Back to the past - Shivamogga

Nostalgic trip to the roots – Shivamogga+Jog+Varadahalli+Gajanoor+Shivaloka in Harakere

A phone call from shivamoga for a marriage of my cousin brother ignited passion to visit shivamoga once again.  I rarely miss an opportunity to visit my strong roots of my childhood, and also the interesting phase of my family, which taught us to how to wade through the turbulent time

Once again, I called my gladiator Sunil from my earlier trip to Madikeri, and Shivanasamudra, but unfortunately he was also booked by a similar gang to shivamoga, he was forced to bow to their request, so he sent another specialist in Venkatesh. 

We left Bangalore at 22.30 after our customary pooja to the vehicle.  We reached Shivamoga in the wee hours of Saturday. 

We took the blessings of the lord Hanuman temple in Kote, our grass root point, where we spent our childhood.  The visit to the post office, The temple, the roads leading to the temple, the bridge across the Tunga River brought goose bumps.  It was an absolutely life time experience for me.

By 9.00 Hrs we are on the corridor to Jog. 

Tunga River in full flow

Kote Post office - Childhood play station

Family pose - Kote Anjaneya Temple

The Majestic Jog falls

The jog falls had seen me six times earlier; as usual she was never tired of looking at me for the seventh time again.  But this time she was witnessing a golden moment in my life, as her eyes were getting filled with an eye catching presence of my parents.

Water flowing - Emotional at its best - Family Package

The heights of spirituality Sridhar teertha in Varadahalli (Varadapura)

This is a marvelous place to visit. This was my third trip to this place.  The calmness, the spiritual heights all brings an engrossing charging point resurrect yourselves.  The only film shot in this place according to my knowledge base is Amrutha Galige by master magician Puttanna Kanagal.My parents braved to climb the 225 steps leading to the temple at the top.

on the way of climbing steps to Sridhara Teertha

The watery world in Gajanur

The dam across the river Tunga was in its prime glory, it was filled to the brim. It was memorable for its own reasons.  This dam provided one of the locations for Annavara song in Eradu Kanasu, and also it brought down many memories of my effervescent moments with putty and guru when I visited the previous time.

Gajanur Dam

The creation of mini kailasa in Haranakere

You give him clay, he will make sure he will bring god alive on this earth, that is the specialty of Mr. Kashinath, the artist, the master of sculptures.  The mini Kailasa on Hara Kere on the way to Gajanur Dam was a pleasant one.

Lord shiva with a inspiration smile on the lips

After a pleasurable visit to our roots, we returned back to our mechanical roots by the midnight of Sunday.

The glorious moments

•  The glorious moments
  
  ·         My father friend who met him after a gap of marathon 60 years.  They last seen each other when my father was 17 years old, now he is 77.
  ·         Even though, he has painful legs due to operation had about a decade ago, he was delightful when he walked down to view the gorge point near the circuit house on the other side of the falls, which became famous after the Kannada monster hit movie Mungaru Male.
  ·         Strangely, he never felt pain after we returned to Bangalore; he was at his normal best.  When the brave heart is full of happy moments by speaking to his near and dear ones, where will be the place for the pain?