South Karnataka
Trip
06/08/2014
It has been years since Belur
was haunting and for a while wondered whether what R.K.Narayanin his short
story tiled “The Image” was for real and Jaganachari – the master craftsman who
crafted most of the idols at Belur a reality or myth.
The Karnataka Tourism site
carried an item on this legendary sculptor whom one would have to place on a
pedestal much above those of say a Davinci or a Michaelangelo.
Started off from Kozhikode by
Parasuram Express on 6th Sept 2014 and the train left the platform some one hour late. As for
company- none else but the rain.
The compartment was packed as it was First Onam
and all and sundry were in a hurry to reach homes for the big day the following
day ie: Thiruvonam.
The journey via coastal Kerala
was wonderful as it is always with tracks aligned mostly close to the coast and
the hide and seek of train and sea the usual stuff.
By 9.15pm it was at Mangalore
Central (MAQ) , hurriedly took a quick meal comprising hot chapathi and veg
kurma from a restaurant and checked in to middle class Hotel Hindustan. Drizzling
continued and most shops Fruits ready in the bag came handy for the rest of
appetite.
07/08/2014
The Manjunatha Temple attracts
millions and the Bahubali monolith image on the opposite mountain is a holy
site of the Jains equally regarded by other faiths.
Came out by 8.30am and took a
modest breakfast of idlis from nearby restaurant, caught a bus for Ujire from
where another one to Mudigere and a third one to Belur.
The time 12.30 AN.
Accommodation was arranged at
Mayura Velapuri and the room was convenient.
Took lunch from their
restaurant and walked straight to Chennakeshava Temple.
Oh, my. I have been waiting to
reach the place for years and its really worth the wait.
Erected some 900 years back,
the hard work of thousands of sculptors (who never went to any art schools for
sure) worked incessantly for 103 years to make this masterpiece which is yet to
get its due for connoisseurs across the globe. The public in the periphery too
seems unaware of its real worth I suppose.
More was waiting in the late
afternoon at Halebidu, but time ran out and had to return to the Hotel.
Next time shall come with at
least two days to spend at these two sites.
What is worth mentioning is the great work done
and still being done by The Archeological Survey of India in restoring most of the work and in
displaying many at Halebidu.
The mowed lawn grass , the
restored Bahubali and the garden at Halebidu leaves a lasting impression.
08/08/2014
Got out from the Hotel by 7.30
am and headed for Hassan in KSRTC.
The bus stations in Karnataka
are good and there is facility for toilets at every station free of cost.
The Indian mindset’s tendency
to attend nature’s call by the wayside can only be avoided if such facilities
are arranged at public places free of cost, lest the cost we pay for ill fame
would outweigh.
The KTDC Mayura Hotels are
doing a good job as well by maintaining chain of hotels with neatness and
hospitality. Kerala Tourism may, if they could take a leaf out of….
The Jain Temples and the huge
rock opposite to it with the huge Bahubali statue erected some 1000 years back
is worth a visit. One really feels insignificant.
Back to the foot of the
mountain by 2.30pm and was really hungry. A sign board " Jain Bhojanalaya" caught the eye. A modest home and a banian – dhoti clad
man in his 60s with a broad smile to greet the visitor took me inside. Sat on a mat on the floor and had a vegetarian
meal complete with chapatti , rice, papad and the usual curries. The walls had
several pictures of Digambar Jain Sadhus.
Back to Chennarayapatna and from
there caught a Mysore bound bus for Srirangapatna.
By the time checked in to the
hotel, time was 4.30pm. At least 30 mts to get freshen up for Brindavan which
is some 45 mts away. Though not on the heritage list, how could someone miss
the place.
No.307 KSRTC takes one to Pump
House stoppage and from there its No.303 up to Brindavan.
It was 6.30 by the time the
garden came to view.
Spent some 40 mts walking
around and came back to Hotel to have a modest meal of fruits.
09/08/2014
Somanathapura is some 30 kms
from Srirangapatna and normally the journey need to be broken in half with the first
stretch up to Bannur.
Those who had seen Belur and
Halebidu get no surprises there as most of the works are similar.
The
Archeological Survey people did a good job there as well. As for food - Well ; one may have to
carry from city if the visitor has any plan to spend more hours.
Back to Bannur and from there
to Mysore with lot more to see in Srirangapatna, if time permitted in the AN.
Mysore palace rather filled
this visitors mind with anger most of the time. Such squandering of public
wealth at a time when people never had two square meals a day !
Chamundi Hills was viewed from
far and St.Philomina’s architecture appreciated with mouth agape.
The Rail Museum turned out to be an anti climax with the
Maharani’s toilet cabin among the other exhibits arousing the same sort of anger from
deep within and that was Mysore with no more time left to see what really mattered!
Could have spent more time at
Somanathapura and felt bad in missing out Gumbaz and Daria Daulath (his palace) and the garden in front. Of course got a glimpse from the bus the site where his body lay after the war ended.
10/09/2014
Boarded bus for Gudalur for
which booking was done. The journey was worth touching both Bandipur and
Mudumalai Tiger Reserves. Monkeys and deers were plenty and no elephants in
sight as expected.
The roads on the Karnataka
side is seen well maintained and the undergrowth on road sides cleared.
Reached Gudalur at around 12.30 AN, which is only 3 hours from home.
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