Tunga Path , unfinished quest!

Hello, Namaste. Today, I will try to take you through the most scenic routes I have done in the recent past. As you all know, the Western Ghats come to life when it rains, and this was yet another monsoon season. Another monsoon ride. 🏞️🌧️

The whole idea of this trip was to ride along the River Tunga from the place it originates to the place it merges with the River Bhadra. Then on, it would be called the River Tungabhadra.

Day 1 July 6th

I started this ride on July 6th. The previous day, I learned that even Vikram was riding with a few of his friends to a nearby place. I decided to join him until the breakfast point. I met Vikram and Ravi on the way, and we rode together to the breakfast point. The weather was beautiful.

        <An absolute beautiful day>

It was a pleasure to ride in that beautiful weather. We had a good breakfast at our usual breakfast spot, which is the Mayura on the Hassan highway. Then we said our goodbyes, and I headed toward my destination. I exited the Hassan highway and took the route toward Belur once I made the turn. I took the detour from the highway. The weather was quite exceptional, and the gentle breeze gave way to a light drizzle—it was a rider's delight. From Belur, I headed toward Mudigere and then to Kottigehara.

    < Trails leading to windmills>

    <Rainy day , green all around>

At Kottigehara, I visited the beautiful museum dedicated to the famous Kannada writer, Sri KP Poornachandra Tejaswi. It's a lovely place, and I recommend that anyone in the Kottigehara area visit this place and read any of the books written by him in the reading room in the museum. It's quite a beautiful place to sit amidst the beautiful nature and enjoy the pleasure of reading one of his books.

Coming out of the museum, I saw a beautiful, small road leading up to a village. The road looked like an inviting entrance. The heavens themselves seemed to beckon me onward, and I needed no second invitation. I took that beautiful road and reached the beautiful village atop that small hill.

            < Gateway to heaven >

Once I reached the village, it began raining heavily, and I had to return.

And then I took a thoroughfare toward Kalasa. By this time, it was raining very heavily throughout, and I knew that my initial plan of reaching as close to Kudremukha as possible might not be possible, and I might have to stay in Kalasa for the day. The road from Kottigehara to Kalasa is as beautiful as it can get. The thick forest gives way to beautiful tea gardens, and the views are magnificent. I reached Kalasa by around 3 p.m. and decided to stay in Kalasa for the day.

    < Tea estates in Kalasa>

     < Hanging bridge , Kalasa>

I booked a room in Kalasa, freshened up, and then visited the famous, more than 1,000-year-old Kalaseshwara Temple in Kalasa. By this time, I was completely drenched, even though I had my rain gear. It was a good decision not to continue riding. In the evening, I visited the famous Horanadu Annapoorneshwari Temple and had the Anna prasadam. Then, I called it a day.

Day 2 July 7th

I got up early in the morning so that I could cover more distance, which I couldn't do the previous day. It had rained the whole day. When I got up in the morning, it was still raining. I decided to wait a bit but realized that the rain wouldn't reduce. So, I decided to continue the ride. I first visited the beautiful Hallimane waterfalls and from there headed towards Kudremukka.

   < Hallimane Waterfalls>

So, I rode from Kalasa to Kudremuka. The road was a bit rough, but the scenery was amazing. I had breakfast at Kalasa and then headed towards Kudremuka via Samse. It had been raining, and the fog was so thick, it was like I was in a dream. Then it started raining again, but the landscape was so beautiful that I kept riding. I stopped a few times to take pictures.

     < Somewhere near Samse>

  < Inside Kudremukh National Park>

               < Bhadra river>

Oh, and one thing to note, Kudremuka National Park has a time limit. You have to cover the whole park within one and a half hours from the entrance to the exit.

