Yana Rocks and Caves

Date: 24th Dec 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: Rs 30 for car parking.

Timing:  Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance: 465 Kms one way.

Parking: Available.

Food: Small snacks available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Shri Venkataramana Temple, Manjuguni

Yana is located in the sahyadri mountain ranges in western ghats. The famous rock and caves are located in middle of the forest. The main tourist attraction here are the two massive rocks formed of karst limestone. The two rocks are named Bhairaveshwara Shikhara and Mohini Shikhara. The swayambhu linga formed below the Bhairaveshwara rock is an important pilgrimage site. According to ancient belief the demon king Bhasmasura performed severe penance towards Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva pleased by his penance gave him the boon that he wished for. Any one will burn and turn into ashes when the demon places his hands on the persons head. Bhasmasura wanted to test his new power and chose none other than Lord Shiva as his subject of test. Lord Shiva approaches Lord Vishnu and asks for help. Lord Vishnu takes the form of a Mohini and challenges Bhasmasura for a dance competition. The demon king agrees and during the competition the Mohini places her hand on head. Forgetting his power the demon also places his hand on head and burn to ashes. It is believed that the ashes found around the rocks are the proof of the story.

Few pics from the visit.

The base of the rock is around 3 Kms from the car parking. Though the distance was less the climb was bit difficult. The beautiful trees and the cool breeze kept us going.

We rested few times and then finally managed to reach the top. Like in Shri Marikamba Temple, Sirsi here too schools had got kids for picnic.

The sanctum was closed and we were exhausted. We decided to skip entering the cave. Another reason is the cave path goes around the temple it needs to be walked barefoot.

We sat in the temple for a while and left.

Though road towards the rocks was beautifully covered with trees on both side it was narrow in few sections.

The place can be visited if one has time and happened to be in that part of the state. 

Shri Venkataramana Temple, Manjuguni

Date: 24th Dec 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing:  6:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Distance: 450 Kms one way.

Parking: Road Side.

Food: Small snacks available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Yana Caves.

The Manjuguni temple dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara is located 28Kms from sirsi. We took a slight detour on the way to Yana caves and visited the temple. It is believed that the Lord of Tirupati settle down here in this temple while he was on his travelling around the globe hunting wild animals. Thus the temple is also referred as Tirupathi of Karnataka or Chikka Tirupathi. The main idol here is assumed to be more than 1000 years old. The temple Ratha yatra is an important festival in the temple.

Few pics from the temple.

It is believed that the devotees who cannot visit Tirupati gets the blessings of Lord Venkateshwara by visiting Majuguni.

Madhukeshwara Temple, Banavasi

Date: 23rd Dec 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Harsh and Sunil

Fee: None.

Timing:  6:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Distance: 420 Kms one way.

Parking: Road Side.

Food: Small snacks available.

Photography:  Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Shri Marikamba Temple, Sirsi.

Madhukeshwara temple located in Banavasi in dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located around 20Kms from Sirsi. Banavasi was the capital of ancient Kadamba dynasty who ruled most of uttara Kannada region between 345 - 545 AD. The temple was built in Kadamba architecture style. The Kadamba shikara is pyramid shaped and raise in steps with kalasa on top and generally lacks any decoration. The stone cot and the stone triloka mandapa are a major attraction in the temple. The stone cot was donated to the temple by Raghunatha Nayaka. The cot is carved in hard granite stone. The intricately carved cot is decorated and the idols kept on it are worshiped during Ratha Yatra. The triloka mandapa is another marvelous piece of architecture which depicts the three worlds. The nether, earth and heaven are depicted in stone with Lord Shiva and Parvathi blessing the devotes from the throne in middle. The 7ft tall Nandi at the entrance is positioned in such a way that it looks Lord Shiva with one eye and Goddess Parvathi with other. This is because both the shrines are built adjacent to each other. 

The temple complex also houses smaller shrines dedicated to Ashtathika balahas.

The Linga in the temple is of brown honey color and thus the name Madhukeshwara. Madhu meaning honey.

