Drenching in Western Ghats - A fabulous experience

An unconventional call to organise a trip of motion and emotion to western ghat from my cousin brother deepu spurred the idea of mixing nature, sentiments, emotions, pilgrimage all in one to blend a perfect get away during drenching western ghats in rain.

A cab had been hired from the gate way of Malanaadu - Shivamoga to take us to unwinding journey in to the scenic beauty.

The next three days we had put our imprints in the mother nature's lap.

13th Aug 2011
Tyavare Koppa : A good 10Kms from the heart of shivamoga, it is a breeding centre for Tiger.  You can feel the Tiger presence in the close ranges.  And the tigers also used to human habitation, so it gives pose just like how we give in our marriage reception.  A wonder treat to go inside the forest captivity to see the giant sized tigers who walks majestically all the way in their own yard.  If you want to see the real tiger, please visit this place.

Entry fee, and for camera on charged basis, and also the safari ride.  Altogether you need to shell our around Rs.100/-  per head, but i feel it is paisa vasool.

Hara Kere - Harana Kere : A good 8Kms from Shivamoga on Old Teerthahalli road.  This is a unique place where in you can find Rameshwara Temple which is close to 600-700 years old, and also Cluster of Idols depicting Kailasa.  A giant statue of Shiva sorrounded by Saptha Rishis, Lord Shiva's family, and also his disciple. When river is not swollen you can cross the river to find our n number of shiva linga in the river stream.  A great place to spend in the evenings between 4PM to 6PM.

Gajanur Dam: A 11Kms from heart of Shivamoga on Old Teertahalli Road A dam had been constructed to hold back Tunga River water to cater the needs for the fields in and around this place.  A water in full, this dam gives you to spectacular view of water body.

Sakkare Bayalu : A good 12 Kms from Shivamoga. The elephants
 are trained in this place.  You can see elephants being taken to bath, feeding, and also a boat ride if river is not swollen.  You have to be in this place before 11Am in the mornings, the best would be between 8.30 to 11.00 in the morning hours.

Manda Gadde : Just a throw away distance from Sakkare Bayalu. A clusters of great white birds perching on each and every leaf, branch, tree makes the whole tree painted in white. A picture perfect place for birds photography, and also birds voice recordings people.

Kavishaila : The birth place of Rashtra Kavi Kuvempu.  This is a wonderful place to step your presence in.  A wonderfully maintained place of Kuvempu.  The guides, and the exhibited things easily take you to 200-300 years back.  While coming out of the three storied palace like house you will feel enlightened and also you feel  proud to know that we have a rich cultural collection of Kuvempu.  The scenic rocky spot behind this house where the famed poet used to get inspiration to write many legendary collections takes your breath away.  A must visit place for all irrespective of language barrier. The entry ticket itself a piece of information to preserve for life time.

Chibbalu Gudda Ganapa : Very close to Kuvempu's birthplace, there is a temple dedicated to lord ganesha which says this Ganapa is Swayambu meaning it came from the ground zero. Beyond the religious belief's this temple has a nice atmosphere, ambiance.  A flowing river in the back drop where fishes just jumps in air to feed them gives the relaxation required.

14th August 2011

Varadahalli - Sridhar Ashrama 

A 70kms driver from Shivamoga on Sagara Route, and a left deviation for about 6Kms takes you to this silent place.  It is an Ashrama where Sridhar Gurugalu meditated, served the needy people, and also attained moksha.  This place has a calm presence, the religious believer can take a dive here, and the non-religious people can walk through this place for a great scene at the top of this Ashrama.  A glimpse can be seen in this following video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt4h19QXi40

Jog Falls
If i write a more line, people will trash me. Coz, there are million, and trillions had been written about this majestic falls, but one last thing would want to say is this is my 7th trip to this place, but i could see more water than in all my previous visits.  Since mad people who does not follow lane discipline, we could not go near the guest house to see the other side of the falls.

