Swifted : Bisle, Belur, Halebid, Chikmagalur, Kemmangundi

[laluks]

Originally Posted by dreamdiesel

Beautiful picture laluks. I once drove up Mulayanagiri on a foggy evening. Was one of most scariest drive I attempted.

The second time I drove up Mulayanagiri was on bright sunny morning. Walked all the way up to the temple. Was tiring though. Did you visit the leterite caves right next to the temple on top? The locals claim the tunnel goes all the way down to Sitalayanna Mutt..

The roads are indeed scary. I was scared because of the loose rubble and the taxis where indisciplined. They just come and do not see if there is space for both cars to go.

Caves? No. A Kemmangundi trip is to be planned again. I 'll check this out then Do you have any pictures? Please post them here.

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

Lovely, bringing back the memories of my trip to Muliyangiri and Kemmanagundi. Having an urge to go there again.

Yes, the greens are so inviting.

Originally Posted by akbaree

The beautiful Western Ghats. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Thanks.

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by laluks

The roads are indeed scary. I was scared because of the loose rubble and the taxis where indisciplined. They just come and do not see if there is space for both cars to go.

Caves? No. A Kemmangundi trip is to be planned again. I 'll check this out then. Do you have any pictures? Please post them here.

Mullayanagiri on a foggy day is a totally different experience. You'll definitely enjoy the wind and fog in your face, although you cannot see the great views.

The caves are just below the temple. The path is just along the edge of the base of the temple, near the Nandi statue. I'll see if I can dig up the pictures somewhere. Nothing great about it though.

[dreamdiesel]

Yes the way towards the caves is towards the small nandi statue from the temple. There are 2 caves. The second cave is the one which goes all the way to the Sitalayanna Mutt.

These pics were taken during a road trip with my office colleagues in Aug 2008. First pic is cave # 1 and second cave # 2

[laluks]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

Mullayanagiri on a foggy day is a totally different experience. You'll definitely enjoy the wind and fog in your face, although you cannot see the great views.

I can imagine that. But the road in fog would be scary

Originally Posted by dreamdiesel

Yes the way towards the caves is towards the small nandi statue from the temple. There are 2 caves. The second cave is the one which goes all the way to the Sitalayanna Mutt.

These pics were taken during a road trip with my office colleagues in Aug 2008. First pic is cave # 1 and second cave # 2

Great. You are the one in blue?
I can see more people deeper inside the first cave. How much can you bravely enter inside??

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by dreamdiesel

Yes the way towards the caves is towards the small nandi statue from the temple. There are 2 caves. The second cave is the one which goes all the way to the Sitalayanna Mutt.

These pics were taken during a road trip with my office colleagues in Aug 2008. First pic is cave # 1 and second cave # 2

Attachment 218281

Attachment 218282

Actually, both the caves are linked. You can go in one and come out from the other one

[dreamdiesel]

Great. You are the one in blue?
I can see more people deeper inside the first cave. How much can you bravely enter inside??[/quote]

They are my colleages. I was the photographer. We could manage about 20-25mts inside the cave bravely. Then it narrows down and is pitch dark. No idea whats hiding inside

[laluks]

Day 2, 18th October 2009 Continued

MullayanaGiri - Baba Budhangiri Hills


From the fork where the road splits to Mullayanagiri, the straight road goes to Baba Budhangiri Hills, and the entrance to the shrine is 16KMs from this place.

But 9Km from here, road forks again and the left goes to Kemmanagundi and right to Budhangiri hills. From this second fork it is 7Km on the right to the shrine and 25KMs on the left to Kemmanagundi.

Some views till the fork.









A waterfall and a temple. Could not get the name. Anyone ??





We took the right road from the fork to the shrine.

We stopped just 4 Km short of the entrance for some views.



We reached the Baba Budhangiri Hill entrance by 13:40PM. Had to pay Rs 10 as the entry fee. The shrine was out of bounds, and could not visit it.



Inam Dattatreya Peetha is important to both Hindus and Muslims. A laterite cave here is believed to have sheltered at different times Guru Dattatreya and Muslim saint Hazrat Dada Hayath Mir Khalandar (sent by Prophet Mohammed).

But on seeing the narrow piped lanes to control the queues once switched me off. I felt quite bad, may be once the crowd could only be controlled like that. Whatever it was a major turn off, and drove from there fast.




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[laluks]

Day 2, 18th October 2009 Continued

Baba Budhangiri Hills


From the shrine it is 3Km to Manikyadhara waterfalls. A set of stairs leads us to the water falls. 50Ps is the charge for entry to Manikyadhara. People believe that taking bath here cures many ailments and hence both the Muslim and Hindu devotees bath here since they consider the falls to be holy. Hence this water fall resembles a huge bath area.


Manikyadhara



You can also find many herbal medicines with the road side vendors here.

