Alampur - one among the Sakhti
Peetham's scattered in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Shakti Peethams are
shrines / divine places of the Mother Goddess. These are places that are
believed to have enshrined with the presence of Shakti due to the falling of body parts of the
corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it and wandered throughout
Aryavartha in sorrow. There are 51 Shakti Peeth linking to the 51 alphabets in
Sanskrit. Each temple has shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava, and mostly Shakti and Kalabharava in different
Shakti Peeth have different names.
Alampur City and Shrine - believed to be the place where the upper jaw
of Goddess Sati has fallen and local deity called “Jogulamba”. Developed way back
in the 7th century with the glorious constructions with utmost pursuit towards the Architecture.
The temple city has received,
along with numerous devotees and tourists, numerous unpleasant guests and
invaders starting the 14th century, who went successful in
transforming the city into ruins with their heinous acts.
Picture: Remains of the
Jogulamba Shrine – An arch and huge walls on one side leading into the temple.
Picture: The pillars
containing minute and exquisite art works were bored / drilled and chipped off
to look bare like this.
Picture: Ruins and
remains of the Temple city seen today
Picture: Beheaded Nandi..
It is clearly evident and the below pictures prove the heinous motto of the unpleasant guests and invaders of the 14th century.
Few found in good shape in the temple and few restored in the Archaeological survey of India Museum.
Picture: Understood to be the "Naga bandham" Aka "Bound by the Serpent God" (literary meaning) and to be the supposed module from the ceiling of the Sanctum built way back in the 7th Century.
Driving Directions From Hyderabad: Head towards the Hyderabad International Airport / Shamshabad Airport and drive on the Bangalore Highway NH7 for around 194 Kms from the airport diversion.
Need to take the service road (from the highway which heads onto a flyover) once a prominent sign board as "Alampur Take Left" and take a left from the four-road junction / locally called "Alampur Chowrastha" and drive for around 13 Kms crossing a railway track.
Having a very good road / highway taking you, the place can be comfortably explored in a full day.
Caution for the 1st timers:
The place is not so big to serve you good food. Making own food and water arrangements / carrying is suggested.
Caps / Hats are cumpolsory as there is no enough greenery to save you from the hot sun.
My Travelogues: Alampur - The town of Jogulamba - 2 will follow shortly with more details and pictures of the Sangameswara Temple - An engineering marvel and the Paapanasa Temple group with the superb micro-art works.