The Chipmonk Fort Of Karnataka

Haunting stone fortress; Towering boulders; Vivid shaped screes ; Untamed splendor; Brown land with twisting Rockies; A land so much alive with heritage; Every stone and screes whispering tales of the brave Onake Obavva -The Pestle Lady;  Broken sculptures as if with scars from past; Chitradruaga -"Kallina Kote" surprised me with charming secrets from within; 

HANDSOME HUNK

NUTS SOMEONE ?

FURRY CHIPMONKS OF CHIRADURGA

On today's date, as we enter the "KOTE" (Fort in kannada), we tend to run into local men with lose shirts hanging down the tummy, hands tied at the back, eyes expectantly anticipating an unique reaction from us. Why? It is thankfully due to unemployment. These local men, would want to be your guide. And what would we do by habit is to scoff and shoo them away saying, we have Wikipedia in hands and we do not want people to loot us.

This is worth pondering over. DON'T shoo them way. This occupation can be their bread and butter. We will neither empty our pot nor lose a battle of quiz, but definitely will make a home happy. Take time to think you are talking a new friend along and gifting him something. He will talk non stop. Narrating tales of what he heard from ancestors, what he saw, his growing up amongst these forts, the kind of visitors he sees. He can be a best guide and a company to walk with you and your photographer too.

Being my first visit, I entered the cave with my head swirling 180 degrees without my consent. Not sure which view to stick to, there were broken boulders, parts of the hills, old huge trees. Most of all, the sweet meek squeaks attracted me. Every other hollow in the fort, stone foundation was one of them.  They can be the cutest pets in the world. The squirrels are believed to be Blessed by Lord Rama.

 

The legend says, when Lord Rama was in the process of building the bridge to cross the Indian Ocean to fight back Sita from Sri Lanka who was kidnapped by Lord Ravan, it is believed that hundred of these squirrels became the crusaders and brought in little pebbles joining tiny hands on the job.  we may enjoy terming it mythology but we also enjoy the discovery channel where elephant saves  a lion cub or a some pet that saves a drowning human baby. Am I correct?

 How much ever we dread history lessons, we sure remember few names of freedom fighters, who fought against the british in the times that they ruled us. Or those names that safeguarded their territory in the times of kings and queens from their enemies. Now one of them is the brave lady called Obavva. 

 She was the wife of the security guard who guarded the seven hill stranded fort. When Hyder Ali another name from History books we tried to remember, attempted to attack the fort during reign of Madakari Nayaka with his soldiers, using a secret tunnel , it was Obavva who sensed human movement from within secret boulder gaps. She simply tucked her Saree up , took her weapon, Onake (pestle), and treacherously butchered head of every cunning soldier that crawled in from the tunnel. 

 

We were brought up singing some patriotic songs that mentioned her, we were brought up giving speeches in schools on independence day talking about few brave hearts like Onake Obavva. She was worshipped as inspirational figure. 

My guide, whom I hired at the entrance was a vibrant happy man. He talked non stop in his local accented Kannada. Most times neither of us communicated well. We nodded heads in a influencing notion saying I don't know what you say but it's ok. let's go ahead please. I wanted to cry with joy in the helm of the charity I had done by hiring this puppet. I hardly followed the stories in full. Few details in bits.

He sure was cute when he explained the big oil-churning cauldrons used in the past, with his full gestures. Or the strong soldiers and how they marched. his expressions and gestures were full of life. Much better than a few lousy heroes of our Kannada movies.

 Walking past several layers of fort that was generally flat ground and not hilly except for few spots, we come across numerous monuments with tales around them.  The two ponds "Akka Tangi Honda" named after wives of the king who committed self-immolation after Ali's conquering the Fort. Imagine an underground Treasury that's stone layered. The Swiss Bank of the royal families.

Few top hill breathtaking over views especially with the serene temple remains of the times reminded me of how the Bollywood crafted visuals of temples on top of the hills surrounded by boulders.

Apart from the numerous chipmunks, quite a few owls relaxed in the cool stone chambers and the monkeys loitered all around trolling very visitor and the kind of food they carried. They recognize nuts better. 