I arrived at Gangamoola, which is situated within the Kudremukh National Park. This is the origin of the Thunga River. The river flows for approximately 147 kilometers through some of the most stunning landscapes. I would like to refer to the Thunga River as the river of knowledge because, during its 147-kilometer journey, it passes by significant temples dedicated to the Goddess of knowledge, Sharadamba. Firstly, it reaches Sringeri Sharadamba, and from there, it flows towards Hariharapura, where it meets Hariharapura Sharadamba. Subsequently, it moves towards Kudli, where it meets Kudli Sharadamba. I also followed the same path. First, I visited the Sringeri Sharada temple

   < Sringeri Sharadamba Temple>

Then proceeded to the Hariharapura temple in Hariharapura. I had anna prasadam at the Hariharapura Temple which is also significant because it is the only temple which has two Narasimha Grabhagriha , one dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha and other to Kamabada Narasimha, the temple premise also has a beautiful statue dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

         < Hariharapura Temple >

   < Anna Prasadam , Hariharapura>

I left the Hariharapura temple at 3 PM and realized I wouldn't be able to ride along the Tunga River all the way to Kudli. So, I took the quickest route back to Kudli according to Google Maps. I arrived just before sunset, so I could see the beautiful view of the Tunga River meeting the Bhadra River. Kudli has a beautiful temple dedicated to Sri Sharadamba. The old temple is being renovated, so there's construction work going on all around. 

    < Kudli Sharadamba Temple>

I went to the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra Rivers, and it was amazing to see the muddy waters of the Tunga meet the clear water of the Bhadra.

  < River Tunga meets River Bhadra>

By this time the time was around 5.30pm and I decided to ride till 8.30pm and see where I would reach. And then decide what to do next. I reached Hiriyur around 9pm and decided to call it a day.

Day 3 July 8th

Nothing eventful. Started the ride at 5:30 a.m. and reached the office by 8:15 a.m. A beautiful ride comes to an end.

Until next time, keep that smile big!

ಶ್ರೀ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಅಹೋಬಲ ( Sri Kshetra Ahobalam or Ahobilam)

ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ  ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರೆ  ಮಾರ್ಚ್  11 ,12 ಹಾಗು  13 ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯ  ಶ್ರೀ  ಗುರು  ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ  ಸ್ವಾಮಿಗಳ  ಹಾಗು  ಅಹೋಬಲ  ನರಸಿಂಹ ನ  ಶ್ರೀ  ಚರಣಗಳ  ದರ್ಶನ  ಪಡೆಯಲು  ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ.

ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 10 ರ ಸಂಜೆ ಹೊರಟು ಆಂಧ್ರಪ್ರದೇಶ ದ  ಗೂಟಿ ಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಯನ್ನು ಕಳೆದು ಮುಂಜಾನೆ 4 .30 ಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಟು ಮಂತ್ರಾಯವನ್ನು ಸೇರಿದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಗುರುರಾಯರ ಬೃಂದಾವನ ದರುಶನವನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿ ಮನ ಪುಳಕಿತ ವಾಯಿತು , ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಹೊರಟು ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಯರು 12 ವರುಷಗಳ ಕಾಲ ತಪಸ್ಸು ಮಾಡಿದ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಶ್ರೀ ಪಂಚಮುಖಿ ಆಂಜನೇಯ ನ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪ್ರಾಣ ದೇವರ ದರುಶನವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದೆ. ಈ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಪ್ರಾಣ ದೇವರು ಹನುಮ , ಗರುಡ , ಹಯಗ್ರೀವ , ನರಸಿಂಹ ಹಾಗು ಶ್ರೀ ಯೋಗ ವರಾಹ ನಾಗಿ ಪಂಚ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿಗಳಿಗೆ ದರುಶನ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾನೆ.

ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಿಂದ 360 kms ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿದೆ , ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯದಿಂದ ಪಂಚಮುಖಿ 25  kms ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆ , ಇಲ್ಲಿ ದರುಶನ ಪಡೆದು ನಾನು ಅಹೋಬಲ ನರಸಿಂಹನ ದರುಶನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಟೆ. ಅಹೋಬಲ ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯದಿಂದ 250 kms ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆ . ಅಹೋಬಲ 108 ವೈಷ್ಣವ ದಿವ್ಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 98 ನೇ ಯದು , ಅಹೋಬಲ ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ ಶ್ರೀ ನರಸಿಂಹ ದೇವರು ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾವಿಷ್ಣು ವಿನ 4 ನೇ ಅವತಾರವಾಗಿ ಅವತಾರ ತಾಳಿದ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಭೂಮಿ. ನಲ್ಲಮಲ್ಲ ದಟ್ಟ ಅರಣ್ಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ 9 ರೂಪ ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನವ ಗ್ರಹಗಳ ಅಧಿಪತಿ ಯಾಗಿ ನೆಲೆ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ನಲ್ಲಮಲ್ಲ ಕಾಡು ಅತಿ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಕಾಡು , ಇದು ಶೇಷನಾಗ ನ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆ , ಇದರ ಮುಡಿ ಶ್ರೀ ತಿರುಪತಿ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ , ಇದರ ಮಧ್ಯ ಭಾಗ ಅಹೋಬಲ , ಇದರ ಬಾಲ ಶ್ರೀಶೈಲ ದ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಹಾಗು ತಾಯಿ ಭ್ರಮರಾಂಬಿಕೆ

