Calling Lepakshi

Name of the place: Lepakshi

Distance from Bangalore: approx 150 km

Route: Devanahalli , Anantapura road

Duration: 1 day Trip

Road Condition: Good

Best time to visit: October to February

Eatouts : Kamata upachar which on the way

This was one of my most remarkable long drive, as my bike (Bullet) was to complete 1 year and had only 2 long drives in the earlier list. Also, it had been quite some time that we friends met after our exit from our previous company. All of us were awaiting an event which brought us together and the Lepakshi trip was the perfect answer to revive the old memories. The planning started at our very old adda - Sukh Sagar, where we decided on our destination and chalked out the plan with the help of Google. On the D- Day, as planned we met at 6:30 am at the pre-decided place and started by 7:15 am towards the Devanahalli route. The weather was splendid and morning sunshine added a perfect blend for our drive. En-route we stopped at Kamant upchar for a quick breakfast with idli-vada. The sambar was not that great but was enough to satiate our hunger. We reached the Ananthpura toll by 9:00 a.m. and took a small diversion from the main road towards the Lepakshi temple. The road was quite narrow but good as we drove by a scenic pathway. By 9:45 am we reached the destination - Lepakshi.

Lepakshi is a treasure trove of Temples, Paintings and other cultural works of the famed Vijayanagara Empire. The region is famous for its many inscriptions and carvings. There is a Nandi Statue that is located in the village and is one of the main attractions. Many inscriptions in the Kannada language can be seen in the village. Most of these inscriptions date back many centuries. Most of the temples have excellent sculptures. The place is also known for its murals. Veerabhadra temple is a masterpiece and a grand specimen of the Vijaynagara style of architecture. It was built in the mid-16^th century by two brothers Virupanna and Viranna, treasury officers of the Penukonda Fort of the Vijaya Nagar Empire.  The temple is made up of three sections Mukha Mandapa for dance and other cultural activities, Artha Mandapa for worship and the Garbha Griha housing the deity. There is also a 'Kalyana Mandapa', or Wedding Hall made from grey sandstone with 38 carved monolithic pillars. Legend has that Lord Shiva and Parvati got married at this Kalyana Madapam!  

The journey then on is explained through the pictures below:



   The scenic beauty of the Nandi Hills covered by mist, seen en-route

Our very own companions to our destination

The Veerabhadra temple is situated on one of the hills called as "Aame betta" (tortoise hill). It is been said that the temple occupied about 175 acres of space of which only 5 acres remains today.

The Veerabhadra temple Gopuras

Inside the temple, we had the darshan of the deity - Lord Kalabyraveshwara and Goddess Durga before beginning with our clicks of the architectural splendor


The monolith statue of Nagalinga, a Shiva Linga with a multi hooded Naga serpent over it. Legend has that this sculpture was created by workers in less than an hour, while they were waiting for their lunch to be served!

The entrance of the open Kalyana Mantapa

Another architectural marvel is the open entrance Kalyana Mantapa, behind the temple. The sculptor here depicts the wedding of lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi - one of the best of its kind. However this Kalyana mantap was un-finished due to the financial crunch faced by the later empires.

The inside view of the Kalyana Mantapa

In the same vicinity we have the imprints of the Sitama padam (footstep of  Devi Sita). According to mythology, during Tretha Yuga, the height of Devi Sita was considered to be the shortest i.e.., 25 feet. Interestingly, we can see the water around the footprint all the 365 days.

The enchanting mural paintings on the ceiling of the temple is a treat to the eyes


One of the beautiful mural paintings is that of the Lord Krishna , which is unique because irrespective of the direction in which you view this painting you can still see that the painting smiles at you.

Moving around inside the temple, you can spot one of the most remarkable architecture of the ancient days. It is known as the “Hanging Pillar” and true to its name this pillar does not touch the ground. History believes that the Britishers were curious to know the scret of the construction and tried to move the pillar, which resulted in all the surrounding 600 pillars being disturbed. This is considered to be the main pillar of the temple.

The picture above clearly captures the space between the pillar and the ground

“Hanging Pillar”

                                                               Sculpture of Lord Ganesha

          

The Mural paintings of Lepakshi with their natural pigments, have actually spun off a new style of textiles called Lepakshi Motif. The designs depicted in the murals are the famous block printed textiles and rugs which we can find today.

