Avoid taking the bull temple road for couple of days because the famous kadlekai parishe is back but then park you vehicle a kilometer away and witness the beauty of Kadlekai parishe
What is Kadlekai Parishe?
Kadlekai refers to the groundnut, yes the same groundnut which you use for your daily food. And, Parishe refers to the fair. So, Kadlekai refers to the groundnut fair. The festival happens every year near the Doddabasavana gudi (big bull temple road). The festival starts from Monday i.e. 03rd December and spans for over 2 days. However, as a part of preparation, the vendors reach here 2 days before.
What is so Special about KadleKai Parishe?
Kadlekai Parishe is indeed special. During one’s visit to the festival, one gets the chance to witness the Bengaluru’s tradition. One would get to see the charm of old age Bangalore.
You will also get to taste the different varieties of Kadlekai : Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Kolar, Doddaballapur, Ramanagara to name a few. Farmers from the nearby villages including the neighour states of AndhraPradesh and Tamilnadu come here to celebrate the festival.
When is KadleKai Parishe in 2018?
The festival starts from Dec 3 and ends on Dec 4th. The festival is celebrated on last monday of Karthika Maasa( month) according to Hindu calendar
The Legend Behind Kadlekai Parishe
The inception of the festival dates back to the year 1537. Back then, the place Basavanagudi was surrounded by places where the groundnut was grown in abundance. But, what surprised the farmers was that on every full moon day the groundnut would be devoured. One farmer,decided to investigate the reason behind this and kept himself awake on the Karthika masa(month) full moon day. And to his surprise, he found a bull being the reason behind it.
Few days after this, the farmers found an idol resembling ‘basava’ near to the present Basavanagudi. The idol surfaced out of the earth and was observed to be growing very rapidly. The farmers nailed an iron peg on the head of the Basava idol. The nail is visible in the form of a trishula even today. The farmers decided to pray to the Nandi (bull) to stop the devouring of their crops. Since then, the farmers collectively decided to dedicate their first corp to the Nandi(bull) and the practice has been followed till today and celebrated in the form of Kaldekai Parishe festival in Bangalore.
Though the name suggests Kadlekai Parishe, one can also find food ranging from masala papad to masala dose
There are shops selling other items such as bangales, toys etc. In short, the festival has now become a mini exhibition with Kadlekai as the center of attraction.
If you are a beginner and would like to experience some trekking around Bangalore, Shivagange trek is a place that should be in top of your list.
Shivagange, popularly known as dakshina kashi(Kashi of the south) is one of the must visit places around Bengaluru(Bangalore). Shivagange is an awesome place which provides the traveler the experience of an amazing trek and also the blessings of the gods. Located at a distance of around 50 Kms on the Tumkur highway, Shivagange makes in the top of the list of the places to visit around Bengaluru.
Details of the Trek:
Distance: 3 – 4 Kms
Difficulty Level: Easy to Medium
Time Taken: 4 hours for the beginners
Ideal time to Visit: October to March
Suggested Age group: 12 to 50
Shivagange is located at around 52Kms from Bangalore and 27 Kms from Tumkur.
By Bus: If you want to travel by bus, you can catch the Bangalore-Tumkur bus and get down at Dabaspete. It is around 8kms from here. You need to catch local transport from Dabaspete to Shivagange.
By Train: Tumkur is the nearest railway station but this is not convenient mode as you would again travel by road for 27Kms.
By Car: Travelling on your own vehicle is one of the best option. The Bangalore Tumkur highway is a well constructed road. Deviate left near Dabaspete and you find signboards for Shivagange from there on. There is a flyover just before Dabaspete and you need to take the service road and take a left if you are travelling from Bangalore. There are 2 Tolls where you would need to pay but the charges are low.
