Abballi Waterfalls

Abballi waterfalls was long time dream but the call had to come from the Mother Nature and yes there was the beaconing to the mountains and it was time for me to pack my bags. Some kind of urge for adventure into the wild made me to plan a trek to an unknown destination a totally wild and new place in Uttarakannada district.

An Abballi waterfall is a less known water body is situated on Uttarakannada district; it is a four tiered waterfall plunging down from a height of around 200feet into the valley to create a magnificent sight. We humans feel truly blessed to witness such artistic creations of Mother Nature. Away from the human eye Abballi found its habitat in a very secluded place inside a deep forest.

My three friends, brother Prashanth, local villager and his boys and I started our hike through Areca plants and paddy fields. The waterfalls could be seen from the village road the approach to it was complicated through forests farm fields and waterways. After 15minutes walk soon we encountered a milky blue trickling stream.

This was the beginning of trek; as we continued up the trail, the volume of water multiplied, and eventually we immediately changed into our suits and followed the stream, along the way we saw lots of beautiful mossy creek scenes and wild flowers as we got closer I could hear the roaring waterfall in the distance and my heart started beating faster.

We reached first stage of the cascade. First stage is not much attractive after taking some pictures then we proceeded to the upper part. We then continued our hike to the second stage of the falls scramble up a path with no trail. We all had to hang on to trees, weeds and branches to climb up. Finally we hear the sound of waterfall from far. The lush green cover all around made us nostalgic it was pure air that we were inhaling that tickled our senses too. As we hurried towards the main falls, we were captivated by the beauty of a spot and just couldn’t move ahead.

The climb was a fairly hard made our way through dense forests, being bitten by numerous blood sucking leeches, chartering through the rocky terrain, climbing uphill and sliding downhill, treading on non-existent paths a real adventure in real life. With the aquamarine water and riparian vegetation backed by the green walls, this was the most colourful landscape I had ever seen. The roaring sound of the falls which created fumes all over were relaxes my body and soul.

After 30 minutes break again we began hiking, this time the trail will get even steeper. Finally crawling up a steep mountain, holding on to wet rocks, trees, whatever we could find we finally made it to reach 3^rd stage of the waterfalls. The sight is just so amazing, as the drizzling water pecks you on your cheek. Such a modern way to welcome guests! When you climb up to get a top view of the falls, you will feel captivated with a panoramic view.

Finally a complete adventure in an unknown unexplored wilderness, everyone has his or her own concept of adventure.  An adventure can be something as simple as spending an afternoon hiking a local trail or going on that bike ride that you’ve been thinking about. Really all that matters is that you get out there and live.

Now months later, I’m still glowing from our experience: getting out into nature, hanging with friends, working up a sweat and swimming in waterfalls. To me this is the ultimate definition of adventure. The Trek was enticing and challenging, and the breathtaking waterfall and natural formations made this hike most memorable for me.

KalleriMoole Waterfalls, Kasaragod

After a detailed plan with great excitement I and Prashanth finally set off for searching new waterfalls in Kasargod district.  On a beautiful morning we started our journey to explore Kalleri Moole Waterfalls. After one hour bike ride we reached the place where trek starts.

 Almost 15 minutes walk we reached on top of the waterfalls. I was richly rewarded by highly exalting view on edge of the waterfalls. It is beautiful sight to see the waterfalls flowing from the 70feet height and spread around 30 feet wild rock.The pristine surrounding adds to the beauty of the place. There is nothing safety bars but you are free to venture as far afield into the gorge as you dare, but with a 70feet plus drop we had to be careful where we stepped.  Kallerimoole waterfalls which is usually roaring in full force between June to October.

A short walk through Coconut and Areca plantation we reached the downer stream. We changed into our swim suits and stepped into the stream, water was pristine and pretty cold, initial stretch was covered by thick vegetation moreover every step on the boulders has to be treated carefully near the waterfall as it can prove dangerous.

Nothing compares standing at the base of a waterfall, with the spray in your skin and the deafening roar in your ears. We passed through dizzying scenes of beauty that we usually see in nature documentaries.

My senses were not ready for such grandeur at that time that I usually blackout admiring the loveliness of the rock formation. The water was very cold and we had a refreshing dip at mountain water it’s supposed to have minerals and be very therapeutic both for the skin and for your general health.

 We spent an hour enjoying the surroundings, the beauty of the falls and the scenic place made our soul cheerful we carried loads of photos to relive those exciting time in many days to come. But it was too less a price to pay for the wonderful time, fantastic moments with the nature.

Muktheshvara Temple, Chaudadanpura

The east facing Muktheshvara Temple is one of the important monuments built by the Kalyana Chalukyas. Malla or Mallugi a feudatory of the Guttarasas of Jatacholavamsha datable to 1115-1120 AD., the temple was renovated by the Kalamukha Saint Sivadeva the Guru of Guttarasa in 1225 AD. According to an inscription o 112 AD, the architect of this temple was Ravoja.  Chaudadanpura would have been an important pilgrimage site in the medieval times however at present it is reduced just to a small village.

A local tradition assigns the present name, Chaudadanpura, to 12th century CE. As per the legend Shivadeva Wodeyar, who was living here, donated this place to Chaudayya who was a great devotee of Shiva and belonged to the community of boatmen. As the place was donated to him hence it was called as Chaudayyadanpura.

This temple consists of a Garbhagriha, an Antarala, and a Navaranga with two Mukhamanddapas in front. The sanctum has indented plan enshrines a Linga installed on a high pedestal. Navaranga has two doorways of which the eastern one is ornate. While the south an open porch with Kakshasana. The Navaranga has two Devakosthas. The doorways and Navaranga are flanked by elephant balustrade.

Mahishamardini is installed in one Kostha and another is found with a sculpture o Ganesh. Apart from these are the sculptures of Saptamatrikas, Parvathi and Surya with seven hooded serpent above. The centre of the Navaranga is embellished with four polished pillars.

The main attraction of this temple is the Adhisthana. The Upana moulding with relief of creeper scrolls and the Jagati has frieze of peacocks. The eastern entrance of Navaranga is flanked with the Dvarapalaka images, as well as sculptures of a devotee, A Shivayogi, female door guardians on south entrance. Ganesh, Maheshvara, Dancers, Yaksha, Virabhadra, Sarasvathi, Vishnu, Venugopala and Surya are among the noteworthy sculptures. Garbhagriha supports a tall Kadambanagara tower having loose sculptures of a nude Nagini, Ganesh,Surya,Kama,Yaksha etc.

There are few other shrines in the complex however none has any considerable style or architecture. All are small in proportion with their major features already lost. All are made up on a single cell having a Shivalingas inside. A permanent shed has been recently constructed where all the stele inscriptions are put at single place.

There is no proper foundation inscription about this temple. The earliest inscription found here talks about construction of a Shiva temple by Attiraja during the reign of the Chalukyan king Vikramaditya VI. This inscription is not dated however the event would have taken place in between 1105 and 1115 CE. As the place mentioned in that inscription is Muktikhstera hence it is not very certain whether the temple mentioned in the inscription was the main temple or a subsidiary shrine

Another inscription dated in 1225 CE mentions that Shivadeva repaired a dilapidated temple from its base to top till finial. If this was the same temple built by Attiraja, was it possible that within 100 years it had to be repaired in such a large scale.

Chaudadanpura is located in Haveri district of Karnataka. From Ranebennur, take Guttal Road (SH57), you need to cross Devaragudda cross & Honnatti village. After travelling about 21 km, there is a small bus stop at the left, this is actually a bus stop for Chaudayyadanapura. Take right just after this bus stop & go for about 3 km, you reach the destination