History revisited. We also tend to remember with vengeance why our history teacher glorified Chacha and baba while there was so much to enrich us with. Chitradurga and Onake Obavva are motivation. We can skip few TedX sessions once we learn about this place and her.

Err, excuse me, is it just me or anybody is actually hooked on to such tourist spots for long hours, basking in the grandeur of the stones , imagining the stories of the past. The stone splendor keeps me hooked on for ever. Just missed kissing one of the chipmunks. They are too fast for me.

Notes:

1) Don't walk with fancy foot wear. Comfortable sportswear are better.

2) Beware of the monkeys. All they want is food.

4)There exists a small canteen that serves beverages, water, snacks and "chai" too.

5) Rock climbing can be disastrous. Security personnel are less. Our safety is our responsibility.

Rock Climbing In The Mystical Avani -PART 1

Myself at the top of the rock mountain of Avani.

AVANI

From the land of gold mines; dotted with varied sized rocks; the Rockies of Karnataka; a reminiscent of Gabbar Singh of the popular Sholay; lotus filled tarns; clusters of compactly packed colourfully painted kutcha houses; mystical primordial stone temples of medival era  in rocky environs. This is a wee bit of what AVANI is.

At a distance of about 100km from Bangalore City, AVANI is a small village in Kolar district of Karnataka. Apart from housing varied ancient temples, it is also a popular location for rock climbing. It has been a heritage site and a not so popular sightseeing site in Karnataka I would say. Probably because of not so craggy mountains which is a fascination for the trekkers or for the reason that most of us believe in the stories of Ramayana as "mythology". Apparently, I thoroughly enjoyed the rock climbing as well as the spiritual vibes around the heritage spots and temples nestled in the huge boulders with a couple of "serene sounding" tarns.

Twinkling Star of Avani

As you drive inside this village, you recognize the colourfully painted small kutcha houses. My fascination of an Indian Fairy tale. The popular scene of a rural Indian village where in beautiful women and little girls cat-walk with plastic pots carrying water from ponds or lakes.  Small shops selling lovely scented candies, local soda in orange and yellow, "beedi",  sachets of pickles, shampoo, tooth paste or mosquito coils hung in the exteriors, line up the non asphalted dung smelling roads. There is  something in these tiny villages. Guess what? The innocence. The loving smiles immersed in brilliant radiance of friendliness spells a cast of our rich social culture. 

Avani received a prominent place mainly due to the legends associated with it. As per the local belief, sage Valmiki, the author of the epic Ramayana was residing here. This is the land where Goddess Sita sought refuge after being exiled by the Lord Rama and eventually gave birth to her twin children Lava-Kusha. It is also said that the war between Lord Rama and his sons Lava and Kusha took place in this village. 

In the center of the compound stands the Ramalingeshwara Temple

At the bottom of the hill, the first shrine that we come across is the  ancient temple compound known as the Ramalingeshwara, Lakshmaneshwara, Bharateshwara and Shatrugneshwara, built by the Nolamba rulers in 10th century. According to legend, Rama was performing Ashwamedha Yaga when his Horse was tied up by Lava and Kusha. Even after repeated requests by Lakshmana, Bharatha, Shatrugna and others, they did not free the Horse and fight took place between them. When everyone lost to Lava and Kusha, Rama himself turned up and had to fight. Later this was disrupted by Sita. This is a sin since the fight was between father and the sons and other relatives. Sage Valmiki then instructed the brothers to install the Lingas in their names for absolution of the sins.  

The back-view from temple exteriors projects the sight of the uphill route to the Sita Temple

The entire compound comes under the purview of the Archaeological Department and is well maintained. I was overwhelmed to be greeted by a lady police officer, a tourist police and became out best guide for the entire day.

A view of the Epic three boulders 

The local people have been believing that spot as in above picture is the one where in Sita Devi climbed onto to view the scene after Lord Hanuman informed her about the battle challenged by her twin sons on her own husband unknowingly about their identity. It has been neatly marked by arranging three boulders one over the other in memory of the embarrassing event.