A beautiful carving of a cow

   

                   The carving of the Dance Guru of the Gods. Observe the 3 legs which he has, resulting in him dancing all the time.

               

Imprint of the plate that was being used in the 16^th century

Place where Chandika Homa is performed in the temple

Vishala Sabha

Travelling a little beyond of 500 mts from the temple you can see the huge monolithic statue of Nandi, which is considered to be one of the biggest in india. This is unique to the fact that the Nandi is placed exactly opposite to the Nagalinga, in the Lepakshi temple. An amazing architectural design

Monolithic Nandi : 15ft tall and 27ft length

On the way back, we chanced on this scenic spot near Doddaballapura, which is not been exposed to many of the travelers. All credit to my friend who managed to discover this place.

With the dusk and the setting of the sun, birds retreating back to their nests, we rode back to Bangalore, cherishing one of the best drives that I have ever had. :)





Resounding Silence at Turahalli



Place Name: Turahalli

Distance from Bangalore: approx 10 KM from Banashankari Temple

Route: Banashankari, Kanakapura Road (4 wheeler / 2 wheeler)

Duration: Half day Trip

Road Condition: Good

Best time to visit: October to Feb

My work was getting hectic everyday due to the ongoing project, impeding my travel. The thought of visiting this place- Turahalli, had occurred to me since it was suggested by my friend.  Turahalli was in the vicinity of his house. Never happened to know that the only forest cover in the Urban Bangalore is Turahalli.

I started from home at 7:30 am with the sun rushing his way to work, enjoying the chill breeze hitting my face. The drive was a pleasant one and I reached my friend’s home at 8 am. Finishing our breakfast, we set out to explore this silent forest, which is quite unknown to most, owing to the commercial areas around. Shobha Forest View is one of the upcoming project there. The forest covers an area of about 600 acres. While we have Turahalli on one end, we have the Banashankari 9th stage at the other end. We paved our way into the forest through the muddy roads with the sound of vehicles being heard around. As we walked further down for about 500 m, we could see the light filtering through the top branches of the trees and the earthy smell. Though it is not a dense forest, the flora was moderate. The green meadow hidden in the folds of the forest housed many birds. As we trekked on, climbed rocks, we could catch a glimpse of the ariel view of the surrounding places. The refreshing breeze was energizing to continue with our trek. We chanced upon an ancient temple.  This place is a popular destination not just for movie/serial shooting but also to the adventure freaks who love rock climbing and rappelling. We could also spot a few cycling enthusiasts. As we walked through, the crackling branches touching above had many hidden wonders of the bountiful nature. Traversing through the area, we reached the peak, which had a temple and a banyan tree nearby. As we rested below, the shade of the tree offered soothing peace and tranquility of nature.

As we trod our way back home, marveled at the beauty of the nature, one thought lingered in our minds – we will miss this abode, due to urbanization which is fast catching up!

 



MAP


Entrance

Curvy road connecting to the Forest

Muddy road inside the forest

Temple on one of the peak

Aerial View of bangalore

Road leading to Peak

Trip to Amazing Manali (ಮನೋಹರ ಮನಾಲಿ)

Place Name: Manali (Himachal Pradesh ) ಮನಾಲಿ

Duration of Visit: 3 Days

Best time to visit: May - July (visited in MAY 2014 )

