Landscapes

Chikmagalur Trip – At Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka

June 5, 2015 by sarita

After visiting The Sharadamba Temple at Sringeri Chikmagalur, we headed out to the next destination on our humble travel itinerary – Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka. Thousands each year go to Chikmagalur to climb to the top, and we couldn’t wait to make the hike ourselves.

Watch the VIDEO :

But we were in no hurry to get there. We drove at a steady pace and stopped on a couple of occasions to stretch our legs and mainly to admire the greenery. When we finally reached the foot of the hills, dark clouds had gathered, it was raining plus there was a hailstorm. There was zero visibility and we couldn’t possibly drive so we just halted to the side of the narrow road and waited for the rain to stop. Sitting in the car waiting while a small storm raged outside was romantic, enchanting and also brought out the child in us.

Mullayangiri drive on the Hills pics

Towards Mullayanagiri- Hail Storm

It was freezing by the time we finally got to the top of the hill and parked the car. My trusty shawl from the day before was packed away so I borrowed one of my hubby’s tees which turned out to be just a tad over-sized on my petite frame.

We were still 2 kms from the peak. Although it had just rained and everything was muddy, the climb was quite safe because of the stone steps that have been built into the hill. If you’re wearing shoes made for walking and with a gripping sole, you considerably minimise the risk of slipping. Working against gravity did me good. The exertion heated up my frozen bones and put some colour back into my cheeks. The stunning views on either side of us also served to distract from the cold.

Mullayanagiri Pics

The hike to the top is a reward in itself and the bonus was the vistas presented on making it. A small shrine to Lord Shiv has its home on the peak. We offered our prayers then spent the next hour and a half just breathing in the sights and sounds (or rather, the lack thereof).

Reluctant to leave, we knew we couldn’t stay forever and so half-heartedly began our descent and drove bag to Chikmagalur. We spent another night in a hotel there talking about the delights we’d encountered and going through all the pictures we’d taken, knowing that although we’d be returning home the next morning, there was a bit of Chikmagalur that we’d be taking back with us forever.

Mullayanagiri Hills Chikmagalur

Mullayangiri PICTURES:

Mullayangiri Hills Chikmagalur Karnataka

Shiv Temple at Mullayangiri in Chikmagalur

Syntheri Rock in Dandeli – Karnataka

January 11, 2014 by sarita

We decided to spend a large part of the December 2013 holidays and ring in the New Year on a getaway trip to some place remote. We decided on a 11-day trip to Old Magazine House in Dandeli, Karnataka, a very popular location for bird-watchers and you will indeed become a bit of an ornithology fan yourself before you leave thanks to the mind-boggling variety of birds in this particular area. But one of the main joys of this trip was our short sojourn to the popular Syntheri Rock which is only an hour away.

The Scenic Drive Down

We chose to go on December 31. Although it was a short drive, we thought it best to leave early so that we could get the most out of the daylight and choose to stay longer if the place appealed to us. So after a hearty breakfast at Old Magazine House, we set out for Syntheri Rock at around 9:30, arriving there at 10:30 after a leisurely and scenic drive through the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary where our destination awaited.

A mud road runs through the sanctuary, eventually leading to steps that lead further down to the rock. The last two kilometres are uneven mud trails that call for slow, careful driving. So we took our time and took in the sights along the way. We spotted a few deer, and if you’re lucky (and quiet), you may be able to spot other wildlife as well.

A Short Walk…

We soon arrived at the steps that would take us to Syntheri Rock. There was no one there when we arrived – a development we whole-heartedly welcomed as it gave us the whole place to ourselves! Since the rock is located quite deep within the sanctuary, the number of people there hardly increased as the day passed.

There are approximately 100 large steps with sturdy railing for support on one side and benches for seating on the other. Beyond the rails, the authorities have put up rock samples on pedestals with brief descriptions of each type of rock formation emblazoned on the front. The mini breaks to read these made the way down educational and broke the monotony of the walk. Pictures of Rocks displayed at Syntheri Rock.

… And the Rock Itself!

Finally, we came up on Syntheri Rock. It is a natural formation that you have to see to believe. It is a single 300-foot monolithic granite wall that will leave you spellbound. The Kaneri river flows by it, and there are natural cave formations underneath. It was a humbling sight. The rock towered over us, making us feel quite small but strangely quite safe too.

An incredible number of pigeons have made their homes in the rock, as have a number of bees whose hives embellish the walls of the cave. You can’t see these very well, of course, and we don’t encourage you to try to get closer.

Although the waters here appear to be tame, they are treacherous and flow into the caves. You aren’t even allowed to dip your feet in the flowing river. A sign on the way down to the rock stated that 12 people had already lost their lives because they didn’t heed the warning. We didn’t feel the need to test the theory for ourselves and were quite content to just sit on the banks, hearing and watching the gurgling river.

