- Mahadeswara Hills
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Mahadeswara Hills — town — Mahadeshwara Temple at Malai Mahadeshwara Hills
Coordinates 12°1′50.73″N 77°35′34.65″E / 12.0307583°N 77.5929583°ECoordinates: 12°1′50.73″N 77°35′34.65″E / 12.0307583°N 77.5929583°E Country India State Karnataka District(s) Chamarajanagar Nearest city Kollegal Time zone IST (UTC+05:30) Malai Mahadeshwara Hills is a temple town situated in the eastern part of Kollegal taluk, Chamarajanagar district in the state of Karnataka, India. The Lord Sri Mahadeshwara is the incarnation of Lord Shiva. It is a very famous Shaiva pilgrim centre. It draws lakhs of pilgrims from the states of Karnataka and Tamilnadu. The Lord Sri Mahadeshwara's miracles are beautifully sung by village folk in the janapada style. According to tradition there are seven hills identified in the puranas as Anumale, Jenumale, Kanumale, Pachchemale, Pavalamale, Ponnachimale and Kongumale. All these hills form M.M. hills
Mahadeshwara is the family god of the Soligas and other hill tribals including Jenu Kurubas, Kadukurubas etc. But, historical evidences suggest that saint Mahadeshwara must have lived during the 15th century. Further, he was the third head of the Haradanahalli Math. It is believed that Sri Mahadeshwara Swamy came here to perform penance. Folklore maintains that he is still performing penance in the temple's sanctum sanctorum in the form of a Linga. Sri Male Mahadeshwara Swamy moved using a tiger (as his vehicle) and performed number of miracles around the hills to save the people and saints living here. For more details on the legend, the temple and its activities etc. - www.mmhills.com.
Apart from being a pilgrimage, M.M.Hills possesses natural beauty in the form of large tracts of forest area. The height of the hill is about 3000 feet from sea level and is surrounded by 77 hills in eastern ghats. The beautiful landscapes of hills and valleys are covered with extensive forests. These forest types vary from evergreen forests in Ponnachi Boli to Dry deciduous forests in most other parts. M.M.Hills is bound by river Kaveri to the north-east and by river Palar to the south. Thus, it forms an extremely important catchment area for both these rivers.
The forests of M.M.Hills have been famous for wonderful regeneration and stock of sandalwood and bamboo. The forests are inhabited by a variety of animals, birds and reptiles. They are found in large numbers too. Elephants are the most prominent species. This last estimate puts the population of elephants at more than 2500 in the district, which includes Bandipur National Park too. Frequent sightings of guars (Indian Bison), sambars, spotted deer, jackals, sloth bears, porcupine, etc., apart from rare sightings of tigers, leopards and wild dogs are possible in and around this area. The Male Mahadeshwara Reserve Forests, has an approximate area of 39361.45 ha and has few small villages like Ponnachi, M.M.Hills, Kombadikki, Kokkebore, Doddane, Tokere, Tholsikere, Palar, Gopinatham, Nagamale, Indiganatham, etc., as enclosures within the reserve forests.
External links http://www.mmhills.com
Categories:- Cities and towns in Chamarajanagar district
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