Directions: Bengaluru -> Delhi -> Manali

Nearby places to visit : Kullu, Chandigarh, Sikkim

ಅದು ಫೆಬ್ರುವರೀ ಚಳ್ಳಿಯೂ ಮಾಯವಾಗಿ ಸೂರ್ಯ ತನ್ನ ಪಥ ಬದಲಿಸುವ ಸಮಯ, ಹಾಗೂ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ ವಸಂತ ಆಗಮಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾಯುವ ಸಮಯ,ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ನಾನು ಕೂಡ ನನ್ನ ಬಹುದಿನದ ಹಿಮಾಲಯ ಪರ್ವತಾರೋಹಣದ ಕನಸಿಗೆ ದಾರಿ ಸಿಕಿತು ಅದುವೇ YHAIಯ ಸಾರ್ಪಸ್ ಪರ್ವತಾರೋಹಣ.ದಿನಗಳು ಉರಿಳಿದವು ನಾನು ಕೂಡ ಪರ್ವತಾರೋಹಣಕ್ಕೆ ನನ್ನ ತಯಾರಿ ನೆಡಿಸಿದೆ,ಸಂಸರಸ್ಥನಾದ ನಾನು ಹಿಮಾಲಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹೂಗುತೇನೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ನಗುವುದು  ಅಥವಾ ಇವನಿಗೆ ಸನ್ಯಾಸದ ಬಯಕೇ ನಾ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದರು,..ಎದುರು ನೋಡಿತಿದಾ ಆ ಮೇ 13 ಬಂದೇಬಿಟ್ಟಿತು ಒಂದೆಡೆ ಮನಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ತುಂಬಾ ಉತ್ತರ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರವಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ತೆರಳಿದೆ , ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರವಾಸದ ಮೊದಲ ನಿಲುವು ದೆಹಲಿ,ದೆಹಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಳಿದ ಕೂಡಲೇ ನನಗೆ ಆದ ಮೊದಲ ಆಘಾತ ಎಂದರೆ  ವಿಮಾನದ ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆ ಕೇಳಿ ಆ ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೆಹಲಿ ತಾಪಮಾನ 23 ಡಿಗ್ರೀ ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದು,ಆದರೆ ಮಧ್ಯಾನದ ವೇಳೆಗೆ ದೆಹಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಮೊದಲಿನ ತಾಪಮಾನವನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸಿಯೇಬಿಟ್ಟಿತು , ಕಳೆದ 5 ವರ್ಷ ದಲ್ಲಿ ದೆಹಲಿ ತುಂಬಾ ಬದಲಾಗಿದೆ,ಈ ಬಾರಿ "ರೆಡ್-ಫೋರ್ಟ್ಗ್ ಕಾ ಸಫರ್ ಗೈಡ್ ಕೆ ಸಾಥ" ಎಂ ದು ನಾನು ಗೈಡ್ ತಗೊಂಡು ರೆಡ್-ಫೋರ್ಟ್ಗ್ ಹಿಂದಿನ ಇತಿಹಾಸವನ್ನು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ವಾಗಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಂಕಿಶ್ಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ತೇರಿದಿಟ್ಟ ,ಭಾರತದ ಇತಿಹಾಸ ಎಷ್ಟು ಕೇಳಿದರು ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೇಳುವ ಬಯಕೆ ಹಾಗೆ ಉಳಿದುಬಿಡುತೆ ,ಹಾಗೆಯೇ 3-4 ಗಂಟೆ ನನ್ನ ಕ್ಯಾಮರಾಕ್ಕೆ ತುಂಬಾನೇ ಕೆಲಸ ಕೊಟೆ,ಸಂಜೆ ದೆಹಲಿ ಇಂದ ಮನಾಲಿಗೆ ಬಸ್ ಪಯಣ,ಪಯಣವು ಒಂದು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ರಾತ್ರಿ 13 - 14 ಗಂಟೆಯ ಪಯಣ,ನಾನು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದಣಿದಿದೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಬೇಗಾನೆ ನಿದ್ರೆಗೆ ಜಾರಿದೆ, ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಜಾವ ಬಸ್ ಒಂದೆಡೆ ಟೀ ಗೆ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿತು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಪರಿಚಯ ಆಯಿತು("ಕನ್ನಡವೇನೆ ಕುಣಿದಾಡುವುದು ಎನೆದೇ ಕನ್ನಡ ಏನೇ ಕಿವಿ ನಿಮಿರುವುದು ") .,ಬಸ್ ಕುಲು ಮಾರ್ಗವಾಗಿ ಮನಾಲಿ ಬೆಳ್ಳಿಗೆ 10:30ರ ವೇಳೆಗೆ ತಲುಪಿದೆ ,ದಾರಿಯುದಕು ಬಿಯಾಸ್ ನದಿಯ ಜೋತೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಹಿಮಾಲಯವು ಹಿಮದ ದರ್ಶನ ನೋಡಲ್ಲೂ ಮನತುಂಬುವುದು .