A Drive To To Kungal Betta

 

A Drive To  To Kungal Betta

Every weekend, or rather every alternate weekend the 3 of us close friend always plan out something usually a day out to beat the 5 days WFH pressure. So this week also we decided to go out for a long drive somewhere. The problem started when all 3 of us had 3 different destinations in mind and wanted to go to the place of his choice. Though we decided we will start at 11 am from my place , but due to the confusion of the place and the difference of opinion we finally decided to give in to one of us and just drove off towards Mysore Road by 12.30 pm

The place decided was in Ramanagara, some 50 km off from Bangalore. The drive to Ramanagara through Mysore road can be tiring as there is construction of Metro going on. So though it says 1 and a half hours we reached in close to 2 ½ hours. Once you cross Kengeri the traffic slows down and you can enjoy the scenery.

It was already 1 30 pm when we reached Ramanagaraards Mysore Road by 12.30 pm.so we stopped on the main road in one hotel, Gowdru Hotel where we had Veg and Non Veg both. Food was okay but too much of salt in the curry so did not enjoy much. We need to take a deviation inside which leads us to many small villages where one can view farms, greenery all around and small ponds and lakes thanks to the monsoon. It started raining so heavily making the journey so memorable and beautiful. We played the Jab We Met wala song to make the journey more interesting. We stopped at one small pond which looked simply beautiful and clicked pictures. Thanks to the weather as well ( it was full cloudy ) , we sat for some time there before we proceeded further in the car.

The road further took us inside where we finally reached the destination through the village end at 3 pm. We stopped to confirm the way to the Betta, and they showed us the way inside the isolated road leading inside. But though we can actually take the car inside, we decided against it as the road was steep and a little further the roads were uneven and bad. Coming in bikes will be a better option I feel.

So we decided to hike till the Kungal Betta. The beginning of the road to the Betta has a stone Ganapati on the right hand side and on top of it is a huge, steep towering rock formation protruding out in a small curve over the Ganapati.  We prayed to him and started our journey on feet. The weather being good, we walked slowing enjoying the woods, greenery, rock, some natural cave formations, and of course clicking pictures. We would have walked a few km or more in the woods and we reached and we reached an open ground on the hills where on the right hand side, the scenery all around was so breathtaking. We sat on some steep rocks for more than 30 minutes to enjoy the view and breeze. We had still another half the distance to climb up which looked steep and since we had come on foot and the road leading further inside was isolated and it was already getting dark, we decided against it. But the way further to the top of the cliff has some 2-3 temples which one has to go through a rough road, steep climb, in between caves, we thought of coming back again with a bigger group and of course very early so that we can spend more time there. The best part about this place is it is so secluded. One can come here if one enjoys trekking ,  to enjoy the peace, serenity one is looking for. Far from the Madding Crowd

 We started our way back from the half distance we had covered and back to our car at around 5 pm. On the way back we encountered many monkeys near the Ganpathi idol climbing their way up the cliff. On the way back I also coaxed my friend to give me the car to drive for some 200 metres or so since the roads are empty which I enjoyed. It been ages since I got my DL but not driven after my DL test We started our way back to Bangalore. Mysore road in evening is at its worst with nonmoving traffic. By the time I reached home it was 7 pm..

But the journey to Kungal Betta is worth it. Looking forward to going back there hiking again and making it to the summit to have a better view from the top.

A Drive To DR Hills- Devarayana Durga Hills

 

A Drive To DR Hills- Devarayana Durga Hills

Like any other weekend plans we decided to go out on Saturday. So I checked from my friend for suggestions of some unexplored place which I had not visited. He told me that last week he had gone to DR Hills and the place is worth visiting.  So the 3 of us friend decided to make a trip to Devarayanadurga Hills .

This place is off Tumkur road and is a temple town surrounded by forests and hills and temples. Devarayanadurga means Fort of the God and is in the Tumkur district and is some 2 hours journey from Bangalore.

We set off Bangalore at 12 pm. The drive to tumkur road is beautiful with not much traffic on this road. Our journey consists of small stops in between, to click pictures, to take a restroom break and of course for lunch. Since we had left at 12 pm, we reached the1 highway by 1.30 so decided to break for lunch. We found a neat looking place Halli Oota where we had our lunch.

Once we take a deviation off the Tumkur road, the roads become curvy as we reach the hills and forests. The drive to the place is nice and roads are good.

On the way to the DR Hills we come across a beauty full pond. A perfect place for picnic. There was a little crowd but each one was maintaining the social distance. I think once can swim in this pond but did not see anyone doing that except getting their feet wet and taking pics. But I just loved the place. We spent some half an hour there enjoying at the banks of the pond and lying on the rocks

We reached the place by 4.30 pm. We need to go up to the hills in our car where one can park. From there we need to climb up the hills through steps. And yes, on the way up there are 2 deviations each one leading to 2 different temples

It has 2 temples on the top one of Yoga Narasimha and Bhoga Narasimha and lots of monkeys. One needs to be careful not to carry anything in hand for the fear of being snatched by the monkeys. Both the temples are open from 2pm to 5 pm. Since we were late, we had time to see only one temple, we took the road to Yoga Narasimha temple. There are fleet of steep steps up the top of the hill where the Yoga Narasimha temple is situated. After some 20-25 steps, we came across Hanuman temple. We bowed our head in prayers and proceeded further up the steps. Since the steps are steep, we had to stop in between to catch our breath. Finally, we reached the summit and the entrance of the Narasimha temple. The priest told us to hurry as the temple was about to close. We hurried inside. Inside is a beautiful idol of Lord Narasimha. We offered our prayers and came out of the temple to see the view from above. The view is mesmerizing from above of the hairpin roads engulfed by hills and forests. We sat there for few minutes and started down. On the way down is another temple of Hanuman next to a temple pond. We prayed there as well and came down. It was time to start back to Bangalore. The journey back was just as beautiful with the sun setting in the jungles. We across a small hillock where we stopped and thought of climbing as it looked so inviting. Most of the other people also were stopping for the same reasons there.

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We were getting late now. We climbed down and proceeded towards Bangalore. It took us some 2 hours to reach Bangalore. But glad we took the suggestion .