Globe Trotter

I always wondered how it would be to live on a place surrounded by nature and its beauty, with no or less human habitation to destroy it..and where the winds, water and sun all are so pure that make you heart gleam with joy. Well, looking through the pictures, I was hinted to such a place at St. Mary's Island near Malpe, Karnataka. Going to Udipi was an additional boost to visit these islands and I grabbed an early chance to be there. The experience I had was of a calm,peaceful surroundings that were close to nature and away from hustle bustle of world

You need to start from Udipi on any local bus which will drop you to Fishermen area at Malpe. An entry ticket of Re.1 per person gets you inside where for the first time, I saw the fisheries business in full flow. Hundred above boats each ready to move into the sea and hoards of fishes lying at the bank to be sequestered by ladies, working on them. Men were preparing,cleaning, checking accessories in early morning sun. The road to the ferry location was good but carried less visitors. In the end of 1.2 kms walk, we reached the ferry boat location. After waiting for ferry to fill up for around half hour & paying Rs.80 per person, We started our journey towards the islands. This half hour journey was filled with loud blaring hindi music, some nice scenic views and gushing sounds of blue water.
On reaching the islands, the first thing to note is Golden sand and coconut trees shading the place. We quickly found a tree shade and spread the sheet to give ourselves a nice treat to scenic views before us. Carrying food items, an umbrella and cover sheets along with us, was a good planning decision and it went out well.


At around 3 pm, we planned to enter the waters (the Sun rays were less harsh). Played a lot with waves that were rushing towards me and spent a lot of my time just relaxing on the shores with waves hitting me time n again. Collecting shells of different sizes and colors was another thing that got me engaged.

The rock formation on the islands have got their names in top geological tourist spots in India (8 out of 28). After a playful time of around 1.5 hrs there, we decided to return back from the island on the last ferry trip left to be taken at 5.00 pm. As the island is only accessible by water, hence, no chances on this,should be taken. The return journey was much faster and completed within 20 mins.

Overall, the day was sunny and relaxing for me. Playing in the waters, and then trying and exploring my swimming practices, overall a cherishable treat to mind and body. I would love to be back to this place on a less warmer and a bit cloudy day.

VinMe

Shri Krishna Temple, Udupi- Rich history,Raw traditions

This time I moved my steps toward the north-west of Karnataka to Udupi. Have known the place because of Udupi cuisine (which I have never tasted,although). The place to visit there was Shri Krishna Temple, which came as only big attraction offered in this place. The further part of the trip was reserved for Malpe beach and St. Mary Islands. This temple in itself had old-fashioned grandeur and vastness in its culture and traditions and hence, am concentrating a complete post to this temple visit itself.

Me and HR started from IIMB at around 8.20 pm to catch a 8.45 pm bus at Jayanagar. The bus was on time and we alighted the bus to find our seats covered with blankets. That's a good thing you get in Volvo Services. Covering ourselves in, we slept the whole journey to wake up at Mangalore (which I misjudged for Udupi). Later,after an hour, we reached our destination. After getting ourselves fresh and energized by a morning bath, We went out in the city. The view outside, at once, mesmerized me with its simplicity, open spaced streets, old styled buildings and above all, a small city like culture. The temple was at walkable distance, hence, we carried our bag to trot our steps for around 10 mins to reach the temple.
The temple opens out at the end of a street but is vast in its periphery coverage as the entry is from the south side. Upon entering and passing by the green water bathing pond, we moved serpent like rows to move inside the first part of the temple. Well, I met with "never expected" shock of my trip. To enter inside the Krishna Darshan room, men have to remove shirts and under-shirts. I at once, resented this, by refusing to go inside and asked HR to carry on. But with her persuasion, I somehow overcomed my fear of public body display :-) and went inside.

Going inside, you see the serpent cue reaching to a window to a small room. Inside, sits the Krishna Idol and you pray to him, again for a few seconds, only and then move ahead. Well, many devotees preferred to stay out of line and pray from a distance in the direction of window itself. I somehow ended this line and came out to visit other idols of Shri Krishna kept inside the Bhawan. HR wanted to circle one more round and in turn, I completed two more rounds to find her again. Outside this Bhawan, you enter a great hall, again filled with various idols housed in small rooms. I was much happier to be able to put back my clothes itself. :-) Each of these rooms is taken care by individual priests who are changed orderly after a period of 2 years. Here, I came to know that the next day itself, was that day of change in Management and hence, was celebrated as a festival.



Well, the above picture can show you the preparation going on for the food fest and the other picture represents the auditorium prepared for the change-over programme. In all, the Temple circumference was so large, that we explored for hard ways to exit out itself.

In all, this temple was less crowded (maybe we were lucky), more arranged, very well managed by priests and sevakars and is indeed, a place to visit in Udupi. I know, I have missed all the big history associated with this temple, But I believe, I have already left that part since long ago in my blogs.