We’ve always preferred these quiet, out-of-the-way places over bustling tourist spots, and we got everything we came here for, especially some much-needed introspection and perspective for the coming year. What a way to lose and find yourself!

We stayed there for about four hours, drinking in the view, and returned to Old Magazine House by 3 pm, more than satisfied with the day’s experience as we dug into lunch.

Travel Tips

Wear shoes that will allow you to walk comfortably and that have a good grip for walking along the banks of the river.
Do not flout the rules by getting into the water or attempting to splash around in it. They don’t put up those signs there for nothing.
There’s no food there so if you’re the type that gets antsy within a couple of hours of eating then carry a snack. But remember to clean up after yourself.

Pictures of Syntheri Rock in Dandeli – Karnataka

Syntheri Rock in Dandeli – Karnataka

Rock Specimens displayed along the stairs towards Syntheri Rock in Dandeli – Karnataka

Syntheri Rock Dandeli – Karnataka

Syntheri Rocks Dandeli Karnataka

Syntheri Rocks Pictures Dandeli Karnataka

Syntheri Rock Pictures in Dandeli

Syntheri Rock Pictures

Syntheri Rock

Syntheri Rock in Dandeli – Karnataka

Syntheri Rock Caves

Shivasamudram Falls – Karnataka

August 25, 2013 by sarita

Mini getaways are my go-to when I need a bit of a break from the rigors of the week. And Karnataka offers no dearth of them. So when I craved a time-out from work and city life, hubby and I jumped at the chance to go exploring just one of the many sights on our list. This time, we chose Shivasamudram Falls. Our research promised that it would be invigorating, and it didn’t require much planning so off we went on a rare mid-week holiday in August.

Getting There

Since the falls are only 145 km from Bangalore, we decided the best option was to drive down. We set out at 9 am, taking the Mysore highway to begin with. On arriving at Maddur, we kept an eye out for the Maddur Bus station from where we had to take a left towards Malavalli. From then on, it was just a straight road to the falls where we arrived at around noon.

Karanataka is rich in vegetation so there was no lack of scenery along the way. But the stomach can’t feast on sights alone, and to our dismay we realised a little too late that there weren’t many good restaurant to curb the inevitable hunger pangs. We hoped that there could get something to eat at the falls.

Falling for the Falls

There are, in fact, two falls here a kilometre apart from each other – Gagan Chukki and Bhara Chukki. You can identify Gagan Chukki by the Dargah near it.

To actually get to the falls is quite a task as it involves a seriously long walk down huge steps. As neither of us had had anything to eat for a few hours, our energy levels were low and the exercise was most unwelcome. Add to that the fact that it was a public holiday (yes, it was August 15th) and half of Karnataka seemed to have the same idea we did which meant that there was enough of a crowd to rival any city bustle.

The sight of the falls was worth it though. Since it was smack in the middle of monsoon, the waters were in full strength and it was quite a powerful display of nature’s majesty. The water gushing through lush green scenery effortlessly washes away your worries, for awhile anyway.

There were a few off-putting sights too – like the plastic bottles and empty packets of toffees and chips in the water. There was a lot of irresponsible littering happening right in front of us, and much of the garbage lying around looked like it had been there for awhile. It was sad and disheartening.

While there was plenty of garbage, there wasn’t much in the way of food. A couple of vendors sold steamed corn and chick peas, but there was nothing else apart from that.

Despite these two off-putting features, we were still very taken with the falls themselves. Seeking to get closer to the spray, we caught sight of coracle boats offering rides for Rs. 100 per person. Mind you, these are not easy to get on. There was no courtesy to speak of, no lines, no first-come-first-served rule, no organisation. It was every man for himself and you’d have to push and nudge to get into a boat. The boats only take eight people at a time so you should consider yourself lucky if you manage to get on one. However, we dropped the boat ride idea.

We spent around two hours at the falls just hanging around and enjoying the beauty. If there had been fewer people there (and maybe some food), we would easily and happily have stayed much longer as we’re rather fond of isolated places with no crowds. But to each his own. If you enjoy checking out sights as well as the sights of people, then you’ll love this place.

We returned exhausted and hungry, the trip neither all that great nor all that bad. Maybe it would have been better if we’d carried our own food or gone at another time. The fact that the falls are poorly maintained was also a bit of a downer. Be that as it may, it’s still a beautiful place and very well worth the visit.

Tips for Travel

Visit the falls during the monsoon. This is the best time of the year as it allows you to take in the full beauty off the falls in all their gushing glory.
Carry food with you or you’ll end up hungry and half faint like we did.
If possible, avoid travel here on a weekend or a public holiday if you want to give the crowds a miss.
Don’t litter in the river. Take an empty plastic bag with you for all your waste and bring it back with you when you leave. Don’t leave any of your garbage at the falls.

