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Chikkasiddarabetta

Satish, Anil and me came here some time 2003. We left Bangalore early morning by Satish's Santro, took NH4 towards Tumkur, stopped for idlis at one of the road-side restaurents and parked the car in one of the petrol bunks. We crossed the railway tracks and walked to the hill. Took few pictures of a tree with thick-petalled red flowers.

We talked about college days; adventures, mad driving, friends... As we climbed the hill we spoke more about the hill. What it was like some years ago. There's a small fort wall on the top. The path to the top was littered with discarded plastic bags and chicken feather. There's a tomb of a saint close to the summit. People of a particular community visit to pay respect and pray. These piligrims cook there.

It was not possible for us to reach the summit since we had to do circus... I mean climb steep faced rocks. This hill seemed to be a kind of a watch tower for Paleger soldiers. There's two a small stone structures; one within the huge rocks and another one built on one of the edges. The fall is a couple of hundred feet deep.

That's Anil kneeling a feet away from the edge and acting as though he's falling. Satish was screaming at both of us.

Check out this natural Bonsai on one of the structures.

Standing on the edge was fun!

We saw a passenger train pass by on the railway line and traffic was busy on NH4 which runs paralell to the railway line.

The entire area is full of rock covered hills. We could capture a hazy shot of Shivagange which is close to this hill.

We explored the top and found that lot of rocls had a peculiar shape on the bottom side. We wondered if it was the effect of the wind... Later, during my visit to Thenginkalbetta I learnt that this is the effect of soldiers rubbing their swords on the rock to sharpen them.

The sun was up getting warm. As we explored, we stood at an edge and could see the shadows formed on a rock below. It was fun to shoot it. The three of us in shadow...

and in real...

It was a nice little trip to mark our other trips and wild adventures.

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Detail: Chikkasiddarabetta

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Shivagange

Shivagange. The first hill I ever climbed right up to the top.

Shivagange looks like a 'Shiva Linga' as seen from the NH4 (before Dobbaspet). I've heard it also looks like a bull's profile from another angle. When it's cloudy th top part of the hill is covered in clouds giving it a heavenly look.

The first time I had been was with Anish and Praveen but we stopped half way up since it was getting dark. The nect visit was with Gulli and we were determined to reach the top. The climb is not really tough. It took us some 90 minutes (eventually, on the thrid or fourth climb we made it to the top in 45 minutes).

The climb is a mix of both dirt and rocky surface unlike Savandurga which is all rock surface. As we pass the half way mark, the climb gets steeper with hardly anything to hold on. This part can be dicy during rains. Grass and small shrubs are the only plant life... no trees on this hill.

Just before we reach the top, we get to see Nandi statue on our left. It's perched on a small rock which acts like a private little mount for Nandi. Once on the top, you can see a small temple and a shop, managed by the Swami and his son.

The Swami's been living there for more than 20 years. What a life! On top a hill breathing fresh air and seeing the sights we rarely get to see.

The summit is a small area with steep faces on three sides. We have to watch where we step. One wrong step... let me not imagine further.

One of the faces is a suicide spot... straight down several hundreds of feet. This is where Shantala, King Vishuvardana's wife, had jumped to her death. I stood two feet from the edge and took the picture you see below.

When we looked around, we could see lot of smaller hills spread around. Many of them with little forts or watch houses on top. Palegars used these hills to keep watch over their territory and also as hideouts during wars. This whole area is one destination for nature lovers, adventure seekers and wild life enthusiasts but it's changing fast with the so called 'development acticities'.

For people coming from Bangalore, there are two routes to reach Shivagange. The most travelled route is the one from Dobbaspet. the other one is from Bangalore-Hassan road which is less crowded. We always took this road which passed through country road. During one of the visits, on the way back, I saw a flock of vultures. This was the first time I ever saw them so closely. Huge and ugly and scary. The flock was a mix os all sizes and ages. They were busy feeding on a carcass... may be a cow or a buffalo. At first they did not notice us. I took out my aim-n-shoot Yashica and slowly went towards the flock... scared where they might attack me with their claws and beaks. But they were suddenly alert. They saw me and started leaving moving me away from me. I interrupted their party. Sorry guys. The next scene was some thing I'd never seen. The vultures started running picking speed, flapping their massive wings trying to lift their mass of the ground and then slowly took off the ground... like jumbo jets. I don't think I'll ever get to such a scene ever again.

