Weekend Getaway 56: Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka Fort, Sira

Date: 30th July 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Timing: None.

Fee: None.

Distance: 145 Kms one way.

Direction: Bengaluru - Tumakuru - Sira.

Parking: Available. Road side.

Food: Small hotels available in Sira.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Kaggaladu birds sanctuary.

Initially we started of as a driving session for Shilpi on the NICE road. Then since we are going out we thought we will visit some place and decided on the Kaggaladu and Sira fort. We reached Sira around 1 PM and it was hot. Kaggaladu is around 10kms from the town, unfortunately there were no birds in the village. When we inquired the villagers they said since there is no water in the lake no birds have come. December and January will be the right season. We drove back to the fort. There was a Karnataka tourism sign board 3.5 kms before the fort but there was nothing near the fort. Google maps also failed to show the correct entry point. We checked with nearby people and managed to reach the entrance.

The Sira fort is located on national highway 4. Kasturi rangappa nayak started building the fort when he was ruling over Sira. But then the fort came under many rulers. Vijayanagar king, bijapur sultan, mughals. The captures strengthened the fort further before it finally fell to British.

Most part of the fort is in ruined state now. We saw group of people playing cards at the mandapa and a younger group playing cricket.

The fort is protected by a big moat and three layer wall.

Secret path from the base to the top of rampart.

The central structure in the fort, probably once a grand palace.

The path to the bastion.

Three point embrasure.

Another view of the fort wall.

Another destroyed structure on one side of the fort.

Path around the wall.

Pillars in the hall at the entrance of the fort.

There were few other places to see nearby. A temple, few tombs, masjid and a garden. We decided to visit the places some other time when we cross the town. Now back to the driving session on 6 lane Tumakuru-Chitradurga highway.

Weekend Getaway 55: Avalabetta Trek

Date: 2nd July 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Harsh and Sourav

Timing: Dawn to Dusk.

Fee: None

Distance: 100 Kms one way

Direction: Bangalore - Hebbal - Devanahalli - Chikkaballapura - Peresandara - Avalabetta

Parking: Available.

Food: Small snacks and water available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Gudibande Fort.

Avalabetta is one of the famous trekking spot around Bangalore. We reached the base of the hill at 8 AM and there was already some 500 vehicles parked. Though there is a good cement road leading to top, vehicles are not allowed and they have done the right thing. With these many bikes and cars there would only be chaos at top. Never seen such a crowd at any trek places around Bangalore. Surely its not an offbeat place and gives tough competition to the famous Nandi hills.

We parked the car and reached the gate. We were talking to the tender coconut seller and a guy looking at harsh told us "you will have to carry him ". We said thanks we will try and thought "you do not know him". He has climbed 1100 steps when he was 4 years and 4 months to reach Akash ganga falls in kolli hills.

There are two way to reach up. One the cemented road other the broken steps. Steps was of course shorter and we took that.

The climb was moderately difficult. We took few breaks and reached the top.

Though it was well after sunrise the cool breeze made the climb a pleasant experience.

The narasimha swamy temple is located at the first level of the hill. There are few people who have climbed up solely for the purpose of visiting the temple and others like us for the famous cliff.

Huge rocks balancing on narrow ends.

The climb was totally worth, the view from the top of the hill was beautiful. The cool breeze was refreshing and we sat down for some time looking at the vast landscape.

Then we started looking for that famous hanging cliff. We read that no one is allowed near the cliff and a guard is posted to stop people going to the edge.

However we did not know that they have erected a fence with sharp spikes and barbed wires. This has made things only worst as we saw people risking injury and climbing up the fence to reach that cliff. This guy jumping over those spikes and that girl tearing a part of her cloth, all for what?

This. This famous cliff to get a pic. We saw few people going to that edge and taking pics.

We left the spot soon and sat on other side where we had a good view of the surrounding hills.

There is another temple above the narasimha swamy temple which was closed when went.

Some more views from the top of the avalabetta.

Winding road  and the car parking at the base.

We took the cement road while coming down. Only complaint Harsh had was he is very hungry, a rare one.

We skipped Gudibande fort plan and drove back home. A nice trekking place near Bangalore even though its too crowded on weekend.

Weekend Getaway 53: Mallaghatta Falls

Date: 18th June 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Timing: None.

Fee: None

Distance: 150 Kms one way

Direction: Bangalore - Nelamangala - Kunigal - Yadiyur - Turuvekere - Mallaghatta Falls

Parking: Available.

Food: None.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Sri Chennakeshava Temple, Kedareshwara Temple in Nagalapura and Sri Gangadhareshwara Temple, Chennakeshava Temple in Turuvkere.

