Arebylu Waterfalls

Though the thought of trekking or climbing brings in some cheer to life the sweltering heat profuse sweating tiredness fatigue of summer puts off any adventure except for a cool shower or a swim or rather a fruit juice or tender coconut would be the only choice and option in summer, at least evoking our old monsoon trips memories always, wide greenery, Milky waterfalls, Cloudy mountains, A trembling body, put head under open sky while raining will give adorable enjoyment to our heart. This time I would like to revive some Monsoon waterfalls in this sizzling summer, which will chill my heart & my blog visitors also.
Arebylu waterfalls-This trip begins near the Arebylu village, off the Karwar-Hubli road, when I with my friend Rajesh Sir on a particularly rainy morning. The waterfalls could be seen from the highway, the aproach to it was complicated through forests farm fields and waterways. We hired a villager from the near village; since we were starting our journey intermittently rain also joined throughout our trekking route.
After much walking, we reached near the waterfalls; we were confronted by near vertical climb. This wasn't supposed to be a difficult trek. Our guide was also hesitant to continue journey, even they also became clueless at that time. Finally crawling up a steep mountain, holding on to wet rocks, trees, whatever we could find as rain &wind lashed at us. We finally made it to bottom of the waterfalls.
We did pretty adventure to touch water, because rocks were very slippery & narrow. We were just soaking fully in front of the water fall, even with our shivering hand we managed to take some snaps of the waterfall. We spent enough time in this place. We didn't know if it was the rain or the fall we got drenched in but we were so engrossed in its beauty nothing mattered except for nature's beauty, well it's worth remembering those treks especially in summer for that's how we get to enjoy all the seasons of nature and thanking the creator for giving us so many varieties and value each season and looking forward for the next.
Photos By-Rajesh Naik &meyself.

Grandeur Etched in Stone (Part-7)

Javagal Lakshminarasimha temple -

Javagal near Arasikere is an important center of Hoysala temples of which the Lakshminarasimha temple is the most beautiful. In fact it is a good example for a small & elegant Hoysala temple.However, on stylistic grounds & the part played by the famous sculptor Mallitamma who built the Keshava temple at Somanathapura, Harnahalli&Nuggihalli,it is generally that this temple at Javagal was built around 1250A.D.

This is a Trikuta with three Grabhagrahas but it has only one Sikhara now at the west. A Lakshmi shrine, Mukhamandapa & a Goupura have been added later.The entire temple is built of soapstone & stands on a platform (Jagati).

The moulded platform is in star shape & has elegantly carved horizontal mouldings. As usual it has 6 horizontal friezes. The Puranic frieze contains scenes from Ramayana & Bhagavata.The Ramayana scenes are shown in grater details. One of the panels has Hanuman searching for Sita in Lanka & is shown as looking through a telescope. This is a rare scene.

Over these friezes are found hundreds of sculptures representing various gods & goddesses under highly ornamented canopies. The name of the Mallitamma is carved on the pedestals of many images, other sculptors who carved images in this temple are Sannamada, Mallayya & Chikkamallitamma.

A mahadvara with a Gopura was added during Vijanagar period around 1515A.D. Thus the Lakshminarasimha temple is a very elegant Hoysala temple at Javagal.

YemmeShirla Waterfalls.

I still crave to go to this waterfall. The Trek was enticing and challenging, and the breathtaking waterfall and natural formations made this hike most memorable for me. I have gone to many places with Rajesh sir but this is one of my best trips with him in U.K district.

After a crazy bike drive with unknown local villager we started our next dry walk without much information. From starting itself we missed our route in the village (In this village there are only 3-5 houses in long distance, only large estates everywhere & another side a thick forest) this was the reason for another 30 minutes delay. After wandering for some time we were able to find one house in a huge estate, there we met one old man we took information & proper guidelines.

Once again we returned back for some distance & took one deviation which goesdeep into the dense forest. Lot of confusion throughout our walk, after a long stretched walk by god's grace we found one Sidhi lady (Sidhi’s are said to have been brought by the Portuguese from Africa as slaves some four hundred years ago. Their populations are around ten thousand and are generally found in Haliyal, Yellapur and Ankola taluks.

Now their culture is completely Indian and has adopted mainly Hindu religion. Small populations of them are Muslims and Christians. They are extremely poor and backward and work mainly as agriculture labourers in the fields of Havyak Brahmins.) & she helped to reach falls little closer.

