0 Jaalmangala Fort

January 2, 2012

...continuing from Huthridurga Fort.

We stop for lunch at Donakuppe junction, rice meal and bajjis. It was my plan to visit the hill fort near Jaalamangala. We took Ramnagar road and drove for 30  minutes and the hill was in sights. We decided to it would help us climb if we got some rest especially after a meal. Also the Sun would have come down a bit.  We found a shady spot wide enough for a car and its occupants. That's how the hill looks from where we were lying.

We passed through Jaalamangala village and took a right turn. After one and half kilometer drive around the hill the profile changes considerably. The lake is home to waterbirds. I saw few of one variety ...a shiny-black slender bird which can fly well. I could see ducks wallowing around.

We found people attending to chores in their farms. We asked a man for directions to go up the hill. He asked us to follow the path along the electrical line going up the hill. Durga and I formed the lead group. Deepi and Gulli were far behind us. We paused after a 15 minute climb to admire this breathtaking view of Ramnagar's rocky hills.

The range stretches for kilometers. No wonder makers of Sholay chose this location.

At one point we got stuck unable to find the path ahead. After a bit of a struggle we found it to our right. Ruins of a fort wall. From here steps were hewn out of the rocks. Thanks to those steps, made climbing easy. At one point we had to be careful because the steps were dangerously close to a very steep rock face.

Finally we made it to the top. One temple, four Frangipani trees and another tree. Sun was still beating down bright and not much of a breeze to cool us :( The temple is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha. Just behind the temple are two small water tanks filled with green colored water and littered with all kind of trash. Space surrounding the temple was also scattered with used paper plates and plastic cups. Wonder when our people will learn some sense of cleanliness.

I knew the gang wouldn't budge now. I went exploring, I wanted to see the fort wall I had located in Google Maps. The surface got steeper but grip wasn't a problem. Clumps of grass were scattered over the hill. This grass has grown where ever it found enough soil to sink their roots. I dare not step on it, God knows what creatures were inside- they were minding their business, leave them alone.

Finally the wall was in sight ...not much of a wall. Perhaps construction was abandoned during the initial stages.

The wall maxed out at 6 feet. Savandurga is visible in the background.

Part of the wall in good condition.

The wall ends at a steep rock face. Perhaps this part of the hill was easier to climb and hence this wall.

A watch point, a platform of stones built on an overhanging rock. This construction looks quite old. From where I shot this picture, a wall ran down the slope behind me. I feel a strong fort was in store but plans changed for some reason.

Broom grass?

Deepi and Durga looking at Kanva reservoir.

New steps and old steps.

The railing though flimsy were quite helpful at places.

I could locate a path to the cave like formation but did not go exploring. We were tired, thirsty and almost out of water. At the mouth of the cave there were beehives of various colors.

Canon Zoom Lens EF 75-300mm USM helped get a closer shot of the cave. Now the beehives are visible.

We could smell avarekayi in the fields as we walked a short stretch while Deepi reversed his Santro. Back at Jaalamangala village, we stopped and filled our bottles, thanked the folks for the water. Water never tasted better! We drove back towards Donakuppe post ...towards Bengaluru.


Jaalamangala Fort coordinates: 12°49'34"N   77°12'28"E

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Detail: Jaalmangala Fort

0 Huthridurga: North hill

Suryadeva says good morning near Magadi.

One of the many Kempegowda towers standing alone on a rocky hillock some where between Magadi and Donakuppe handpost.

We drive by villages and hamlets enjoying the fresh morning air. Durga wanted to touch this band of low-hanging mist :)

At Donakuppe, we asked for directions to Huthridurga. Turn right, first you get Yalagalavadi and then at Santepete as for Huthridurga. We turned right before Santepete driving past a hill but no sign of any ruins. Few ladies washing clothes in a pond told we had to drive little further from where we turned.

At Santepete, we found the road winding up Hutribetta. Now the fort is visible.

Suryadeva is blazing his way up the sky driving away mist.

The road went through Huthri village. The village is nestled in the valley formed between the two peaks of Huthribetta. We parked Deepak's Santro near the only school of this village. As usual i tried to find a guide. No such luck, everyone was busy. A young man gave directions pointing at the hill ...any help is welcome rather than no help at all. We stuffed our backpacks with breakfast items and water bottles.

Welcome to Hthridurga.

The outermost wall on this peak. Remains of a watch tower can be seen to the extreme left.

The climb is not very steep here. There's the second ring of fortification.

Looking back towards the way we just came. The white speck is our to be guide- Siddappa. When he caught up with us, he told us that freed himself from some work to show us around. Nice of Siddappa :) Nothing like a local showing us around. Huthri village is like a little baby between two pillows. We are climbing the North peak. The South peak, seen in the background seems wild.

Siddappa lead the way. Deepak and Gulli were lagging behind us. I guess this is the second gateway. Notice the fish motifs over the doorway?

In some ways, Huthridurga is similar to Gudibande fort ...the way rock formations are utilized to create gateways. The third gateway.

The hill has interesting flora. We saw few colorful butterflies too. More bastions and walls. We climb up steadily. Durga starts her raga ...I'm tired, go slow.

Another gateway. With a good rainy season most of this path would be blocked by bushy plants.