We reached mallaghata falls around 2:15 PM. When we reached the place it started drizzling again. The temple nearby was closed. The lake area looked very big but there was not much water. We saw plenty of tractors taking mud from the lake bed. The falls is just that the water flowing from the lake over a rock. Since there was not much water in the lake there was no falls. We thought we would turn back and visit Tandaga. By then the drizzle became rain. There was no one nearby and place looked beautiful in rain. We just got down from the car and played in rain for some time. Luckily had got a set of spare dress for Harsh and he could change. We came back to turuvekere bus stand and had hot gobi manchurian and drove back home.

Last 3 Kms to the lake was like this. 

View of the mallghata kere.

Not a great place to visit. Lucky for us it rained else it would have been a boring visit.

Weekend Getaway 52: Sri Gangadhareshwara Temple, Turuvkere

Date: 18th June 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Timing: Closed Mostly. Details below.

Fee: None

Distance: 145 Kms one way

Direction: Bangalore - Nelamangala - Kunigal - Yadiyur - Turuvekere

Parking: Available.

Food: Small eateries available in the town.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Sri Chennakeshava Temple, Kedareshwara Temple, Nagalapura and Chennakeshava Temple, Turuvkere.

The Gangadhareswara temple is on the lane opposite to Chennakeshava temple. The elderly person we met before informed us that the main gate will be closed and a small gate left to the temple will be open. If not for them we would have returned without visiting the temple. The door to the inner sanctum was closed. We could only see the exteriors and the big nandi. Looks like the mandapa and surrounding place was not cleaned for very long time. We could hear the chanting from the inner sanctum running continuously from a recorded system.

The other interesting thing is the big bell. The bell looks like its made of stone but when hit it made metal sound.

The intricate carvings on the nandi was very beautiful. A shiva linga was carved on the chain of the nandi.

The statue was polished too smooth.

Another shrine to the left of the temple was closed too.

The open mandapa and nandi in middle.

Few carvings on the pillars of the temple.

Abandoned ganesha statue.

Image of Kannapan. A temple dedicated to Kannapan on a small hill above Sri kalahasthi temple.

Again would have loved to see the interiors and also the unique Shiva idol with Ganga sitting on top of his head. 

Hoysala Temples 20: Chennakeshava Temple, Turuvekere

Date: 18th June 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None

Distance: 145 Kms one way

Direction: Bangalore - Nelamangala - Kunigal - Yadiyur - Turuvekere

Parking: Available.

Food: Small eateries available in the town.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Sri Chennakeshava Temple and Kedareshwara Temple, Nagalapura.

The Chennakeshava temple in Turuvekere stands small in middle of the residences. It had started drizzling while we reached the temple. We were waiting for the rain to slow down so we can go to the temple. Two elderly person came out of their house and informed that the temple is closed. There was a death in the house left of the temple and the priest has gone somewhere. However main entrance is open and we could see the exteriors. The rain slowed down a bit and we went to the temple.

The ceiling has simple floral design.

The front porch is supported by two pillars.

The outer walls had a simple design. The walls were mostly plain.

The base of the temple with plain moldings.

Vimana with most part ruined.

Would have been happy if we could have seen the interiors and had darshan of Lord Vishnu.

Weekend Getaway 51: Sri Lakshmi Beteraya Temple, Turuvekere

Date: 18th June 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None

Distance: 145 Kms one way

Direction: Bangalore - Nelamangala - Kunigal - Yadiyur - Turuvekere

Parking: Available.

Food: Small eateries available in the town.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Sri Chennakeshava Temple and Kedareshwara Temple, Nagalapura.

Sri lakshmi beteraya temple is one of the famous temples in the Turuvekere. We reached the temple around 1 PM. The temple was open and not many people were there. After the darshan we went around the temple. The temple was built in dravida style with huge Gopuram and the vimana above the main shrine. Sri mrukunda muni and Sri chandrachooda muni came to turuvekere and was doing thapas in the town. The mayavi rakshasha in-disguise of cruel animals tries to kill the muni.

Lord Vishnu came on horse and hunted those demons. Thus the name Beteraya.

The statue was installed by Hebbaru Chowdaiah and the pooja was done first in 1194. Lakshmi Devi is on the east of  main moorthy.

Immadi veeranarashingaraya and Lokambike, the 10th generation of Hebbaru Chowdaiah donated the uthsava moorthy and took the near by villages under them and improved the villages.

The plain pillars of the open mantapa.

Vimana on the shrine.

Lord Krishna on one of the pillars.

Vimana on the main shrine.