Neelakurinji the Purple blanket

 

2nd September 2021

A small video clip which sent by my sister in law fired up my desire to see the Neelakurinji, actually my desire to see the neelakurinji started a long back, in 1987 I have red the beautiful Kannada novel  "ಕುಂಜಾಲು ಕಣಿವೆಯ ಕೆಂಪು ಹೂವು" (Kunjaalu Kaniveya kempu hoovu) written by famous novelist ನಾ ಡಿಸೋಜ  (Norbert D'Souza) which related to environmental changes, and in that novel hero find to search a flower which blooms  once in a ten years. In September 2014 I heard the news that Neelakurinji was bloomed at Bababudan giri montains in chikkamagalur so went in search of Neelakurinji but unable to find the single flower you can read the story here. So this is my second attempt see the flowers.

Greenbull My Love💓

Before visiting I have confirmed about the news at Karnataka Tourism Department at Madikeri (Contact : 082722 28580) they said Neelakurinji bloomed at both Kote betta and Mandal patti, so I have decided to visit Kote betta. To enter Karnataka RT PCR is mandatory due to covid restrictions, so obtained the negative report and headed towards Madikeri. 

Kote betta temple, view from parking lot 

In the morning 0600hrs left home Karthik and his wife Kavyasree are Joined at Mulleria, around 0900hrs reached Madikeri and took breakfast. While entering the Karntataka state Police stopped us and after enter the personal and RT PCR details permit us to travel again same procedure repeated once we enter Kodagu district also.

Kote Betta

Kote Betta is located at Kodagu district which is 38kms from Madikeri, its 3rd Highest peak(5313ft)  in Kodagu, at top of the hill a small Ishwara Temple was built. After finishing breakfast left Madikeri and headed towards Suntikoppa on Mysuru road which is just 14km from Madikeri town. From there took Madapra road and reached Garwale Village, where Kote betta roads begins.

Kote betta view point near the temple

Madikeri to Kote betta

Parking lot

It was a steep ascending road, condition is reasonably  good, a small stretch in steep climb was like muddy filed so cars are hesitates to climb the top, visitors are parked their vehicle at there climbing the hill nd either by  walk or hiring local Jeeps & Pick ups. 

Steps leads to the temple

When we reached over there the  rain was completely stopped, we easily reached the top of the hill and parked the motorcycles at parking lot, tourist already started to reach over there. Temple was closed, but allowed to climb the steps to reach view point located nearby. It was a beautiful scenery whole place covered with fog and cloud, for a moments it opens and clearly visible, but it was just for a moment only, it covers again. 

View from point

Temple premises 

Wild flowers

Tourist exploring the beauty of nature

Neelakurinji (My dream flower😍)

Close up view

Couples💓

Waterfalls view

After clicking few photographs we started to return journey, it was around 1200hrs, on the way find a beautiful view of the waterfall. at noon reached Madikeri and finished lunch and reached home by 1700hrs. 

It was a shortest ride for us, but most memorable one because, at last I got break to my quest to search Neelakurinji which blooms again only after 12 long years.😎

Neelakurinji

Scientific name of the Neelakurinji is Strobilanthes kunthiana, it shrub type plants grows in western ghats of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu region and it grows in high altitude only (1300 to 2400 meters). It generally blooms between the month of September and October once in a 12 years. In olden days tribal people are used this flower to calculate their age.

Unseen Gundlupet - Flower pot of Karnataka

 

Unseen Gundlupet - Flower pot of Karnataka

Gundlupet is called flower pot of Karnataka, this small town which is nestled between  Mysuru - Ooty  Mysuru - Kozhikode Highway. It shares borders with Tamil Nadu and Kerala so through out the year this tiny town keeps busy with tourists.

Bandipur wild life safari and Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills are most famous tourist spots of Gundlupet. This small town is surrounded by agricultural land which shares it border with the wild life Sanctuaries of Karnataka and Kerala. 

 

Bandipur Tiger Reserve Entrance

 

 Inside the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Wildlife Safari

Forest Petrol on Two Wheels😃

 People are simple and hard worker they adopted agriculture as their profession, through out the year grows different crops and vegetables like Jowar, Raagi, Sugarcane, turmeric, onion, banana and vegetables. Mansoon period is July to October, during these days most of them are grows Sunflower and different colours of Marry golds  turns up whole area into a flowerpot.

Waving Colourful Marry gold fields

Average rainfall in this area is only 600mm and it falls between July to October still they utilities the rain water in proper manner, almost all fields having their own tube well and large ponds to collect rain water and feeds to drip irrigation. Its main hub to supply vegetables and flowers to Kerala during the Onam season.

Sunflower Crop

Sunflower seeds ready to harvest

Sunflower field passage decorated with flowers😃

 

Bandipur Tirger Reserve 

Bandipur Tiger Reserve Safari is just 14Km far from Gundlupet town, earlier the office located inside the forest now they shifted outside due to heavy rust of tourists, Karnataka State forest department arrange wild life safari on nominal price, mini buses and Jeeps are available on sharing basis. Both Morning and evening safaris are opted. The new office have built in large area with proper facilities.

Small shelter built on tree top to protect the crops from wild animals during night

Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy Temple

Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy temple is famous temple in Gundlupet, its located at Himavad Gopalaswamy Hill which comes under Bandipur Tiger Reserve and its just 21Km from Gundlupet town. to reach there on has to travel on Gundlupet - Ooty road till a small village called Shri Hangala then take dievrsion towards right, a narrow tarmacked road nestled between village and fields takes us to parking area near the entrance of  Betta. 

Village View

Earlier all the tourist vehicles were permitted to climb the hill now a days Karnataka State Road Transport buses playing between hill base to top.

This Dravidian style temple built during AD1315 in Hoysala era later maintained by  Wodeyars of Mysuru. The Garbhagraha contains an idol of Shri Krishna holding flute under a tree this beautifully carved idol is 6 feet tall. Devotees are only allowed to visit the temple during day time with time restrictions. It opens at 0830hrs to 1630hrs, private vehicles are not allowed and please remember that  this is a Plastic free Zone. During the most of the time throughout the year this temple was covered with snow, that's why it's called Himavad (Covered with snow) Gopalaswamy temple.

Somewhere near around Gundlupet

Way to Shir Himavad Gopalaswamy Hill

Road to Himavad Swamy Hill

Parking area

 

Entrance Gate Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta

Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta

Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy Temple

 

Accommodation and food

There are many lodges and resorts are available at Gundlupet, terrif starts from Rs.600 per day, so many veg and non veg restaurants was also served so no need to worry no previous reservations required. If you visit during the monsoon don't forget to travel the interior villages of Gundlupet it's an amazing experience, monsoon is a good time to explore this flowerpot surrounded by huge hills.

View Near Betta