From last six monthI have been planning to make a trip around Kollegal, mainly in the area of Melukote, BR Hills, K Gudi etc. Now my dream comes true. I have covered these places in very less time due to time restrictions. If I have a enough time then definitely spend minimum a week here.
Nothing special about the day after the office headed towards Madikeri , as per the plan met Karthik at Cherkala, finished dinner at Sullia and reached Madikeri by 2130hrs, It was very foggy and near Madikeri heavy rain also stared, Ashwith already took a room at Tourist lodge for us so there was no headache to searching the lodge in rainy night.
Start up From Madikeri
13th August 2016
At sharp 0430hrs vacate the lodge and headed towards Mysore, our destination was Melukote which is located in Mandya District and 150kms far from Madikeri. It was raining in the morning, care taker of the lodge wished us a safe ride.
On the way to Mysore
At Kushalnagar took a Tea break and continued. Coorg not only famous for coffee but also famous for growing Tobacco, on highway side you can spot many Tobacco growing farms.
Tobacco Plantation
Near Bilikere stopped for a breakfast took Fresh Idlis dipped in hot Sambar along with Masala dosa and Tea continued our journey. From Elivala took diversion and headed towards the KRS. On the way Ashwith's LED Lamp bracket was broken, few minutes spend to re fix the same and continued.
Fixing the broken bracket of LED lamp
Near KRS
As soon as reached near KRS I got a call from Ashwith who was riding behind Karthik, that his Bull gone off and refuses to start so we returned to the spot where he was. It was around 0900hrs and workshops were yet to open. I had tried to start it, while inspecting the wiring found that there was a rust in contacts of fuse cartridge and also loose connection in TCI unit once it rectified it start to roar and we are back to road.
En route to Melukote
Farmer ploughing
Mountain range
Beautiful Lake on road side
Mari Gold Flowers
On the way found a Mari Gold flower cultivation and stopped for a while and continued, here after some stretches of the road is very bad because it was under repair, and bolder was spread all over the road make it very slippery. Villagers advised us to go slowly.
Roads under construction (Nice off roading)
Men at work...
Beautiful Hills
Excellent tarmacked roads
While approaching near Melukote whole scenery start to look different, huge mountain range start to appear on the both side of the road. It put brake to our pace because in every angle these mountains give different view so took many brakes to capture the beauty of mountain.
Bus
Polythene sheet used in farming
Village View
While passing this village I have observed one thing, they are using polythene sheets in flower cultivation. The whole soil bed is covered with polythene sheets and make small hole on it and in that hole flower plants comes out. It helps them to control the unnecessary growing weeds.
White hill range
Excellent landscape forced me to take many stop
As soon as reached near Melukote a huge lake appeared on road side, from here the famous Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple is visible. Here we met an old aged goatherd who has look after his goats. While talking to him he showed the temple and given direction to reach temple and also said now a days priests of the temple are not doing Poojas properly, just shows Agarbatti to Idol and this is the main reason for drought in the village and In the time of Mysore Maharaja's it was rich in culture and now government look after the temple etc. At last he blessed us and told go and take Gods darshan.
Lake near Melukote
You can spot the temple at back ground
Goatherd
Main Entrance of the Temple
We have reached Melukote at around 1100hrs and we are two and half our late as per the schedule, after parking the vehicle started to climb the steps. In the Main entrance so many peoples gathered it was almost like blocked, reason behind this was the local devotees performing pooja's at this steps then only they starts to climb the steps. It creates blocks.
Small girl sitting on the steps
Due to Saturday so many devotees are visiting the Hill
One of the view point
After little bit circus we manage to get a way and start to climb the step. While climbing the steps there are many small Arch like Mantapam built on the way, it may be to take rest in older days but now a days it was occupied by the pooja item vendors.
While reaching top it become difficult due to huge rush
Main Gopuram (Outer)
Some will take short cut to omit queue
When we reached the top most portion of the steps huge crowed was there, the temple entrance is very narrow and steps are wider so all the gathered crowed has to enter the temple one by one It creates unnecessary complications . Some people took short cut and started to climb the hill.
Carrying the Disabled Devotees in upstairs
Rush goes worse
Inside Main Gopuram
It was took almost half an hour to clear the crowed. We had good time pass at here, a group of girls are there they are talking like a chatterbox.
Chatterbox
Inner Gopuram
An Old Aged Devotee coming out from the temple
View from the Hill Top
A Massive Pushkarani (Water Tank)
Melukote Town view
Some more views
In the name of God
After the Darshan we took some pictures form the top and
started to descending the steps. In every steps there were many Sadhus
and Dasayya's are asking money in the name of God. After crossing these people we reached the hill base. It was around 1300hrs we are feel very hungry and searched for a good hotel.
Temple Street
And just near the temple we are able to find out a good Hotel called "New Sampath Kumar Bhavan". First ordered for Puliyogare, It was very tasty and the owner also very friendly person, after that tasted Bisibele bath Mosaranna and Sakkare Pongal.
Delicious Puliyogare
Hot Bisibele Bath
Cool Mosaranna (Curd Rice)
Sweet Sakkre Pongal
New Sampath Kumar Bhavan
Our Next destination was Somanathapura, around 1400hrs we left Melukote and headed towards Somanathapura, the distance between two cities is 68km. At outskirt of Melukote found a beautiful lake we just ride our bike to bed and took some snaps and continued.
Lake view from the road
My Green Bull
Sugarcane farming
Cabbage Fields
We have visited this small Jaggery factory
Inside the factory
Somanathapura Temple
Around 1400hrs reached Somanathapura, the man who issuing tickets at counter told it will close by 17:30 so go fast.
Around 1830hrs reached Kollegala and took room at Atchgaal Yaatri Nivas and closed second day trip.
On the way find many sugarcane fields on both side of the road, Mandya district is famous for jaggery which is made out of Sugarcane juice. Many small Jaggery factories also on the way. We have visited one of the small factory to look the process of making Jaggery.
Jaggery factory
Apart from Sugarcane they also grows vegetables like Tomato, Mooliee, Cabbage etc. Totally where ever you look the green vegetation brings pleasure to mind.
One the way we find a small Jaggery factory so we decided to visit it, while asking permission workers told to wait for a minute and they have to take permission from the owner of the factory, after a while they permitted us to enter the factory and showed the process of making Jaggery.
Front view Somanathapura Temple
Around 1400hrs reached Somanathapura, the man who issuing tickets at counter told it will close by 17:30 so go fast.
Well maintained Garden
Main Entrance
Inside view
The construction of this temple caused by Somanatha, a high officer under Hoysala King Narasimha 111. It was built in Hoysala style of architecture.
More photos
Main Gopuram
pillar inside the temple
Carvings
Idol
Post Box
After visiting the while sitting under the shade of huge tree which was in front of the temple one thing attracted me. It was a red coloured Letter box, on top of the letter box a small sign board says "YOUR LETTER POSTED HERE WILL GET THIS PICTORIAL CANCELLATION".
It was around 1700hrs as per our actual plan we have to visit Shivanasamudra waterfalls but we are running late by two and half hrs so cancelled the waterfalls visit and took a cup of tea and headed towards Kollegal.
Sheep heard on the way to Kollegala
You can spot the Donkeys in Sheep heard, earlier also I have seen it, but while asking the reason with Shepard he unveils the real reason. Actually Donkeys are used as a guard animals, It easily mingle with Sheep and protect them, and maintenance also so every sheep heard contains one or two donkeys.
Superb road
View Near Sosale
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