After few months of hectic software dramas in office, i and couple of close friends decided to have another road trip. This time it was towards chikmagalur. We started having discussions 2 weeks before in normal software engineers style i.e., sending chain mails discussing other than the actual topic. There were few debates over places to be covered within 2 days of weekend. At last i had to convince my friends on the same.
So at last, D day came,
Date : 10th and 11th Dec 2011.
Timelines: Left Bangalore on 10th Dec, 7 am and reached back to Bangalore on 11th Dec, 8 pm.
Vehicle: Hyundai Accent diesel.
Total Distance covered: ~ 650 kms
Places covered:
Sravanabelagola is a rocky hill on top of which God Mahavir's monolithic status is there. We climbed carved rock steps for about 20 minutes to reach the temple on top.
Frankly speaking i expected it to be very big, but it was small than i could imagine. I only saw it in television before.
After spending about an hour, we started our journey towards Halebid. There is a direct road from sravanabelago to reach Hassan highway, so no need to go back.
After reaching highway NH48, we had quick change in plan, we turned our direction to Hemavathi Dam one of the old Dams built by Sir M Vishweshwaraiah.
Road towards Hemavathi dam is pretty bad, so most of the time we wanted to save was killed here. We have to go in Hassan by pass road, to reach a small junction. On this junction take towards left to hemavathi dam. Its around 24 kms from the junction.
We parked our car outside the gate and walked 1.5 km inside to reach the Dam, We felt disappointed to see most of it dry. We are not allowed to climb on to the top unless some money was shell out for police men. He took 50/- for five people. Back waters was nice to see.
Without wasting much time we headed towards Halebid, There are 2 routes. One using highway to reach Belur and then deviate back to Halebid, Since our plan was to go to chikmagalur, we covered first Halebid and then went to belur from there to chikmagalur, So we took second route wherein we need to take right on to small road from a junction on the Belur - Hassan highway from Hassan directly to halebid, road was pretty ok.
We reached halebid at 2 pm, place was awesome, well maintained and clean. No entrance fee, only nominal parking fee. Spent around 1.5 hours seeing the beauty of sculptures and carvings and left for Belur.
Halebid
we reached belur around 4 pm. Belur is much bigger and more spectacular in sculptures and carvings than Halebid. i really wonder how Jakanacharya, famous sculptor did those with so much precision and beauty in stones. He has left one part of pillar inside main keshava temple blank to challenge others for his sculptures, you can get history either in google or from the guide at the place. Remember guide wont give all history until they themselves know it. Photography was not allowed inside so i could only take it from outside.
After clicking some snaps we left for chikmagalur and call it a day and left for Chikmagalur for night stay.
We stayed in REST Inn, hotel, it was pretty decent in facilities and cost.
Early morning we had breakfast in nearby udupi restaurant and left for Mulayangiri at 8 am.
Chikmagalur is a plain region unlike what i thought would be hilly region, but from Chikmagalur towards west is all hill stations and So Mulayangiri.
We got locally prepared well informed map which gives us idea about all the tourist locations around Chikmagalur.
Ghat section starts around 8-10 kms from chikmagalur. Mulayangiri is the highest peak in south India, roads are very narrow and need to be very careful while on the way to mulayangiri. Sometimes it was very difficult to see because of heavy fog and clouds moving by.
It was superb spot , enjoyed the beauty.
After spending some time we left for Dab daba falls, its on the way to Baba budengiri. Its located inside a private tea estate, need to walk down from road. The name comes mainly due to noise it creates. Visitors are allowed and its likely that you can miss this as there are no boards and rarely u will find people to enquire about the location.
After spending some time we left for Baba budengiri also called Datta peeta. Most sensitive location as Hindu temple and Mosque are beside each other. You can find police station opposite to temples and police patrolling 24/7. Unfortunately temples were closed for renovation.
So at last, D day came,
Date : 10th and 11th Dec 2011.
Timelines: Left Bangalore on 10th Dec, 7 am and reached back to Bangalore on 11th Dec, 8 pm.
Vehicle: Hyundai Accent diesel.
Total Distance covered: ~ 650 kms
Places covered:
- Sravanabelagola
- Hemavathi Dam
- Halebid,
- Belur,
- Chikmagalur
- Mulayangiri
- Dab Dabha Falls
- Baba budengiri (Datta peeta)
We left Bangalore at around 7 am. We had quick pit stop for fuel and started our journey without wasting time. We head towards Tumkur highway NH4 and took left towards Mangalore highway NH48. Road was very good. We almost touched 160kmph speed, thank god no speed breakers or interceptor cops. After covering about 130 km, we reached intersection where we took left for Sravanabelagola. Before we continued our journey, we had quick breakfast. Though there are no good hotels, we wanted to fill our belly desperately, so we had oily puris and left for sravanabelagola.
