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.

Exploring Beyond The Skyscrapers. Largest Flower Garden Of The World - Miracle Garden Dubai.

Call Phoolon ki Rani or Phoolan Devi

"The Dubai" that mesmerizes any tourist, sure has reached great heights in creating records one after other. After the  mega tall sky scraper Burj Khalifa now the "Tallest Vertical Flower Garden".  Yes. 

If all we heard about Dubai was, the haunting sky scrapers; never ending extensive  roads; the sand dunes; camels; shawarma falafels and hummus; and the beaches, then definitely we have missed the winter bloom. This breathtaking Flower Garden called "piece of eden" was announced as largest vertical flower garden by the Guinness Book of records. 

 It stuns you more as it is a challenging mega mission created in the land of sand. It is not a easy task maintaining an area of 75,000sqm with 4 km pathways, 1km height flower walls, and over 50 million flowers for a few months off summer. But Dubai has it all. 

It was thrilling to say am going to Dubai to witness the winter bloom.

Is this some fairyland or a dreamland!

Upturned car as fountain amidst floral display

The floral flight of Dubai

Marvelous symmetry 

A few pictures are still the least to describe the beauty of the flower beds. I was absolutely overwhelmed in awe by the petunia beds. If colourful heaven meant this then I wished to be the lost butterfly with a long life. An unimaginable maintenance in the gulf region. Surprisingly one would not exhaust wandering in these green plot!

A Few Key Notes:-

• The Miracle Garden is open only in winter, or to be precise is closed in the peak summer.


• There is a web site where you need to get the information about the opening time and hours. http://www.dubaimiraclegarden.com/


• There are plenty of food stalls inside the garden and also ample seating arrangements around the main gate.


• Children will not get too bored again as there are enough stuff including toys on sale which will keep them occupied.


• Glow garden and butterfly garden are other spots worth seeing.


• There is constant announcement in the loud speakers regarding the public transport facilities to and fro from garden to city. 


• Very well co-ordinated security on stroll inside and ample car parking space in the exterior.

My Mud Toed Princess

 The decision was mine! I had paid two hoots to those monstrous mocking  eyes of neighbours tracking me, as my little 22 months plus girl splashed her legs in the muddy rain water flowing across the street of the residential area of Manipal. If, being clean clothed, running around best smelling cosmos garden chasing a butterfly was "nice", fancying the nature's beauty in "ugly form" wasn't a crime. That toddler, today, growing into pre-adolescent times has been maintaining her crown, being "grubby legged". Rains are just one form, that cant withhold her massive love to one the beautiful forms of nature.

One day long ago it was, with heavy down pour, as I stuck to the windows of our house with the little girl, there was an enchanting resonance of melodious mixture of sounds. Aura engulfed by occasional mixing of the sounds of the little one gurgling in thrill and that of water drop off coconut leaves. She had grown talking to the birds in the air, apart from spending few hours with the high end toys. Growing into a toddler she often placed herself in the balcony, throwing pieces of food at the wandering crows or other birds. While I was ridiculed by few why I could not use the baby walker but leave the toddler struggling on the lawn, I mused how one could not enjoy the little child watch a small ant take its tiny steps, with strict concentration or notice the different shades of green  by ones self. I was self flattered by how "I" wanted to bring her up. How her bonding with the nature mattered in the times of plastic world that I term to the numerous options of electronics or other gadgets handled even by toddlers.

Treat the little one a best princess way, fathom all branded toys, luxuries, food and stuff. The wings of "plastic joys" makes the colourful life. Protecting her from experiencing nature's playful wings would however be a crime. Nature's wings completes the education. The idea of letting her  secret freedom watching the birds chirp, discover a colourful butterfly in the garden, chasing a big fat cat,  study an creepy crawler or an ant in the sands, or waft away on the calm bouncing waves of the sea, always meant the best games to me.



There are few from many instances to recall. Those of her "Lost-adventures". Prompt encouraging by we parents, my little savoured the nature in very best and at times vanished from my supervisory view!

An 8 months old crawling  baby as she was, all engrossed with tiny sand play-set, in a crowded sea shore. A small gossip as I ended with my counter part, and looked around, the crawling baby was out on a date with the crowd. A instant shocked me, stood up tall and to my relief found the little one held high up in the air by a man shouting " whose baby is this?". I smiled finally. I concluded it was those small white sand crabs playing hide and seek with her in between the sand that dragged her away from us.

Another incident to recall is the one, when at age 5, she dared to sneak out of her play area with cutlery play set, and settle down briefly with a friend making mud pie and sand water juice. One would go aghast, though I had to throw out the frustration, concern and worry with a stern warning, I ended up laughing and reminding her "you mud toed princess" you aren't going to mend your ways, are you!

Most enduring educative toys, the best branded toys and so on were indeed showered on her. An comfort level would however find her settling down with those sea shells collected in a small cup with few broken, some green leaves from the garden along with few flowers and stuff in a "kitchen play set" with left over juice too to play with! What can be more educative than nature itself. How would she otherwise find the beauty of a butterfly and about the life and habits of natural habitats, greens, learn about the seasons better than experiencing over reading about it in beautifully coloured books.  She could even find sun shine delicious!