After some time we took another deviation, but next few steps there was no pathway, from there our adventure started, We decided to go down , that time we had to face one critical situation, when we were walking down on our left side for a small distance one animal was following, we couldn’t identify or see Clearly because of thick forest but we were hearing a rough voice near thick flora that moment we were really stunned but we able to manage it in our own way. Still whenever we recall this falls this moment comes in our mind first.

Finally after a so many wrong attempts we reached to the top of the waterfalls. We climbed down nearly 70-80 degree slope without any help & reached the base of Yemmeshirla Waterfalls. This splendid waterfall is so magnificent the variegated scenic around the waterfalls is a memorable experience. The views were spectacular! I swam in a large pond for a long time & later had food on bank of the pond. This was an awesome way to end our most enjoyable Trip.

Photos by -Rajesh Naik,Udupi

Grandeur Etched In stone(6)

Doddagaddavalli- LAKSHMI Temple

Doddagaddavalli, is a village popular for the 12th century Lakshmi Devi temple. Doddagaddavalli is set in a scenic rural environment. According to the legends the temple was built in 1114 A.D. by a merchant called Kallahana Rahuta, a merchant or high officer in the Hoysala court. To be precise this temple was constructed under the patronage of Rahuta's wife Sahaja Devi.

According to Vastu - India being the guardian deity of the north - this image is carved in the ceiling of the northern portion of the central hall common to the three shrines. Indra is portrayed as riding his vehicle, the four tusked white elephant called Airavat. Also seen on the elephant is Indra’s consort Indrani.Being at the top and inside the temple (away from vandalism and weathering by natural elements), this gives a good idea of the original finish and intricacy of the Hoysala sculptures.

Image of Nagakanya, is a snake lady, at the door side of Kali sanctum.

This is one of the earliest Hoysala style temples built with its peculiar architecture. Though it is one of the oldest temples in Karnataka, the Lakshmidevi temple is in an amazingly well preserved condition.Many of the Hoysala temple built much later than this temple are in a dilapidated condition or even vanished over time. The temple of Doddagaddavalli is amazingly intact.

The main shrines are located within a high walled compound. At the four corners of the walls are four smaller shrines.The main temple is located at the center of the compound. In fact this temple has four shrines facing each other and sharing the common hall within the temple. In other words there is one shrine each facing the cardinal directions, a very peculiar composition of a Hindu temple.

Two Betal human sized images (living skeletons) stand as the guardians on either side of the Kali shrine. Note the protruding tongue, the chopped head in the left hand and the machete in the right hand.

The temple doesn't stand on an elevated fluted platform that duels as the Pradakshina path too. The main temple with its four towers, the tower Bhairava temple and the four towers of the corner shrines make it a total of nine towers. And all the nine towers are intact complete with their Kalasa at the pinnacle and the Hoysala crest. This is something rare to see in any surviving Hoysala temple.

All the four towers of the main temple is of the stepped pyramid style, with the pointed Kalasa and the Hoysala emblem (of Sala fighting the lion) at the top. But one of these four towers is with elaborate carvings. This is the tower over the main shrine that is the Lakshmi Devi shrine. The temple has two entrances along the same axis, one facing west while the other facing east. The main one is the east facing with two beautifully carved Dwarapalakas on either side.

Further down are the images of elephants on either side of the doorways. A row of lathe turned pillars, typical of Hoysala architecture, supports the ceiling. The outside wall of the temple is devoid of the rows of sculptures common to the Hoysala temples. The only exceptions are probably the Dwarapalakas (doorkeeper deities) on either side of the door to the temple. Instead the whole outer wall is richly decorated with pilasters in the form of miniature pyramid.

Cave adventure (Part -2)

Pandavaguhe (Pandava cave)- Karkala

Pandavaguhe (Pandava cave)is just an hour's drive from my place but all these years had never thought of going to this place,many places which i had visited but a beautiful location so near by and i had overlooked,last weekend after lunch was wondering what to do and suddenly thought of going to this place me and my friend Rohith on spur of moment decided to go this place,after a smooth drive we reached this place by 4pm.

This cave is situated on a small mountain called PerpalGudda after a short walk we reached the first cave,entering this we reached a big hall ,since it was little slippery locals told us to stop going ahead as there may be very poisionous vipers and snakes, still we took our torches and moved ahead,after a few minutes we found the path to be very narrow,we saw the insides with our torches lot many bats along with many different coloured frogs were around ,after spending some time we returned back we looked like we were working at a quarry.

 Finally another cave on the mountain which the locals told was built during Tippu"s era though the inside was a complete ruin we still were wondering what people did in those caves and how it would have been during that time,even provision for water by way of 4 well's were there but we could manage to see only two ....another cave adventure led us back home by night...

Second Cave Entrance-