Kumara Parvatha - The energiser Jan 5th & 6th 2013

(This is the Silver jubilee trip/trek in this bunch of wonderful team.  The successful 25th journey to the heart of mother nature is dedicated to all the members of alemaarigalu group. A special thanks to Sandeep K B who always nodded his head in the right direction whenever any trip or trek is planned, he is the man who gave a wonderful support to me in all the 25 trips with this group!)

Courtesy - Google Images

Kumara Parvatha, taking the name itself raises the energy level to a new high.  This time three new members came in line in the form of Utility Man - Girish Somashekar, Brave heart - Ravi Kanth (who came with us once), Enlightener and the rolling star Darshan along with regulars Always "yes" man Sandeep, and ever dependable and perfect plan executioner Prashanth.  With out any confusion in the mind, transportation to and fro (Bangalore - Kukke Subramanya) had been blocked in the reliable KSRTC services. 

We were chit chatting with the newbies as well as the regular members, we didn't see whats happening on the road, out of curiosity when we took the role of a peeping tom, we found that, even a bullock cart was overtaking our bus! The driver constantly on the phone yelling at the mechanic in the KSRTC Depo saying, accelerator's mouth is getting shut after 50-60Kms.  We were joking that, we will reach Kukke for next day dinner time, or we start trekking from Bangalore itself, or bus left Bangalore after 3-4 hours later than ours will be coming back from Kukke, and wishing our bus driver a Speedy Re"covery"!!!!!

Some minor spanner work in Kunigal, the bus started taking off, and once it surpassed zipping Rajahamsa, we couldn't control our happiness, me and prashanth clapped for the great drive, for which the co-passengers started looking at us like an aliens..............!. Darshan helped the driver not to close his eyes shutter in the deadly Shiradi Ghat road with his chatter box, and the driver also bonded with Darshan, saying, Guru, don't sleep i need your company!!!!.

Comfortably reached Kukke at around 5.00 AM on Saturday 5th Jan 2013, refreshed in the near by temple's outlets, and the energy yielding breakfast in Cafe Neo Mysore.  For our bad luck this time too we didn't get Vada along with Idli :-(

Clock ticked 6.40, packed the bag, and started the great trek to one of the tallest and most difficult trekking routes in Karnataka - The Peak of Kumara Parvatha!

Long way to go!

With short breaks at regular intervals, talking to fellow trekkers from the other groups, energising ourselves with chocolates, carrot, cucumber, biscuits, and of course the trade mark of alemaarigalu the fun quotient! As we did the last time, not to kill the time, skipped the bhattara mane, and landed at the forest office at 10.30 AM.  The officer who identified us, gave a warm welcome, showing a wonderful place for taking breakfast, and also allowed us to dump the excess luggage in his office. 

The breakfast proved the right fillip, the body responded very well, and again our next schedule to reach the Stone Mantap by 14.30 hours appearing in our dashboard. When the target blinking in front of the eyes, the soul always gives the right signals to the tired limbo's.  Even though before reaching the mantap, i wanted to retire from this trek, just closed my eyes, prayed the visible and invisible powers, and started taking the heavy steps towards the mantap!

With the great difficulty in the hot, hotter, and the hottest temperature slowly reached the mantap but at the exact time as per the schedule 14.30 :-).  A 30 minutes break, a stop gap nap recharged all of us, next journey was the most difficult phase of this trek.  A constant upper gradient in the sun bath proved too much for all of us.  The never say no spirit in all of us made sure that we were inching towards the beautiful sheshaparvatha before the Sunset. 

All the way there were few tired soldiers from some other groups who were cursing the tall Kumara parvatha, the route, the sun, and everything under the sun!

Taking the tired condition of all the team mates, we decided to camp in the forest after Shesha Parvatha for two factors 

1. No water spots on the peak after this forest stretch (We were proved wrong, and one of the group found a water spot near to the peak)  

2. To get the required energy for the next day.

Basking on the glory of Sun!

We pitched the tent, and Prashanth, Sandeep went in search of the fire wood, Darshan, Ravi, Giri, and myself went in search of Ganga Jal! 

Sunset was a disappointing act as evening was completely decked up with the mist!

The forest in the last stretch of the trek where we camped!

In another half an hour, the camp fire was fuming, vessel was hot, and the MTR ready to eat were slowly gulping down to the stomach.  

Cooking on the way!

We tasted everything we brought, that made the stomach a wonderful Been Bag, and after a small photo session, our souls said please behave like MMS, and we obliged, the result, we found snoring in the tent at 10.00 PM.

Colors ...Colors and more Colors!

Morning at 5.00 alarm screamed for the attention, the fire slept nicely whole night, we just patted its back, and it started dancing again, in that chilled weather, the hot and sour soup...aha..no words to describe.  Prashanth dished out one soup after the other, and  everyone happily had stomach full. 

The last steep stretch - A water fall in monsoon!

"Srikanth Sun rise, Srikanth Sun rise" Ravi started reminding again and again, we knew that, sunrise could be a dud again due to morning mist, and didn't wanted to disappoint the enthusiastic bunch, and since Sandeep decided to stay back to look after our belonging in the tent, five of us were with out any load, dashed towards the peak, and in less than 25 minutes we were on the peak!

Mother nature's hot cup of coffee ready!

A small prayer to salute the energy, meditation to enrich the soul, photo session to capture the lovely moments followed. 

Pooja, Fragrance everywhere!

All of us didn't satisfied reaching the peak, our dil was craving for more, so we found one small cone of stones seems to be bit waving our hands to summit it, we never disappointed our monkey's inhibition, one after the other started reaching the top, and found the view even more enticing. 

Alemaarigalu on the peak of Kumara Parvatha

Those few minutes spent on the peak was refreshing, and it just erased the tired moments experienced the previous day!

we started descending with a trembling feet, we packed our luggages, by that time, Sandeep etched the brand name "Alemaarigalu" on the heart of Kumara Parvatha. The fighting camp fire found almost breathing its last, just before that, we took a group snap along that rugged terrain. 

Camp site - Alemaarigalu!

The descent was as usual taxing on the knees, and the ankles, but slowly we started towards reaching our next target Bhattara mane for the necessary fillup! 

"Srikanth, always i felt peak will be in cone shape, but i was disappointed, the peak is a flat ground, i want to summit a peak which is sharp pointed or cone like structure. ooh ya..see that peak looks like sharp point one, want to summit that"

All of us said "Ravi, from the distance any hill look like that, but difficult to peak it, considering our long walk in the hot sun from yesterday"

But Ravi was the brave heart, when we were taking little gasp for breath, he said "I will keep going and summit it, by the time you guys reach the base, i will come down", and he disappeared, and found inching toward the peak called Bhattada Raashi, which ultimately named after him as "Ravi Parvatha" 

Bhattada Raashi alias "Ravi" Parvatha  (our Ravi kanth!)

