Sanskrit village Mathur near Shimoga - eNidhi India Travel Blog

Sanskrit village Mathur near Shimoga

Matturu (ಮತ್ತೂರು in Kannada,also spelt Mathur/Mathooru etc) is a scenic village on the outskirts of Shivamogga (Shimoga) town in Karnataka. Mattur is known for having Sanskrit language as their primary language. Villagers use Sanskrit here for their day to day conversation and not just during poojas. The town also is a hub for those aspiring to learn Vedas. If these things doesn’t interest you, Mattur is also a very scenic place from pure tourist perspective. If you’re traveling to or Via Shimoga and have couple of hours to spare, a quick visit to Mattur can be memorable.
  
One of the potential tourist interests in Mattur is a small Shiva temple built inside a nice garden (inaugurated in 2005 by the then state governor) with flowing freshwater stream nearby. Couple of other temples (Someshwara temple and Lakshmikeshava temple) on the banks of Tunga River are also good. Drive through tall Arica nut trees will be a bonus.
 
Some interesting birds were also spotted-help me with their names if you can identify them (identified as Cormorants by Ram and Mridula-thanks to them)
   
If you’re heading there early morning, you’ll also see villagers carrying on their bicycles real fresh tender coconuts, just off the tree, to be sold in town.

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Related posts: Keladi fort * Kodachadri * Skandagiri * Maravanthe * AmrithapuraKalhatti falls * Thyavarekere * Honnemaradu * Mullayana Giri * 


Gajanur Dam, Jog Falls, Kemmannu Gundi, Madagadde Bird Sanctuary, Tyavarekere Lion-Tiger Safari are other interesting places within short distance from Shimoga

Update: Thanks to Mridula's comment, I realized little late that Bajaj Discover advertisement has featured Mathur village
(but Mathur is about 200 kms from Mangalore and not just 100 kms as claimed in ad)

April 2012 Update: My blog reader ವಿಕಾಸ್ ಹೆಗಡೆ has following comment.
This is wrong. Our medias are also misinformed about this. The people here use 'Sanketi' language as the primary language. May be becoz Sanskrit scholars are more in this village, there is a general misimpression about the usage of Sanskrit as primary language here. U can confirm this with any Shivamogga guy or even directly with any Mattur/Hosalli guy. ! :)

36 comments:

  1. I have seen a documentary on this place sometime back on TV9. Nice to have such a place :) Thanks for sharing nice pics Shri.

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  2. Is this the same place mentioned in a motorcycle ad too? The black birds on the left *I think* are Cormorants but I could be wrong.

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  3. Mridula,
    I'm very irregular with TV ads-can you give some more description? Which ad and what does it say? A youtube link if available?

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  4. Mridula is right, This place was shown in the ad of a bike.
    I heard about this place manytimes, many places years ago.
    Anyways Nice shots

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  5. Yes, I am able to recall now- it is the ad for Bajaj Discover-one of the recent ones.. Will search for youtube video next

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  6. I think this is the Bajaj Discover ad URL=haven't checked yet

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FTVGNdDp2o

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  7. This is very refreshing. I miss my village in India. Especially, The bicycles carrying tender coconuts. :-(.

    Thanks for you post. It reminded me all my childhood memories.

    Durga Prasad.

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  8. Very interesting place and worthy visit.

    And as Mridula has said, those black birds are cormorants indeed.
    The full black one is a Little Cormorant and the one with the white beak could be an Indian Cormorant or Great Cormorant - not sure which one.

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  9. i have seen some scenes of this place sometime back on some kannada serial long back.

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  10. Durga Prasad,
    You're welcome

    Ram, thanks for the input

    sfauthor,
    Ok, thanks for the link

    Jyoti,
    OK Good to know. Can you recall serial name?

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  11. Thanks for sharing nice pics and its a Very interesting and refreshing place and worthy visit.

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  12. The information is really appreciable, Thank you Shrinidhi. We really proud and enthusiastic to see such place and give our effort to share this among all. This defines the Indian culture & heritage.

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  13. I hope Mattur to become one of the important destinations for Heritage Toursim and will continue keep Sanskrit as a vibrant language.

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  14. very interestg..did u speak to the people ? can u converse with them in kannada ?

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  15. every one can talk kannada as well as sanskrit..

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  16. PR Jha
    Me too hope so...

    Lakshmi,
    You can converse them in Kannada. We did some basic interaction but nothing serious.

    Sachin
    Yes. thanks for responding

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  17. wow. i had heard about this village when i was young and now happy to know that people still speak sanskrit.. thanks for sharing this..

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  18. "Villagers use Sanskrit here for their day to day conversation".

    This is wrong. Our medias are also misinformed about this. The people here use 'Sanketi' language as the primary language. May be becoz Sanskrit scholars are more in this village, there is a general misimpression about the usage of Sanskrit as primary language here. U can confirm this with any Shivamogga guy or even directly with any Mattur/Hosalli guy. ! :)

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  19. Vi Ra He: Thanks for those revealing information. Will add this as a note in the post

    Hariprasad: Thanks

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  20. Hi can I know if there is any Sanskrit learning center of private which gives course for two three months?

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  21. Nothing that I am aware of. But you can go there and explore possibility of living in someone's house as a student

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  22. If I had to visit this place, is there a person or a place whom I can contact also what possibilities of lodges or guest houses for me to stay for a day or two.

    Contct me at : ram.seshan.cs@gmail.com

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  23. @Ramaseshan

    Unfortunately No. You can go and stay in Shimoga and then do a day visit to Mathur and meet people there

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  24. I want to know the truth here. referring below comment.
    Please let me know who is correct here?

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    "April 2012 Update: My blog reader ವಿಕಾಸ್ ಹೆಗಡೆ has following comment.

    This is wrong. Our medias are also misinformed about this. The people here use 'Sanketi' language as the primary language. May be becoz Sanskrit scholars are more in this village, there is a general misimpression about the usage of Sanskrit as primary language here. U can confirm this with any Shivamogga guy or even directly with any Mattur/Hosalli guy. ! :)"
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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  25. I don't know at this point.. Will try to find out on my next visit to that part.

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  26. Whom I need to contact for regular classes by staying there to fulfleshed in sanskrit

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  27. Hi,
    Is there any way I can stay there and learn Sanskrit...? Is there any residential course???

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    Replies
    1. Not aware. You will have to visit and find out I think. This post is 8 years old, I am not aware of latest situation. Sorry

      Delete

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