Another marvel in the temple is the Panchaloka bell. The bell produces om sound which reverberates close to 60 seconds.

The pyramid shaped Shikara with plan step like raising.

The thirloka Mandapa with extensive carvings.

The Nandi positioned to look in two direction.

The unmatched beautiful stone cot.

The temple priests also act as guides and provide lot of details to the visitors. Sunil knew a priest who took us around and explained the history in detail.

The temple also houses the idol of Lord Ganesha with vertical split whose another part is believed to be in Varanasi.

The Parvathi temple left of the main shrine. The Sakshi Ganapathi and few other minor carvings adore the outer wall of the nirtya mandapa.

The two sthambas at the entrance. One used to light the lam during the month of Karthigai.

One another interesting aspect of the temple are the lathe turned pillars (not the below ones) in the Nirtya mandapa. The shining pillars with concave and convex carvings on one other. This arrangement makes the images reflected straight on upper half and inverted in the lower half.

The usually ferocious lord Narasimha is portrayed with peaceful face in a smaller shrine.
One of the two elephants and the soldiers welcoming the devotees.

We were here.

The temple with never ending architectural marvel should be added as a major tourist attraction and promoted by the KSTDC.

Shri Marikamba Temple, Sirsi

Date: 23rd Dec 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing:  6:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Distance: 425 Kms one way.

Parking: Road Side.

Food: Small snacks available.

Photography:  Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Madhukeshwara Temple, Banavasi.

Shri Marikamba temple located in Sirsi town is dedicated to goddess Durga. Its believed that the idol was recovered from a tank and installed in the temple and worshiped. The eight handed goddess is also referred as doddamma meaning elder sister of all goddess. The walls of the temple is decorated with beautiful murals. The temple chariot festival held every year is one of the famous procession in all of Karnataka. In olden days animal sacrifice was one of the main feature during the festival. The practice was brought to halt in later years by various leaders. S.N Keshwain and Vitthal Rao Hodike were credited with accomplishing this difficult task.

I heard that since nothing else is there to do in town you can find lot of people in the temple. This is the only place people visit.

It was proved undoubtedly when we visited. We saw schools bringing kids as part of day picnic.

We saw school students leaving temple in queue even at 8:30 PM while coming back from Banavasi.

The murals depicting scenes from the epics were painted in red all over the temple.

A social welfare group was getting petition signed by devotees to protect cows and we too signed it.

A nice town for a stopover if driving up north from Bengaluru.

We stayed in Hotel Madhuvan which was a decent hotel for a night stay. We had lunch in the restaurant below which was average.

We were here.

We met Sunil after the temple visit and all of us went to Madhukeshwara temple in Banavasi. 

Statues of India 2: Shivaji statue, Vijayapura

Shivaji Circle, Vijayapura.

Chhatrapati Shivaji statue might be found in many parts of India. However Shivaji has close link with Vijayapura. Shahaji Bhonsle, Shivaji's father was a general under Deccan sultanates. At one time Shahaji lead the military of Adil Shahis of Bijapur.

Also read about few other Statues of India.

Shivaji's victory over Afzal Khan, the Adil Shahi general of Bijapur marked the raise of Shivaji's supremacy.

Afzal khan sent for Shivaji to discuss and bring to an end the clash between both forces. Shivaji knew how Afzal Khan murdered Kasturi Ranga of Sira during their meeting to discuss peaceful surrender. Shivaji carried a dagger under is cloth and killed Afzal Khan who tried to crush him. There are two sides to this story with each accusing other of treachery.

An interesting fact is though Shivaji captured huge land and lead the Maratha army for long time he officially became king in 1674 that is only 6 years before he died.

Honors among many other:

Indian government is building a memorial for the warrior king in Maharashtra. When finished this will be the tallest statue in the world surpassing the Buddha statue in China. Buddha statue is 420ft including the 66ft throne where as this will be 690ft.

Statues of India 1: Basaveshwara statue, Vijayapura

Basaveshwara statue, Bijapur.