Ravi peaked his Parvatha, and our fellow members freezed those frames, and we were at the base of the parvatha, when Sandeep said "Srikanth, you should also try", I folded my hands, and said "no!"

Sandeep normally a content man, said, "Srikanth, want to climb that, i will keep my bag here, and i will go and come back", and he left his bag there and dashed to the peak of Ravi Parvatha!

In the alemaarigalu group there is a trend, we are like sheep or monkey's, one acts..and the rest either Reacts or enacts!

Action....Reaction with some action!!!

Girish went ahead, Prashanth followed him by carrying his bag, I didn't wanted to miss this opportunity to look at Kumara Parvatha in an altitude, then forcibly Darshan too followed us.  The result all the six were in a pack on the peak!

When the intention of the effort is good, and encouraging, mother nature always supports.  We wanted to see the Kumara Parvatha is getting dipped in the clouds, but were not lucky all the time.  On the Ravi parvatha peak after spending few minutes just turned towards the Kumara Parvatha, we found him getting dressed up with the thin gown of clouds. What an amazing sight!

Kumara Parvatha wearing gown of clouds!

Again our descent started, inching towards Bhattara Mane started, after collecting the excess luggage kept in forest office, we drained in to Bhattara Mane mats spreading our tired body and soul for a short rest.  The staff of Bhattara mane responded to our request for meals, and they said it is ready to be consumed.

Alemaarigalu with Bhattara Mane Staff

Every one was too hungry, and they crossed their limit of daily consumption in the city. One round, followed by one more, then one more....After three rounds,  stomach like SRT decided to retire forcibly.  Lunch was too good to remember for the long time.  That too after a tiresome trek like in Kumara Parvatha. 

We thanked Bhattara Mane staff, and for Darshan it was a helicopter Thanks!

Comfortably reached the base, and slowly started walking towards the civilization, on the way, from last two days Darshan was crying for some spicy eateries, and found fried Boti's (like any pappad, or fried bisuits) in a petty shop a good companion, eating the boti's we reached Kumara Dhaara River in an auto riksha. 

After taking bath, Sandeep realised he left his "noble god" presented tripod in the first auto they came in.  We all prayed to the lord subramanya to retrieve the tripod, it is not only a gifted by a noble soul on this earth, but also it helped to freeze many magical moments in our group trips.  In the next ten minutes Sandeep, and rest of us were beaming with pride, the chink in our armory was back, and we all thanked the lord for honoring our prayers.

We entered the temple for a quick darshan, since Mahamangalaarathi was on the cards, the crowd was standing and waiting in a long que, since we didn't had enough time in our disposal, we had a glimpse of the lord in his abode, and we conveyed our gratitude to the lord for making this trek safe and more pleasurable, and prayed for our smooth return journey as well.  Again he blessed us, the moment we rested our body on the reserved seats of the KSRTC new found Karnataka Vaibhav, the sleeping goddesses welcomed us. z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z.............  

"Navarang, Navarang" scream from the conductor helped us to return back to this world.  What a nice sleep!

So the exciting, monumental, enriching trek to Kumara Parvatha listed in the Alemaarigalu group as the Silver Jubilee outing, and got the ratings as the one of the best all time!

ವಯನಾಡು, ಎಡಕಲ್ಲು, ಕಾರಪುಜ್ಹ, ಚೇಂಬರ ಪರ್ವತ

ದೇವರ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುತ್ತೆ?
ದೇವರ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುತ್ತೆ?

ದೇವರ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಹೇಗೆ ಇರುತ್ತೆ...?

ಈ ಕೆಲವು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ ಹುಡುಕುವ ಅವಕಾಶ ಒದಗಿ ಬಂತು.   ಒಂದೇ ಹವ್ಯಾಸದ ಆರು ಹುಡುಗರು ಹೊರಟೆವು ದೇವರು ಇದೆ ನನ್ನ ದೇಶ ಎಂದು ಎದೆ ತಟ್ಟಿ ಹೇಳಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಕೇರಳ ಕಡೆಗೆ.  ಅಲೆಮಾರಿಗಳು ಗುಂಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಪ್ರವಾಸ ಒಂದು ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ. ಪ್ರತಿ ಬಾರಿಯೂ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಾರಥಿ ಸುನೀಲ್ ಬರುತಿದ್ದರು..ಕಾರಣಾಂತರಗಳಿಂದ ಅವರು ಬರಲಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ..ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ನಾವೇ ಡ್ರೈವ್ ಮಾಡಿಬಿಡುವ ಎನ್ನುವ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಮಾಡಿದೆವು. ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಕಾರು ಚಲಾಯಿಸುವ ಭಾರವನ್ನು ನನ್ನ ಜೊತೆ ಹೊರುತ್ತೇನೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ. ಸರಿ ಮತ್ತೇನು ಹೊರಟೆವು ಶುಕ್ರವಾರದ ಮಧ್ಯ ರಾತ್ರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ.

ಮಾತಾಡುತ್ತ, ಹರಟುತ್ತ ನಮಗೆ ಬಂಡಿಪುರದ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಬಾಗಿಲ ಬಳಿ ಬಂದದ್ದೆ ತಿಳಿಯಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಗಲೇ ಹನುಮಂತನ ಬಾಲದ ಹಾಗೆ ಸಾಲಾಗಿ ನಿಂತಿತ್ತು ಲಾರಿಗಳು, ಟ್ರಕ್ ಗಳು, ಕಾರುಗಳು. ಸಮಯ ಸುಮಾರು ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಜಾವ ೫.೩೦ ಆಗಿತ್ತು. ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್, ಸಂದೀಪ್ ಮತ್ತು ನಾನು ಕಾರಿನಿಂದ ಇಳಿದು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದೂರ ಆ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಚಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಷ್ಟು ದೂರ ನಡೆದೆವು. ಚಹಾ ಕುಡಿಯೋಣ ಅಂತ ಇನ್ನೊಂದಷ್ಟು ದೂರ ಹೋಗಲು ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಮಾಡಿದಾಗ..ಅರಣ್ಯ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ತಡೆ ತೆಗೆದಿದ್ದರು...ಗಾಡಿಗಳು ಒಂದೊಂದಾಗಿ ಶಬ್ಧ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ ಹೊರಟವು.

ಕಾಡಿನ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯ ಸವಿಯುತ್ತ ಸಾಗಿತ್ತು ನಮ್ಮ ವಾಹನ.  ಸುಲ್ತಾನ್ ಬತ್ತೇರಿಯಾ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಚಹಾ ಕುಡಿಯೋಣ ಅಂತ ನಿಂತಾಗ ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯ ರಮಣೀಯ ನೋಟ ನೋಡಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಕ್ಯಾಮೆರಗಳಿಗೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಕೊಟ್ಟೆವು.. ಸುಂದರ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ನೋಟ ಆಹಾ! ಪದಗಳಿಗೆ ಆಗೋಲ್ಲಾ ಅದನ್ನು ವರ್ಣಿಸಲು!.

