India, the land of miracles, the land of art and culture...You feel the same is true when you meet Karnataka!!
13th Oct 06: /It's being so many days,I haven't took my bike out on highways. Just a thought stroked in the mind and in next an hour I was at Shailesh's house. Shailesh Dhamale, my class mate at IMCC where I completed my D.T.L. certification. Shailesh never went out of Pune and I was asking him about crossing the states..! He laughed and joined me. After gathering required things like first aid kit,engine oil, extra bulbs for bike, tool kits etc, we marched toward National Highway 4...I love this one for it's speed, width and destinations it carries..!
Around 10 am, we left Pune and my love, my bike, was running like a horse on NH 4. Shailesh was pretty thrilled about his first experience of madness which we were about to do. After a fast and furious day of running and just running, we crossed Maharashtra border in evening and entered in Karnataka. The way Karnataka welcomed us, we just shocked. A Travel bus met with an accident in front of us. Luckily no one injured badly, but that slowed down us.Shailesh was tired and feeling a sleep.
We were taking more breaks as the night passes. Anna kutti - the chaiwala - became good friend of us and gave us a little space to sleep. I couldn't but Shailesh was enjoying sweet dreams of mosquitos :-)
14 th Oct.06: Some how I managed woke up Shailu. Had a "Anna Kutti Special" tea (recipe: too much sugar and water, least milk and tea powder, but it should be boiled entire night) and proceeded further. We found a nice Dhaba near Chitrakut and got fresh.
Karnataka is far different in culture as well as farming style than Maharashtra. While biking we were enjoying that beauty and new essence which I can not catch up in the words, Village by village, we reached Chitrakut. We decided of not going to Bangalore, rather planned for Shravanabelgola. We left the NH 4 and took village roads. Amazing experience when drive on such tiny roads, farms and lakes on both the sides, new people, new dresses...every thing new! During our journey we keep meeting people, trying to talk them and got really good friends too.
After running for hundreds of KMs, we finally reached our first mile stone, Shravanbelgola in the evening! I decided to have good rest after 2 days and a night run.
15th Oct.06: Both of us tired and could manage to open the eyes around 9.30am..ohh..late! Got to nearby restaurant quickly for breakfast..but it was mood off!!'South Indian" food tastes best in South India but not every day and all time. Last 2 days we were just having Idali-Dosa-Uttapam etc and really wanted Roti :-)
Shravanabelgola - situated in Hassan district, is one of the most important Jain religious center. There are two hills,Chandragiri & Vindyagiri. The 57 feet monolithic statue of the Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali is located on the Vindyagiri.It is considered to be the world's largest monolithic stone statue and was erected by Chamundaraya, a general of King Gangaraya. "Shravanabelgola" is first in "Seven Wonders of India" (Survey by Times of India).
Once you enter through beutifully carved main gate, you have to climb up Vindyagiri Hill via stairs. While going up, I saw a mother struggling to climb with her son in sunny and hot morning!Without asking her, I just picked up the boy on my shoulder and went up. Some how she came and gave an apple as a token of thanks :-) After a rest for while, we entered in main Darshana room and our eyes were unable to catch the scene in front of us. Mighty statue of Gomateshwara was shining under sun. We all were up to his thumb of legs in hight. It was pieceful and joyfull feeling which was calming the soul. We had darshana in traditional way and wondered entire place. After a satisfaction of a bit and finishing our photo sessions (lol) we started to next journey.
After such amazing experience, we marched toward our next destinations. Karnataka is full of history and religious monuments. In my top 5 states, I gave 3rd rank to Karnataka after Uttaranchal and Rajasthan. I just love it...Hampi, Paddakkal,Badami, Shravanabelgola,Vijapur,Ahihole,Halebid,Bellari,Tanjavar... such huge list of amazing places..many of them are recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Our next target was Halebid (locally called as Halebidu).
HALEBIDU: During our breaks for lunch and tea, I was reading more and more about further destinations and was getting more and more exited to see the real world. I am stone art lover..Sculptures talk with me..tell me the stories of their birth and sustaining till date.
We reached Halebid around 2pm. Nice time to visit (not in summers). Parked biked and kept our belongings with one of the local vendor..don't know why we trusted him. After having a glass full of Tea (that's the they serve here), we entered in the monument post payment of nominal fees. I was stunned, amazed and very very delighted to see a piece of star on earth..in mid aftrenoon. It was a black gold piece which was shining proudly from ages. "Wow!" we both gave high five to each other and I just jumped with a joy. Afforts we took, nights we ran ...all was worth!!
Halebidu (which was previously called Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra) was the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. It is home to one of the best examples of Hoysala architecture in the ornate Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples. Halebidu literally means ruined city. This name is given because this city was ruined two times by Bahmani Sultanate.
Kedareshwara and Hoyasaleshwara deities are still worshipped delightfully. Temple fully scluptured like a jwell. Kamasutra, Ramayana, Mahabharata stories are told by the stones without words! Hindu Gods and Goddess are carved in various forms. Brahma, Vishu- avatars, Shiva, Durga, Kali, Parvati and Ganesha..these are the gods which are main theme of the design. Gandharvas and Apsaras are putting more beuty and pranaya (love) in the stone.