Way to Shivasamudram Falls – Karnataka

Shivasamudram Falls – Karnataka

Shivasamudram Falls in Karnataka – India

Near Shivasamudram Falls – Karnataka

Coracle Boat Ride at Shivasamudram Falls – Karnataka

Scenic view near Shivasamudram Falls – Karnataka

Hampi – Karnataka, India

July 23, 2013 by sarita

Anjana Parvat in Hampi India (Where Lord Hanuman was Born)

Anjana Temple Hampi Karnataka India

Coconut Trees Hampi Vijayanagara

Coracle boat ride in Pampa Sarovar Hampi India

Hampi – Karnataka India Ganesha stone idols

Hampi Karnataka India – Temple ruins

Ganesh Temple in Hampi Karnataka India

Hampi Karnataka India Pictures

Hampi Karnataka India

Hampi Karnataka Landscapes

Hampi Karnataka

Hampi Kishkindha

Hampi Landscapes Karnataka

Hampi Meditating at Anjana Parvath

Hampi Old Temple remains

Hampi Pictures – Karnataka India

Hampi Pictures

Hampi pictures Karnataka India

Photography at Hampi

Hampi Rocky Landscapes Karnataka India

Hampi Rocky Landscapes Karnataka

Hampi Rocky Landscapes Anjana Parvat

Hampi Temples

Hampi India Pictures

Hampi Vijayanagara Landscapes

Hampi Vijayanagara

Hampi Travel Guide

Mahanavami Dibba in Hampi , Karnataka India

Pampa Sarovar in Hampi Karnataka

Pushkarini Hampi Karnataka India

Rice Paddy fields Hampi Karnataka

Sunset at Hampi Karnataka India

Sunset Hampi

Sunset Pictures Hampi , India

Virupaksha Temple Hampi Karnataka India

Hampi Virupaksha Temple Karnataka India

A Trip to Sikkim – India

December 8, 2012 by sarita

Since 2011, I was planning a trip to Sikkim, but owing to the earthquake and consequent disruptions in the roadways of the state, I was obliged to postpone it to a later date. However, things did work out absolutely well this year, and on the 31st of Oct, 2012, I was on my way to visit this splendid land of myths and spectacular sceneries, greenery and waterfalls, happiness and peacefulness, all combined into one!

Gateway to Rumtek Moanstery(Picture clicked from inside):

Rumtek Monastery – The first place I visited in Sikkim, was a place reigned by tranquility and holiness. After going through the security measures, one of the ancient monasteries of the world stood before our eyes like a colourful monument embraced by myths , culture and tradition. The most wonderful part of the whole experience was the giant wind chimes hung high-up on either side of the monastery walls. They continuously chimed on to add a feeling of remote romanticism amidst all that greenery. It was beautiful. The walls and roofs of the monastery are colorful and bear pictorial representations of mythical figures from the age-old Buddhist legends, speaking highly of Tibetan culture and tradition. The next remarkable destination worth mentioning would be that of the Gurudongmar lake, situated at an altitude of 17,100 ft above sea level.

Gurudongmar Lake Sikkim

In order to pay a visit to this holy lake, it’s best to spend the previous night at Lachen, the nearest spot where one may find good hotels, and leave for Gurudongmar the early morning next day. Believe me, when we’d set out for the journey , we were literally shivering, and the sun had not yet risen.

Sikkim Gurudongmar lake

According to the Buddhist legends, Guru Padmasambhava had blessed this lake on His journey from Tibet to Sikkim, and owing ot his blessings, a portion of this lake never freezes even in the extremes of Winter! Very soon after this visit to the sacred lake, my travel plans took me to Pelling, a small village of Sikkim, known for its scenic beauty.

The Rabdantse Ruins ancient capital of Sikkim

And Pelling had some fantastic visual treats indeed! The Rabdantse Ruins – the ancient capital of Sikkim , and the Pemiyangshi Monatery are the notable spots to visit in Pelling.

Rabdantse Ruins ancient capital of Sikkim

The giant Praying Wheel at the Pemiyangshi Monastery :Sikkim

Later on, scrapping our travel plans to the Khechuperi lake, we decided to pay a visit to the only Tea garden of Sikkim – The Temi Tea Gardens.

Foggy Temi Tea Gardens sikkim

Despite the bad, cloudy and foggy weather, it may be said, that this place was really worth visiting, especially with the clouds floating just above the ground, touching the tea-leaves, throughout the whole garden. And now some snapshots of Sikkim: Terrace Cultivation. Zero Point. A wild waterfall. The Lachenchu River, The Mighty Kanchendzonkha, at Sunrise and more …. Pictures By: Suchetana Sen