Starting the Shivagange trek early (before 9 AM) has couple of advantages. One, the temperature will be better. Two, the crowd will be less making it is easy for the trek. The Trek has a combination of steps and some big rocks making it an awesome experience. As you start the trek, in just about 50 steps, you find the Ganesh temple to the left and Veera bhadra swami on the right. Proceed your trek with the blessings of both the gods. In few more steps, you find the path being divided into two. One on the left is for the trekking and on the right leads to the Patalagange temple. Make sure you visit the temple before proceeding to the trek. As you move ahead, you find a mammoth Nandi. As you take few more steps, you find 2 paths. One which has the steps and the other which is a mud road. The mud road is a little longer than the steps route but easier compared to the steps. Both the routes merge again after some distance.
If you take the route on the left, you get to see the Valakallu teertha which is known for its unique characteristics. You need to put your hand in the Valakallu and it is believed that if you are able to touch the teertha(water) you are lucky. It is found that few people cannot touch the water even after multiple attempts whereas few get it at first go. There is an entry fee of Rs 5 per person to visit the Valakallu teertha and the temples inside.
If you take the right route, make sure you deviate and visit the Valakallu teertha while coming down. It is a place that you cannot miss.
At nearly half of the trek distance, there are big statues of Shiva and Parvathy. There is a story behind this. Long back, a family had come this place and the two children went missing. As the day ended, the children were scared and prayed to god. During that time, a couple of very old age appeared and provided the shelter to the kids. In the morning, the old couple had disappeared. It is believed that this old couple was Shiva and Parvathy. Behind the statues, there are 12 jyotirlingas.
Statue of Shiva and Parvathy on the way to Shivagange
The trek after this place is a little steep and contains more rocks. The steps are very narrow making it difficult to trek. People above 50 age and below the age of 12 years are strictly advised not to go beyond this point. At the top of the hill, you find another Nandi and a temple of Ram. There is ample space to sit and spend some time here before you start your trek down.
Do not carry water or any eatables. There are monkeys which will attack you the moment they see any eatables or water with you
Before you start the trek, few people suggest you to leave your footwear. Please ignore them. The trek requires footwear.
There are good number of shops located on the way to trek which offers you some eatables and drink. So there is no need to worry about that. However, the cost is double.
Strictly avoid trekking with children below age 12.
Have breakfast and start your trek and try to reach back by lunch.
Shiva temple located in the HAL road of Bengaluru is a must visit temple in Bangalore.
About Shivoham Shiva Temple
The Shivoham Shiva temple located in the old airport or HAL road was built by Ravi V Melwani in the year 1995. The temple was consecrated in February 1995 by Sri Shankaracharya of Sringeri. The idol of the Shiva was created by the sculptor Kashinath. The speciality of this idol is that it was built without a measuring tape or any blueprint for that matter. The idol of Shiva is 65ft tall and a major attraction.
Apart from the Shiva idol, temple has many other attractions
The entrance of the temple has 25 feet tall Shiva linga at the entrance. This the biggest Shiva long entrance in Bengaluru
Lord Ganesha Statue
The temple also hosts a 32 feet tall ganesh idol. The ganesh idol was built later and unveiled in the year 2003.
Amarnath Panch Yatra
The temple has also recreated the model of Amarnath panch yatra which includes the places of Haridwar Hrishikesh Bhadrinath Kedarnath and Amaranth. One has to take this yatra by travelling through a man made cave and there is a fee of Rs 50.
The temple also has the depiction of Baraha jyotirlingas. The baraha jyotirlingas are the 12 pilgrim places where the jyotirlinga are located in India . These places are Somnath, Mallikarjun, Mahakaleswar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath. Bhimashankar, Vishwanath Temple. Tryambakeshwar, Baidyanath, Nageshwar, Rameshwaram, Grishneshwar.
How to Reach Shiva Temple
Reaching the temple is very easy even by the public transport. All the BMTC buses from Kempegowda bus stand (majestic ) to ITPL and Kadugodi go via this temple.
One can also go by Metro and get down at Indira Nagar Metro station and then take an auto or a cab.
