Rainy Trial - Sringeri and Horanadu

From last six month I was planning to travel on Sringeri, Horanadu, I assumed that this rainy season is best for this trip because one can enjoy his maximum on rainy weather, evergreen shoal forests, green vegetations, road blocks and much more. My brother’s ‘In-laws are located at Kalasa and my sister in law told that they have a lots of Appe Midi plants in their estate (One sort of famous Mango which useful for tender Mango pickle), I am searching for this plant So, planned my rainy trial on 10^th of July 2012… 

Bridge Near Moodabidri

Raviraj

My planning is start the trip by 5:00 AM, at 4:45 AM I got call from my friend Ravi saying that he will be half an hour late and reach by 5:30, and sharp time he reached my home. Around 5:45 both of are started our Malenad trail….

Road Block near Sringeri

Our plan was to take a break for breakfast at Moodabidri, according to our plan we have to reach there by 7:30 but we reached over there by 7:45 AM. After taking Hot Idli and wada at Hotep Padival, continued our trip by 8:00 AM. Total distance between Perla to Moodabidri is 87KMs.  There are so many things to see in and around Moodabidri but we covered this route earlier on our Siganduru Trip, so directly headed towards the Shringeri via Karkala. Distance between Moodabidri to Karkala is 18Km well paved NH169 allows breeze ride.

Villager and Cows

From Krakal junction on has to take SH37 to reach Bajagoli, from here onward take diversion into NH169 which goes between dense forest of Kudremukh wild life sanctuaries. Rain was raining intermittently, after crossing few kilometers reached Forest Department check post, to cross this one has to enter the vehicle details and get permit slips from them, from there onwards Kudremukha wildlife sanctuary starts, at next check post this slip has to be handover.

A kind of rain coat 

Road condition was good, winding ghat section gives immense pleasure to ride, cool breeze pumps up our adrenaline. On the way took few snaps it was around 9:30 but nothing is visible due to fog.

Bridge near Sringeri

Cranes at Paddy field

While cruising over this route saw a sign board “Sirimane water Falls”, actually it was not in our original plan because we are unaware of this Waterfall, at Forest check post near Sringeri handed over the slip and asked the guard to direction towards Falls, he told after crossing the bridge a rice mill will come from there a small road will adjoin, that takes to Sirimane Water Falls. At that place we saw a direction board to Sirimane Water Falls distance is 13KM, we changed our plan headed towards the Waterfalls. Road condition was not bad narrow winding road goes till Falls, on the way lost our camera spare battery.

Sirimane water falls

To visit this Water fall one has to take tickets from the counter built by tourism department, some of the small shops are also there, selling Jackfruit, snack etc after walking 5minutes falls appears, it was well maintained tourist place, all facilities are available to the tourists. The flow of the water was low due to incomplete monsoon but still looks beautiful.

Sign board at Siriname falls

Sri Sringeri Sharadamba temple

According to our plan we have to reach Sringeri by 10:30 but actually reached by 11.25. Sringeri is famous Hindu pilgrim centre located at Chikmagalur, Matha was established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. According to legend, Adi Shankaracharya is said to have selected the site as the place to stay and teach his disciples, because when he was walking by the Tunga River, he saw a cobra with a raised hood, providing shelter from the hot sun, to a frog about to spawn. Impressed with the place where natural enemies had gone beyond their instincts, he stayed here for twelve years. Sharadamba temple is famous and lots of devotees visit here daily.

A Girl posing with cow at temple yard

Total distance between Krakala and Sringeri is 58kms. After visiting temple left the place at 11:50 and headed towards Horanadu. While asking the direction at Sringeri town, one person discouraged by saying that don’t use Jayapura route, road condition was poor instead of this use Kudremukha route, but according to our plan we have to use the first route because we don’t want to use the same route again and again..

Tunga River

Devotees bathing in Tunga

En-route to Horanadu

So we took the route what we are planned and... Yes we are very lucky to bind with our decision. The road condition was bad for few kilometer of stretch but not worst. After traveling few kilometers reached near Village called ‘Kogre-Shanthi grama’ here we asked direction with a motorcyclist he guided us properly and suggested us take encounter famous Menasinahadya route…

Wild flower

Sceanary near Menasinahadya

If he was not told about this route we really miss a lot... No sign board was provided at that junction and almost all tourists are using the Balehonnuru route and which was 20km longer then what we choose... Thanks a lot to the motorcyclist who guided us, because in this Menasinahadya route landscape was marvelous, narrow winding route goes between huge mountains, green vegetation surrounding,,, really no words to explain.

Wild berries

Water stream on the way

Beetle nut plantation 

En-route to Menasinahadya

Encounter specialist

At 2:10 PM reached Horanadu Annapoorneshwari temple every visitor to the Annapoorna temple at Horanadu, irrespective of their religion, language, caste, or creed, is provided with a three-course vegetarian meal. Male visitors to the temple have to remove their shirts and banians and preferably cover their shoulders with a towel or a shawl, as a symbol of respect and humility in front of god.

Horanadu Sri Annapoorneshwari Temple

The main deity of Annapoorna is made of gold. It is believed that a person who seeks the goddess' blessings would never have any scarcity for food in life. It is believed that Lord Shiva once had a curse and that this curse was reversed when the lord visited Goddess Annapoorna and sought her blessings.

Hanuman Temple Horanadu

Ashish - My brother's son

Tea estate near Kudremukha

En-route to Kudremukha

Shola forest range