ವಯನಾಡ ಅಂದ ಈ ತಾಣ ಚಂದ...ಸಂದೀಪ್!

ಅನತಿ ದೂರ ಸಾಗಿ ಉಪಹಾರದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಮೊದಲೇ ಮಾತಾಡಿದ್ದ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ಬಳಿ ಬಂದೆವು.ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಪ್ರಾತಃಕರ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಗಿಸಿ ತೌಫಿಕ್ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅಚ್ಚುಕಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ಉಪಹಾರ ಮುಗಿಸಿದೆವು. ನಂತರ ನಮ್ಮ ಸವಾರಿ ಎಡಕಲ್ಲು ಗುಹೆಗೆ ತೆರಳಿತು.

ಸುಮಾರು ೫೦೦೦ದಿಂದ ೧೦೦೦೦ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಶಿಲಾಯುಗದ ಜನರು ಮೂಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಬಂಡೆಗಲ್ಲಿನ ಮೇಲಿನ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿದ್ದವು.  ಅದನ್ನು ವಿವರಿಸುವ ಫಲಕಗಳಾಗಲಿ, ಅಥವಾ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಕ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಕಾರಣ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯ ನೋಡಿ ಬರುವ ತಾಣವಾಯಿತು.  ಪುಟ್ಟಣ್ಣ ಅವರ ದಿಗ್ದರ್ಶನದಲ್ಲಿ  ಅರಳಿದ  "ಎಡಕಲ್ಲು ಗುಡ್ಡದ ಮೇಲೆ" ಚಿತ್ರ ನೋಡಿದಂದಿನಿಂದ ನನಗೆ ಈ ಸ್ಥಳ ನೋಡಬೇಕೆನ್ನುವ ಕುತೂಹಲ ಇತ್ತು. ಅದು ತಣಿಯಿತು.

ಎಡಕಲ್ ಗುಹೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಶಿಲಾ ಚಿತ್ರ..

ಎರಡು ಮಜಲಿನ ಗುಹೆ ಎನ್ನಲಾಗದ ಆದರೆ ಬಂಡೆಗಳು ಒಂದನ್ನೊಂದು ತಬ್ಬಿ ಆಸರೆಯಾಗಿ ಗುಹೆಯಾ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತಿದೆ..ಸುಮಾರು ಎರಡು ಘಂಟೆಗಳು ಕಳೆದ ನಂತರ...ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಹಸಿವಿನ ತಾಪ ತಾಳಲಾರದೆ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಇಳಿದು ಬರುವಾಗ ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅನಾನಸ್, ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ, ತಂಪು ಪಾನೀಯ, ಎಳನೀರು ಮತ್ತು ಐಸ್ ಕ್ರೀಂ ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನು ಗೊತ್ತು ಗುರಿಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ತಿಂದು ಕಾರಿನತ್ತ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಹಾಕಿದೆವು. 

ಅಲೆಮಾರಿಗಳ ಗುಂಪು!

ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಅವರಿವರನ್ನು ಕೇಳುತ್ತ ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಕಾರಪುಜ್ಹ ಅಣೆಕಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬಂದೆವು..ಇದು ಒಂದು ರೀತಿ ನಿಸರ್ಗ ನಿರ್ಮಿತ ಹಲವಾರು ಸರೋವರಗಳು ಸೇರಿ ವಿಸ್ತಾರವಾದ ನೀರಿನ ಸಂಕುಲಕ್ಕೆ ಸುತ್ತವರಿದ ಬೆಟ್ಟ ಗುಡ್ಡಗಳು ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಅಣೆಕಟ್ಟನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದ್ದವು...ಮಾನವ ಸಣ್ಣ ಕುಸುರಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿ ಇದನ್ನು ಸುಂದರ ಜಲಾಶಯವನ್ನಾಗಿ ಪರಿವರ್ತಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಸಂಜೆ ಸೂರ್ಯಾಸ್ತ ನೋಡಲು ಮನೋಹರವಾದ ಈ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ ನನಗೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತನಿಗೆ ಸುಮಧುರ ನಿದ್ದೆಯನ್ನು ಕೂಡ ತರಿಸಿತು. ಆದ್ರೆ ನಿದ್ದೆ ಮಾಡುವ ಮೊದಲು ಕೆಲವು ಸುಂದರ ದೃಶ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿದಿದ್ದೆವು...ಸೂರ್ಯಾಸ್ತ ನೋಡಲಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುವ ನೋವು ಇದ್ದರೂ ಕೂಡ ಗೆಳೆಯರ ಮಾತುಗಳು ಆ ಬೇಸರವನ್ನು ಹೋಗಲಾಡಿಸಿದವು.

ಕಾರಪುಜ್ಹ ಅಣೆಕಟ್ಟಿನ ಒಂದು ವಿಹಂಗಮ ನೋಟ 

ಮತ್ತೆ ತೌಫೀಕ್ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ರುಚಿಕರವಾದ ಊಟ ಮಾಡಿ, ಮಲಗಲು ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ಘಂಟೆ ಸುಮಾರು           ಎಂಟುವರೆ ದಾಟಿತ್ತು.. ಹೋಟೆಲಿನ ಮುಂದೆ ಕುಣಿಯುತಿದ್ದ ದೀಪಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಅದನ್ನು ಸೆರೆ ಹಿಡಿಯುವ ಮನಸಾಯಿತು..ಅದೇ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಚಮಾತ್ಕಾರಿಕ ಛಾಯಾಗ್ರಾಹಕ ಸಂದೀಪ್ ದೀಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿತ್ರ ರಚಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡಿದರು.. ಅದು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವೇ...ಅಲ್ಲ ಅದೊಂದು ಸುಂದರ ವರ್ಣ ಕಲಾಕೃತಿ...ನೀವೇ ನೋಡಿ ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸಿ...

ಸಂ"ದೀಪ"ದ ಕೈಚಳಕ......

ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಬೇಗನೆ ಎದ್ದು, ಚೇಂಬರ ಪರ್ವತಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಟೆವು ಸುಮಾರು ೬೯೦೦ ಅಡಿ ಎತ್ತರದ ವಯನಾಡು ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿ ಎತ್ತರದ ಈ ಶಿಖರವೇರಲು ಎಲ್ಲರು ತುದಿಗಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದೆವು.  ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿ ಎನ್ನುವಂತೆ ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ವುಡ್ ಲ್ಯಾಂಡ್ಸ್ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಘಮ ಘಮವಿಸುವ ಮಸಾಲಾ ದೋಸೆ (ಈಗಲೂ ಬಾಯಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರು ಬರುತ್ತದೆ) ಎರಡು ಬಾರಿ ತಿಂದದ್ದು ಎಲ್ಲರನ್ನು ಹುರುಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇಡಲು ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಿತು. ರಸ್ತೆ ಇರಬಹುದು ಎನ್ನುವ ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಸಾಗಿದೆವು. ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅನುಮತಿಯ ಚೀಟಿ ಪಡೆದು..ಮೊದಲೇ ದಿನ ತುಂಬಿದ ಬಸುರಿಯಂತಿದ್ದ ನಮ್ಮ ಕಾರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿಯನ್ನು ಕೂರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಘಟ್ಟದ ಏರು ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಗಿದೆವು.

ಮಾರ್ಗ ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಹೊಸದಾಗಿ ತೆರೆದಿದ್ದ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಧ್ಯಾನ್ಹಕ್ಕೆ ಊಟಕ್ಕೆ ಹೇಳಿ ದಾರಿಗೆ ಕೆಲವು ಬಿಸ್ಕತ್, ಅದು ಇದು ಕುರುಕು ತಿಂಡಿಗಳನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಹೊರಟೆವು. ವಾಹನ ನಿಲುಗಡೆ ತಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ  ಸುತ್ತಲು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ರಮಣೀಯ ದೃಶ್ಯ ಕಾದಿತ್ತು.  ಚಹಾ ತೋಟಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಸಾಗುತ್ತ ಹೋದೆವು. ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿ ಹೇಳಿದ ಸರ್ ತುತ್ತ ತುದಿ ತಲುಪಲು ಏಳು ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಬೆಟ್ಟಗಳನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಬೇಕು.  ಬೇಗ ಬೇಗ ನಡೆಯಿರಿ...ಅಂತ...ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ "ವೇಗ"ವನ್ನು ಕಾಯ್ದು ಕೊಂಡೆವು.

ಮೊದಲ ಎರಡು ಬೆಟ್ಟಗಳನ್ನೂ ಹತ್ತಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಸಿಗುವುದು ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಹೃದಯದ ಆಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಒಂದು ಸರೋವರ. ನಿಸರ್ಗ ನಿರ್ಮಿತವಾದ ಈ ಸರೋವರ ತನ್ನ ಆಕಾರದಿಂದ ಗಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುತ್ತದೇ.  ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ ಇಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ತನ್ನ ಮಡದಿಗೆ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಸಂದೇಶವನ್ನು ಚಿತ್ರದ ಮೂಲಕ ಕಳಿಸಿದ. ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಆಕಾರ ಕಾಣಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಇನ್ನೊಂದೆರಡು ಬೆಟ್ಟಗಳನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಿದರೆ ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುತ್ತದೆ.

ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಪ್ರದೇಶ...!!!

ಇಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಂದೀಪ್ ದೆವ್ವ ಹಿಡಿದವರ ಹಾಗೆ ಶಕ್ತಿ ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡು ತುತ್ತ ತುದಿಯತ್ತ ದಾಪುಗಾಲು ಹಾಕುತ್ತ ಸಾಗಿದರು. ಅವರ ಹಿಂದೆ ರಘು, ಮತ್ತು ನಾನು ಸಾಗಿದೆವು. ನಾಗೇಶ್ ಐದನೇ ಬೆಟ್ಟದ ಹತ್ತಿ ಇನ್ನು ಮೇಲೆ ನೋಡುವುದು ಏನಿಲ್ಲ.ನಾನು ಬರೋಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಕೂತು ಬಿಟ್ಟರು. ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿಯು ಕೂಡ ಇಲ್ಲೇ ನಿಲ್ಲುತ್ತೇನೆ ಎಂದು ಕೂತು ಬಿಟ್ಟ. ಕಿಶೋರ್ ಮಾತ್ರ ತಾನು ಛಲದಂಕ ಮಲ್ಲನ ತರಹ ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಒಂದೊಂದೇ ಶಿಖರವನ್ನು ಏರುತ್ತ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.

ಸಂದೀಪ್, ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್, ರಘು, ಹಾಗೂ ನಾನು ತುತ್ತ ತುದಿಯನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿ, ಚಿತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತ ಕುಳಿತಿದ್ದೆವು.  ಹಾಗೆ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯ ಮಡಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಂತಿ ಅರಸುತ್ತ ಎಲ್ಲರು ತುಸು ಹೊತ್ತು ಹಾಗೆ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯ ಮಡಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ಶರಣಾದೆವು. ಎಚ್ಚರವಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಾಗೆ ಕಣ್ಣು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಕಿಶೋರ್ ಆಗಲೇ ಆರನೇ ಬೆಟ್ಟವನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಿ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದರು.  ನಾವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಅವರು ಬರಲಿ ನಾವು ಕಾಯುವ ಎಂದು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಹುರುಪನ್ನು ತುಂಬಲು ಕೂಗುತ್ತ, ಹುರಿದುಂಬಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆವು. ಚಕ್ರವ್ಯೂಹವನ್ನು ಹೊಕ್ಕ ವೀರ ಅಭಿಮನ್ಯುವಿನಂತೆ ಒಂದೊಂದೇ ಶಿಖರಗಳನ್ನು ಏರಿ ಕಿಶೋರ್ ತುತ್ತ ತುದಿಗೆ ತಲುಪಿದಾಗ ಅವರ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿದ ಆನಂದ...ಆಗ ಅದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿಯೇ ತಣಿಯಬೇಕು.

ವಯನಾಡಿನ ಅತಿ ಎತ್ತರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಭ್ರಮಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅಲೆಮಾರಿಗಳು 

ಒಬ್ಬರಿಗೊಬ್ಬರೂ ಆಲಂಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಸಿಹಿಯನ್ನು ಹಂಚಿ ತಿಂದು ಸಂಭ್ರಮಿಸಿದೆವು. ಘಂಟೆ ಎರಡುವರೆ ದಾಟಿ ಮೂರರ ಹತ್ತಿರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿತ್ತು ಕಿಶೋರ್ ನನಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹೊತ್ತು ವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿ ಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಇನ್ನರ್ಧ ಘಂಟೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಹೊರಟೆವು. ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಸಾಗುತ್ತ ಬೆಟ್ಟದ ಬುಡಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ಸುಮಾರು ಐದು ವರೆ.  ಇಡಿ ಶಿಖರದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳು ಕೇವಲ ನಾವು ಮಾತ್ರವೇ....!