ನಾನು YHAI Hostel ನಲ್ಲಿ ಉಳಿದುಕೊಂಡೆ,ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಾಪಕರಿಗೆ ಒಳೆಯ ಕೊಣೆಯಾ ಮನವಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆ , ನನ್ನ ಮನವಿ ಗೆ ಸಮಾತಿಸಿ ಅವರು ಹಿಮಾಲಯ ಮತ್ತು ಮನಾಲಿ ನಗರ ಕಾಣುವ .ಕೊಣೆಯಾನ್ನು ನನಗೆ ನಗು ಮುಕದಿ ಕೊಟ್ರೂ,ನನ್ನ ಕೊಠಡಿ ಇಂದ ಹೊರಗಡೆ ನೂಟ ಮನ ತುಂಬಿತು ಒಂದು ಬದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಮ ತುಂಬಿದ ಹಿಮಾಲಯ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಬದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನದಿಯ ಜರಿ ಸುಂದರ ಪರಿಸರ ಅದ್ಭುತ. ನನಗೆ ಆತ್ಮೀಯ ಸ್ವಾಗತ ಮಾಡಿದ ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ನಾನು ಎಂದು ಆಬಾರಿ , ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಾಪಕರಿ ಇಂದ ಸುತಲು ಇರುವ ಜಾಗಗಳ ಬಾಗೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಪಡೆದು ನನ್ನ ಪಯಣ ಶುರು ಮಾಡಿದೆ ,ಮೊದಲು ನಾನು ಹೋದ ಜಾಗ "ಹಿಡಿಂಬ ಮಂದಿರ " ಈ ದೇವಸ್ತನವು ಸುಮಾರು ವರ್ಷಹಳೆಯ ದೇವಸ್ತಾನ ಇದು ಭೀಮನ ಹೆಂಡತಿ ಹಿಡಂಬಿ ತಪಾಸು ಮಾಡಿದ ಜಾಗ ಅದ್ದಕೆ ಇದು ಹಿಡಂಬ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಸರವು ತುಂಬಾನೇ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಕೊಂಚ ದೂರ ಸಾಗಿದರೆ ನಿಮ್ಮಗೆ ಸಿಗುವುದು ಮನು ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ ,ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಆಟೋ ಮೂಲಕ ನೀವು ವಶಿಷ್ಟ ಮುನಿಗಳ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಬಹುದು , ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಮ್ಮಗೆ ಸ್ವೆಟರ್ ,ಶಾಲು ಮಾಡುವ ಮಾಗ್ಗ ಕೂಡ ಸಿಗುವುದು , ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ನೀವು ಮಾಲ್ ರಸ್ತೆಗೆ ಆಟೋ ದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದಿಳಿದು ಕೊಂಚ ದೂರ ನೆಡದರೆ ನಿಮ್ಮಗೆ ಸಿಗುವುದು ಬುದ್ದರ "ಗೊಂಪ" ಇದು ಕೂಡ ಒಂದು ಸುಂದರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ ಅದು ಆದಮೇಲೆ ಮಲ್ ರಸ್ತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಿರುಗುವುದೇ ತುಂಬಾ ಹಿತವಾಗಿರುತ್ತೆ ತೀನಲ್ಲೂ, ಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ತುಂಬಾ ನೇ  ವಸ್ತಗಳು ಇರುವುದು , ಎಲ್ಲೂ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಸ್ವೆಟರ್ ಶಾಲು ಮನಸೆಳೆಯುವುದು ,ಮಲ್ ರಸ್ತೆಯ ವೀಕ್ಷಣೆ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ನಾನು ಸೀದಾ ನೆಡೆದಿದು ಮಯೂರ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ಗೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿರಿಯಾನಿ ತುಂಬಾ ನೇ ಚಂದಾ,ಮಾನಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀವು ಮಾಂಸಾಹಾರಿ ಗಳಾಗೀದಾರೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಫ್ರೆಶ್ ವಾಟರ್ ಫಿಶ್  ತಿನ್ನಲು ಮರೆಯಬೇಡಿ. ಮನಾಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗಿನ ಸೂರ್ಯೋದಯವನ್ನು ತಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಡಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ತುಂಬಾನೇ ಬೇಗ ಸೂರ್ಯ ನಿಮ್ಮಗೆ ಗುಡ್ ಮಾರ್ನಿಂಗ್ ಹೇಳಿ  ತುಂಬಾ ತಡವಾಗಿ ಗುಡ್ ನೈಟ್ ಹೇಳುವನ್ನು , ನನ್ನ ಮುಂದಿನ ದಾರಿಗೆ ಹೊಗುವ ಸಮಯವಾಯಿತು ಅಲ್ಲಿಯ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸಿಬಂದಿ ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೂ ವಂದನೆ ಹೇಳುತಾ ಮತ್ತೆ ಬರುವುದಾಗಿ ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡು ಮನಾಲಿಯನ್ನು ತುಂಬು ಮನದಿ  ಬೀಳ್ಕೊಟ್ಟೆ