As soon as you enter, you will see the ticket counter for special darshan which cost you 250 ( during weekend) and 150 during weekday. The temple authorities force you to buy this ticket but you can ignore them as the temple will not be crowded. You can buy the ticket of Rs 50(150 during weekend)
It was a long pending plan and a must in bucket list to trek Kodachadri before we made plan for ourselves to experience the beauty of Kodachadri. It was a lifetime experience to trek one of the most beautiful places one can witness. Kodachadri is undoubtedly one of the must trekking places in Karnataka.
About Kodachadri :
Kodachadri is a mountain peak with dense forests located at Shivamogga District, Karnataka. It is 10th highest peak (1343 mts above sea level) and 3rd most intense trek in Karnataka. It is also known by name “Kutachadri” and “Kodashi Parvatha”.
Details of Kodachadri Trek:
Distance : 24 kms both ways
Difficulty Level: Medium
Time Taken: 4 to 5 hours (1 way)
Ideal time to Visit: July to December
Suggested Age group: 7 to 40
Kodachadri is located between Shivamogga and Kolluru,
By Air: Mangaluru airport is the nearest airport. One has to travel to Kolluru by road or by rail(not so frequent)
By Train: The nearest railway station is Byndoor (BYNR ) is 28kms from Kollur and from here one has to reach the any of the 3 trekking options mentioned below.
By Bus – One has to take bus from Shivamogga (around 3 hours) or Kolluru (1 hour) and hire a local jeep to reach base camp. There are direct buses from Bangalore to Sampekatte, Nittur and Kollur.
Own Transport: Travelling by own transport should be a good option if you find a place to stay where you can park your vehicles.
There are 3 routes to reach the Kodachadri peak.
SampeKatte – One has to get down at Sampekatte located around 10 kms from Base Camp and hire a local jeep till Forest Check Post.
Options : Can trek or go by jeep to peak. Get to see Hidlumane Falls, if by trek.
Nagode – Get down at Kolluru Wildlife Sanctuary (Base Camp) and trek
Nittur: One can get down at Nittur and start trekking. Jeeps are also available from this point and they go via Sampekatte. This route joins the option 1 of via Sampekatte at Hidlumane.
There is an entry fee of Rs. 25 per head which needs to be paid at Forest Check Post.
Yes, if you are taking the option 1 or 3 .
Bangalore to Kodachadri:
We traveled from Bangalore to Sampekatte by Bus which is around 10 hours journey, and from Sampekatte we were picked by homestay guy. We reached homestay by 7 in the morning. Luckily we reached as planned which provided us the ample of time to refresh ourselves and finish our breakfast.
Reaching the Kodachadri Peak:
We chose SampeKatte route as we get to see Hidlumane Falls. We were accompanied by guide which is a must to trek safe. (Homestay helped us to find 1). The trek can be divided into 3 parts.
Trek To Hidlumane Falls:As we started from the Sampekatte, the trail was pretty easy. It was actually the jeep route to Kodachadri. After walking a KM or more, we had to deviate from the jeep route to enter into the thick forest of Mookambika forest reserve. The trek suddenly got interesting as we started to explore the forest with considerable amount of ascend. After walking for around 3 Kms from the deviation, we reached Hidlumane.
Hidlumane is the last house and there is a small shop located. We had buttermilk and started our journey to the most awaiting destination Hidlumane falls. Soon, the trail provided us the view of the paddy field with the mountain as the background. After walking for 15 to 20 minutes, we started witnessing a series of falls and trekking through the falls alongside was a totally different experience. The final falls was the Hidlumane falls which was falling from a height of around 50 Ft. Taking a dip in the falls, we continued our trek to the Kodachadri.
2. Trek to Peak:
We had ample amount of time to reach and peak. Path was slightly slippery at few places and very steep at few places. The view of mountains makes you overcome your tiredness and provides refreshing and unique experience with breathtaking views and paths. We find it difficult to explain the beauty of nature.