ಸೂರ್ಯಾಸ್ತದ ಮನೋರಮಣೀಯ ದೃಶ್ಯ ವೈಭೋಗ

ನಮ್ಮ ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿ ಹತ್ತುವಾಗ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ದಾರಿ ತೋರದಿದ್ದರೂ ಇಳಿಯುವಾಗ ಕಾಲು ನೋವು ಹಾಗೂ ನಿತ್ರಾಣಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಕಿಶೋರ್ ಅವರನ್ನು ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಾ  ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿ ತಲುಪಿಸಿದರು. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆಯನ್ನು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿಯನ್ನು ನಮ್ಮ ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಊಟವಾದ ನಂತರ ಅವನ ಮನೆಯ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಇಳಿಸಿ ಕಳಿಸಿದೆವು. ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಹೊರಟಾಗಲೇ ಸಂಜೆ ಸುಮಾರು ಆರೂವರೆ ಯಾಗಿತ್ತು...

ಎದುರಿಗೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿರುವುದೇ ಚೇಂಬರ ಪರ್ವತ!

ಮುಂದಿನ ಗುರಿ ಇದ್ದದ್ದು ರಾತ್ರಿ ಒಂಭತ್ತರ ಒಳಗೆ ಬಂಡೀಪುರದ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಚೆಕ್ ಪೋಸ್ಟನ್ನು ದಾಟಬೇಕಿತ್ತು. ಆ ಕತ್ತಲಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇರೆ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರನ್ನು ಓಡಿಸುವ ಒಂದು ಸಾಹಸಕ್ಕೆ ಕೈ ಹಾಕಿದೆ...ಅಪ್ಪ ಅಮ್ಮನ ಕೃಪೆ, ದೇವರ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದ ಸುಲಲಿತವಾಗಿ ಗುಂಡ್ಲುಪೇಟೆ ಮುಟ್ಟಿದೆವು. ಒಂದು ಚಹಾ ವಿರಾಮದ ನಂತರ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತನಿಗೆ  ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಮುಟ್ಟಿಸುವ ಹೊಣೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ನಾನು ಹಿಂದಿನ ಸೀಟಿಗೆ ಬಂದೆ....

ಮೈಸೂರಿನಿಂದ ಹೊರ ಬಂದಮೇಲೆ ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಒಂದು ಡಾಬಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಲಘು ಊಟ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ತಲುಪಿದಾಗ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದು ಘಂಟೆ. ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ, ಸಂದೀಪ್, ಮತ್ತು ರಘು ಮೈಸೂರ್ ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಬಿ.ಎಚ್.ಇ. ಎಲ್ ಬಳಿ ಇಳಿದರು.
ನಾಗೇಶ್ ರನ್ನು ಬ್ಯಾಂಕ್ ಕಾಲೋನಿಯ ಸೀತಾ ಸರ್ಕಲ್ ಬಳಿಯ ಮನೆಯ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಇಳಿಸಿ..ಕಿಶೋರ್ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ವಿಜಯನಗರದ ಮಾರುತಿ ಮಂದಿರದ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬಂದಾಗ ಅವರ ಕಾರು ಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಅವರನ್ನು ಕಳಿಸಿ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ಮಡದಿ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಮುಗುಳುನಗೆ ಬೀರಿದಳು ಎರಡು ದಿನದ ಪ್ರವಾಸದ ಪ್ರಯಾಸ ಕರ್ಪೂರದ ಹಾಗೆ ಕರಗಿ ಆವಿಯಾಯಿತು. ಅಲೆಮಾರಿಗಳು ಗುಂಪು ೬೯೦೦ ಅಡಿ ಎತ್ತರದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತು ಸಂತಸ ಬೀರಿದ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳನ್ನು ನೆನೆಯುತ್ತಾ ನಿದ್ರಾದೇವಿಗೆ ಪರವಶನಾಗಿ ಕನಸಿನ ಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಜಾರಿದೆ...

Crossing the border - Waynad & Chembra Peak!

Sometimes we feel it is a pity, that, the ruling party has to prove its majority!!!

In our alemaarigalu group, everytime it needs to prove its majority,  But unlike in dirty politics, here the constant Yes-No, Yes-No is due to their professional commitments than any other bull reason!

This time, we seven decided to cross the border in search of God in his own country!

Sandeep, Prashanth, Raghu, Kishor, Nagesh, Me and Ritz found zipping on the mysore road in the mid night of friday. A brief pit stop near Maddur Coffee day, filled the required energy to Kishor who was in a empty stomach almost from the noon.  After that he was at his best! 

Early morning Sulthan bathery looked beautiful, and spectacular, i got a chance to smoke the misty cigar.  After a brief photo session, we started to tread the roller coaster ride on the Kerala highway! Prashanth's perfect plan worked out very well for our accommodation, a good,  kind of brand new RI residency provided a perfect shelter for our tired limbs. 

After a nice breakfast in Hotel Taufeeq, we headed towards Edkal caves.  This is the location and the name used in the kannada classic "Edakkallu Guddada Mele" directed by Puttanna Kanagaal. It is about 30kms from Kalpetta. 

It is a long walk rather trek from the parking area on a upper gradient. But it is worth the effort, considering that you will be walking in to piece of history dated almost 7000 to 10000 years ago. It is a nice feeling to stamp your feet on a pre-historic era.

The twin cave like structures formed by enormous boulders supporting one another, offers a spectacular show of light and shadow.  For photographic buffs this is the place to play with light and shadow. The etchings on the walls of the rock is impressive, even though the guide doesn't seems to be have a fair idea about the carvings, but still we got glimpses of what is what.  You will not be satisfied, but still, amazed to see the creativity of the pre-historic people who used to etch their identity in a spectacular fashion with out harming the mother nature, unlike the civilized people who write somebody loves somebody on everything except their heart!

After a stressful trek up to the cave, the pine apple, butter milk, ice cream, and fresh lime filled the required energy level to drive to the Karapurza dam a good 16kms drive from Kalpetta.  As per the information available, this dam is formed by number of lakes.  It is a kind of dam created by the mother nature, with lush green mountains, fields, it throws a perfect place to be in the evening for a spectacular sunset.  

It is an interesting water body with green ink spilled everywhere!.  Walking on the bank of the dam, and a walk up to the flood gates, a majestic landscape will give you a high,  and of course a good sleep as well, like me and Prashanth did.  We two had a very sound sleep, because of that we missed glorious sunset :-(.

We returned back to our hotel, before that, we got in to Taufeeq Hotel, and had a wonderful dinner.  The veg biriyaani being the best. Wanted to give tired soul a rest, but laser lights in front of the hotel,sprung the energy level in us, and started to capture or rather trying to capture the laser light proved good.  Sandeep, man always wants to try something different, mooted the idea of light painting.  First Alemaarigalu painted, then Prashanth, Kishore, and Nagesh became the models for light painting.  What a amazing effort..Superb.