We pass by a small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The terrain changes slightly ...it's more rocky and open now. We have climbed quite a bit. Durga was hungry now.

The penultimate gateway.

We decided to wait for Deepak and Gulli to catch up. Siddappa got busy gathering firewood. I noticed stoppers at the base of the walls- wedge-shaped stones driven into dead-holes. I do not remember seeing this anywhere else.

My idea was to breakfast at the summit but Durga refused to move. Siddappa was shy to join us, he kept himself  busy picking dry wood. On the way back he would pick them up ...enterprising character. Bread, cheese slices, better and peanut butter were on the menu. I took a few minutes off to climb up little for this picture.

I found these marks inscribed from where I took the picture. Look like some types of game boards. Perhaps the guards on-duty inscribed these to keep themselves entertained. A good way to stay alert too.

An ancient temple dedicated to Shiva. A user on Wikimapia has marked this temple as Sakareshwara Temple. I do not remember if Siddappa mentioned the name. A small Nandi lies abandoned near the steps leading up the rock on which the temple is situated. Water in the pond about 20' long and 8' wide was not really clean but Siddappa told that this water is used for rituals.

I explored a bit and found few ruins of living quarters for sentries. We go exploring further ...from here we could see two sheer cliffs. If not for Siddappa we would not have found the narrow concealed path between two massive rock  formations.

Back into the open again. More ruins of shelters. I wonder what that circular stone was being made beofre it was abandoned. A grinding stone? A wheel?

Few minutes back I was standing at the tip of the rock. The spot where I shot this picture is also close to another edge and another hidden path ...I located it.

Deepak, Durga and Gulli park themselves while I urge Siddappa to show more of this hill. These rocks form a rhino's nose.

Siddappa stand near the ruins of a rain water tank under construction.

Two rectangles embossed into a rock bed. That is a sign of a planned shelter. A rectangular pillar would stand in that depression.

A slowly crumbling remains of a watch tower.

Siddappa has gathered another load of firewood and I was ready to turn back. We regroup and retrace the path. On the way back  decided to go up that hill, even if it meant going alone. I went ahead alone leaving the group behind to take their own time climbing down.

One last look at the northern peak of Huthribetta. I guess this is pink granite. My wishes that no one ever thinks about carving up this beautiful place.

Google Map screenshot-

A - first gateway
B - second gateway
C - third gateway
D - fourth gateway
E - firth gateway
F - temple & pond
G - sheer cliff faces
H - narrow passage
J - rain water tank


Huthridurga Coordinates: 12°57'41"N   77°7'25"E
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Detail: Huthridurga: North hill

0 Skandagiri

I read about Kalavarabetta, also known as Skandagiri, in a blog. The only picture on the post was impressive; the person in the picture was above thick white clouds. But I was skeptical about the real beauty of the hill since the place is close to Chikkballapur. We decided to take a chance. We left home around 5AM, had tea at Chikkballapur and drove through it's narrow streets and by 7AM we were at a temple close to the foot of the hill. I was surprised to see the number of bikes and cars parked. It seems most people visiting this place climb during the night and stay back till sunrise and then descend. The parking attendant said at least 150 people on the hill at the moment. One hell of a crowd!

Let me caution new visitors. Beware of local people here. All they do is rob people in the name of vehicle parking charges or guide you the way up the hill. A guide ripped us of Rs.200 to show us the path to the hill from the temple which was hardly a kilometer. These guys can beat any marketing guy in conning.

This is supposed to be a warning to visitors.


FOREST DEPARTMENT
SMOKING ALKOHAL
DRINKS OR PLASTIC DO
NOT ALLOWED IF USED
RS.500=00 WILL
BE FINE C.B.PUR


Durga and me walked ahead for some distance and waited for Deepak and Gulli to catch up. Once they caught up, I moved ahead faster and climbed alone till the summit.


I passed by people descending. These guys had spent the night on the hill. Some careless youngster had injured his leg and was riding piggy ...I saw his ankle was swollen badly. The terrain is rough and slippery with little pebbles. Deepak said that Savandurga has spoiled us with it's smooth open surface.


That's Skandagiri's shadow stretching over few kilometers.




Mist closed in as I neared the summit.


A lonely Basavanna.


The summit is littered with plastic bottles, plates, cups and all kind of trash. One sad place this is. Somehow I ignored the mess and tried to look at the good things around. Few guys from Kalavara village have set up a fast food joint here. Menu is soft drinks, omelette and Maggi noodles. I bet half the mess out here is these guys work.


Of the three peaks, one on the extreme left is Nandi Hills.


I waited for almost 45 minutes for the trio before I headed back thinking if they gave up the climb midway. I had climbed down till the point where I shot the sun through the mist ...we were united and reached the summit. We had sandwiches and water.


It was getting warmer with every passing minute, decided it's time we head back.


Durga called this rock as an egg.



Half way down the hill we rested for a while in the cool shade of a rock which almost formed a cave. I washed my feet and felt good. From here I went down faster leaving the trio behind. At the base, near the painted rock, I stopped at a cucumber shop and waited for the trio. While I waited I chatted with owner, an old man who talked non-stop. I bought some cucumbers and had couple of them ...very refreshing under the hot sun.

One visit is enough to this place. I never ever want to set my foot here again.

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Detail: Skandagiri