Basaveshwara, Basavanna or Basava was a poet and a social reformer born in Bagewadi, Karnataka in 1105. He denounced class system and preached equality to men and women from all castes. He is considered as the founder of the Lingayat community in Karnataka. His poems are popularly known as vachanas. He brought in the anubhava mantapa or hall of spiritual experience where people from all backgrounds without discrimination participated in discussion on spirituality, economic and social issues. This is considered as worlds first parliament.

Also read about few other Statues of India.

Honors among many other:
1. Indian government minted commemorative coins in his name and released in 2006. He is the first Kannadiga in whose name a commemorative coin was released.
2. In 2003 then president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam unveiled the statue of Basavanna in parliament.
3. In 2015 Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi unveiled statue of Basavanna in Albert Embankment Gardens, London over looking Big Ben and British Parliament. Efforts of Dr. Neeraj Patil.
4. Basava express runs between Mysore and Bagalkot.

First post in new series about statues of India. The idea is to learn and spread knowledge about some of the leaders of our country.

Other places of interest in Vijayapura

Date: 12th Aug to 14th Aug 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Here is the list of other places in Bijapur that can be visited.

1. Sat Manzil:

Seven storeyed palace was built by Ibrahim Adil Shah II and renovated by Mohammed Adil Shah. The royal family relocated to this palace from Gagan mahal. Gagan mahal was later used as durbar hall. It was also the residence of Rumbha, Muhammed Adil Shah's mistress.

2: Jala Manzil

Water pavilion located between Sat Manzil and Gagan Mahal is the small structure in a small garden.

3. Taj Bawadi:

Built in 1620 by Malik Sandal, the architect who built Ibrahim Rouza. It was built in honor of queen Taj.

The dome above the octagonal shaped structure in front of Taj well.

4. Chand Bawdi: TIP: Skip it.

Built by Ali Adil Shah I in 1579 in honor of queen Chand.

5. Shri Siddeshwara temple.

Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in the middle of the main market.

There are many other places with some interesting history. Some of the prominent ones outside the town are Basavan bagewadi, almatti dam, Torvi temple, parshwnath basadi etc.

Murudeshwar

Date: 26th Aug 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi and Harsh

Fee: None for temple. Rs 10 - Adults, Rs 5 - Kids for Rajagopuram Lift.

Timing: 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 8:15 PM.

Distance: 530 Kms one way.

Parking: Available.

Food: Available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Mirjan Fort, Om beach Gokarna.

At 121ft the Shiva statue in murudeshwar is the tallest Shiva statue in India, Second tallest Shiva statue in the world, 6th tallest statue in India. The rajagopuram measuring 237.5ft is the second tallest gopuram in the world. The place has a very interesting story. Ravana a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva was carrying the athma linga to Lanka. The linga cannot be kept down. All the gods wanted to stop Ravana from taking the linga. Here there are couple of version one is Lord Vishnu covered the sun to make it look like evening. Ravana had to perform pooja so he asks Lord Ganesha who has disguised as a Bhraman to keep the linga. Second version says Ravana wanted to answer natures call so he approached the Bhramhan. Ganesha agrees on the condition if Ravana doesn't come back after calling three times then he will keep it down. Ravana did not return after the third call and Ganesha kept the linga down. Furious Ravana tries to lift the linga forcefully but ends up breaking few pieces.

It is believed the cloth covering the linga fell in the present day Murudeshwar.

Lift in Rajagopuram takes to the top floor from where one can get birds eye view of the statue and the beach.

The cave museum under the Shiva statue depicts the story of the atma-linga. 90 odd steps leads to the statue outside the temple complex.

The temple vimana.

The idol of Ravana giving the linga to the Bhraman.

The chariot with Lord Krishna giving geetha upadesham to Arjuna.

Under lights.

We were here.

The place is one of the major tourist attraction in coastal Karnataka. A small water park is also being built to attract more tourist.

Aditional information:
Tallest statue in world: Vairocana Buddha statue in China - 420ft
Tallest Shiva statue in world: Kailashnath Mahadev Statue - Nepal - 144ft
Tallest Gopuram in World: Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Trichy, India - 239.5ft