Name: Shri Krishna Temple,Udupi
Famous for: Adobe of Krishna
Where: 10 mins walk from Udupi Bus stand
Fare: Only to Reach Udupi (500 Rs- Volvo {Bangalore to Udupi})

VinMe

As we passed the temple at mid-way, they were there..basking in the fun, some ready to move, some about to fall asleep, kids playing and elders controlling them. But, soon after we passed them on our way, they came after and then we realised how many monkeys were actually there in that hoard..Elders, young and kids..all of them accompanying and showing us the path of the journey..The path is not well carved out in the middle, so u need to make guesses to reach the top. The monkeys eased our thinking and we just followed them where they took us along.

While the hill was gaining its glow, our faces were losing our sheen..Just 0.5 km ahead and 300 steps away, and we found idols of Shiva and Parvati,and also an advice not to continue further,as the rest of trip was dangerous and much tiring and time consuming. Well, no turning back n not atleast after so long of walk..Thus, we continued with our path and reached the last step path..The advice was correct and the last lap was really harder to cover. taking enough time and short steps on those even smaller steps (where ever they were), we reached the hill top and finally completed one side of our journey at 4.45 pm.




On the top, is a small & simple Shiva temple,and just that..No lights,artificial glow/paints or anything..the enroute temples had at least colorful priests dresses, arrangements etc. but this was "bare". Well so much for the trip and a tiring trek..I found my respite in terms of scenic views and rusty winds at the temple rear side..Stayed there for half n hour and then started my descent down at 5.15 pm

Although no one writes about their descent in hill treks, but this one is worth mentioning.Right from the start of our descent, we neither met anybody en-route nor were surpassed by any human, even monkeys had gone somewhere.This experience of being alone in the whole big climate of serenity, peace and calmness, somewhere below the sky, was unique and un-earthly. I covered my whole descent in 2 hours with the same feeling of content.

Route back to Bangalore was covered with another auto ride to Dabaspet (Rs.60,this time) from where we boarded a private bus at 7.30 to Bangalore. Waiting at majestic for half hour, we boarded the bus to IIMB and reached here at 9.45 pm.

This was the first time, I did my trot with a fever and shoulder ache and that too, for a demanding journey to such steep trek over the hill top. The end experience, was unique and satisfying, in the sense, of proximity and silence of nature, that this place beholds.. Go to ShivaGanga..Its a unique experience clouded at great heights of devotion and determination

VinMe

Somavar is for Shiva..Got this mantra from my friend and realised Monday was the day it would be for me to travel towards Dabaspet, nearly 60 kms from Bangalore. Well, being a trotter, you have to be ready to grab any opportunity of trotting and that's what I did when a morning alarm at 8 waked me up to start my trip. What started as a commitment to my heart ended up as a tiring day for my body completely. and that too only on a travel of 150 kms for the whole day. The place in itself is a Shiva temple located on top of ShivaGanga hills, located at 8 kms from Dabaspet, on the way to Tumkur,from Bangalore. Such great heights, steep ascent and in company of some serious devotees, the day in itself was worth remembering and it will remain in my memories as a hill trek which has been unique till now.

I and my friend, started at 8.30 from IIM,B and reached Majestic Bus station at 10.00 am. En route, I got the tip that the place was around 60 kms away and KSRTC bus services is the best available medium for covering the route. We hopped on the bus at around 10.20 and the bus circled around city till 11 am and later joined National Highway 4 to give us a relief of reaching the place in time. At around 12, we de-alighted from the bus at Dabaspet Bus stop. There, we had some fruits to eat for afternoon and hired an auto for Rs. 40 (although rs.10 is charged for shared auto) and reached the entry to the temple at around 12.45 pm. What looked like any other temple gate was in fact the start of a hard,tiring and long journey. The entry is a small rectangular gate leading to stairs which didn't looked like they were 3 kms long. Actually the temple entry is made from the city street and it ends up to reach the hill top. So much for reaching the deity, easily (or much harder, for us)


Entering the temple and starting our steps, my friend realised her impatience to glaring sun rays and thus, we decided to halt our journey within 15 mins of start. Idea was to wait for some time to get an appreciably warm weather to continue the journey, but I had no idea this would take two hours of wait. Well, I gulped cucumbers to sustain water for the hike in the meantime.There were surprises to come ahead of us and I was particularly unsure of them

First one, It is still 2.0 hrs to reach the top and you are starting your journey at 3 pm..Really, the hill top didn't looked that much far from down below,(provided we had such steps ahead too)..That is where my second surprise came..The trek path was a mix of steps and steep slopes..so you cannot be sure of reaching the place in fixed time. having juices, eatables and life precious water along the way, we two continued our journey till the mid way where we encountered another temple. Too late and unimpressed to wait anywhere less than thee top, we continued past the temple. and realised..a third surprise..Hoard of Devotees accompanying us till the top