ಛಾಯಾಗ್ರಹಣದ ಕೆಲವು ಚಿತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಲು ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಅಂತ್ರ್. ಜಾಲವನ್ನೂ ಅನುಸರಿಸಿ

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This post about one of the most coveted places that have been in my wish list since long. A trek that surpassed all inhibitions of conquering my inner mind – The YHAI SARPASS TREK. As the D-Day arrived, I took a flight to Delhi, with the intent of visiting one of the most beautiful places – Manali, enroute to my destination. As I arrived at Delhi, I was overwhelmed at the temperature outside which was 23 degree Celsius. Delhi seemed impeccable such low temperature. Just as I had begun to enjoy the wonderful weather, the temperature rose up to 30 degree Celsius in the afternoon. Delhi had indeed become a cosmopolitan city, growing faster with every passing day. As planned earlier, I visited the Red Fort, this time with the help of a guide who gave me much information about the historical grandeur of the fort. I loved the Akbar courtyard, known for its beautiful artwork. The artisans, who were both the islamic architects as well as from the other countries, were definitely highly skilled and very creative. I was amazed at the technological progress during those times. I did capture few wonderful photographs and continued with my journey to the ISBT Kashmir Gate, to board my bus to Manali. I used the transport facility provided by the Himachal Pradesh transport – Himatsuta, and it took me approx 14 hours of journey to Manali. The journey is enthralling with the narrow roads and is definitely not for the weak hearted. At 10 am I reached Manali and took an auto to the YHAI hostel. I was lucky to find a room overlooking a snow capped mountain. The place was picturesque with beautiful surroundings coupled with chilled weather. It was indeed honeymooners paradise. The hostel staff were very courteous in guiding me with the places that I could explore. I visited the ancient Hidimba temple, dedicated to Hidambi, who was the wife of Bhima and mother of Ghatotgaja.  I had the opportunity to click few wonderful photographs there. I was surprised to see the adaptation of the animals there – a Lamb and a rabbit with a thick fur on them. I also visited the Temple dedicated to Manu (remember the Manu scriptures written by him) and the temple dedicated to the renowned saint Vasishta. As I wandered around, I came across a monastery – Gompa. I visited the Mall road and had some chaats & Aloo fry at the Delhi Chaat. The place is hygienic and maintained well. The Mall road is known for the best shopping places – Buttico (where you can find a good collection of shawls). One can also feast on a variety of Momos and potato fry. My short yet pleasant stay in Manali was rejuvenating and much cherished. Few places that I was unable to visits was the Solang valley and the Rothang Pass. Those with interest in paragliding, river rafting can enjoy their stay here as well. Manali has much to offer and fills your heart with contentment. I did visit Manali enroute after my return from the Sarpass Trek. The mighty Himalayas is definitely a treasure trove with a mysterious beauty in it. Thus it was a curtain down to an amazing trip to Manali - a must visit place for all and their family.

Word of Caution: As the roads during the drive to Manali are narrow and steep, those with travelling sickness have to be well prepared for the journey.

Follow the pics of manali from the below link 

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Thonnur Lake in Mandya (one day trip around Bengaluru)

Place Name: Thonnur kere (ತೊಣ್ಣೂರು ಕೆರೆ - ಮಂಡ್ಯ)

Distance from Bangalore: approx. 160 km from Majestic

Route: Mysore Road, Channapatna, Mandya, 10 km after the city take deviation towards the right leading to Pandavapura 

Duration: 1 Day

Road Condition: Good

Best time to visit: Anytime except during the rainy season 
Places nearby: KuntiBetta, Channpatana

