Highly frustrated in office work, we as a team wanted to go to Belur, Halebedu, Shravanbelagola. The day has been decided as Feb 13th. We all were excited to go and enjoy there. One of my team mates told that we may not be having fun in visiting temples. Hence we were planning for a greenery. Listed all places around Bangalore- Yelagiri, Mekadattu, Hogenakkal, Gopalswamybetta. For some or the other reason we rejected all and finally decided Shivanasamudram and Talakad on the previous day evening.Everyone has taken some activity like packing food for breakfast and lunch, snacks, fruits, water, games, cab booking, recording songs. Next day morning the cab started by 6am and picked our 9 member team at their pick up points. We left Bangalore by 8.30 am and the road has taken us towards Shivanasamudram. In the cab we started playing songs in tamil, telugu, hindi, kannada-all peppy numbers. Around 9.30 we stopped near ramanagaram and had breakfast. Back in cab we were playing anthakshari and had fun by dancing, playing dumb shereds, pulling everyone's legs.
By 12 we reached Shivanasamudram where cauvery river splits into Barachukki and Gaganachukki falls. Gaganachukki falls is very deep and we did not reach there. We just saw that, took photos, had sweet tender coconut which was only Rs.7 then moved towards Barachukki. It was a rocky area and we had to trek to reach the place. I couldnot manage to walk down the steps and fell down and got hurt badly:). Very much excited to see water- lovely to see the place and it gave a kind of happy feel when we touched water. Took so many fotos in the rock around giving funny poses. It was adventurous to walk in the pricky stones and with risk we have reached the other end. From there we took a coracle to reach the falls. It was full of moss and difficult to balance. Everyone holded each other and we managed to sit in a place where water fell like beating us with great force. Playing in water is always fun forgetting the world around us. Being there for an hour by 2 we started from there. Again we had to climb to reach the cab. Since it was very hot we were very thirsty and had cold drinks. In 1 day we finished 6 litres of sprite, thumbs up and fanta.
On the way to Talakad we stopped and had lunch under mango tree. Only we were there and enjoyed food due to hunger. In another 20 minutes we reached Talakad and could see sand everywhere. Waited for the sun to set and in the mean time we played cricket, discus throw. After sometime we got into water and played using a small rubber ball. Then we came out of water changed dresses where separate rooms were available. Had evening tea, took snaps around and went to the temple.Interesting stories are there with the temple. There are 5 lingas which are believed to be the 5 faces of Lord Shiva. They are Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vaidyanatheshwara and Mallikarjuna. A lady named Alamelamma has given a curse that made the place become sand. There are a lot more info available in wiki. It was amazing to see sand all around in the mid of forest kind of area. We walked for 1 km to see all those temples.
We visited the temples and we did not return in the same route, it was like taking a round to reach the place where we started. The day has ended there and by 7.30 we started towards Bangalore. On the way again we started singing dancing without feeling the tiredness. The highlight was everyone danced and enjoyed the trip. We all reached home with a feel that we have achieved something. For sure this trip is a memorable one.Note: Place cursor over the image to see what it is.