We geared up to trek the highest peak  in Waynad the next day morning, The Chembar Peak.  Standing close to 6900 feet from the sea level, this is the first time the alemaarigalu team standing wanted to stand on a high altitude.  The earlier  records were Mullayyana Giri, Z point in Kemmannu Gundi, Kumara Parvatha. Now we were keen to improve the altitude. 

The drive to the Chembara was a nightmare.  The roads were looked like a high way in MOON, filled and scattered with craters everywhere.  It gave me a world of good in driving in this path, it tested my skills as well, and i feel, I passed this litmus test :-).

After paying Rs.500/- for a group of ten people, and 25/- each for 5 cameras, somehow we managed to squeeze the mandatory guide in to our Ritz, wow..now the number in the ritz stands at 7, and started driving with great care on the winding road to reach the base of the Chembara peak for trekking. From here it is a 4KM trek, 1.5Kms to reach the famous heart shaped lake, and 2.5 Kms from there on to reach the peak.

Guide was always hinting that, we can't make it to the peak as we were slow, and also we are spending quality time to freeze the nature in our memory card.  Somehow we decided not to hear to the guide's chatter box.  We continued in our unique style, enjoying every bit of a second.  

When we reached the  heart shaped lake, we found we were the only souls.  We understood, most people will be misguided by the guides, and they will take photo sessions near the lake, and with a disappointing look towards the peak, and will walk down to the base.  

But we made up our mind, as we had time till the evening to be on the route to the Bangalore.   Nagesh succumbed to the uninteresting syndrome, and he decided to stay back at the base of 4th peak, and guide also decided to call the shots, and he stood back with Nagesh.  

Prashanth, and Sandeep with high on enthusiasm, and energy levels, went past peaks after peaks, yes one has to cross 7 peaks, on the summit by 12.00 Hrs on windy Sunday.  Raghu followed close, then myself.  We celebrated peaking the highest altitude by distributing chocolates. 

I called Kishor, and he responded saying you people keep going, i will join you on the come back trail.  On the peak, we kept sometime for photo session, and a quick nap as well.  We were shocked when we woke after a quick nap of 15 minutes, Kishor is on the 5th peak with his steady approach.  We were amazed to see his guts, and determination.  We decided to give him enough time to make it to the peak as he was just two peaks away from the crowning glory.  

Kishor made it, we hugged each other, celebrated the wonderful moment, and am sure this team huddle will be etched in our memory for years to come just like the etchings in EDKAL CAVES. 

With out wasting much time, we started getting down, we were at the base of the chembara by around 5.30. Kishor suffered from cramps, but high on enthusiasm joined us as the last man. We should thank the guide Girish for accompanying Kishor all the way till the base.  

Lunch ordered at the hotel, almost turned to be freezing cold, but we didn't had any choice, but the food taste was too good (rather we were too hungry).  After a super  stomach filling lunch, the clock was showing 6.30PM, I took the responsibility of surpassing the Bandipura forest checkpost before 9PM. It was a good drive considering single road with two way traffic in Kerala highway, and driving through the forest in that darkness.  

After reaching Gundlupet, I gave up, and Prashanth was on the wheels, and he drove like a Schumaker, and safely reached Bangalore at 12.30AM.  So the trip to Kerala came to an end. 

Link for the few snaps!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.574335129249598.147539.100000193479721&type=1&l=a6efaf846e

The highs;
1. Kishor the man of steely nerves, his determination, approach 
    worth weight in gold.
2. Prashanth's zipping the road style with effortless ease
3. Nagesh, who didn't showed any glimpse that he was new comer 
      to the group.
4. While Edkal showed us the history dating back to more than 
    7000 years, the debate between Raghu, Sandeep and Kishore  
    took us more than that.  What a wonderful debate it was!
5. Driving in the night, that too crossing the border boosted my 
    confidence.
6. Sandeep's light painting skill, a must in our all future trips!
7. Nice Masala Dosa in Woodlands Hotel on the way to Chembara 
    in Kalpetta.
8. In Sirsi trip we found Hotel CA...In Waynad trip we found Hotel 
    Cupboard!!!

ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿನರಸಿಂಹ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ ಮರೆಹಳ್ಳಿ, ಮಳವಳ್ಳಿ ಒಂದು ಪ್ರವಾಸ

ಕೆಲಸ ಕೆಲಸ ಕೆಲಸ....

ಸದಾ ಕೆಲಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಗ್ನರಾಗಿರುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಸೋದರತ್ತೆಯ ಅಳಿಯ (ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿಕಾಂತ) ನಮಗೆ ಕರೆ ಮಾಡಿ..."ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆ ದೇವರಿಗೆ ಅಭಿಷೇಕ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ..ವಾಹನವು ಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿದೆ..ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ೭.೩೦ಕ್ಕೆ ನೀವೆಲ್ಲ ಮೈಸೂರ್ ರಸ್ತೆಗೆ ಬಂದು ಬಿಡಿ..ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಹೋಗೋಣ" ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿ ಫೋನ್ ಇಟ್ಟುಬಿಟ್ಟರು..

ಅಕ್ಕನ ಕಡೆ ನೋಡಿದೆ..ಹೋಗೋಣ ಅಂದಳು...ಮಡದಿಯು ಸಮ್ಮತಿಸಿದಳು...ಸರಿ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಎಂಟು ಘಂಟೆಗೆ ಹೊರಟಿತು ಅಂಬಾರಿ..ಮಳವಳ್ಳಿ ಕಡೆಗೆ...

ರಾಮನಗರ ದಾಟಿದ ಮೇಲೆ...ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ಎಂದರು...ಗಾಡಿ ನಿಂತಿತು..ಇಡ್ಲಿ ತುಂಬಿದ ಡಬ್ಬಿ..ಚಟ್ನಿಯಾ ಬಕೆಟ್...ನೀರು..ಎಲ್ಲವು ಗಾಡಿಯಿಂದ ತಾನೇ ತಾನಾಗಿ ಎನ್ನುವಂತೆ ಇಳಿಯಿತು...ಪುಷ್ಕಳವಾಗಿ ಇಡ್ಲಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಗೆ ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡು..ಗಾಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂತಾಗ ಕಣ್ಣು ಹಾಗೆ ಎಳೆಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು...

ಆ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಿಖರವಾದ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ...ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ನಿಮ್ಮೊಳಗೊಬ್ಬ ಬಾಲೂ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಖ್ಯಾತಿಯ ಬಾಲೂ ಸರ್ ಕೆಲವು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟರು..ಕುತೂಹಲ ಭರಿತ ಕಣ್ಣು ಕ್ಯಾಮೆರಾದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಮರೆಹಳ್ಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಳಿದೆವು..

ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಿಂದ ರಸ್ತೆಯ ನಕ್ಷೆ..

