Trek to Kodachadri (Dec 2012)

When: Date: 1^st (Sat) and 2^nd (Sun)Dec 2012

Day finally came for long awaited trip to Kodachadri . We left Bangalore around 9pm in bus and reached Pathalagere around 6:30am. After a quick wash and breakfast at our home stay, everyone was excited to explore and enjoy the Kodachadri  trek route.  We   started the trek around 9am with local guide. It was green and hilly all around-, nature lover’s delight. Plenty of leeches on route make you to stop and check to see if any of them are sticking to you. Keeping little salt would help to take leeches away if stuck. After Trekking around 6km we found Hindlumane falls, which had nice refreshing water. We continued our trek – mostly uphill from here and reached top of a mountain, then walked on plain land  for some time and went  down the hill and until Lunch. The jeep which had come on motor-able road was waiting for us with food. After a tasty lunch we continued our trek towards the temple and then towards Kodachadri summit. Finally landed on Kodachadri top at around 5pm after enjoying the journey. The view was simply superb and it just froze in our mind. We started walking down and back to the place where we had our lunch which is also a sunset point. After watching sunset we continued our journey back but in a motor-able road. It was completely dark now hence our torches were on. We couldn't see anything around except insects noise and roaring jeeps passing once a while. We reached home stay after completing the night trek around 7pm. After fun campfire and playing dumb charades it was time to sleep. We had an option to sleep in Tent or cottage. Next day morning - enjoyed the Tea/coffee in misty green surroundings and we were ready to head back to Bangalore. On the way to Bangalore we stopped at Nagar Fort(Historical) and then for lunch at Shimoga. Reached Bangalore around 9pm. This was a very good trek and for me it was a must visit spot.     

Bike to Work: First time

Had been wanting to bike to work since a long time and finally it happened today.  Started off early in the day(7.30am) to beat the traffic and heat. It is around 18 km from home to office, distance is not a big challenge though. It took me 1 hr 10 min to cover 18 km, surprisingly the same time I need in my two wheeler. Since I started earlier in the day, the weather was good and not too hot. But I had to be very cautious about the traffic as many vehicles tend to  push you towards the curb. At the same time many showed a great deal of respect to a cyclist and gave way.  Wearing a helmet and riding glass was definitely helpful to protect my head and eyes from dust. On the way back it was dark, so blinker and reflectors were helpful.  All that cycling gear earned me curious and appreciative looks from passers by!! But it was fun. Finally checked  out another item from my "to do list" with satisfaction. Would like to keep this going and continue to bike to work at least once a month. Hope more people will join the cycling momentum !!

Trip to Kolar on 12-Nov-2012

We left Bangalore by car at 9.30 a.m in the morning and reached Kolar at 11 am. Our first stop was Anthargange. We had to climb a few steps and there is a temple on top of a small hillock. The speciality of this place is that ground water keeps pouring out of the hillock through the mouth of a bull idol (Nandi) all through the year.  There were a lot of monkeys in that area. There are lot of rocks, boulders and thick vegetation on this hill and it is a good place for trekking, but of course with local help.

            Next we went to  Kotilingeswara temple where they say there are 1 crore lingas over there. There is a huge lingas in a courtyard surrounded by many mini lingas spread over 15 acres.

            We went to visit Kolar Gold Fields but unfortunately it is closed down now and not open to public. But on the way we passed through BEML Nagar.

            Our next destination was Bangaru Tirupathi, about 10 Kms from Kotilingeshwara. Here the temple premises is very big and the main diety Venkatesha is on top of a huge boulder and has to be seen through 6 peep holes. The place was very quiet and peaceful as there were not many people.

            We then started to Avani which is also about 10 kms from Bangaru Tirupathi. The drive through the villages and field was very beautiful. Avani has many lingas  in a huge temple premises and is very well maintained by the Archaeological Society of India. The temple is similar to that of Belur and Halebidu with a lot of carvings, inscriptions on stones. The lingas are said to be installed by the 4 brothers of Ramayana namely, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughna. Right  next to the temple is a Shankaracharya Math with a temple of godess Sharada. In the backdrop is a huge hill with big rocks with big lingas on them. It is said that Sita stayed here with Luva and Kusha alongwith Sage Valmiki. There are steps leading on top of the hill and it is a very beautiful view from the top. This was my best experience.

            Then around 7 pm we started our journey back to Bangalore, had dinner at Woody's on NH-4 and headed home.