Though Halebidu was a thrilling and delightful experience but we had to leave. Bikers never stop..they keep running! From Halebid, we reached to Bellari. Bellari was my main target of the day but we were late. Temple was closed and we were short of a day to stay there. Felt very bad..no issue..! Moved on further. Next destination was moving towards Goa border and return home at earliest. It was 9pm but couldn't had halt. Whole we were running on the dark village roads. No sign boards, no junctions. Rarely we were able to see any village or hotels. Hilly road was bit tough but Pulsar made it easy with it's bright head lights and powerful pickup. Dark night, two friends, a bike and old songs..wow..cool and calm life at the speed of 90 km/h :-)
Some how found a shelter near to a small village at around 4am in the morning and we just slept withou even thinking about safety, hygine etc etc....
16th Oct 06: Eyes opened with a bright morning.From last 2 days, we were observing that all the villages/cities are well decorated. There was something due to which every school, public place, public vehicles were decorated. But we were unable to find out the reason as every thing was written in Kannada, local language.
It was "Karnataka Day". We saw a rally by school children. It was colorful and cultural. We became part of the same, danced...I even played their local instrument.
After crossing various districts like Hassan, Sagar, we entered Shimoga district. The place became world famous for its amazing nature and Jog Falls.
Jog Falls: Jog Falls created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 meters (829 ft) is the highest plunge waterfall in India Located in Shimoga District of Karnataka state, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction. It is also called by alternative names of Gerusoppe falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi.
13th Oct 06: /It's being so many days,I haven't took my bike out on highways. Just a thought stroked in the mind and in next an hour I was at Shailesh's house. Shailesh Dhamale, my class mate at IMCC where I completed my D.T.L. certification. Shailesh never went out of Pune and I was asking him about crossing the states..! He laughed and joined me. After gathering required things like first aid kit,engine oil, extra bulbs for bike, tool kits etc, we marched toward National Highway 4...I love this one for it's speed, width and destinations it carries..!
We were taking more breaks as the night passes. Anna kutti - the chaiwala - became good friend of us and gave us a little space to sleep. I couldn't but Shailesh was enjoying sweet dreams of mosquitos :-)
14 th Oct.06: Some how I managed woke up Shailu. Had a "Anna Kutti Special" tea (recipe: too much sugar and water, least milk and tea powder, but it should be boiled entire night) and proceeded further. We found a nice Dhaba near Chitrakut and got fresh.
15th Oct.06: Both of us tired and could manage to open the eyes around 9.30am..ohh..late! Got to nearby restaurant quickly for breakfast..but it was mood off!!'South Indian" food tastes best in South India but not every day and all time. Last 2 days we were just having Idali-Dosa-Uttapam etc and really wanted Roti :-)
Shravanabelgola - situated in Hassan district, is one of the most important Jain religious center. There are two hills,Chandragiri & Vindyagiri. The 57 feet monolithic statue of the Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali is located on the Vindyagiri.It is considered to be the world's largest monolithic stone statue and was erected by Chamundaraya, a general of King Gangaraya. "Shravanabelgola" is first in "Seven Wonders of India" (Survey by Times of India).
HALEBIDU: During our breaks for lunch and tea, I was reading more and more about further destinations and was getting more and more exited to see the real world. I am stone art lover..Sculptures talk with me..tell me the stories of their birth and sustaining till date.
We reached Halebid around 2pm. Nice time to visit (not in summers). Parked biked and kept our belongings with one of the local vendor..don't know why we trusted him. After having a glass full of Tea (that's the they serve here), we entered in the monument post payment of nominal fees. I was stunned, amazed and very very delighted to see a piece of star on earth..in mid aftrenoon. It was a black gold piece which was shining proudly from ages. "Wow!" we both gave high five to each other and I just jumped with a joy. Afforts we took, nights we ran ...all was worth!!
Kedareshwara and Hoyasaleshwara deities are still worshipped delightfully. Temple fully scluptured like a jwell. Kamasutra, Ramayana, Mahabharata stories are told by the stones without words! Hindu Gods and Goddess are carved in various forms. Brahma, Vishu- avatars, Shiva, Durga, Kali, Parvati and Ganesha..these are the gods which are main theme of the design. Gandharvas and Apsaras are putting more beuty and pranaya (love) in the stone.
Some how found a shelter near to a small village at around 4am in the morning and we just slept withou even thinking about safety, hygine etc etc....
16th Oct 06: Eyes opened with a bright morning.From last 2 days, we were observing that all the villages/cities are well decorated. There was something due to which every school, public place, public vehicles were decorated. But we were unable to find out the reason as every thing was written in Kannada, local language.
It was "Karnataka Day". We saw a rally by school children. It was colorful and cultural. We became part of the same, danced...I even played their local instrument.
After crossing various districts like Hassan, Sagar, we entered Shimoga district. The place became world famous for its amazing nature and Jog Falls.
Jog Falls: Jog Falls created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 meters (829 ft) is the highest plunge waterfall in India Located in Shimoga District of Karnataka state, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction. It is also called by alternative names of Gerusoppe falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi.
