The place where Seetha lost her ring

Every day, there are hundreds of visitors who come to Muthathi near Bangalore to take in the beauty of the Cauvery and the surrounding wildlife.

Home to the Cauvery Wildlife sanctuary, Muthathi draws a lot of people. But not many know that there is temple here which is connected with the Ramayana.

This is the temple of Anjaneya, situated on the banks of the Cauvery. According to  a legend, Seeta, the wife of  Rama,  misplaced her nose ring in the Cauvery river. She was bathing in the river and the nose ring slipped out and fell.

Seetha was very attached to the nose ring and she was particular about getting it back. Hanuman looked for the ring and could not find it. He thought the ring might have fallen into the Cauvery and he began churning the river.

The nose ring soon re-appeared on top of the swirling waters. Hanuman took the ring reverentially and handed it back to Seetha.

The temple is situated on the exact point where the nose ring was discovered.

The Hanuman temple is also called Muthuraya. Muthu in Kannada means pearl and Seetha’s nose ring had a pearl in it. The priest and locals tell me that the temple is famous for helping devotees regain their lost possession.

They say if devotees pray to hanuman with full devotion, whatever they have lost will be restored back.  There is a saying in Kannada that goes like this. Murthy Chikkadadaru, Keerthi Doddadu. This means even if the deity is small, its fame is much bigger than its size. This adage aptly describes the temple and the idol.

Though the temple is small, it is worth a visit. A word of caution though. The temple is full of monkeys and they can be a handful. Take care of your belongings and hold onto them tightly.   

Muthathi is easily approachable from both Bangalore and Mysore and of course from other cities such as Kanakapura, Malavalli, Mandya and Maddur. Muthathi is in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district.

The forests around Muthathi is full of wildlife. You are sure to spot crocodiles, jackals, wild boars and if you are lucky even leopards. If you are an ornithologist, you can keep counting the number of birds that keep on coming here. 

Apart from Muthathi, you can also have a glimpse of the famous Chunchi falls, Gagan Chukki and Bara Chukki-Shivanasamudra, Meke Datu and Sangam and Bhimeshwari.

The fishing camp at Bheemeswari has been rated by the Angler Magazine as among the best in the world. Catch a masher, get it weighed and put it back into the river. I can assure you that even if you are not a fisher, undertake this once in a lifetime experience.

Muthathi and Bheemeswari are  90 kms from Bangalore via Kanakapura and Sathanur or Halagur.

If you want to combine all the places, I suggest you visit Chunchi falls first and then motor down to Sangam where you can cross across to other side of the Cauvery. It is from this place that the road to Meke Datu commences. You have to take buses and are charged Rs. 50 per head. Come back and take in a view of Muthathi. If you have the time, travel further to Shivanasamudra and onwards to Talkad-where you can take a coracle ride on the Cauvery and visit the sand filled temples-the Panchalingeshwara temples of the Gangas.   

If you want to stay back at Bheemashwari, you can contact the Jungle Lodges and Resorts on MG Road. Log onto their website for more details.