It took around 3 hours to reach the Jeep Point (2 kms away from peak) where we had our lunch and gave ourselves some time before moving further.
There is a PWD house which can be booked though online which we explored but after seeing the PWD house, we felt happier for not able to get accommodation here.
There is a temple of Mookambika devi here.
We started to peak and it took us around 50 mins to reach to point while travelling through breathtaking views and paths covered with clouds and sun rays peeking through it.
They say kodachadri is the peak one can witness beautiful sunset and true to its word we were blessed enough to witness 1 on the day. It is a memorable experience that we find difficult to put our emotions through words.
3. Reach Base Camp:
It was dark and our guide / homestay had booked jeep for us to reach base camp. It took us 1 hour to reach homestay which was around 12 kms from peak and road was in very bad condition. One has the option to walk back by jeep route too. We opted to take a jeep ride as we wanted to witness the beautiful sunset and it was pretty late to walk back.
Temples at Kodachadri:
Sarvajna peetha –
It is a is a small temple at the peak where Adi Shankara Acharya meditated. This small structure bears a name which is similar to Sarvajñapīṭha, also called Sharada Peetha of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sri Mookambika Devi temple –
It is located near travellers’ bungalow and is believed to be the origin of Sri Mookambika Devi.
Visit to near by places.
We booked a jeep to visit near by places and thanks to homestay guy for suggesting beautiful places nearby.
Sharavathi Back waters / The Hanging Bridge:
It is located around 10 kms from Sampekatte and provides you space to spend some good time. Boat rides are available and you can get 1 if you are lucky enough.
Kolluru Mookambika Temple:
One of the oldest pilgrimage temples located in Karnataka. We were lucky enough to get ample time to visit and spend some good time at temple.
We had booked Durgamba bus from kolluru to Bangalore and reached back Bangalore which completed our one of the most memorable trips /treks.
Other Places to Visit:
Nagara Fort (Located 6 kms from Sampekatte), Udupi, Jog Falls etc.
Suggestions to Trek to Kodachadri:
It is better to trek via Sampekatte or Nittur as you get to see Hidlumane falls.
Hidlumane falls, located in the Mookambika reserve forest in the shivamogga district is one of the famous waterfalls in Karnataka.
Details of the Hidlumane Falls:
Hidlumane falls is not just one waterfall but a series of cascading waterfalls. Each waterfall is a beauty in its own. Each waterfall is hidden from the cascading fall. The last hidlumane falls gives an enthralling experience to the visitor and to get under this waterfall which is falling from 40 to 50 ft is a totally an experience you cherish for the rest of your life.
How To Reach Hidlumane Falls
Hidlumane falls is secluded in the western ghats and there is no easy way to reach here than trekking.
Trek to Hidlumane Falls
Trekking to hidlumane waterfalls is a wonderful experience for all the adventureres . The trail starts from two places : Nittur and Sampekatte.
Total distance of the trek : 4 KMS(one way)
Time taken : 2 hours (one way)
Entry fee: 25 RS per head
Details of trek to Hidlumane Falls
The trek trail starts from sampekatte with a normal mud road on which all the jeeps go to Kodachadri . After around 1.5kms from Sampekatte , there is a deviation from the Jeep road to the right. But, one has to walk a few meters in the direction of Jeep road , pay the forest fees and come back.
As one deviates from the Jeep track, there is a small stream of water that needs to be crossed . Crossing this stream of water is quite challenging during the monsoon. After crossing the stream of water, one has to trek through the jungles with a considerable ascend. The trek through this part is quite enthralling as you explore into the deep forest .
After nearly an hour of trek, you will reach a flat surface where plenty of paddy crops are grown and a small house awaits you in the backdrop of the mountains. The house is the hidlumane. Mane stands for home in Kannada. There is a small shop run by the hidlumane family where one can buy biscuits, chocolates etc. One can also taste the buttermilk which rejuvenates you after the trek.
