during the annual celebration of their marriage. The base of the platform is also engraved with sculptures.
The inner pillars are of different designs and highly artistic. Each of these pillars in the Kalyan Mandapam has a unique and different carving.
This is fourth in the series. Temples all over India represent the rich cultural heritage. The ancient temples are richly carved and they behold ones attention for their craftsmanship.
One such temple is Jagdish Temple of Udaipur (State: Rajasthan). This temple is located close to the City Palace. Built in 1651, the temple following Indo-Aryan architecture is richly carved externally. The carvings are examples of master craftsmanship.
Here in the frame above one can see musicians and dancers carved on the external wall of the temple. Even minute details like crease of the dress is taken care.
There are several bands of numerous tiny carvings at the base of the temple. There are bands of people, flowers and animals.
There are many beautiful temples in Kanchipuram (State: Tamil Nadu). Here, the Ekambareshvara Temple is one of the largest temple and dates back to sometime between 16th to 17th centuries. The temple was constructed by the rulers of Pallava Dynasty and improvised by other dynasties.
The tall tower on the Southern entrance is 180 feet in height. This was erected by Maharaja Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagara Dynasty.
The temple has a huge hall with thousand pillars. To the North of the mantapa is a tank; west of the mandapa is the main shrine which contains the Earth Lingam (a form of Lord Shiva). There is a 3500 year old mango tree to the west of the main shrine. The tree produces four different varieties of mangoes.
Temples all over India represent the rich cultural heritage. The ancient temples are richly carved and they behold ones attention for their craftsmanship.
One such architectural gem is Kailashnath Temple of Kanchipuram (State: Tamil Nadu). This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is surrounded by 64 small sub-shrines. They adorned with the sculptures of the Lord Shiva in different poses, representing a picture of different aspects of mythology.
The above image is a scene from battle field where Lord Shiva is fighting the evil forces.
The above image depicts the Lord in a dance form. The image above can be seen is the picture below at the top in a smaller form.
At the base of the platform one can see the ancient inscriptions used in those days. On either side of these sub-shrines are lion pillars.
Kanchipuram (State: Tamil Nadu) is located at a distance of 75 kms from Chennai. This city was the capital of the rulers of Cholas and Pallava between the 6th and 8th centuries had over a thousand temples. But now only hundred are still around and all of them are worth a visit.
Apart from its temples, this small town is also famous for best silk and cotton sarees woven from pure mulberry silk in the country.
Some of the temples that I have seen here are:
We shall explore this place in more details.
This large Jalakanteswara Temple in Vellore (State: Tamil Nadu) is located in the Vellore Fort, near the north wall of the fort. This ancient temple was built around 1566 in the Vijayanagar style. Jalakanteswara means “Lord Shiva residing in the water”.
The temple has a Nataraja Shiva deity on the northern altar, and on the western altar is a Shiva-linga. The temple has 2 court yard, one is inner prakara and the other is outer prakara. The outer prakara has huge Gopuram on the southern side which is 30m (100ft) high, seven-storey made of blue granite. Temple has some beautiful sculptures on the ceiling and some richly, carved pillars and monoliths. 
The temple has beautiful Kalayana Mandapam. The carvings in this pillared hall are some of the most impressive in India. The outer pillars have sculptures of rearing horses and dragons. The inner pillars have sculptures of yalis, which are lion-like creatures.
Ganjam (State: Karnataka) is located at a distance of 17 kms from Mysore. Here is the famous Nimishamba Temple on the banks of river Cauvery.
This ancient temple was built by Mummadi Krishanaraja Wodeyar, king of Mysore. The presiding deity of this temple is Goddess Parvati. Idol of the Goddess is carved in black stone. People believe that she will grant your wish in a minute.
Other idols inside the temple are Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Surya Narayana and Hanuman. There are sculptures of Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati at the entrance on either side of the main tower.
Route: On the Mysore - Bangalore highway near Srirangapattana town, a road towards right leads to Ganjam.
The historical Chamundeshwari Temple of Goddess Durga is located on the top of Chamundi Hills about 13 km from Mysore (State: Karnataka).
