Exploring Veerappan's Territory

This is my dream rote because almost from last one year I had started to plan to explore this territory, when ever I heard the name of Kollegala, M M Hills, Dhimbam, Sathyamangalam, Gopinatham,I feel that these are  the territory of Veerappan alias Koose Muniswamy Veerappan Gounder. He was solely ruled this large area around of 6000 square kilometers for many years. So I got a chance to explore the territory thanks to Sumith and Swaroop who accompanied me.

Day One 24th Jan 2013

At 2:15 PM left Kasaragod and started my longest Trip of motorcycle, Sumith and Swaroop were told they will join me at Mulleria, till there my colleague Vinod accompanied me on this Splendor. At sharp 3:30 PM Started most excited Trip of Sathyamangalam. Till Mysore there was nothing special to view, because almost all the tourist spots are covered in my earlier  Coorg and Mysore trip. Our aim was to reach Kushalnagar which was 30km far from Madikeri on Hunsur road, and before night we had to reach there, because we were planned to spend night at Sumiht's sister's house. As per planning reached Kushalnagar by 7:30 PM and took rest. 

Day Two 25th Jan 2013

Wake up sharp at 4:45 AM and get ready for the trip, after taking breakfast (Delicisous Neeru Dose) started our journey at 6:00. Before the morning traffic goes works we have to cross the Mysore city, traffic was thin on Mysore - Madikeri road, superb tarmacked road allowed us to cruise sturdily around 60KMPH. 

Sunrise on the way

At Chilkunda village stopped for a cup of Tea but the taste of tea and cold climate forced us to drink one more.

Around 9:00 reached Mysore ring road and asked direction for T Narsipura (Thirumakudalu Narsipura) which was our next destination, somebody suggested us to take city route which is much shorter then Ring road but I don't want to mess with the morning city traffic of Mysore, so decided to bound on ring road and continued on it. Whenever we reach the junction / signal lights and asked direction to T Narsipura road people directed us in different ways, some shows their hands towards right side and says take left other shows opposite directions et. At last asked with a Tyre Puncharwahla and he gave the right direction and helped us to escape from the Ring road. 

After crossing outer part of Mysore a large 'Varuna' lake found on the left side of the road. Stopped for few snaps, water sports facilities also available here.

Empty T Narsipura Road

Varuna Lake 

 View from the Mirror

Around 11:00 AM reached T Narasipura which is one the famous pilgrim centre of Karnataka, Gunja Narasimhaswamy temple and Agastheshwra temple are located in the bank of the river Kaveri. According to the Mythology Kaveri, Kabini and Spatika Sarovara (Mythical lake) confluences here, While Rishi Agasthya travel down to the South, Narasipura was a thick forest and three rivers were confluences here, so he decided to install a Shiva Linga there and asked Hanuman to get one from Kashi. but Hanuman faile to get the Linga on time, so Sage created a Linga from the sand and installed. by this Hanuman ws get insulted adn hed cut off the top portion of the Linga installed by the Agasthya. Ever since this water starts to flow from the  Lings which is believed the Holy Ganga and same is offered as Thirtha to the pilgrims. 

 Agasthyeshwara Temple

Bird on top of the Temple Kalasha

First visited Agasthyswara temple and after that crossed the bridge went to Gunja Narashimhaswamy Temple.

Bull fighting

 View from the Agasthyeshwara temple

 These boats are called as Kopparige made out of metal

 In front of the Temple

 Boat man

 Front view of Agasthyeswhar temple

Sumiith... Always dreaming about Bulls.......

Kopparige operators

 View from the bank of the river

Gunja Narasimhaswamy Temple

After spending an hour headed towards Talakadu, the land of sand.Talakadu was desert like town it's built on the bank of River Kaveri, around 30 temple are buried under the sand. Five temples are opened and rebuilt and every 12 years Government of Karnataka organising Panchalinga Darshana. 

Overloaded Bullock cart on the way to Talakadu

As soon as entered the Village a man with receipt book stopped us he was collecting the parking fee form the tourist vehicles, here we met our guide Mr. Harish, and he made arrangements to park our vehicles on shade and helped us to keep luggage in one of the shop and started showing the temples. 

 Dwarapalaka of the Temple

 Inside the temple

 Three face cow

 Chain made out of single stone

 Kalyani

 Front view of Vaidhyeshwra temple

 Bullock cart on sand

 Keerthinarayana temple

 River bed

Waiting for the customer

Tourist enjoying the coracle ride

After visiting temples and River bed took a lunch at so called Udupi Hotel near the temple premises, still I can remember the horrible taste of the pickle.

Around 2:45 PM headed towards our next spot i.e Shivanasamudra waterfalls which is just 31km from Talakadu. There are two falls, one is called Gaganachukki and anothr Bharachukki. 

 On the way to Shivanasamudra waterfalls

Tractor carrying Paddy straws 

Gaganachukki waterfall

 View from the Bharachukki falls

 Coracle on falls

 First one is located just behind the Muslim Durga, water flow was very very low, after taking few snaps went to Bharachukki falls it was crowded by tourist and water flow was also better then first one. 

Beautiful scenery near riverbed

Old Bridge 

It was already 4:30 PM we have planned to stay at Kollegala town and it's just 23Km far from the falls, so no hurry, traveled leisurely and on the return route spent half an hour near the river bed and reached Kollegala by 6:30 PM.