 

೧ ಜ್ವಾಲಾ ನರಸಿಂಹ - ಕಂಬ ವನ್ನು ಬೇಧಿಸಿ ಅಟ್ಟಹಾಸದಿಂದ ಮೆರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕಳ ಹಿರಣ್ಯ ಕಷಿಪು ವಿನ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಸೀಳಿದ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಸ್ಥಳ , ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಗರುಡ ದೇವರ ಮೇಲೆ ವಿರಾಜಮಾನ ನಾಗಿ ಸ್ವಯಂಭೂ ಜ್ವಾಲಾ ನರಸಿಂಹ ನಾಗಿ ಭಕ್ತ ರನ್ನು ಪೊರುಯುತಿದ್ದಾನೆ.

ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಲು ದಟ್ಟ ಅರಣ್ಯದ ಮದ್ಯೆ ಕಾಲ್ನಡಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ 12 kms ನಡೆದು ಹೋಗಬೇಕು. ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ರಕ್ತ ಕುಂಡ ಎಂಬ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಕೊಂಡವಿದೆ ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಹಿರಣ್ಯ ಕಷಿಪು ವನ್ನು ಕೊಂದ ನಂತರ ಕೈ ತೊಳೆದ ಸ್ಥಳ ಎಂದು ನಂಬುತ್ತಾರೆ , ಅದರ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲೇ ಆಕಾಶ ಗಂಗೆ ಜಲಪಾತ , ರಕ್ತ ಮಯನಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿಯು ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಪಾವನ ಸ್ಥಳ . ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಕುಜ ಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕೆ ಅಧಿಪತಿ.

೨ ಉಗ್ರ ನರಸಿಂಹ (Upper Ahobalam ) - ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ದೇವತೆಗಳ ಮೊರೆಕೇಳಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಶಾಂತನಾಗಿ ಗುಹೆಯೊಳಗೆ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ , ಇಲ್ಲೇ ಶ್ರೀ ರುದ್ರ ದೇವರು ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಗೆ " ಉಗ್ರಂ ವೀರಂ ಮಹಾ ವಿಷ್ಣುಮ್ ಜ್ವಲಂತಂ ಸರ್ವತೋ ಮುಖಂ  , ನರಸಿಂಹಂ ಭೀಷಣಂ ಭದ್ರಂ ಮೃತ್ಯುರ್ ಮೃತ್ಯುರ್ ನಮಾಮ್ಯಹಮ್ " ಎಂದು ಪೂಜಿಸಿದ ದಿವ್ಯ ಸ್ಥಳ . ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಗುರು ಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕೆ ಅಧಿಪತಿ

೩ ಮಾಲೋಲ ನರಸಿಂಹ - ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಲೋಲ ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ನರಸಿಂಹ ನಾಗಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದ ರಾಯರು ಓದಿದ ಸ್ಥಳವಿದೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದ ವರದ ನಾಗಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಗುಹೆಯೊಳಗೆ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಸುಂದರ ಮೂರ್ತಿ . ಇಲ್ಲಿ  ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶುಕ್ರ  ಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕೆ ಅಧಿಪತಿ

೪ ಬೂವರಾಹ ನರಸಿಂಹ - ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಹಿರಣ್ಯ ಕಷಿಪು ವಿನ ತಮ್ಮ ಹಿರಣ್ಯಾಕ್ಷ ನ ವಧಿಸಿ ಬೂದೇವಿಯನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಿದ ಶ್ರೀ ವರಾಹ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ  . ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಬೂದೇವಿಯನ್ನು ತನ್ನ ಹೆಗಲ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೊತ್ತ ಮೂರ್ತಿ , ಬೋದೇವಿಯನ್ನೇ ಪೊರೆವ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಪೊರೆಯನೇ . ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಹು   ಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕೆ ಅಧಿಪತಿ

