Road trips have always been my first priority to travel anywhere. However, I have always preferred car to bikes. I know it is weird because people at my age love to rev their bikes on the roads. Though, there are many reasons why I preferred car to bikes. First, it protects you from bad weather, for example rains or cold, etc. and allows you to continue your journey hassle free, and second, a group of your friends can fit inside the car, which can make your journey interesting with the chat sessions and fun.
However, something interesting happened in this journey, which enhanced my love and craze towards the bike rides. This time the journey was planned to Lepakshi, a small town, located in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
When you have hill stations like , Coorg, Wayanad, or beach destinations like Gokarna, Mahe, etc. within 250 km of Bangalore, it is a little difficult to find Lepakshi in your to visit list. But believe me! It is a must visit place and everyone, who is a history lover, must pay a visit to this enchanting town of Lepakshi.
Lepakshi is a tiny quaint town in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh and holds a rich and unexplored history of Vijaynagara Empire, making it one of the best destinations for the bike ride from Bangalore. There are very few places to visit in Lepkashi, and hence, one can cover all the places within two to three hours.
1. Lepakshi Nandi
As you enter the Lepakshi town, on the right side you can witness the gigantic Nandi, which is one of the most important places to visit in Lepakshi. Built during the Vijaynagara period, the Nandi is carved out of a single granite stone and is around 20 feet high and 30 feet long.
One of the most unique features of Nandi is that its head is held higher than the normal angle and the expression of submission to Shiva cannot be seen here.
Moreover, the statue of Nandi directly faces the Nagalinga, which is 18 feet high and is located in the complex of Veerbhadra Temple.
2. Veerbhadra Temple
Our second stop was Veerbhadra Temple, which is just 200m from the statue of Nandi. It is located on the left side of the main road. Also known as Lepakshi Temple, the Veerbhadra Temple is considered one of the finest architectures of Vijaynagara era.
The main shrine is of Lord Veerbhadra who was the incarnation of Lord Shiva. The temple's building is inscribed with mesmerizing architectural designs and ceiling depicts the beautiful mural paintings from mythology, primarily the stories of Lord Shiva.
3. Chowdeshwari Temple
Our final stop was at Chowdeshwari Temple, which is around 10 km from Veerbhadra Temple. The Chowdeshwari Temple is believed to be 700 years old and was built even before the Vijaynagara period.
There is no correct information as who constructed the temple. The Chowdeshwari Temple is pretty small as compared to Veerbhadra Temple and if you will not focus while driving, you can even miss the temple. It is located on the left side of main road.
The main shrine inside the Chowdeshwari Temple is of Gachu, which is around 8 feet high.
So, this was my road trip in which I covered all the places to visit in Lepakshi. The town is extremely calm and peaceful away and is a great place for one day ride from Bangalore.
Do let me know in comments if, in case, I missed something about Lepakshi!!!