ವಿಸ್ತಾರವಾದ ಹೊಲ ಗದ್ದೆಗಳು, ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಮುಂದೆಯೇ ಕಾವೇರಿ ನದಿಯ ಕಾಲುವೆ, ವಿಶಾಲವಾದ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಆವರಣ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಬರ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡವು.

ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ವಿಶಾಲ ಆವರಣ

ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಮುಂದೆಯೇ ಗರುಡಗಂಭ, ಎಡಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ  ಕಲ್ಲು ಮಂಟಪ, ಬಲ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಎರಡು ಶಿಲಾಮೂರ್ತಿಗಳ                ನೀಳ್ಗಲ್ಲು ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಒಳಗೆ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಇದೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಕುರುಹನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸಿದವು. 

ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಒಳಗೆ ಸಾಲು ಸಾಲು ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಕಂಬಗಳು ನಾವು ಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ನಿಂತೇ ಇದ್ದೇವೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಹಾಗೆ ಭಾಸವಾಯಿತು.  ಪೂರ ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ದೇವಾಲಯ..ಆದರೆ ಒಳಗೆ ಬಿಸಿ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ...ಹಿತವಾದ ತಂಗಾಳಿ ಬೀಸಲು ಜಾಲಂಧ್ರಗಳು ಇದ್ದವು. 

ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಪ್ರಕಾರ..ಇದು ಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರದ ಆಸು ಪಾಸಿನ ವರ್ಷಗಳಷ್ಟು ಹಳೆಯದು, ಹೊಯ್ಸಳರು, ವಿಜಯನಗರದರಸರು ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಸಹಾಯ ಹಸ್ತಗಳಿಂದ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ ತನ್ನ ನೆಲೆ ಕಂಡು ಕೊಂಡಿತು ಎನ್ನಲಾಗಿದೆ.  

ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಆವರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗುವ ಮುನ್ನ...ಎಡಬಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಹನುಮ ದರ್ಶನ ಕೊಡುತ್ತ ಅಭಯ ನೀಡುತ್ತಾನೆ...ಒಂದು ನಾಲ್ಕು ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲು ಹತ್ತಿದರೆ ಸಿಗುವುದು ದ್ವಾರಪಾಲಕರ ಸುಂದರ ಮೂರ್ತಿಗಳು..ನಂತರ ಗರ್ಭಗುಡಿಯ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಹಾಕಿದಾಗ 

ಶಾಂತವಾಗಿ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿಯನ್ನು ಕೂರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ನರಸಿಂಹ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿದೆ, ಭಕ್ತಿ ಭಾವ ಕಾಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ಗರ್ಭಗುಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿನ ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಹ್ಸ್ಮಿನರಸಿಂಹ ಮೂರ್ತಿ 

ಅಭಿಷೇಕ ಸೇವೆಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಮೂರ್ತಿಯ ಹತ್ತಿರದಲ್ಲೇ  ಕೂರಿಸಿದ್ದರು..ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಅರ್ಚಕರ ಅಪ್ಪಣೆ ಪಡೆದು ಕ್ಯಾಮೆರಾಗೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಕೊಟ್ಟೆ..ಹಾಲು, ಮೊಸರು, ಜೇನು ತುಪ್ಪ, ತುಪ್ಪ, ಬಾಳೆ ಹಣ್ಣು, ಎಳನೀರು, ಉದಕ, ವಿಭೂತಿ, ..ಹೀಗೆ ಅಭಿಷೇಕಗಳು  ಸಾಂಗೋಪಾಂಗವಾಗಿ ನಡೆದವು. ಕ್ಯಾಮೆರ ಕಣ್ಣು ಧನ್ಯೋಸ್ಮಿ ಎನ್ನುತಿತ್ತು. 

ಪೂರ್ಣ ಅಲಂಕಾರಗೊಂಡ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ನರಸಿಂಹ ಮೂರ್ತಿ, ಮಹಾ ಮಂಗಳಾರತಿ, ಪ್ರಸಾದ ಸ್ವೀಕಾರ ಎಲ್ಲವು  ಸುಸೂತ್ರವಾಗಿ ನೆರವೇರಿತು. ಸಕ್ಕರೆ ಪೊಂಗಲ್, ಪುಳಿಯೋಗರೆ, ಬಾಳೆ ಹಣ್ಣಿನ ರಸಾಯನ, ಕಡೆಗೆ ಮೊಸರನ್ನ..ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯು ಮಾತಾಡಲಾರದ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಗೆ ತಂದು ಬಿಟ್ಟಿತು. ಆ ಗುಂಗಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಕೂತಿದ್ದ ನಮಗೆ ಅರಿವಾದದ್ದು  ದೇವಾಲಯ ಬಾಗಿಲು ಮುಚ್ಚುವ ಸಮಯ ಎಂದು...

ಹೊರಗೆ ಬಂದು ನಮ್ಮ ಪರಿವಾರ ದೇವತೆಗಳೆಲ್ಲರನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟು ಗೂಡಿಸಿ ಒಂದು ಚಿತ್ರ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು, ಶ್ರೀ ಸಂಜೀವರಾಯ ದೇವಾಸ್ಥಾನದ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಹೊರಟಿತು ನಮ್ಮ ಪಯಣ. ಇದು ವಿಜಯನಗರದ ಕಾಲದ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ ಎನ್ನುವ ಮಾತು ಕೇಳಿಬಂತು

ಒಂದು ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಚಿತ್ರ!

ಈ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ ಚಿಕ್ಕದಾದರೂ ಚೊಕ್ಕವಾಗಿದೆ,  ರಾಮನಗರದ ಕೆಂಗಲ್ ಸಮೀಪ ಇರುವ ದೇವರಹೊಸಹಳ್ಳಿಯ  ಈ ದೇವಾಲಯ ಸುಂದರ ಕಟ್ಟಡದಿಂದ ಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುತ್ತದೆ.

ಸಂಜೀವರಾಯ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಎದುರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಜಗಲಿ ಮನೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಇಷ್ಥವಾಯಿತು..

 ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಎದುರಿಗೆ ಹಳ್ಳಿಯ ಜಗಲಿ ಮನೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿದೆ.  ಅರ್ಚರಕರಿಂದ ಅರ್ಚನೆ, ತೀರ್ಥ, ಪ್ರಸಾದ ಪಡೆದ ನಾವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಒಂದು ದಿನವನ್ನು ನೆಂಟರಿಷ್ಟರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕಳೆದ ಸಾರ್ಥಕ ಭಾವ ಮನದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿತ್ತು. 

ಈ ಪ್ರವಾಸದ ಖರ್ಚು ವೆಚ್ಚವನ್ನು ಭರಿಸಿ ನಮಗೆ ಮಂಗಳ ಮೂರ್ತಿಯ ದರ್ಶನ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಮಾಡಲು ಅನುವು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಟ್ಟ ನಮ್ಮ ಸೋದರತ್ತೆಯ ಮಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಅಳಿಯ ಸುಧಾ ಹಾಗೂ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಕಾಂತ ಕುಟುಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಹಸ್ರ ವಂದನೆಗಳು.