Ikkeri - A Shiva Temple

It is a classic temple in Dravidian style, you can not expect Belur Halebeedu style of sculptures, but the frame itself is big enough to mesmarise the viwer.  A Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, a monolith Nandi, and well maintained garden just pleases your eyes.The beauty of the temple can seen in this clip from the movie Amrutha Ghalige

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0W1U0GaUSU

Naada Kalasi - A Dravidian - Hoysala Temple

This is a twin temple, wonderful constructed, and well maintained too.  Dravidian temple, later completed by Hoysala Kings steals the show.  The pillars of the temple had been polished to retain the glorious past are worth effort.  This temple is on the Soraba Road, a good 8Kms from the Sagara main road really a worth visit.

On the way to temple, we found a interesting coconut tree, which made a U-turn on the way to reach its top, an unusual bend as for as city dwellers like me.

15th August 2011

Shringeri
This is the temple established by Shankaracharya the founder of Dwaitha Siddantha - Aham Brahmasmi. We had Darshan of Sharadaamba in Shringeri, Vidhya Shankara Temple, and then left to Horanaadu, Kalasa on Kudremukha Road.  What a journey it was, wherever you see, only greenery, greenery all the way.

Kadaambi Falls
On the way to Horanaadu on Kudremukha high way, you can see the majestic water falls, even though you can not touch the water, the falls gives you a great view from the road itself.  Monkey's will make your life miserable if you are carrying any food packets in your hand.

Hanumana Gundi Falls.
Due to time constaint we could not go to this falls, which is just a throw away distance from Kadambi falls, but nevertheless i will come back with my team to this place.  This was my promise to Hanumana Gundi Falls

Kalasa Temple:
A old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the famous movie of Annavaru Shravana Banthu had been picturised here.  You can see in this clip below


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-OfPi3K8yI

Horanaadu Temple :
This is a temple dedicated to Matha Annapoorneshwari.  You will not blink your eyes when you see the goddess, such a bhakthi, feeling you get when you get in to the shrine.  A Great place to conclude the long weekend.

Highlights
1. In every turn on the ghats changing climate.  You will tend to scratch your heard whats happening, one curve you will get heavy rains with poor visibility, other curve no rains, so on.
2. A peacock in a house on the way to Teertha Halli, it will play with you, we could see the beautiful feathers from the close ranges

3. Finally my long companion shoot at sight Digi Camera finally feeling tired, and its hands are rising up.

Z Point+Hebbe Falls+Mullayana Giri + Belavadi - 09-07-2011 to 10-07-2011

Z point was feeling very low.  I had promised to summit last year,  when I missed my trekking guru Rohit's call.  

When I saw the misty snap of Z-point, was just speech less, and i cursed myself enough times so that, 

Z point itself came in the dream, and tapped my shoulder and said, 

"don't worry Sri, always there is next chance....."

"typically NO means next opportunity, so do not worry, 

i will get decked myself when you summit me"

Z point

True to its words, when we reached in the wee hours of a beautiful mist fillled saturday morning on 9th July 2011, just it had brushed its teeth, and washed its face, and gave a beautiful hug with a cool breeze.

Yashdeep, Sunil, and myself were chasing the cool breeze, followed by new entrant to our gang Arvind.  The upward climb was very pleasant, no rest nor tiring.  The breathtaking scenic beauty just evaporated all our tiredness. In no time, we were there on the cliff, taking snaps with the mother nature.  

When we started from Kemmannu Gundi entrance, the team got split in two, the other team with Sandeep, Prashanth, Latesh visited Raj-Bhavan, and the rose garden, when we crosssed each other, they left to Z-point, and we left to Raj-Bhavan to explore, promising each other to meet for the break fast.

The Crazy drive to Hebbe Falls

The automobile giants would have committed suicide by looking at the vehicle condition, but still had enough power to zip on the treacherous path leading to Hebbe.  I just thanked the owners of the estate, and as usual our government apathy towards making it a promising tourist spot, because this is the only falls i visited in my life which is neatly maintained by everyone.  No unnecessary trash.  

The falls just takes your breath away.  Beautiful, Spectacular, marvelous...oh no!!!!..my key board is crying, it doesn't have any letter to get arranged itself to praise the beauty of the falls.  

Frost free route :-)

After a brief breathtaking cold bath, we started journey towards Chikkamagalur. The way from Hebbe Falls to Kemmannu gundi just takes your eye lid out, it refuses to close even for a brief moment.   This is one of the most memorable trip for "Many" reasons.