From here you can also trek to Deviramma Betta.





The day we visited was quite important to the pilgrims, as it was Deepotsava. I saw many people trekking down the hills we were on and climbing Deviramma Betta. I came to know the significance only the next day in Deccan Herald.

The news from Deccan Herald.
Devotees offer special pooja to Goddess Deviramma on Deepotsava

Devotees offer special pooja to Goddess Deviramma on Deepotsava
Chikmagalur, Oct 18, DH News Service:

Special pooja was offered to Goddess Deviramma on Sunday as part of the annual festivities at the temple in the Bindiga-Mallenahalli village.


Over 50,000 people climbed the Deviramma Betta on Saturday and Sunday as part of the annual Deepotsava.



From children to the 70-year old veterans, people from all age groups climbed the hill. Though there was huge rush, it did not pose any threat to the devotees’ energy.
Majority of the devotees who climbed the hill were young women. They usually climb the hill with empty stomach and have food only after climbing down.

Devotees started climbing hill by 12 in the mid night which continued till the wee hours.
As part of the Deepotsava, there will be Mahaganapathi Pooja, punyaha, agnikunda pooja, kalasa sthapane and kumkumarchane, stated a temple release.

Some views around






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[laluks]

Day 2, 18th October 2009 Continued

Baba Budhangiri Hills - Kemmanagundi

After spending almost an hour on the Budhangiri Hills we decided to leave to Kemmanagundi.

On the way down some small hills seemed quite inviting to the Red Riding Hood.





After doing some hill climb and offroads with our Red Riding Hood, we left Budhangiri hills by 15:15PM

Some ruins on the way


See Red Riding Hood near a cave


Check the soil and its texture. If you touch it your hand gets a shiny black colour.


From Budhangiri hill entrance we had to come back 7KM to the second fork. We reached there by 15:40PM from here we had to take the road to Kemmanagundi.


It's already evening and we have additional 25Km more to Kemmanagundi. We decided to drive through, but in my mind a concern was growing deeply, do I have to retrace the same roads? The roads were too bad for a night drive for sure. Already it was 28KM from Chikmagalur, that means a drive of 55 to 60Km of bad roads in the night, which could take upto 2.5hours. So set 7.30PM as the absolute last stop before we turn back.



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[KishoreC]

Excellent report and photos lalu.

I was waiting for the green part, and I can see it was worth waiting for. Enjoying every photo and Waiting for more.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by KishoreC

Excellent report and photos lalu.

I was waiting for the green part, and I can see it was worth waiting for. Enjoying every photo and Waiting for more.

Thanks Kishore. More coming up

[pramod]

Originally Posted by laluks

Guys, I have a doubt. After exiting the NICE road at Magadi road exit, I took right turn and continued for around 25Km and at that intersection which looked like a bus stand I took a right to a byepass road which put me exactly at the Nelamangala turn on NH4. I was expecting to join NH48 further inside. Should I have gone straight form that intersection? The locals said road ahead was quite bad and put me onto this byepass which was horrible too.

Could you please let me know how from Magadi road exit of NICE I reach NH48, and where.

Once you reach magadi town, move ahead.
After a Km inside the magadi town, u will see a right turn, which is easily recognizable, since it is a 2 lane road with beautifully painted road markers. This road will take u all the way till, Kunigal (rather 4 Km before Kunigal).
THis actually saves you 50 Kms and whole lot of time.
From JP Nagar 1st phase to Kunigal, i take 1 hour. That says it all.

Regards
Pramod

[pramod]

laluks@ the falls and temple on the way to bababudangiri on a corner is :
honnammana halla

[laluks]

Originally Posted by pramod

Once you reach magadi town, move ahead.
After a Km inside the magadi town, u will see a right turn, which is easily recognizable, since it is a 2 lane road with beautifully painted road markers. This road will take u all the way till, Kunigal (rather 4 Km before Kunigal).
THis actually saves you 50 Kms and whole lot of time.
From JP Nagar 1st phase to Kunigal, i take 1 hour. That says it all.

Regards
Pramod

I am planning a weekend drive to check this road soon. Waiting for another like minded friend to be free to come along.

Originally Posted by pramod

laluks@ the falls and temple on the way to bababudangiri on a corner is :
honnammana halla

Thanks Pramod.

[laluks]

Day 2, 18th October 2009 Continued

Baba Budhangiri Hills - Kemmanagundi


After taking the road to Kemmanagundi from the fork, we saw a coffee plantation and spent some time there.







We saw another direction board at 16:00PM. Kemmanagundi is still far away. Both the waterfalls had to be given a miss.



After 10Km we saw a small board indicating that we are entering Badra Wild Life Sanctuary limits. Roads became horrible.

Another 2Km we reached the view point.




My family decided to climb the hill near the view point, and I chose to rest.







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