Times from her toddler-hood till those pre adolescent ones, time and again I catch her mud toed. The journey has been of playing out under the roof of the sky.....

www.kissan.in

Little instances of the child jotted here, little encounters of her with mother nature do add up as those flourishing memories to a parent. In a parallel, those little encounters  teach lessons to both. There is a child all who respects, understands and loves nature to fullest. An ordinary advice in our earthly existence is to remind ourselves, stay blessed with the best of nature and encourage the hymn of it in children from young age.  Let them free with the nature, who knows there is an inventor in one little mind perhaps!



Read somewhere that -"Earth laughs in the flowers".

I say - Lets laugh with those flowers and greens on the earth. Love nature, save earth and love yourself.

This post is dedicated to the best friend - Friend's of Nature..... > www.kissan.in

Is available to view in here too.  http://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=106 

Petals Of Love

Wafting petals of love,

 

Abhors the horrendous wind.

 

She, is a beautiful bloom,

 

Held high & cosy in delicate palm,

 

Now withered, from  glory to gloom.

 

Fret, shall be no mercy,

 

Time lost is irreversible,

 

The new bloom on -looked.

 

Shaky petals of love,

 

Abandoned with time,

 

Marred by the wind,

 

Tackling the destiny.

 

She, is a beautiful "life"!



Love it's divine essence!

 

 

An ultimate comparison of life with the rain, clouds, or bloom, and so on.... finds never ending prose & poetry.

 

Calm Chaos

Dancing in the sky, singing aloud,

Two little fellas, they were a cloud.

Hands clasped, a knot,

every breath kissed, missed not.

Till a monster beckoned,

thunder of thoughts feared.

Heart whispered, in vain

 in the ears of the brain,

Stop.

Hold tight,

Storm awaited, caught sight.

Yet, happy clouds strayed, in turmoil,

they showered down beneath, on thirsty soil,

their bones broken, by stormy wrestler,

they withered, like a tiny frisky flower.

Lover clouds no more,

Killed by welcome rain, human adore,

Alas, clouds that forgot to whisper a good bye

to one another,

Bid good bye to their existence, sigh!

--------------

CHEERS,

SUSH

Gulfi's Rainy Day

Distant flickers of puffy clouds as they crawled in on the blue mat of sky ........it dawned to me about my reading the weather forecast on the weekend. There were rains, "good rains" expected in Doha on Saturday. Much awaited indeed. Hail rain in this desert. It is not uncommon for we Asians here in this part of the Gulf to exclaim in much overwhelming gesture about a welcoming rain.

I am not less than one crazy creature on a rainy day here in Doha. On a lighter note can say it's silly to be so mad on seeing rain perhaps but this is "Gulf".

I do not have pictures please. Have this words as all.

An absolute unending downpour the whole day leaving the sensitive bitumen lay ed roads of Doha wrecked. They are not rugged & designed so well for  rains. These roads  are perfect mirage providers. Yes it was an one mark question that occurred in school time tests "what is a mirage?". And only as I drive on the Doha roads in mid summer did I see there is a real beauty in it too. As I drive at 100 k mph I get the creepy feeling there's water a little ahead. It doesn't turnout to be. A little ahead it is, there...now there's is water, so it goes on throughout the drive with ultimataley scotching heat only.

Rains are a boon in this city. December is month that generally sees some rains before the winter shoots in full swing banging the weather to a zero Celsius of the midnights.

Wish  the rain could wash some of the uncouth realities of life too. That it rains and everything starts looking so bright and nice in life. How true. Does it not revitalise your adrenaline to new tunes of liveliness and vibrancy. Everything around you looked so full of life that day but could not help the thoughts of the torrents of rains in other parts of the world that is so unwelcome.

I bet people dwelling in parts of world like India would appreciate a dead opposite scene. Specially the coastal Southern India where the rain god has been too generous.The lashing rains has devastated the people calling for causalities, material damage.

As I could not withhold exclaiming about this day to my India guys there was hardly any reaction from there. Understandable. Dad retorted" OK". That's all!! It is actually raining here..you know. huh. Only we felt the depth of it. The much awaited moment. Specially for our children who are brought up here and do not understand the India rains at all. I was glad my daughter wrote her first verse as she galloped in her room with all windows open and embracing the water sprinkle against her window.

Yet one rainy day was a pleasure and welcome scene for we Doha'ites. And aah as I write this post two days later it is raining again outside. I just love it.

Hail Rain.

Mr.Froggy finds green seat.

As I packed and unpacked, shifted and relocated, I got busy with all my other paraphernalia. My love for plants cant cease. I shifted them too. Offloaded by transport they landed in a messy corner. Only to seem as home for this frog.

I dedicate this post to the F-Day of round 9 of ABC Wednesday meme. Please click here for details and more shots.