Beautiful Lotus Pond at the foothills 

Nature's best gift to a rocky hilly area is a serene pond. Feels so full of life. The brightly coloured lotus just adds onto the peace it spreads onto your spiritual trek you look forward to, en-route the Sita Devi temple on the top of the hills.



As you begin your march of almost an hour , snaking among the rocks, sometimes sneaking onto tipsy cliffs or sometimes a few neatly constructed stone steps, you will come across several historical landmarks on your way. Iam afraid we did have no encounters with creepy reptiles other than little cute squirrels or some chameleons under every warm boulder. Most cacti plants attracted swarm of flies and that's a warning to steer clear your way off those thorny little green monsters.

Translation of the kannada text - Way to Valmiki Ashram

In search of gabbar if any

On top of the mountain far away in the background, we see the "Sita Temple" the landmark where Sita Devi calls for Mother earth to slide open and snare her within her bosom.  This temple is one of the rarest  temples dedicated to Sita Devi in India.  

Maha Shivaratri and Ramalingeshwara rathostava are the famous festivals that are celebrated with great pomp and fervor here. 

More on AVANI will appear as part-2 of this post.

Key - Notes

• Avani is an absolutely cute village hosting no restaurants at all. Warning - Carry ample food. Small shady hotels will provide you scrumptious hot meals but the interiors are pretty puking dirty.


• Clean water bottles are however available but make it to pick up your Gatorade if you wish to.


• Don't expect a good connectivity of public transport. Plenty of taxis will be available for hardly an hour and half, drive from Bangalore.

Two Best Beaches Of Udupi - Bengre The Silent Estuary And The Swarming Malpe

Enjoying the company of camera in Bengre beach

I just can't stop my own rhythm of an endless fathom for the mystery of a SEA. 

There is always something about "Sea", I always say this. And there is a secret I must tell you regarding the beaches of Udupi. Without sketching big agendas, just let yourself there and get carried away by them. Udupi is otherwise the flavoured "cuisine" town and also the "Temple Town" situated a few kilometers away from the sea coast.

I recommend you to reach out to these two beaches for two contrasting reasons. Find complete peace and silence in one and absolute noise food and crowd in the other. 

1 - BENGRE / DELTA / KODI BEACH - The silent paradise, hosting the confluence of "RIVER SUVARNA" meeting the Arabian Sea. 

We do reach out to beaches for various reasons. And this is a perfect place to rejuvenate yourself from a hectic routine in the serene noiseless aura. There is absolutely less number of visitors frequenting this beach. Also, it is way easy on your wallet.  The drive from Udupi city would be about 10 kilometers or little more that will take you past the randomly laid coconut palms that whisper cool winds in your ears. 

The faint lines where the river greets the sea tide

It's something to rest your back on sands watching a river and a sea on either side

The calmer looks of the river make it obvious why one could hide away from the chaotic routines and settle in here. Listening to the whispers of the winds, watching the variety of birds or the boats. The local fisheries are quite a popular thing in here. A big mass of the coastal residents depends on seafood too. The "crow watching" a term I coin here was sheer fun from childhood times. They generally are seen pecking at stuff from trash cans or dried remains of fishes and sometimes get aggressive and give you a chase if you bite your snack in the open. One of us would find it amusing to run after a flock of them settled around the trash, in our childhood days.

Calmer Looks

The Three Idiots 

A local fisherman busy casting his blue fishing net in the river waters.

There is a pattern in chasing the sunset colours or the flights of the birds here. I adore how the birds love to settle on riverbank rocks or smaller trees however fly away over sea tides only when the sun starts fading away. There is a way how we watch the boats that wander away in the river and return back by dusk and side by side you could see a random ship that makes it move past the bigger waves away from the shore. 

The pristine sands so untouched by a huge human crowd poses a varying fresh look. The crawling grumpy crabs are seen scampering at the dusk looking for their homes deep in the sands.  They are the lucky ones to see no traffic jams but only fear of monstrous humans waiting to devour them.