೫ ಕಾರಂಜಿ ನರಸಿಂಹ - ಶ್ರೀ ಹನುಮ ದೇವರು ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮನನ್ನು ಕುರಿತು ತಪಗೈದ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಸ್ಥಳ , ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಹನುಮದೇವರಿಗೆ ಶ್ರೀ ದೇವರು ಒಂದು ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಕ್ರ ಹಿಡಿದ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ದೇವರಾಗಿ , ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಲ್ಲು ಬಾಣ ಹಿಡಿದ ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮ ದೇವರಾಗಿ , ಮೂರು ಕಂಗಳಿಂದ ಶ್ರೀ ರುದ್ರದೇವರಾಗಿ , ಆದಿಶೇಷ ನಿಂದ ಒಳಗೂಡಿದ ಶ್ರೀ ವಿಷ್ಣು ಆಗಿ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಚಂದ್ರ  ನಿಗೆ  ಅಧಿಪತಿ

೬ ಭಾರ್ಗವ ನರಸಿಂಹ - ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ದೇವರು ಜ್ವಾಲಾ ನರಸಿಂಹನ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ , ಪರಶುರಾಮ ದೇವರು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ತಪಸ್ಸು ಮಾಡಿ ನೀನು ಹಿರಣ್ಯ ಕಷಿಪು ವನ್ನು ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಸೀಳಿದ ರೂಪವನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸು ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದಾಗ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರ್ಗವ ನರಸಿಂಹ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ .ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಸೂರ್ಯ  ನಿಗೆ  ಅಧಿಪತಿ

೭ ಯೋಗಾನಂದ ನರಸಿಂಹ - ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ದೇವರು ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದ ರಾಯರಿಗೆ ರಾಜ ವಿದ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು , ಯೋಗ ವಿದ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ದಯಪಾಲಿಸಿದ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಸ್ಥಳ , ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಯೋಗ ನರಸಿಂಹ ನಾಗಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ .ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶನಿ  ಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕೆ ಅಧಿಪತಿ.

೮  ಛತ್ರವಾಟ  ನರಸಿಂಹ - ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ದೇವರು ಅಲಂಕಾರ ಪ್ರಿಯ , ನಾದ ಪ್ರಿಯ , ಸಂಗೀತ ಪ್ರಿಯ ನಾಗಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ   .ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಕೇತು   ಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕೆ ಅಧಿಪತಿ.

೯ ಪಾವನ ನರಸಿಂಹ - ಇಲ್ಲಿ ದಟ್ಟ ಅರಣ್ಯದ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಚಂಚು ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಯ ವಡೆಯ ಸಲಕ ಪಾವನ ಮೂರ್ತಿ , ಸಕಲ ಮಂಗಳ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಸುಂದರ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಪಾವನ ನರಸಿಂಹ ನಾಗಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ , ಸುತ್ತಲೂ ದಟ್ಟ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಮುರಿದ  ರಸ್ತೆ ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀಪ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕು , ನಾನು ಬೈಕ್ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಯ ದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದೆ , ಶ್ರೀ ಗುಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪವಿತ್ರವಾದ ಸುದರ್ಶನ ಹಾಗು ನರಸಿಂಹ ಸಾಲಿಗ್ರಾಮ ವಿದೆ. ಪಾವನ ನರಸಿಂಹನ ನೋಡಿದ ನನ್ನ ಜೀವನ ಪಾವನ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಬುಧ  ಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕೆ ಅಧಿಪತಿ

 

ಉಗ್ರ  ಸ್ಥo ಭ : ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಭೇದಿಸಿದ ಸ್ಥo ಭ ,ಈ ದಿವ್ಯ   ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೆ  2 kms ಕಠಿಣ ಆರೋಹಣ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು , ಆದರೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ತಲಿಪಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಆ ಧನ್ಯತೆಯ ಭಾವ ಎಲ್ಲ ಆಯಾಸವನ್ನು ನೀಗುತ್ತದೆ

ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದ ವರದ ನರಸಿಂಹ (lower  ahobalam ) : ಕಲಿಯುಗ ಕಲ್ಪತರು ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಏಳು ಬೆಟ್ಟಗಳೊಡೆಯ ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಮತ್ತು ಪದ್ಮಾವತಿ ತಾಯಿಯ ವಿವಾಹ ನಂತರ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಮತ್ತು ತಾಯಿ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿ ಅನ್ನದಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಶ್ರೀ ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದ ವರದ ನರಸಿಂಹ. ಶ್ರೀ ದೇವರನ್ನು ಕಣ್ತುಂಬಲು ಎರಡು ಕಣ್ಣು ಸಾಲದು. ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದ ವರದ ಗೋವಿಂದ ಗೋವಿಂದ

 

ಅಹೋಬಲ ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿಯ ದರ್ಶನ ಮಾಡಿದ ನಾನೇ ಧನ್ಯ .

ಸೋಮವಾರ ಅಹೋಬಲದಿಂದ ಹೊರಟು 360 kms ಚಲಿಸಿ ಮನೆಗೆ ಸೇರಿದೆ .

ನೀವು  ಶ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿಯ ದರ್ಶನ ಮಾಡಿ ಧನ್ಯರಾಗಿ.

 

ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ

 

ನನಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಡಿದ ನನ್ನ ಗೈಡ್ ಶ್ರೀ ಲಿಂಗಮಯ್ಯ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಧನ್ಯವಾದ , ಅವರ ನಂಬರ್  9100749724    

YouTube link of my ride video

https://youtu.be/X2jbshSwu1w

Kokkarebelluru_Avani's First Ride

“Appaaa I am too extitited” exclaimed my 5 year old , I told its “excited” putta , and whatever! Was her expression. It was our customary wedding anniversary trip and we thought of making is exciting by going on a ride and that would mean Avani’s first long ride.

The Interceptor 650 was ideal for 3 of us and we decided to show Avani , Kokkare Bellur Bird Sanctuary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokrebellur) a unique village for the long-established bond between the spot-billed pelicans and the villagers who have adopted this bird as their local heritage, since they consider the birds as harbingers of good luck and prosperity to the village. After having breakfast at Kamat Yatrinivas on the Mysore Road we headed straight to Kookare Bellur , though the birding season is from Oct to April (Oct to Mid Jan for Pelicans and Jan to April for Painted Stork) the Pelicans were less in number , there will usually be around 2000 birds hovering around the village and this time it’s less than 200 of them due to contamination of water in the nearby lake which is primary source of food for the Pelicans. It was very hearting for all the 3 of us and specially a good learning of Avani as she saw a few rescued birds which had fell from the tree and also saw the forest guards giving drips to an injured Pelican as it had refused taking any food.

From Kokkare Bellur we came to Hill View resort in Ramanagara where we had booked our stay. We rested for a while and went to the pool , Avani’s happiness knew no bounds. After spending good time in the pool it was time for some play in the play area and some pictures around the rock inside resort.

The next day post breakfast we left from Hill view resort and went to Doodaalada Mara (Big Banyan tree) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodda_Alada_Mara a giant approximately 400-year-old banyan tree. Avani was excited to see loads of monkeys along with their babies.

 After spending sometime there , we rode back home. End of a nearly 220kms ride and I was happy and surprised that all along the little one sat on the bike without complaining. Now , on to the next.

Neelakuranji Badami Ride

The title may be surprising. What's the connection between Neelakuranji ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strobilanthes_kunthiana ), a flower that blossoms once in 12 years in Mandalpatti Coorg which is in South of Karnataka to Badami which is North of Karnataka , a place which is so rooted to Karnataka's rich cultural heritage. The connection is that we rode across the beautiful landscape of this amazing state. The landscape that consists of lush greenery , gushing rivers , cloud touching hills , lip smacking food and more importantly the most loving people.

