Seethalayanagiri is situated on the way from Chikmagalur to Mullayanagiri. As you drive up the winding roads of Chandradrona hill on the way to Mullayanagiri in Chikmagalur, the views around is beyond any descriptive words.
We came across a funny looking rock jutting out from the hill onto the road. We named it the “Big Nose Rock”.
At the 8th Km from Chikmagalur at an altitude of 5,000 feet is a small quiet temple dedicated to Seethala Mallikarjuna Swamy / Lord Shiva.
“Seetha” means damp in Kannada. The Linga is always surrounded by water.
The priest will show the water around the Linga when he performs the aarathi.
This is a pilgrimage center for the people living around this region.
Apart from the temple, there is a cave on the left hand side of the temple. The trees around are home to many Orchids and we saw many of them in bloom.
There is also a wild fig tree and the trunks were weighing down by the fruits. The weather there is ideal for delicate ferns like Maiden hair fern.
Place Statistics:
Type of place: Hill with an ancient temple
Situated: Chikmagalur district, Karnataka
Distance: 8 Km from Chikmagalur town
Transport: Well connected by road
Facilities: There are rest rooms built by the tourist department, which are locked!!!