This is also the place where the trek from the Nittur route joins . From this distance , hidlumane is hardly 30 minutes of trek . One would start feeling awarded as he sees the first waterfall but after proceeding the trek for 5 more minutes , Hidlumane falls would sure to make the trekker spellbound.
It is quite common that the trekkers continue to trek to Kodachadri after completing the Hidlumane falls. One has to trek through 8 Kms to reach Kodachadri from the falls. We trekked till Kodachadri and you can read about the details here.
A perfect weekend trekking within 100 KMS of Bengaluru, Makalidurga Trek is one of the top destination. Located to the north of Bengaluru around 60 KMS away from Bengaluru and 15 kms from Doddaballapur, Makalidurga offers an enthralling experience for the trekkers around Bengaluru.
Details of the Makalidurga Trek:
Distance: 7 Kms (both ways included)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Time Taken: 3 to 4 hours
Ideal time to Visit: October to March
Suggested Age group: 12 to 50
Reaching Makalidurga Trek:
Makalidurga trek has got very good connectivity as compared to most other trekking places
Train: Most preferred mode of transport for most of the trekkers would be to go by train. There is a direct passenger train from Bengaluru cantonment station which starts at 07:20 AM and reaches there by 08:55. If you are planning for an early morning trek, catch the evening train Hindupur passenger and stay overnight at Makalidurga.
Bus: To reach by bus, take a direct bus to Doddaballapur from Bengaluru and then from Doddaballapur, take a local bus (which are less in frequency) or hire a local taxi or auto
Own Transport: Travelling by own transport should be a good option as it is just around 55 to 60KMS from Bengaluru. Localities ask for parking charges of around RS 50.
Taking the Train Route?
If you are travelling by train, get down at Makalidurga railway station and walk along the direction of the train for about 2 kms. The walk on the track is a unique experience that only Makalidurga trek provides. You need to walk till you will find a board which reads 53/400. This is where the trek actually begins.
Take a left just after the board and you see the trail of the Makalidurga Trek. If you are travelling by your own transport, you can either park your vehicle at the Makalidurga railway station and walk on the railway track or choose to park in the open space just near the track. Park your vehicle and cross the railway track and your trek begins. Villagers charge around INR 50 to 100 based on the number of visitors during your visit.
There is an entry fee of RS. 250 which needs to be booked online through Myecotrip. Make sure you book well in advance as the crowd is more during the peak season i.e. from October to March.
About the Makalidurga Trek:
As you are about to start the trek, you find a temple of Krishna at the right side. Take the blessing and proceed for the trek. The initial trail of the trek is a plain road which lasts for a very short distance. The trek then elevates by a small angle where you get the feel of the trek actually beginning. Make sure you follow the arrow marks (marked in green) through the entire stretch. Failing to identify the path at any point of time, pause for a while and look for the arrow. There are plenty of arrows marks put which help the trekkers not to lose the path. After travelling for some more distance, you see the elevation has increased suddenly where you find bit difficult especially if you are beginner. This particular part of the section provides you the experience of trekking through the rocks. After travelling for a good 45 minutes or an hour, make sure to look back to provide your eyes a wonderful view of the lake. The lake is very well maintained and is a treat to watch the scene.
Total time to reach the top might take around 1 hour 30 minutes for beginners and for a regular trekker, 1 hour would be sufficient. As you complete 75% of the trek, you would see the walls of the fort which is the peak of the trek. The trek from this place to the top is easy as compared to the already traveled distance. As you reach the top, go to the extreme left to get the full view of the lake, which you saw earlier.
Temple at the top of Makalidurga
On the right side, there is a Shiva temple.
Take the blessings of the Lord Shiva and move the right most part to get a view of the train. This being a busy route, you would find plenty of trains passing through. Walking down the Makalidurga is easier but a few places take extra precaution as the rocks are slippery
The best time to trek is obviously early morning. Start your trek 8 AM if you are travelling by your own transport as it gives you spend most of the trekking in cooler temperature.