Me along with Arun on his legendary Orion ( RE Thunderbird ) which has seen the lengths and breadth of India and Deepak on his unbelievably beautiful Honda Africa twin did this 1,400kms ride from 1st to 5th September.The route we took was Bangalore - Channarayaptna - Mandalpatti - Hassan - Davanagere - Badami Aihole Pattadakal Kudala Sangama - TB Dam - Bangalore

Day 1 : Bangalore -> Channarayaptna (200kms)

We started on 1st Sep evening around 6.30pm and stopped at Channarayaptna midway to our first destination Mandalpatti

( All smiles , that's what a good ride is all about )

Day 2 : Channarayaptna -> Mandalpatti -> Kushalnagar (240kms)

The actual ride starts. We started early as we knew that from here-on major part of the ride would be on State Highways. The ride till the foothills of Mandalpatti was good , which then changed to broken roads to complete off road. To make the matter worse it started raining and after a point we decided to park the bike and walk, a wise decision as the rain gradually increased. Though the location was beautiful we could not really enjoy due to rain and party because of our  unpreparedness for the same. I could hardly click a few pictures and quicky we rode down to the foothills.

.     ( the beautiful Neelakuranji flower )

the breakfast we had on the way did not suit me , the tricky off road and the rain did not make the situation easy and I had to abandon my original plan of riding to davangagere , I asked Deepak and Arun to carry-on and I decided to rest for a couple of hours in Kushalnagar and join them in Davanagere, like true brothers they did not agree and we decided to stay at Kushalnagar and I rested for the day.

Day 3 : Kushalnagar -> Davanagere -> Badami (450kms)

The second longest distance we coved on this ride but certainly the most tiring. 80% of this ride was State Highway and the condition of the roads was ranging from excellent to good to bad to non existent. The roads till Davanagere where we stopped for breakfast was better but post that at certain places we stopped to think are we on the correct road as we rode through some remote villages where we could not even find a soul for kilometres 😁 But personally I loved riding this route , and definitely we could take this road only because we were on a bike I would not have dared to take my car on that road ( if you can call that a road😁)

.    ( starting the day with this road )

. ( Ended the days ride with something like this )

( Santhebennuru Honda , an absolutely beautiful place )

Finally after 10hrs being on road we reached Badami at around 4pm and checked into Hotel Rajsangam International , quickly freshened up and went out to see Boothanatha Group of temples ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutanatha_group_of_temples,_Badami)

It was such a mesmerizing sight and we really enjoyed the cool evening breeze sitting on the steps of thousands of year old Agastya Teertha

Day 4 : Pattadakallu->Aihole->Kudala Sangama->Mahakoota->Badami Caves->Badami Banashankari Temple (180kms)

Day 4 was the day to explore the places around Badami , the first of which was the incredible Pattadakallu group of temples. 

I entered the temple complex of Pattadakal on the west banks of Mallaprabha river and heard the bells ringing , the virupaksha temple is active , the vibes are active , the prayers are active and so the place is active. All this because the indomitable human spirit is active. I felt so bad that swach bharath has been thrown into winds and people have converted the roads to public toilet. Fortunately enough Badami , Pattadakallu and Aihole are world heritage sites and hence the temple complex is very well maintained

The next on the list was Aihole. Just before entering the Aihole complex we met an armyman who was on his holiday , he saw 3 of us taking a few pictures and came to speak to us , he also got us into the Aihole complex. The extraordinary Chakra Gudi of Aihole

What is it that a 1400 year old beauty stands tall after all the tyranny which our great country has gone though. 

This temple complex was built on a grant given by Vikramaditya 1 son and successor of the great Chalukyan Emperor Pulakeshin II , which possibly dates this temple dedicated to Durga to 640CE.

after Aihole we visited Kudalasangama the sacred place for Lingayats , the Krishna and Mallaprabha river meet here and flow towards Srisailam in Andra Pradesh. 

We had our lunch at the Kamat Yatrinivas in Kudala Sangama and came back to Badami visiting Mahakoota on the way. Mahakoota is a sacred place and there is a pond which is believed to be sacred and also has medicinal value , I and Arun wanted to take a dip however seeing the crowd decided against it , we reached our room and Deepak decided to stay back and after a quick break I and Arun went to see Badami Caves and the Badami Banashankari Temple

the architecture of Badami Cave temples just blew my mind , it must have taken hundreds of finest sculptors to make this magum opus which has stood the test of time.

Day 5 : Badami -> TB dam -> Bangalore (485kms)

Though this is the longest ride of the roadtrip the last 350odd kilometres was National Highway and we knew we would cover the distance in good time. We visited the TB Dam and the breathtaking backwaters of TB dam , it was a visual treat to see the Tunga Bhadra dam and the Backwaters. We had our lunch at chitradurga and reached home by 4pm. What an amazing ride!🏍️

See you on the next one until take care.