Pilgrimage around Western Ghats

Pilgrimage doesn’t sound all that good for a twenty-something old, but Western Ghats sure does. After the Cauvery Fishing Camp trip, i was tired but i knew i had 4-5th Oct trip coming. Saturday morning sleep was sacrificed and we left to Chikmagalur by 9am.

Route:

Bangalore -> Nelamangala -> Kunigal -> C.R.Patna -> Hassan -> Belur -> Chikmagalur

Chennakeshava temple at Belur - front view

We stopped at Belur Chennakesava temple with Hoysala architecture by 2:30pm. I had not seen this place earlier. The stone carvings at Hoysala temples are exquisitely beautiful with the minutest of details distinctly standing out. The carvings around the temple are uncanny. Belur and Halebedu (about 16km from Belur) are two of the most famous Hoysala temples from 12th – 13th century which showcases the genius craftsmanship from a lost era. Every pillar inside the shrine is crafted ingeniously. It’s hard to give a visible shape on wood (exp.: workshop in Engg.), and these sculptures are carved out of stone! It left me spellbound. This master craftsmanship cannot be described in words, so here are few images i captured.

No doubt this place is thronged by so many foreigners, and along with Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu is being proposed as UNESCO world heritage sites.

I clicked few snaps, and b-o-o-o-m, the battery on my 450D died down. To make things worse, i didn’t carry the charger. Now i know why they say, There is a thin line between confidence and over-confidence. :( Didn’t mom ask me to charge the battery last night? Wasn’t i overconfident that it would last this trip, as it indicated 2/3 full? 1/3rd gone after few shots outside the temple, and rest gone as i finished last few shots inside the shrine. Gawwww.

I had captured few good snaps at Belur, an unplanned stop. But was disappointed as i wanted to capture few landscapes around Chikmagalur. Never mind, experience does cost a thing. Chikmagalur was the next stop, to soak up at cousin’s hospitality. :)) Hiremagalur has a temple of Lord Rama, didn’t miss out that either, later that evening.

Sunday morning, by 7am, we headed towards Sringeri which is famous for Sharada temple. Shringeri is about 90km from Chikmagalur.

Route: Chikmagalur -> Aldur -> Balehonnur -> Sringeri.

The drive through Western ghats was nice, in the chilling weather with coffee estates around. Reached Sringeri by 9:30am. Since we expected it to be crowded during navratri, we had made arrangements with ‘contacts’ and it was a easy affair. Someone there suggested we should visit Annapoorneshwari temple at Horanadu, only 66km from Sringeri.

We left for Horanadu by 12:30pm, and i think we missed a turn. It took us through Kudremukh national park. There was a check post, where one needs to collect a slip for passing through the national park. 2 hours is the time limit for experiencing the blissful tall mountains and valleys in the wilderness. The drive through this place was amazing. It was drizzling and this added to the beauty of that place. The temple at Horanadu is situated amidst the forest area, enclosed by those mighty mountains. We traveled nearly 85 to 90km in about 3hours, with some stops in between to appreciate the beauty of western ghats, to reach Horanadu. It was already 3:30pm, and lunch at the temple was over.

Got few glimpses of the goddess in the crowd. Bought few snacks, and started towards Bangalore by 4:30pm without a proper lunch. The route from Horanadu to Bangalore:

Route:

Horanadu -> Kalasa -> Kottigehaara -> Mudigere -> Belur -> Hassan -> Bangalore

The drive from Horanadu to some extent beyond Kottigehara was mesmerizing. Evening sun on those picturesque cloud covered mountains with huge coffee and tea estates enhanced the beauty. Sun light in the evening is magical, and can not be described in words. Few stops along that treacherous stretch of ghat roads for passing streams with pristine water got us delayed, and reached Hassan by 8pm for dinner. Dinner there was forgettable, and wished we should have stopped at Kamat’s, further half an hour from Hassan. But we were hungry. Latté at a CCD was the respite, and reached Bangalore by 12:30am. Thus ending a tiring trip covering 800kms in two days without many captures of those beautiful landscapes.

I will go there again sometime to click pictures. :)

P.S.: Sorry, i’ve missed out on visiting many of the blogs that i follow regularly. Hope to read them asap.