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.
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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