Whenever I travel by Sargur route a unique place called Hand Post attracts my attention, it was a small town and at the heart of the town a small circle built and two road crosses each other. One is Gundlupet HD Kote road and another is Mysore Manathavady Road. I had traveled many times on HD Kote route whenever I reached to this place Manathvady Road attracts me because it goes through deep jungle. So this time I had decided to explore this route and planed accordingly.
Day One 26th December 2015
As per the plan early morning at sharp 0500hrs left home, Karthik joined us from Mulleria. Our first destination was Paadi Igguthappa temple located at Kakabbe, Kodagu. Igguthappa is one of the important deity of Kodagu.
On the way to Coorg
Loard Igguthappa known as rain god, as kodavas and kodagu arebhashe gowdas were agriculturists they pray Lord Iguthappa for rain.
Tea Stall at Talakaveri junction
It was very foggy day nothing is visible, once crossing Sullia weather was slightly improved, road condition was also excellent. Around 0800hrs reached Talakaveri Junction, from there onward narrow winding road limited our speed.
Way to IgguthappaTemple
Park yard of temple
Around 1000hrs reached Lord Igguthappa temple, a well built parking area with a friendly care taker welcomed us.
Main Entrance
History of the temple (Source : Wikipedia)
Paadi Igguthappa temple became a prominent place of worship during
King Lingarajendra’s reign. Lingarajendra had ordered his Dewan
Apparanda Bopu to get an idol of an elephant made out of the silver
coins. The coins weighed about three kilograms. On the back of the idol
is inscribed in Halegannada (old Kannada), the year in which it was
dedicated to Igguthappa for favours granted to Lingarajendra. This
exquisite silver elephant is used daily in the poojas performed at the
temple.
In 1835, the year after Linga Rajendra’s son Chikka Veerarajendra was
deposed by the British, Dewan Apparanda Bopu took it on himself to
renovate the temple. The structure was reconstructed and was fitted with
tiles replacing the earlier thatched roof.
Igguthappa Temple
My brother and family
Photography was prohibited inside the temple, after visiting temple headed towards Virajpet, distance between the place is around 31km, well tarmacked winding road goes through coffee estate breeze to ride.
Way to Virajpet
Paddy fileds
Virajpet town
At Virajpet took breakfast at KSRTC canteen and headed towards Kutta via Gonikoppal, distance is around 54kms, once reached Kutta Tholpetty wild life sanctuary starts. At Kutta there were two road which goes to Mysore one is via Nagarahole forest another is via Begur forest range.
On the way to Kutta
Two and three wheeler are not allowed in Nagarahole route, we choose second one i.e Manathvady Mysore road which goes through Kattikulam, Bavali and DP Kuppe.
Coffee plant on the way
Tholpetty wildlife
Road is narrow but well maintained, as usual in Karnataka side there is a hump in every 500mtrs. One can enjoy the cool forest atmosphere. On this route there were many tribal villages also available, their agricultural land nestled between the thick forest.
Small bridge inside the wood
Thirunelli temple junction
Small temple inside the jungle
Tribal settlements
Superb road inside the Begur wildlife sanctuary
Fields
Pound inside the forest
Tribal settlement (Karnataka side)
Barricade
At forest check post visited forest office, the local tribal kids were playing along with the forest dept. elephants.
Elephant
After taking a break of 15miunts for a snap headed towards Gundlupet via Sargur. Now the old road SH 33 was closed and instead of that a new road was built, every vehicle has to take diversion from here, It was a good move by forest department, to save the tiger.
Forest Petroling
Around 1400hrs reached Hand post from there we took Sargur road the road which goes through rich vegetable fields and Nugu dam. On the way we found a unique innovation of villagers.. they use vehicle to separate horse gram from the plants. Actually these were separated by beating the plants but here they simply puts plant in the road and when vehicle goes through it it separates and at the evening they collect it.
While going through this road near Nugu falls one white colour temple built in top of the hill attracted me, its looks too far from the main road and looks like built in top of the highest mountain.
Sheep herd
Around 1700hrs reached Gundlupet and had some food and settled down on good lodge, whole Gundlupet town was very busy with road construction, the main road was going little wider, so traffic jam was there in peak hours.
Around 2030hrs took dinner and returned to the room. Next days was very important to us because, we had planned to visit Bandipur Safari and Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.
Day Two 27th December 2015
Wake up at early 0430hrs and get ready around 0530hrs, our destination was Bandipur National Park. it was located 12km far from Gundlupet, around 0555hrs reached at the forest check post it was closed because it open only from 0600hrs and colsed at 1800hrs. A long Que was in front of the gate.
Que in front of the Bandipur forest check post
As soon as gate opened heavy loaded trucks and passenger vehicles were rushed towards Bandipur, the road which goes via Bandipur connects three states, It goes to Ooty and also one can reach Wayanad (Kerala) by using this road.
Deer inside the forest
Inside the forest
After the Safari returned to the forest check post, our next destination is Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, I had visited this place twice. But this time it was a unique experience, as soon as reached near the entry point we were surprise to see a large parking area of private vehicle.
Our Santro In front of Bandipur forest check post
Village Life (Hangala Village gateway to Himavad Goapalaswamy Betta)
Parking area
Now all private vehicle was banned inside the temple premises, lot of KSRTC buses playing around in this route, and they are charging Rs.20 for one side travel. So we took KSRTC and started climbing the hill. You can read more about here. {Trip to Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta} & {My Legendary Green 'Bull..}
After visiting temple returned to Gundlupet and took delicious breakfast and vacate the lodge and started our return journey. Via Sargur and HD Kote.
While taking rest near the Nugu Dam again spotted the small white colored temple on top of the hill, while so approached the security enquire about that he informed us it was one of the famous temple and it called as Godess Chikka Devammanavara Temple, and located just 13kms from the Dam and road was also in good shape.
Only 13Km so we didn't think twice headed toward the Hill. on the way a village lady asked drop to the Hill. In case If drop the plan to visit this Hill it was big loss to us. Because it was most wonderful experience, steep road and fantastic scenery was really made us crazy.
After visiting temple joined the main Road and headed towards HD Kote around 1330hrs reached HD Kote and took lunch at Hotel Near KSRTC Bus stand and continued our journey, around 2100hrs reached home via Hunsur, Madikeri and Sullia.
