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Talakadu – the city buried in sand!

This is the city of Talakadu/Talkad, the capital of the Western Gangas dynasty till the 11th century. It is on the banks of the River Kaveri, in the current day state of Karnataka in South India. The Imperial Cholas conquered the Ganga kingdom around 999 CE, and Talakadu remained under Chola rule for over a century. They renamed it Rajarajapura (The city of the King of Kings). The city was captured again by the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana a century later, and he drove the Cholas out of Talakadu. It is believed that there are thirty temples here, which remain buried under the sand due to an ancient curse. One of the temples has been excavated successfully and is seen above.

Pic courtesy: https://www.rarebooksocietyofindia.org/postDetail.php?id=196174216674_10150407849926675

My second book “Parched Earth Fragrant Rains” is set in Talakadu, around the time of the Chola invasion.

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talakadu

2. “The Gangas of Talakad”, By M.V. Krishna Rao, Published by B.G. Paul & Co., Calcutta – 1936 (https://www.rarebooksocietyofindia.org/postDetail.php?id=196174216674_10150407849926675)