Majestic Hebbe Falls!!!!!!!!

We stayed back in chikkamagalur in a lodge accommodating all the seven guys.  

New Town Canteen and the forest life in Muthodi

Our great poets said, you should see Jog falls in a life time, the same way people who visited Chikkamagalur says, if you dont eat Butter Masala Dosa in New Town Canteen, your life is a waste.  So we decided not to waste our life, we ventured in to it, and we had nice two rounds of Dosa, and came back in the noon for one more round.  

Sandeep said, he will leave eating Dosa atleast for a month to keep the taste in the taste bud as it is!!!!!! (Am sure he will reply to this, and says am fed up with dosa").  Such was the power of New Town Canteen.  A personnel who is serving from the last 21st years of service in this hotel for taste buds said the quality was unaltered even after 51 years from inception. 

Upway to Mullayanagiri

Due to rainy season, the safari in the muthodi forest was banned, but  the forest personnel Mr. Lokeshappa took us to a virtual safari in a demo room.  His narration was very good, and pleasing.

He said, continue the journey from Muthodi to Mullayana Giri, you will get goose bumps.  

He was just right on.  The winding roads, the unfolded mountains with green carpet, you cant expect anything less nor more.  It was the right season to get engrossed with the nature.  

The team Prashanth, Arvind, Sunil, Sandeep, Yashdeep, Latesh, Srikanth & Tavera 

Mullayana Giri

The Sunil's driving skills was just amazing, when we are taking turn in every hairpin curve, we used to pray god, but he was effortlessly talking, and driving us to safety.  Amazing skills indeed. 

Mullayanagiri was just amazing, we were proud to be top of highest point in Karnataka.  The caves, the breeze, the mist, the fog was just excellent.  Whole mountain ranges were decked fresh from the "mist"erious bath.  

Belavadi Temple - Hoysala Architecture

Since the rain started, we abandoned the idea of Baba Budan Giri, instead we decided to head to Belavadi - A small hamlet near Chikkamagalur, famous for Udbava Ganesha Temple, and a temple in Hoysala style of architecture. 

Hoysala Architecture in Belavadi

All of us returned to Bangalore in the mid night of sunday with fat stomach after eating dinner in Kamath hotel, and with full memory in the Camera and the eyes with satisfaction.

With the priest!

The lights at the top (High-Lights)

1. Z point is just marvelous, would want to visit again

2. The drive to Hebbe, and the neat falls just marvelous

3. The winding curvey Mullyanagiri

4. My energy recharging point Belavadi Ganesha Temple, and the 

    Hoysala temple
5. More snaps in the following link
https://picasaweb.google.com/srmanjun/KemmannuGundiZpointHebbeMullayanaGiriBelavadi

ಹಾಸನ-ಉದ್ಭವ ಗಣೇಶನ ಬೆಳವಾಡಿ - ಚಂಡಿಕಹೊಮದ ಕೌಶಿಕ - ೨೫-೨೬ ಜೂನ್ - ೨೦೧೧

ಜನನಿ ಜನ್ಮಭೂಮಿ ಸ್ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ಮಿಗಿಲು ಅಂತ ಹೇಳ್ತಾರೆ..ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಜನನಿ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಬರಿ ತಾಯಿ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ ತಾಯಿ-ತಂದೆ ಇಬ್ಬರು..ಅವರು ಜನಿಸಿದ ಸ್ಥಳ..ಅವರ ನೆಂಟರು-ಬಂಧು-ಬಳಗ...ಅವರ ಒಡನೆ ಒಡನಾಟ ಇವೆಲ್ಲ ವರ್ಣಿಸಲಸಾಧ್ಯ...

ಮದುವೆ.....ಅಮ್ಮನ ಸೋದರತ್ತೆಯ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಂಡಿಕ ಹೋಮ...ಎರಡು ಸಂಭ್ರಮಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಇದ್ದ ಅಂತರ ಕೇವಲ ಎಂಟು ಕಿ.ಮಿ. ಗಳು...