Trip to Sirsi - The Journey with the time!!! - Part 4 (Concluding Part)

Sirsi Part I
Sirsi Part II
Sirsi Part III

Our Sarathi, Sunil landed at the customary starting point for Alemaarigalu trips, the "Sandeep's House".   After the customary pooja to our chariot, "Tavera" stopped at Agara, where we could see "Alaana" showering affections over her dad (Prashanth), the next pit stop was Kalamandir near marath halli , where our smarty Latesh found cooling his heals with some other Smart-E's. Raghu got in to our vehicle near Hebbal Flyover.  

"Yes yes..Sirsi five hundred rupees!" latesh said to a stranger in the bus stop, when that guy asked will this go to XYZ place.  

After that no stopping, but when it was stopped, what a magical sight filled in front of our eyes.

Beautiful landscape which made us to stop for a break!

A cool landscape, breezing winds, chilled water in the canal, tempted us to get in to.  Had a nice bath over there, our body, sitting idle doing nothing on the wheels for close to ten hours, was refreshed. 

Chilling canal!

With high on enthusiasm, energy, we started ticking off the list of places from our itinerary.

Sirsi map and its sorroundings

After munching the crispy masala dosa in Satkar Hotel, we entered Sirsi's centre of power, The Marikaamba Temple.  

Sri Maarikaamba Temple - Sirsi

The architecture of the temple is unique from the other south indian temples.  

Temple complex

It appears more like a palace from outside than a temple, but when you get in to the temple, eyes would refuse to flutter. 

One of the many beautiful paintings

The paintings on the wall, the gopura, the goddess "Maarikamba" idol, the temple complex,  every things inspires you to fold your hand, do the meditation.  That is the power of this temple. 

Gopura - A unique creation

 It lies in the heart of the town, you ask anyone, they will lift you up, and show the way to the temple.  That is the affection people show here to the travellers in this part of our state.  Amazing hospitality.

From 1930 animals sacrifice had been stopped 

The maarikaamba temple dates back to around 400 years, we pressed again the gas pedal of time, and surprisingly it took us almost 1800-1900 years back from the present time.

Route map we followed to Banavasi from Sirsi

That is the Kadamba dyanasty's power house "Banavaasi".

Banavaasi temple complex

The Banavaasi has everything in it, devotion, heritage, history, architecture, hospitality. 

Elephant and its nice carvings 

We were greeted by two majestic elephants, and with the main entrance decked with nice carvings.  

Carvings on the door at the entrance

`The temple complex was huge, and as per the history narrated very nicely by the priest, the temple got its expansion from three to four kingdoms, each dynasty different in their own respects, and so the structures.  

Slighly tilted nandi!

Nandi from the side wing

Nandi sitting pretty in a stone pillared stage

Temple complex

A stone mantap with  three world

Single stone mantapa

 The monolith stone mantapa, where you can see the three worlds carvings, Big Nandi, a rare phenomena where, one eye pointed towards Shiva, and the other towards Parvathi.

The temple has all the Ashta Dikpaalakas in their destined position, a very feature in any temples, Ganapathi in different forms, and also a Half Ganapathi(ardha ganapathi), the other half believed to be in Kashi in north India.

The major attraction of this temple is "Sri Madhukeshwara".  The linga is in honey color  and hence the name.  The linga impresses our eyes with its size, color  and after it is completely decorated with garlands, flowers, you can not take your eye sight from the Garbha Gudi.

The priest gave a brief information about each and every stone carvings in the temple and also the history of the temple. From our group conveyed a sincere vote of appreciation for his efforts , and he invited all of us to the lunch (Anna Daana) in the dining hall of the temple complex.  What a meal it was, hot rice, saaru, chilled butter milk.  The stomach patted our back saying "you people are taking care of me really well".

It was our time to do the little fast forward, we traveled about 1200-1400 years forward, and opened our eyes, we could see Shiva linga's everywhere.  

Road map to Sahasralinga from Banavaasi

This place called Sri Sahasralinga Kshetra.  

Sign board for taking turn on the highway!

A popular king in this locality from Sondhe dynasty, didn't had children to continue his legacy, upon a suggestion from the priest, he ordered to carve linga and nandi's in the heart of the river "Shaalmala", and worshiped and got the heir to the throne.  

Many shivalingas and nandi in the river Shalmala

  When the water level is low in the river, you can see as many shivalinga and nandi your eyes can count. 

Carvings, Carvings and many more!

Since Sun already booked return ticket, we had to rush, with a short break in Yellapura, we headed towards Satoddi falls, one of the serene falls i had seen so far.  

Road map from Sahasralinga to Satoddi falls

With no chance of taking a bath, falls was in her glory, so we had to be contended with doing more freezing in camera, than in the chilled waters of the falls.

Post card falls - Satoddi falls

This water falls is a part of Kodasalli dam, the stunning approach path of almost 5 Kms, is a motorable road but with a high degree of difficulty, in the dense deep forest takes you to the falls forest check post.  There you need to take entry ticket, and trek again for about half a kilometer inside the forest to find out this perfect wallpaper falls. 

Picture perfect - Satoddi falls

Our sarathi's driving skills were tested on the way to back to Sirsi, and as always he was the winner in the test.  A brief stint at the Yellapura check post for recharging our souls, we headed to Sirsi to find a place to rest our tired body.  

There is a proverb, FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED!. This proverb can be improved further saying "A Friend's one call can do wonders in an isolated place. Mr.Prakash Hegde of "Ittige Cement" blog fame did wonder by giving a call to Mr. Vishwa, the owner of Hotel Madhuvana,  to accommodate the tired souls to take rest, and recharge for the next day outing.  

Shelter for our stay...A grand hotel

Latesh, Sri, Prakash, Sandeep, Prashanth, Raghu, Sunil

Mr. Vishwa was generous in helping us to spend a night there, and Mr. Prakash (Prakash Hegde's Relative) who greeted us and helped us to plot a perfect program for the next day, which helped us to manage the time, as well as visit as many places possible on the run.

Our alemarigalu group bow our head in respect and also salutes with a great appreciation to the generosity, and hospitality to Mr. Vishwa, Mr. Prakash & Mr. Prakash Hegde for helping us in a big way which can not be measured in any yardstick.

Recharged team was ready for the grind next day for visiting varied place like a hillock, falls, temple, beach, and the Hotel CA!

creek...creek...the reverse gear signal was showing an indicator.. ..saying....the vehicle reached a dead end, and so the blog.

Thanks for everyone who visited, read, and commented on the four part series of breathtaking sirsi and its surroundings.