 En-route to Kollegala

Day Three 26th Jan 2013

After checking and warm up of our Bulls started third day trip at sharp 6:00 AM our next destination was Male Mahadeshwara Hills located in the Chamarajanagara District of Karnataka, distance from Kollegala is around 73km. till outskirt of the Kollegala roads are going under construction so very dusty and bumpy as their after quiet good, after half an hour ride took a break for a cup of tea in a small village.

 Tea break

Sunrise

Entire road goes in between villages and dense forest, traffic was very low, after crossing Cowdi halli junction reached the entrance point of M M Hills a small village called Thalbetta where some hotels and shops available almost all the tourist takes their breakfast from this village, as usual we are also took from here.

 Our Bulls

This small set up remembers me the Malayalam movie of ‘Then mavin kombathu’ small hotels which offers heavy sized Idlie’s and  Tomato baath, Chilly Bajji etc really wonderful. Really memorable one was the tasty hot tea and the served girl, when we enquired behind the  taste of the tea she replied it’s not depend on the powder but the quality of the milk, yes all three (cow, befall and sheep) milk were mixed. Hmm.. what an idea sir jee…..

On the way

Thalbetta 

Hotel where we took breakfast and of course delicious tea and beautiful........

Tourists

After the breakfast started climbing the hills, superb tarmacked road on the Ghat section breeze to ride, both the bulls rushing in the twisty’s of the hills, surrounding also covered by large trees, really great mind blowing experience.

View from the Ghat section of M M Hills

Around 10:00 AM reached M M Hills and visited temple, Mahadeshwara is the family god of hill tribal like Soliga, Jenu kuruba, Kadu kuruba’s etc.

 Temple front View

Side View

Devotees

 A man teasing the Donkey

 

TEE VEE & YES

 Large temple premises consist of well built parking area and other facilities.

 After spending an hour headed toward next destination i.e Hogenakkal. Hogenakkal located in the Dharmapuri district of Tamilnadu most of the tourists visit via Dharmapuri but it can be visited Karnataka side also via Palar, Gopinatham villages. I have chosen the second one because of tow reasons firstly it was less crowded and unexplored one second thing is I want see the Veerappan’s village i.e. Gopinatham and feel the atmosphere.

While descending the M M Hills Mettur side

From M M Hills we took Palar route, Ghat section was very very steep and narrow, vehicles entering from the Tamil Nadu comes through this road. While descending the road to control the motorcycle we have to put either second or third gear and make use of engine braking. 

 At Palar junction took diversion on Gopinatham, Hogenakkal road and traveled around 30Km. On the right side River Kaveri flows along with road,  looks marvelous.

 Palar forest area

After crossing few Km suddenly a beautiful village appears.. Yes it's Gopinatham village hidden in the dense forest.

Beautiful Gopinatham Village

 Streets of Gopinatham

Temple Built by DFO Srinivas

After passing Gopinatham reached Hogenakkal waterfalls at 1:00 PM. As soon as entered the parking area native peoples asked us about requirement of food especially meals with fish. When we reached near the river a man came and explaining  about coracle ride he charged us Rs.550/- and arranged one coracle for us. 

Coracle operators on the river bank

Our Coracle operator Mr. Muthu

 Tamil Nadu side coracle operators

 Floating Tender Coconut stall

 Fishing in the River

 Floating shop

 Falls

 Angry young man

 Modern Mowgli

It took us whole one hour to return back.Our boatman Muthu belongs to the Veerappan's Village Gopinatham, he told Veerappan's story, according to him Veerappan was not helpful to the villagers DFO Srinivasan was done many things for his Village Gopinatham.

At 2:45 returned from the coracle ride and went to Gopinatham and took a lunch on small hotel, they are using paper & plastic mixed sheet on steel plate. Good lunch just for Rs.35/-.

 Palar Bridge just after crossing the checkpost

Tamil Nadu roads

 Scenery near Mettur

Diesel Bull found on the parking lot of Mettur

Our Next destination was Mettur Dam, so we headed toward Metur via Palar check post. Superb level roads are breeze to ride around 4:30 reached Mettur Dam, photography prohibited area so no work for camera. There is nothing special to view inside the Dam park, just a small picnic spot. So we decided to leave early according to the schedule we are late so wind up our things and continued towards Sathyamangalam via Ammapettai and Anthiyur. 

At Anthiyoor town stopped had some Parota's and cup of tea and continued at around 8:30 reached, Sathyamangalam and occupied decent lodge near the Police station.

Day Four 27th Jan 2013

Wake up early morning packed our belongings Bulls are waiting us at Parking lot, after taking a cup of tea headed towards the Bannari Ghat section there are 27 steep curves on the Ghat and it's very dangerous also because in the corner of the road many wild boars are wandering like a pig. 

 Sathyamangalam Ghat section

Sunrise

Near Dhimbam

The top portion of the Ghat called Dhimbam Village as soon as entered the top suddenly cold starts to feel.Got one of pure vegetarian restaurant so stopped for breakfast after having some puri's and Dosa's continued our return journey.

En route to Gundlupet

At Gundlupet

Next town was Chamarajanagar, Chamrajanagara to Hunsur Via  Gundlupet and HD Kote. Stopped for a cup of tea at Gundlupet and reached HD Kote by noon. There was many things to cover but I already explored this route in my Trip of Himavad Gopalaswamy betta so don't stopped.  After taking lunch at Hotel at KSRTC bus stand premised headed towards Perla Via Hunsur, Madikeri and Sullia and reached home by 8:45 PM. Total Km covered 1030.

Modern cart....  Modern drink