VinMe

Many a times, what you plan of in the start..just doesn't go as planned. On the new year's eve, I planned a well anticipated trip to Goa, a bike ride covering 750 kms from Bangalore to Goa. Well, didn't knew if it was my good luck or right senses,But I dropped this plan to Goa(I do cared about my back !!). So with Goa trip being scrapped n me, short of any other excursion ideas, I came across with idea of going to this Shiva Temple at Tiruvannamalai (woof,spelled d word right). The day was auspicious and the team was fun..So here went the trotter rounding about the Globe again. After reaching and covering this place, I realized that Vaishno Devi at Jammu isn't the only arduous trip to seek god(ess), there is Tirvanamalai Temple at Tiruvanamalai,T.N that will give enough rememberance of the former. Why do I say so ? and What is special about this place?,you will know in the coming para's.

We started a team of 3 at around 7.30 pm from IIMB and hopped on the bus at around 8 from Central silk board. Karnataka Inter-state Private bus was itself,a first time experience,for me. Two seater and three seater arrangement were similar to my state transport but seats were congested n my long leg space had no chance. DVD played on TV was beyond my understanding and thus I preferred my Samsung Tocco's music more than TV pictures. D trip was about 4.5 hrs long and trust me, I spent all the time observing the sleeping, adjusting, and snoring behaviour of humans for a sample size of around 30.

We reached Tiruvanamalai at 00.45 on 31 December.I got a hint of the voyage,on my way to reaching Bus stand,by seeing families move bare foot at this stroke of hour. Only later, I realized that I too,would walk the same path with them.



Starting our journey from Temple's entrance, the plan was to cover 8 lingams of Shiva situated at distances along the 15 kms path by bare foot. The proposition was adventurous and I grabbed it. We started the walk along that dark n dimly lit path which was never alone or serene. People were moving along with us during the whole journey...thus, FIRST similarity with Vaishno Devi!! Day or night..everyone is moving..But here, it was in single direction. Actually the walk was a circumvent around hill where the temple is located. So, there wouldn't be people coming back ur way :-).

SECOND similarity was the arduous task of walking 15 kms (against Vaishno Devi's 13.5 kms) but it was simple as the road was straight(not sloped) but the caution is to cover the same by BARE FOOT. That is where my adventure streak dampened after half of journey was covered. Against any option to wear shoes now(sadly, they were deposited at shoe counter at start only), I walked the later path with those sore feet glued with pebbles, gravels coming below my steps.

At around 11 kms cover stretch, I reached the THIRD similarity. Remember, Adibadri at half way to Vaishno's Bhawan at top, there we used to have a constrained path to go through the stones. Here too, there was a temple to give u the same experience, although bit easier because here, the path to travel was straight, and not Topsy curvy as in Adibadri. But, Worth to give u Adibadri's shivers again

The end of journey was to temple to have Shiva's Darshan. They have coupons for special darshan( Rs.20) and extra special (Rs.50) darshan. Rs. 20 were all,that we deemed appropriate and thus,went thru fast through the special corridors only to find a long spiral queue at the end. I met my horror again of being bored in a waiting queue for 1.5 hours. Finally, after following a serpent like curve of human queue, I reached inside the temple only to be exposed to the FINAL similarity

They wont allow you to stand there more than 3 seconds (Vaishno's temple was 2 seconds,right). You come to front, bow before god(no kneeling allowed),take bhasm(yagya powder) from Panditji n keep moving ahead to exit. And It does makes you feel that was it worth a journey to cover only in end to be allowed this much of time with the deity? I wouldn't debate on this any more because beliefs and religion are somethings I have my differences with.

While covering all this, The clock keep running and it turned 7.30 am, when we exited to take a bath to freshen ourselves. A lot of private bathrooms are rented here to take dirt and tiredness out of body system. Freshened for resuming our journey back to Bangalore, we bid adieu to the place at 8.30 am and I reached back to IIMB at 2 pm

Well in all, the trip was adventurous and arduous in sense that it was an 18 hours stretch journey without sleep and rest and that we had to travel bare foot along the coarse road paths. But,a sense of satisfaction and rest came to my mind in the end that I am starting my new year on an auspicious note.

VinMe

Place: Tiruvanamalai
Speciality: Shiva Temple symbolism of tussle b/w Brahma and Vishnu
What to go for: A 15 km walk on bare foot to experience faith & belief in diety
How to go: Inter-State bus from Bangalore, (Central silk Board)
Travel time (One side): 5 hours(average)
Duration of trip: 1 day (maximum)
Expenses: Minimal (300 Rs. per person)