Shivagange is a home to several temples. One of the temples is popular for it's underground spring. People throng here to touch the water which is supposed to be holy.

I've heard that a tunnel existed long time back which connected to Kashi. Hard to believe. I've also heard that another tunnel connected Shivagange to Gavigangadhareshwara temple, one of the cave temples in & around Bangalore. I've seen the tunnel's enterance at Gavigangadhareshwara temple. It was blocked after few treasure hunters died of suffocation. The temple is worth seeing.

If you ever happen to visit Shivagange, make sure you carry sticks to scare the red-faced monkeys. They are rude. Last when I went, some time 1993, they ruled the place.

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Detail: Shivagange

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Thenginkalbetta

Thenginkai - coconut
kal- stone or rock
betta - hill or mountain

One of the most serene places I had ever been to.

Twin peaks of Thenginkalbetta. Our guide leading us.

Thenginkalbetta is peaceful and hardly touched by man in the recent times. The hill has two peaks; one small and one large. Bottom half of the hill is green with lot of plant life. We had walk over rocks, through creepers and thorny bushes. It was one hell of an adventure. Without our guide, we would not have found the way to the top. By the time we reached the half way up, my exposed skin was covered with cuts.

The top half is rocky and barren but has it's own beauty... decorated by randon rock formations.

peak one - the larger of the two

peak two - the smaller of the two

Thenginkalbetta has played a role in history. It's natural caves were used as hideouts by Plaegars (local chieftans) buring wars. Our guide (i regret i cannot remember his name) showed us one of the caves high up in the rocks. Tall ladders were used to climb and pulled up into the cave. It seems the cave can accomaodate upto 60 people and has a source of water.

The hideout caves

Risky climb over unstable steps

Fresh water spring

Even now people use these caves to hide from the law... that's what I heard.

Our guide also showed us numerous other smaller caves and a place where weapons were hidden.

Rajesh inspecting the place where weapons were hidden

Small shelter with engravings depicting soldiers and cavalry

The pictures see below are atop the smaller peak. The rock surface is not very smooth... it gave us good grip and we felt confident even on steep faces.

The place is amidst hills and may not long back the place would've been covered by thick forest.

Every step we see something unique- a T-shaped gap.

Rain water stil fresh... a wash refreshed us. Our guide on my right and Girish on the left. From this spot, we caught a glimpse of three bears trying to get under cover... they are way down the hill.

We are standing in the valley of the two peaks

This creeper born in the tiny gap! Look how it's stuch close to the rock.

More water... this time we see a fresh water pond. This looked like a man made one. Long time back built by soldiers to store water. If you look carefully, you can see a stone pitching over the surface of the water.

A trisected rock still standing as one. I wonder how it was formed.

As we climbed further upto towards the bigger peak, we entered a small wood. A carpet of green grass and fruit bearing trees. I felt I was looking a paradise. My pictures hardly say anything. One should be in the place and feel it.

The shape of the rock is the effect of soldiers sharpening their swords. They would lie below the rock and rub the edge against the rock's surface.

We had a wonderful time on the top. We climbed down the other face of the larger peak. It was prety steep but the surface gave us great grip.

Even nature draws and paints... see this painting created by flow of water. Such contrasting colors!

Once back down, our guide took us down to his home. This simple mud house has sheltred four generations of our guide's family. We had coffee with jaggery as sweetener it.

I think his name was Manjunath...

If you want to go to Thenginkalbetta...
Bangalore - Ramanagara - Kanakapura Road - turn right to SRS betta - ask some one
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Detail: Thenginkalbetta