                                                                                                     ಕೈ-ಮರ 
ಗಣೇಶನ ದರ್ಶನ ಮಾಡಿ ನಿಷ್ಠೆಯಿಂದ ಇಷ್ಟ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಹೊರಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ದೇವಾಲಯ ಕೂಗಿ ಕರೆಯಿತು. ದೇವಾಲಯ ವಾಸ್ತು ಶಿಲ್ಪ...ಅಚ್ಚರಿ ಬರಿಸುತ್ತೆ..ಇದು ಸೇರಿ ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಸರತಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೀನೋ ಲೆಕ್ಕವಿಲ್ಲ...ಆದ್ರೆ ಪ್ರತಿಬಾರಿಯೂ ಹೊಸತನ ಮೂಡಿಸುತ್ತೆ..ಅಂತಹ ಸ್ಥಳ ಇದು.

ಬೂತಯ್ಯನ ಮಗು ಅಯ್ಯು..ಬಂಗಾರದ ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಚಿತ್ರೀಕರಿಸಿದ ಕಳಸಾಪುರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ನಿಂತಾಗ ಮಹನೀಯರು ಓಡಾಡಿದ ಜಾಗಗಳು, ಚಿತ್ರೀಕರಿಸಿದ ಸ್ಥಳಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಏನೋ ಒಂಥರಾ ಆನಂದಾ..ಮಹದಾನಂದ...

ದರುಶನ ಮತ್ತು ದಾರ್ಶನ ಮುಗಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಹಾಸನಕ್ಕೆ ಮಧುವೆಯ ಸಂಭ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲುಗೊಳ್ಳಲು ಬಂದೆವು.  ಬಂಧು-ಮಿತ್ರರು ಜಮಾಯಿಸಿದ್ದರು.  ಅವರ ನಡುವೆ ಉಭಯ-ಕುಶೋಲೋಪರಿ-ಸಾಂಪ್ರತ ಆದ ಮೇಲೆ...ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳು ಮೊದಲುಗೊಂಡವು....

ಕಟ್ಟೆ ಬಳಗ, ಸುವಾಸಿತ ಧೂಪ, ಗಲಿಬಿಲಿ ಮನಸನ್ನೇ ಶಾಂತಿಗೊಳಿಸುವ ವಾತಾವರಣ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಆಹ್ಲಾದಕರ...ನಗರದ ಕಲುಷಿತ ಮನಸಿಗೆ ಸರಿಯಾದ ಕಷಾಯ...

ವೇದಘೋಷ, ಮಂತ್ರಗಳ ತರಂಗಗಳು, ಯಜ್ಞಕುಂಡ ಒಂದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಕಂಡು ಮನಸನ್ನು ಸೂರೆಮಾಡಿದವು.  ಇನ್ನಾರು ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದ ಹುಮ್ಮಸನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಈ ಹೋಮ ಸಮಾರಂಭ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಶ್ಲಾಘನೀಯ.

ಮಾರನೆದಿನ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಭಾನುವಾರ ಗಂಡಿಗೆ ಕಾಶಿದಾರಿ ತೋರಿಸಿ..ಕೌಶಿಕಕ್ಕೆ ಲಗ್ಗೆ ಹಾಕಿತು...ಇದು ಒಂದು ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯವಾದಿಗಳ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಗ್ರಾಮ...ಹಳ್ಳಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ಒಂದು ರೈಲು ದಾರಿ, ಮುಗಿಲು ಮುಟ್ಟುವ ಗಿಡ-ಮರಗಳು, ಕೆರೆ-ಕಟ್ಟೆ-ಭಾವಿಗಳು, ಸುಂದರವಾದ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಗಳು, ರುಚಿಕರ ಭೋಜನ ಎಲ್ಲವು ಮೇಳೈಸಿತ್ತು. 