Visited this place in April

ಅದು ಚುನಾವಣೆಯ ಸಮಯ ಎಲ್ಲಾಕಡೆಯೂ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯ ಕಾವು, ಚುನಾವಣೆಯ ದಿನ  ನ್ನನ ಮತ ಚಲಾವಣೇ
ಮಾಡಿದ ನಂತರ ನ್ನನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ ದೂರವಾಣಿ ಕರೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಲೊಂಗ್‌ಡ್ರೈವೆಗೆ ಆಹ್ವಾನ ನೀಡಿದ ಸ್ಥಳ:"ತೊಣ್ಣೂರು ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಡ್ಯ" ನ್ನನ ಬೈಕ್ಗ್ ಈದು ಒಂದು ಸುವರ್ಣಾ ಆವಕಾಶ ಲೊಂಗ್‌ಡ್ರೈವೆಗೆ ,ಸುಡುವ ಬಿಸಿಲನ್ನೂ ಲೆಕ್ಕಿಸದೆ ಆಹ್ವಾನ ಸಮ್ಮತಿಸಿದೆ. ಉದಯದಲಿ ಸೂರ್ಯ ಮೂಡುವ ಮುನ್ನ ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ಪಯಣ ಪ್ರಾರಂಬಿಸಿದೆವು,ನಮ್ಮ ಪಯಣಕ್ಕೆ ಜೊತೆಯಾದವು ಮೂರು ರಾಯಲ್ ಎನ್ಫಿಲ್ದ್ ಬೈಕುಗಳು .ಬೆಳ್ಳಗಿನ ಉಪಾಹಾರವನ್ನು ಕಾಮತ್ ಉಪಚಾರ ಮೈಸೂರು ರಸ್ತೆ ,ಮಂಡ್ಯ ಇಂದ ಸುಮಾರು 10KM ಕ್ರಮಿಸಿದ ಬಳಿಕ ಬಲಗಡೆ ತಿರುಗಿ ಅಲಿಂದ 5-6KM ಸವಿಸಿದ್ರೆ ಸಿಗುವುದೆ ಪಾಂಡವಪುರ , ಸ್ಥಳ ಪುರಾಣದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಇಲ್ಲೆ ಪಾಂಡವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಆಗ್ನಥ ಸಮಯದಲಿ ಕೆಲವು ಕಾಲ ಇರುವುದಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಬರುತೆ,ಅದರಿಂದಲೆ  ಪಾಂಡವಪುರ ಎಂದು ಹೆಸರು,ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದೂರ ಕ್ರಮಿಸಿದರೆ ಬೆಟ್ಟದ ರಸ್ತೆ ನಿಮ್ಮಗೆ ತೊಣ್ಣೂರು ಕೆರೆಗೆ ಕರೆದೊಯುವುದು,ಎಂತ ಮನೊಹರ ಕೆರೆ ಅದು.ಶಾಂತಿ ಹಾಗು ನಿರ್ಮಲತೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ರಾರಾಜಿಸುತೆ.,ಕೆರೆಯ ಸುತಲು ಬೆಟ್ಟದ ಕಾವಲು, ಕೆರೆಯ ನೀರು ತುಂಬ ತಿಳಿಯಾಗಿದೆ, ನಾವು ಕೆರೆಯ ಸುತ್ತಲು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಮಯ ಕಳೆದು,ಬೆಟ್ಟಗಳನ್ನು ಸುತ್ತಿ ಪರಿಸರದ ರಮ್ಯಾ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳನು ನಮ್ಮ ಕ್ಯಾಮರಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆ ಹಿಡಿದೆವು.ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ನಾವು ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವ "ನಂಬಿ ನಾರಾಯಣ "ದೇವಾಲಯಕ್ಕೆ ತೆರಳಿದೆವು,5000 ವರ್ಷ ಹಳೆಯ ದೇವಾಲಯ. ದೇವಾಲಯವು ತುಂಬಾ ವಿಷಾಲವಾಗಿದ್ದು ಮೌನ ಮನೆ ಮಾಡಿದೆ,ವಿಷ್ಣು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಚಕ್ರ ಎಡಗಡೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಶಂಕ ಬಲಗಡೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದಿರುವುದು ಹಾಗು ಪುಷ್ಪ ಗಾದದಾರಿಯಾಗಿಯು ಇರುವುದು ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ .ಅದರ ಪಕ್ಕದಲೇ ಇರುವುದೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಮಂದಿರ.ಸುಂದರ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ವಿಗ್ರಹ ,ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಪೂಜೆ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ನಾವು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ದಾರಿ ಹಿಡಿದೆವು ,ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಳೆ ಇಂದ ಮನಸಿಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮುದವೇನಿಸಿತು, ಚನ್ನಪಟ್ಟಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಟಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಂಡು, ಸೂರ್ಯನು ಪಶ್ಚಿಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಲು ,ನಮ್ಮ ಪಯಣವು ಸುಂದರ ನೆನಪು ಗಳ ಜೋತೆ ತೆರೆ ಕಂಡಿತು .