The original shrine was built sometime in the 12th century by Hoysala rulers and its tower was probably built in the 17th century by the Vijayanagar rulers. The temple tower is seven story tall and is decorated with intricate carvings.
On top of the sanctum is a small tower that can be seen from outside the temple. Around the temple are small beautiful carvings of Goddess in black stone. They are present both on inner courtyard as well as outer walls of the temple.
When in Mysore, even though outside city the visit to the temple is really worth.
The Chamundi Hills with an elevation of 1000 meters is located close to Mysore (State: Karnataka) as many interesting sites. The temple top cab reached either by vehicle or by climbing around 1500 steps. From the top you can get a panoramic view of the Mysore and surroundings. At the top of the the hill are few temples. most prominent among them is the temple of Goddess Chamundeshwari.
En route to the top, one can see At the top temple of Goddess Chamundeshwari
We started from Mysore to the Hills at around 7:00 a.m in the morning. It was drizzling on the the way. And at the top the temple tower was covered by mist. On the way we saw group of horse riders.
This temple is located on a hill top in Bhedaghat is 21 kms from Jabalpur (State: Madhya Pradesh).
This temple is approached by a series of 150 plus steps. The temple in the center dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati was built by the Kalchuri dynasty in the 10th century AD.
This temple complex has an open circular courtyard around the temple atop a hill. In circular fashion there is a row of 64 idols of attendants of Goddess Durga called Yoginis around the temple. These beautiful lawa stone idols were plundered and disfigured by Moghul invaders.
Here, in the year 1750 under the direction of the Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa and Mahadji Shinde a temple for Lord Ganesh was constructed. It got completed in 1784.
This temple is painted in red color externally and one can reach the temple by climbing a series of steps.
Since then several renovations were done to the temple and the area surrounding area so far.
Is is the scenic winding route in the countryside?
Is it the famous sculpture of lady looking into the mirror in the temple of the Belur? 
Is it this flower?
Is it the scenic view of the beach with the palm trees on its shore? 
To me it is innocent smile on the face of the kids who are engrossed in their own world? This beauty one can only seen in the kids who are still untempered by this cunning ways of this World.
Rose flower carved in white marble.
Hibiscus flowers carved in white marble.
This monument apart from flowers has several other artistic designs all around.
These numerous tiny carvings are in the ceiling or on the walls close to the ceiling. These carvings depict stories of Lord Vishnu.
There is another temple close by at Mitavali (State: Madhya Pradesh) with totally different style of architecture from the above. This circular temple is a Lord Shiva temple and very unique in shape.
Here the carved circular double pillars are noteworthy.
This is the third largest image of Nandi in India. Carved out of single mammoth boulder it is about 16 feet in height and 24 feet long.
The Nandi is in sitting position with its left foreleg folded is on a 4 feet high platform. Many sequences of bells and garlands are carved beautifully over the Nandi. 
According Hindi mythology considered as Lord Shiva's vehicle, the Nandi is in actively worshiped. This is an open shrine exposed to the elements of nature.
In the late 7th century this temple was built by Pallava dynasty rulers Rajasimha and his son Mahendravarman.
It is an early structural temple, built of sandstone. The walls and sikhara of this temple are filled with great sculptures, and paintings. This temple of Lord Shiva has a four-storeyed octagonal sikhara.
A temple wall encloses the temple complex. The inner and outer walls of these shrines are adorned with fresco paintings while the walls of the main temple are profusely decorated with sculptures. There are all together row of 64 small shrines in the inner walls.
The fort has 99 bastions around its circumference and is protected by three walls. The lower wall is of solid stone blocks which reinforce the loose rubble of which Trikuta hill is composed. The second wall snakes around the fort. Above is the view of the fort from one of the havelis located outside the fort at a quite good distance.
The fort is entered from first Fort Gate and a series of massive gates via an enormous stone paved ramp, leads one to a large courtyard. In the courtyard one can see the former Maharaja's seven story Palace, Rajmahal. This square was formerly used to review troops, hear petitions and present extravagant entertainment for important visitors. 
Within the fort walls, there are seven beautifully carved Jain Temples built between the 12th and 15th centuries. 
The fort looks especially magical when it is lit up at night.
