Pandavapura

"French Rocks" redirects here. For the New Zealand island formerly known as "French Rock", see L'Esperance Rock.
Pandavapura Lake
Kunthibetta hills
Pandavapura
ಪಾಂಡವಪುರ
city
Coordinates: 12°30′N 76°40′E / 12.5°N 76.67°E / 12.5; 76.67Coordinates: 12°30′N 76°40′E / 12.5°N 76.67°E / 12.5; 76.67
Country  India
State Karnataka
District Mandya
Population (2001)
 • Total 18,236
Languages
 • Official Kannada
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Website www.pandavapuratown.gov.in

Pandavapura is a panchayat town in Mandya district in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Geography

Pandavapura is located at 12°30′N 76°40′E / 12.5°N 76.67°E / 12.5; 76.67.[1] It has an average elevation of 709 metres (2326 feet). Earlier, Pandavapur was known as Hirode , Dandu , and French Rocks.

Pandavapura temple
Lakshmi Narayanaswamy Riverside Temple, Harohalli

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] Pandavapur had a population of 18,236. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Pandavapura has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 62%. In Pandavapur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

The name 'Pandavapura' means "Town of Pandavas". Mythology states that the Pandavas during their period of exile stayed here for sometime, and Kunti, mother of the Pandavas, liked the hillock so much that it became one of her favorite haunts. The town is also named after the Pandavas because of their brief stay in this region. The name "French Rock" dates back to India's Pre-Independence days, the place was used as the camping ground by the French army, which came to help Tippu Sultan in his war against the British. It is believed that French named the small town as "French Rocks", as the town is in the vicinity of two rocky hills. After Indian Independence these rocky hills called as "Kunti Betta" by locals.
Pandavapura is approximately 130 km from Bangalore and 25 km from Mysore.

About the Town

Pandavapura town is surrounded by beautiful paddy and sugar cane fields. Agriculture is the main occupation around the town. The town is surrounded by many villages and the town is central point for farmers everyday business. Every Thursday, a farmer's market (called as "Santhe" in Kannada) is held in the heart of the town, where farmers directly sell their agricultural products. Apart from agricultural products, you can also find handicrafts, ayurvedic products etc.,. Surrounding villages have Jaggery manufacturing units and it is a nice experience to watch the process of making Jaggery out of sugar cane. The Visweswarayya Canal (VC Canal) flows in the heart of the town, by dividing the town into two halves. The water for this canal is sourced from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS), which is Reservoir across the river Cauvery.

Haohalli French Cemetery

There is a French cemetery in Haohalli, in the outskirts of Pandavapura, where the French who came to aid Tippu Sultan are buried. The beautiful cemetery is more than 250 years old, has fallen into neglect and vandalism. The French soldiers and family members mostly died from malaria, fatigue or in battle. The land for the French cemetery was granted by Tippu Sultan. Only 35 graves remain, most in a bad state. Iron grilles, bricks, metal plaques and expensive marble have been removed from the graves, and many have no headstone.[3]

Transport

Pandavapura is well connected by trains and buses. Most of the trains which run between Bangalore and Mysore stop in Pandavapura. The Pandavapura railway station is 4 km away from the Pandavapura town, and auto rickshaws and buses are available for Pandavapura town. There are very few direct buses runs from Bangalore to Pandavapura. However travelers from Bangalore, can reach Mandya town by bus, and change for a Pandavpura bus in the Mandya KSRTC bus stand. Train is the best and easiest mode of transportation for Pandavapura from Bangalore. The current MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) is K S Puttannaiah from Karnataka Sarvodaya Paksha.[4]

Tourism

Assumption Church
Taluk hospital

Pandavapura town is surrounded by well-known tourist spots.

Following are tourist spots:

1. Melkote
2. Krishnaraja Sagar
3. Kunti Hill (Near Pandavapura)
4. Kere Thonnur, Pandavapura.

5. Cauvery SAi Dharma. Riverside temple

6. Thotada Mane, paddy field picnic center.

Temples

1. Sree Shiva Shila (Near Pattasomanahalli
3. Vasalu Maramma (Near Harohalli)
4. Eluramma Thaayi (Katteri)
5. KODI BAAYI ANJANEYA Swamy Temple (DUDDA GHATTA)
6. Aarathi Ukkada (Ahalya maathe Temple).
7. Sree Bhuvaraha Swamy Temple (Varahanatha Kallahalli-ganjigere KRS Back water)
8. Lakshmi Narayanaswamy Riverside Temple, Harohalli - 2 km from Pandavapura Town .
9. Sree Lakshmidevi Temple K.Bettahalli 10. Sri Krishna Temple Kere Thannur 11.Venugopala Swamy Temple (KRS Dam Back Water more than 100 years old)

Educational Institutions

See also

Location

Areas of Pandavapura
Nagamangala
Madikeri Mandya
   Pandavapura  
Mysore

References

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Pandavapura.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pandavapura.
  1. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Pandavapur
  2. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  3. ↑ B, Mahadeva (29 October 2013). "Uneasy lie the fallen here" (Bangalore). Dean Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  4. ↑ http://kla.kar.nic.in/13lamembers.htm
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