Election time and a long weekend was on. I was thinking on unwinding myself at a cool place, avoiding the scorching sun. With a couple of like-minded friends, we set out in the dawn, for a long drive to a place near Mandya called “Thonnur Lake”. We had delicious breakfast enroute at Hotel Kamat (Good place to have breakfast), and drove non-stop till we reached Mandya. On reaching Mandya, after traversing 10 km, we took a deviation towards the right towards Pandavapura. Upon reaching Pandavapura, we sought the guidance of the localites to explore the place. We reached the place that we intended to visit – Thonnur Lake. We were captivated by the serenity of the place and the resounding silence interrupted by the chirping of the birds and the calming sound of water lapping on the lake shore. The history of the place dates back to the time of the Pandavas and hence the place is known as Pandavapura. Pandavas are believed to have visited this place during their exile and the lake is known as "Yadvasamudra". The lake is surrounded by hill lock called Yadavagiri. It is believed that this lake has never dried and its vastness is close to 2000 acres. We decided to catch a glimpse of the temples nearby. These temples are 5000 years old, build in Hoysala style, One of the temple - "Nambi Narayana" has the presideing deity as Maha Vishnu and has shanka in right hand and a chakra in left hand. The deity is also known as Puspa gadadari (which means holding lotus and gadha). The temple is magnificent and spacious. There is a Krishna temple in the opposite direction, which is also worth visiting. We started our journey back home to our very own – Bengaluru.  Enroute, we had the opportunity to visit the "Allae Mane" – a place where jaggery is made. We did a little shopping for ethnic toys from the very famous place "Channapatna". Channapatna is indeed one of the best place to buy toys amazing designs with innovative toys. With the setting sun, we drove back home with the sweet reminisces of the wonderful drive. 

Follow the link below for pics 
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1470850503126948.1073741839.1393567807521885&type=1&l=a65591e4b2

Good Morning at 4,850 feet.(Nandi Hills)

Place Name: Nandi Hills

Distance from Bangalore: approx 70 KM from Majestic

Route: NH 4, Hebbala, drive through the International Airport, take a deviation towards left after Devanahalli

Duration: 4-5 hours (traffic can be expected during peak hours)

Road Condition: Good

Best time to visit: Dec - Feb

As December went by and January arrived, Bangalore just got freezing, the thought of enjoying a long drive lingered in my mind, especially to a place where I could capture the beauty of nature in my camera. The winter clouds coupled with the bright sunshine is an enchanting creation by itself and marks the splendor of nature. It was tough to get myself out of the clutches of sleep and head for the drive, until one day my brother was my savior in gearing me up for the drive.

I started from home at 5 am in the morning, with the excitement of visiting the Nandi Hills accompanied by my bro. The weather was less misty as I started, making me wonder, if I would get to capture the cloud. But as always the charm of nature as the mist slowly crept in. It was indeed a pleasure to drive through the National Highway across the International airport. I maintained a speed of 60 km due to the chillness but yet reached my destination at 6 am.

I enjoyed the drive of 8KM from foot of the hill to the peak. The road had a total of 38 curves and one can view the clouds beneath at the 28 curve. It takes an approx. of 15 mins to drive to the peak of the hill. One would be surprised to see the crowd of nature lovers, atop the hill by 6:30 am. There is a good parking facility for vehicles. One needs to buy a ticket to get to the hills. The view point is admirable there. As you enter the Nandi hills, you can notice the Summer lodge built by the great king Tippu Sultan. A small lake which is called the “Sarovar” is nearby. One can trek for 10-15 mins through a road which reaches atop the hill. Many Tree house facilities are available enroute. There are some temples as well. As you reach the top of the hill, you can view the “Tippu Drop”. It is extremely dangerous to tread there as it is very steep and deep. It is said that Tippu used this place to execute his hostiles. I captured the scenic beauty of nature. As the dawn set in, with the vibrant rays of the sun shining over the earth, it was time for us to return to our home.

Nearby places to visit is Bhoga nandishwara temple, Muddenahalli (birth town of Sir M Vishveshwaraya), Gati Subramanya

Photos :
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1444807325731266.1073741838.1393567807521885&type=1&l=ba6376b879