Bevoor, a nondescript village sited about 78 km from Bangalore on the Chennapatna-Nidasale road amid pristine natural beauty is a village steeped in history. Strategically located below two hills – Thimmappana betta and Siddarameshwara betta – the village has several ancient and modern temples, hero-stones and inscriptions. Bevoor, located close to Chennapatna, which is famous for its wooden toy industry, has its own tradition of miniature pottery and clay toys. The village is famous for its potters who produce miniature earthen pots and tiny clay toys even today. This has given the village another name as Kudike Bevooru (kudike means pot).
Among the several temples and shrines in this village, the Thimmappa or Venkataramana temple atop the Thimmappana betta has the most scenic setting. Originally believed to have been a centre of Jainism the temple has now transformed into a typical Hoysala structure with Lord Balaji or Venkataramana enshrined inside, the temple seems to be over 700 years old according to the records found here.
Inscriptions found on the Thimmappana Betta dated 900 AD identify Bevoor variously as ‘Nimbagrama’ etc and the Thimmappana Betta as ‘Kirugunda’ establishing the village’s Jaina Association. The record further elaborates that several groups of Jain Saints attained Siddhi and Chandrashena, the lord of these ascetics. Another record found here says that Chandrashena performed ‘sanyasana’ on the Kirukunda hill. Though history in the form of inscriptions proves that over one thousand years ago, Bevoor was an important centre of Jainism, today nothing remains to prove its jaina links, except the inscriptions. Later records dated 1331 AD of the Hoysala king Veera Ballala III gives the name of this village as ‘Behura’ and calls it an important town of the monarchy.
Thimmappana Betta is accessible through a very narrow semi-concretised road, which leads till the top or else one can climb the steep incline through a flight of stone steps. The top of the hill is a wide plateau over which the Venkataramana temple, two water springs, and some mantapas (dolmens), are present. The top of the hill appears completely fortified, though the walls in most places have collapsed.
The Thimmappa or Venkataramana temple believed to have been built around 1579 AD by a local chieftain, Bettada Odeya a disciple of Mahattu Mallikarjunadeva. The tall Dwarapalaka images sculpted out of black granite rock here exhibit typical Hoysala features with four hands holding shankha (conch), chakra (discus), gadha (mace) and abhaya (blessing) postures.
Inside the temple there are several small stone images of Alwars and other vaishnava saints, all arranged in a neat row. There is a small sub-shrine dedicated to goddess Lakshmi also. The temple is by far well maintained in terms of cleanliness and upkeep but perhaps due to ignorance the attractively carved pillars and reliefs have been whitewashed and it is hard to discern the beauty of the sculptures.
One more reason why one should visit these hilltop temples is for the unpolluted atmosphere and natural beauty that pervades the place. The breeze brings with it the sweet and intoxicating fragrance of wild flowers making one feel almost heady because we are more used to the harsh automobile exhaust and not soft fragrance and pure air. The temples lend a spiritual touch to the venue and acts as a rejuvenating force.
Festivals & Fairs
The Annual Jatra/ Festival is held on the last day of Dasara or Vijayadashami Day. The entire village wears a festive look and a carnival descends here, over 20,000 people visit the temple on this day alone.
Getting there.
By Road: Bevoor is situated 12 km from Chennapatna off the Bangalore-Mysore road. Once you reach Chennapatna turn right at an intersection after the town police station and proceed out of town for about 2 km till you reach Chikkamaranahalli. Turn left here and about 10 km down the road is Bevooru. Bus. Plenty of buses connect Bangalore with Channapatna. Break journey and proceed to Bevooru on another bus/ jeep/ tempo.
