Nanjangud
Nanjangud is a town located near Mysore with a distance of 24 kms in Karnataka state. The name came from the god Nanjundeshwara 'The God who drunk Poison'. It is a temple town and is on the banks of the river Kapila. Nanjangud is also called as "Dakshina Kashi" (southern Kashi) or Varanasi of the South. The original Nanjundeshwara temple is said to be of Ganga period (325 - 1000 CE). This temple has then been renovated by the Hoysala kings. Both Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan had close associations with this temple. The Wodeyar kings of Mysore made various grants to renovate the temple.
Twice every year thousands of worshippers gather for the famous Chariot Festival locally known as the Dodda Jathre and the Chikka Jathre. Idols of Lord Srikanteshwara, Goddess Parvathi, Lord Ganapathi, Lord Subramanya and Lord Chandikeshwara are kept in five separate chariots and a traditional puja is performed to the idols early in the morning on the Jathre day. After the puja chariots are flagged off. Thousands of devotees pull the Chariots carved out of wood, across the streets of the old town. The town remains immersed in festivities on the Jathre days.Nanjangud is famous for popular type of Banana called as "Nanjangud Rasabale " and Ayurveda medicines manufactured by the Late Sri. B.V.Pandit. The Sadvaidyashala established by him serves people very successfully. Ayurvedic medicenes produced here are marketed all over India. In earlier times (1950-70) a tooth powder brand made locally called 'Nanjangud Hallupudi' was also very famous all over Karnataka.The town also got an Industrial area with number of good industries like AT&S, Nestle etc,.