Sravanabelagola is a rocky hill on top of which God Mahavir's monolithic status is there. We climbed carved rock steps for about 20 minutes to reach the temple on top.
Sravanabelagola
Frankly speaking i expected it to be very big, but it was small than i could imagine. I only saw it in television before.
After spending about an hour, we started our journey towards Halebid. There is a direct road from sravanabelago to reach Hassan highway, so no need to go back.
After reaching highway NH48, we had quick change in plan, we turned our direction to Hemavathi Dam one of the old Dams built by Sir M Vishweshwaraiah.
Road towards Hemavathi dam is pretty bad, so most of the time we wanted to save was killed here. We have to go in Hassan by pass road, to reach a small junction. On this junction take towards left to hemavathi dam. Its around 24 kms from the junction.
We parked our car outside the gate and walked 1.5 km inside to reach the Dam, We felt disappointed to see most of it dry. We are not allowed to climb on to the top unless some money was shell out for police men. He took 50/- for five people. Back waters was nice to see.
Hemavathi Dam
Without wasting much time we headed towards Halebid, There are 2 routes. One using highway to reach Belur and then deviate back to Halebid, Since our plan was to go to chikmagalur, we covered first Halebid and then went to belur from there to chikmagalur, So we took second route wherein we need to take right on to small road from a junction on the Belur - Hassan highway from Hassan directly to halebid, road was pretty ok.
We reached halebid at 2 pm, place was awesome, well maintained and clean. No entrance fee, only nominal parking fee. Spent around 1.5 hours seeing the beauty of sculptures and carvings and left for Belur.
Halebid
we reached belur around 4 pm. Belur is much bigger and more spectacular in sculptures and carvings than Halebid. i really wonder how Jakanacharya, famous sculptor did those with so much precision and beauty in stones. He has left one part of pillar inside main keshava temple blank to challenge others for his sculptures, you can get history either in google or from the guide at the place. Remember guide wont give all history until they themselves know it. Photography was not allowed inside so i could only take it from outside.
Belur
After clicking some snaps we left for chikmagalur and call it a day and left for Chikmagalur for night stay.
We stayed in REST Inn, hotel, it was pretty decent in facilities and cost.
Early morning we had breakfast in nearby udupi restaurant and left for Mulayangiri at 8 am.
Chikmagalur is a plain region unlike what i thought would be hilly region, but from Chikmagalur towards west is all hill stations and So Mulayangiri.
We got locally prepared well informed map which gives us idea about all the tourist locations around Chikmagalur.
map
Ghat section starts around 8-10 kms from chikmagalur. Mulayangiri is the highest peak in south India, roads are very narrow and need to be very careful while on the way to mulayangiri. Sometimes it was very difficult to see because of heavy fog and clouds moving by.
It was superb spot , enjoyed the beauty.
Mulayanagiri
After spending some time we left for Dab daba falls, its on the way to Baba budengiri. Its located inside a private tea estate, need to walk down from road. The name comes mainly due to noise it creates. Visitors are allowed and its likely that you can miss this as there are no boards and rarely u will find people to enquire about the location.
Dab Dhaba falls
After spending some time we left for Baba budengiri also called Datta peeta. Most sensitive location as Hindu temple and Mosque are beside each other. You can find police station opposite to temples and police patrolling 24/7. Unfortunately temples were closed for renovation.
Baba budengiri
good one sudhi...
ReplyDeleteGood start maga..I like the sequence...even snaps are good..does match your flow...Looking forward for more from you :-)
ReplyDeletegood one..it is one of the best ways to pen down your fav. journeys and life moments.:)
ReplyDeleteGood info......... keep posting ...... :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice blog Sudharshan. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteNeat and clear... Keep it up...
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ReplyDeleteGood info shared about the place which makes it convenient for every traveler to plan it .
ReplyDeleteA correction in your travelogue -
At Shravanbelagola ,the monolithic statue is of Bahubali who was the grand son of Thirthankar Rishabdev and not of Lord Mahavir as mentioned by you in your article.
Great post with awesome pictures. Loved reading this blog. It is really an informative blog. Bangalore to Chickmagalur Online Cabs
ReplyDelete