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಸೋದರತ್ತೆ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ತಲುಪುವ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಚಂಡಿಕ ಹೋಮ ಶುರುವಾಗಿತ್ತು.  ದೂರದಿಂದಲೇ ಸಮಿತ್ತು, ಉತ್ತರಾಣಿ, ತುಪ್ಪ, ಬೆಲ್ಲ, ಮುಂತಾದ ಆರ್ಜ್ಯಗಳ ಸುವಾಸನೆ ಕೈ ಬೀಸಿ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತ ಇತ್ತು.  ಆಹಾ ಎಂತಹ ವಾತಾವರಣ!!!!!

ಈ ಸಮಾರಂಭ ನಡೆಸಿದ, ಆಹ್ವಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗು ಹೃದಯದಲ್ಲೇ ನಮನ ತೋರಿಸಿ ಒಳಗೆ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಇಟ್ಟೆವು..

ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ ಮಧ್ಯರಾತ್ರಿಯ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಹಾಸನ ಸೇರಿದಾಗ...ನಿದ್ರಾದೇವಿ ಬಾಚಿ ತಬ್ಬಿಕೊಂಡಳು..ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಎದ್ದು..ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳನೆಲ್ಲ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಇಷ್ಟ ದೇವತಾ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ - ಬೆಳವಾಡಿ ಗಣೇಶನ ದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕೆ ಮನಸು, ದೇಹ ಎರಡು ಸಿದ್ದವಾಯಿತು. ಪಯಣಿಗರು ಮುದ್ದಿನ ಮಡದಿ, ಮುದ್ದಿನ ಪಾಪ, ಹಾಗು ಮುದ್ದಿನ ಮಗು ಮತ್ತು ನಾನು.

ಬಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪಯಣ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ ಜಕಣಚಾರಿ ನೆನಪಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ನಿಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂದು ಕೂಗಿದಂತಾಯಿತು..

ಇಂಥಹ ಒಂದು ಸುಯೋಗ ಇನ್ನೊಮ್ಮೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಮಯಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾಯುತ್ತ ಇತ್ತು..ಅಮ್ಮನ ಸೋದರಮಾವನ ಮಗನ 

Biking to Nandi Hills early morning on 18th June 2011

The monotonous life almost came to a grinding halt.

Grinding Halt!!!!!!

All the good ideas are failing, and falling flat

Ideas falling flat!!!!!

Head and brain were like a top-less table.

Topless table!!!!

Started feeling like i was born in pre-indepence era....

Pre-independence era!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then the power filled lightening invite came from Sandeep about the early morning biking to Nandi Hills.

Opportunity, and lightening never strikes the same place twice

Just I ticked the right button..and Saturday morning by 4.30Hrs we are on the road towards Nandi Hills.  The Mother nature invited me with both the hands

The ride was excellent, cool breeze, no zooming past vehicles nor bumper to bumper traffic jam....

Our great ride to one of the historically significant Nandi hills were joined by new entrants to our group Prashanth Kishan, Suresh, and Shashidhar. We started off from Hebbal flyover by 5.00 Hrs in the morning.

Sandeep, Prashant, Shashidhar, and Suresh in order

It was unbelievable that near Bengaluru there exists a place close to any hills stations with Kodaikanal,or ooty or anyother hills stations.  Chilled weather, breezing wind, poor visibility up the curves of the Nandi hills was a a trail blazer still nature was awaiting to unleash the splendor of mother earth.

For close to two hours mother nature softly spoken to my heart with mute button on.  My heart slowly but effectively observed, galvanised the breathtaking live frames of the nature's nature.

The awesome windy Tippu Drop just blown away all the dust on the heart...while climbing down the hills..the heart, the body, and the mind was as light as smile of my best friend enjoying the ridel.

My best friend enjoying the nature!!!!

More photos in the following link :
https://picasaweb.google.com/srmanjun/BikingToNandiHillsInTheWeeHours18Jun2011


The finale

1. One more trouble free ride from my best friend (TVS Victor)
2. The foggy, impossible poor visibility made the trip the memorable one
3. The ride on close to hair pin curves just reminded the curves of !@#!@#$@#$@#
4. Start early in the morning...forget about the over hyped cloud bed..but misty, foggy nature will be just breathtaking
5. Don't waste money, and time for breakfast or lunch on top of the hill
6. Like any hill stations, the monkeys, and the mongers will bother you all the time