With so much nature, so much of time to rejuvenate your minds, and when eyes are feasting on the myriad colours from the earth till the sky, our fingers automatically make irregular patterns in the sands. Sometimes the pattern could be non- concentric circles or our names. 

One of my favourite sunset view here

When you are not good at making sandcastles with your children this is what you  could carve our in the sands

2 - MALPE the popular port, crowned the best beach of Udupi.

Probably, the most interesting thing about this beach is it the FIRST beach in the country to supposedly get free Wi-Fi as a result of Digital Drive by our government.



After touring the Bengre, one can easily roll up sleeves and get set on the mark for the rapid activity-based beach. Human sea, street vendors selling variety of food especially the fried seafood in open, water sports, paragliding, or the giant wheels on the run.  There is not much time to romance the sea or the waves unless you are determined to ignore the food or the other happening rides. You get to witness the majestic feel of a fair here.



Also, you can rejoice the distant view of the St. Mary's Island. One can visit the island, picking up a boat ride from the port end. They generally close in the monsoon. And also it is safer to trip to bigger groups. 

And here's a local vendor offering the "CHURMURI" 

Catch me if you can, said the red ball and I tried in vain

A distant view of the St. Mary Island

Myself - In the process of vanquishing fear of heights 

Tempt yourselves to feel lost in the vast Konkan beaches. The nearest airport is "Mangaluru" and the best five-star stay would be available in Manipal. 

New Release- 3 Idiots of Karnataka

It was a day of yet another embarrassment  compelling you to hide your identity. Being from proper Karnataka, as we indulged in talks about India and its happenings the flashing news came like a shock. The very mention of "in your Karnataka" by people does not sink into us this year. BJP ministers scandal of  being absorbed in the pron photographs on their mobiles. Voluntary resignations that followed still did not seem to show any sings of regrets on the holy faces of these leader.

While we argue about any generation being drawn towards the pron-gate, we do not want to wake up to the fact about things being done in right time. At least this is what we educate the younger generation. Good children don't in fact watch pron! The heights of hypocrisy is about the ministers who have mindlessly dissolved their images by watching such images in the middle of a debate in the assembly. What more you want? The topic also happens to be hot. Pakistan Flag being hoisted in a District of Karnataka. Who cares. More hot  were the pictures.The assembly interests have been overtaken by more interesting pictures on their mobiles. Could someone tell them about things done in right place at right times.

The past year has seen Karnataka in limelight over multiple scandals and this issue in early 2012 added a layer of cream topping over it.



There's no disbelief on how former minister and many more have dumped their treasury comfortable for generations of theirs to be fed for nothing. So how is this justified with no work and only play for these ministers. Heights of hypocrisy.

NOTE: Full picture credit to Satish Acharya the popular Cartoonist [from Karnataka!]

http://cartoonistsatish.blogspot.com/2012/02/porn-ok-love-day-not-ok.html

The irony is the same region of Karnataka saw assaults and protests against Valentine's Day in the past year. And this happened in my own Mangalore region. Celebrating Western culture in unethical costumes and mannerisms were the accusations by religious groups that caught flares.

They were none other than our own BJP team.

So where do we draw lines for the "cultural" and "ethical" drivers?

Hypocrisy of highest order. 

So these  three idiots expect some cheers and applauds for discarding any self discipline, self awareness in them and posing authentic leaders? Indulging in study over some case was their sober reasoning. And what more can you expect than a white lie that these leaders for an absurd reasoning over one shameless act. 

 Or , was it only an act but a serious offense. Children are lashed,beat, in schools for home work not done. Corporal punishments as caning are chosen for children of tender ages. So what about these obnoxious 3 idiots? And the matter will be stretched like gum for a while till the heat dies and then hushed down by legal coaxing. Would there be a better ending anyway?

The whole issue has to be provoking enough for the younger generation. As for the dirty word called "politicians" the whole meaning calls for a new sine qua non.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-08/india/31036752_1_karnataka-ministers-karnataka-assembly-yeddyurappa

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowpics/11822332.cms

http://nirmukta.com/2009/02/26/protesting-the-valentines-day-attacks-in-mangalore/