Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-Aryan language used to compose Vedas, Puranas, and other ancient scriptures. In earlier times, it was used for offering prayer to god and teaching, but have you ever thought of visiting a place that uses Sanskrit for its day-to-day communication?
Mattur village is popularly known as “the Sanskrit Village of India”. The reason is that Sanskrit is the primary language of this village. From greeting each other to buying groceries, fruits, and vegetables to having conversations with each other, they use it for everything.
Let us know more about this unique village in India:
The Mattur village is located in the Shimoga district in Karnataka. It lies near the banks of the Tunga river, near the Shivamogga city of Karnataka. It is a small village with 2864 individuals as per the Population Census of 2011. With a literacy rate of 60.83%, almost one member of every family residing in this village has a person working in the Information Technology (IT) sector. This village is a perfect example of preserving ancient culture in modern times.
History
The history of this village is around 600 years old when the Sankethis, an ancient Brahmin community, migrated here from Kerala. This village is built in a square shape around the temple. It also has a traditional school that trains students in the Sanskrit language and Vedas. Their training starts at an early age of 10 years.
In the 1980s, a 10-day workshop on the Sanskrit language in the village by Sanskar Bharati. It was when the idea of a village where everyone speaks Sanskrit was brought up. The villagers accepted the idea, and since then, Sanskrit has become the primary language of communication for the residents.
This village also has a centre known as the Vishwa Sanketi Bharti that offers courses in Sanskrit, Agriculture, and Vedas. This aims to promote and preserve the Bharatiya Identity (Indian culture).
Language
Although Sanskrit has become the primary language of Mattur village with time, the residents can also speak Tamil, Kannada, and Sanketi (a mix of Sanskrit, Tamil, and Kannada).
Culture
Mattur is a small village whose primary occupation is agriculture. They cultivate paddy crops and areca nuts. It is a close-knitted community that lives together peacefully and respects its traditions.
How to reach Mattur?
Mattur Village is a small village in India. The best way is to reach Shimoga city first and then take local transport to Mattur. You can reach Shimoga in the following ways:
By Air
Mangalore Airport is the nearest airport to Shimoga. From there you can hire a cab or travel in local transport to reach Mattur.
By Rail
You can take a train to Shimoga from major cities of Karnataka and then reach Mattur by hiring a cab or through local transport.
By Road
Buses can be taken from Shimoga to Mattur throughout the day. You can also hire cabs or auto-rickshaws to reach the village.
Places to visit near Mattur
Mattur is a small village, so it does not have much to explore. If you are planning to visit this place, do not forget to check out these places:
- Rama and Lord Shiva temples
- Someshwara Temple
- Lakshmikeshava Temple
- Hosahalli Village
Best time to visit Mattur
The best time to visit Mattur Village is from November to March.