Know the important points:
Carry at least 2 liters of water. The last point of water resource is Makalidurga railway station. However, the station is very small and hence suggest not to keep this option. Carry your own food like biscuits, juice etc. The nearest place where you find food is Doddaballapur. Make sure you have your breakfast and arrive before lunch.
Register at myecotrip.com . There will be a forest officer at the start of the trekking who asks for the registration details.
Ever since I have watched the Chennai Express movie, I wanted to visit Dudhsagar waterfalls. And I am sure this would be in the list of every traveler. With my newly added hobby of trekking, trek to Dudhsagar was what I was looking for from past couple of months. And finally I was at Dudhsagar waterfalls. Thanks to the wonderful organizing by the Bangalore AdventuRers with whom I choose to trek to Dudhsagar after an amazing experience in the night trek to Skandagiri
Bangalore to Londa:
With lot of excitement to trek to Dudhsagar and to enjoy the sea of milk, we boarded the Rani Chennama train to Londa Junction from Bangalore. The train scheduled to reach Londa junction around 7 AM in the morning and the last thing we wanted was a delay in the train. Luckily, the train arrived Londa junction on time which provided us the ample of time to finish our breakfast.
Londa To Kulem
We then traveled from Londa junction to Kulem station in Chennai Vasaco Da gama express in general compartment. As the train entered in to the thick forest making its way through the tunnels, we kept mesmerizing the beauty struggling to find a word to explain the beautiful nature. Travelling through the tunnels was quite a refreshing experience for me after nearly 6 years.
There were total of 16 tunnels and after every tunnel, our eyes busied themselves in the search of the Dudhsagar falls. And when we crossed the 11th tunnel, the mighty waterfalls was to our left. Every passenger in the train moved to their eyes to the left. The train slowed down allowing us to get a glimpse of the the Dudhsagar waterfalls but I was highly disappointed looking at the water level. It was the September 3rd week ; monsoon was not over yet but the falls had reduced to a great level. Anyways, within 10 minutes, we reached our destination Kulem station, where our guide awaited us for the trek to begin.
The Trek to Dudhsagar Begins:
After a bit of warm up and some stretches to our rusted body parts, we entered the jungle with a bit of ascend.
We crossed the railway track and entered the jungle again and in another 5 minutes we were on a broad mud road: the road that was meant for the Jeep safari. And From that point till the waterfalls it was just a long walk with no ascend or descend which is why I decided to call it as not a trek but a long walk. The walk in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary was surely exciting where we witnessed different types of flowers, we crossed multiple streams of water and also saw a snake.
After walking nearly 8 KMS, we reached a home stay where we had our delicious lunch and a small break of 15 minutes.
We continued our walk after a small break to reach the bottom of the Dudhsagar waterfalls .
We spent some time there: few of them taking pictures with the mighty Dudhsagar waterfalls in the background, few of them enjoyed in the water and I kept gazing at the Dudhsagar waterfalls. Here was I, completing one of the most wanted trek. I wish I had arrived a month before to witness the falls flowing to its glory.
Night Stay At Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary:
We came back to the home stay where we had our lunch which was our abode for the night. The experience of staying in small house amidst the thick forest was surely an adventure. The dinner was as delicious as lunch and we slept with a full stomach.
Next day we took an early to Londa and from Londa to Bangalore with loads of memories.
Suggestions to Trek To Dudhsagar:
Trek to Dudhsagar is allowed only through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. The trek route of walking on the railway through the tunnels from the Castle Rock station is officially banned. There are enough policemen making sure you cannot escape.
I would suggest trek to Dudhsagar through some trekking clubs. The facilities in the location are not very great and you need to dig deep to reach there. Here is an article explaining everything about Dudhsagar that I could gather. Even if you try to explore on your own to save some penny, the chances you might not is more
Trekking shoes are optional. Your normal sports shoes suffice the need as the path is mostly a walk. I had trouble walking through the trekking shoes.
Plan your trek in July or August when the waterfalls is flowing to its maximum capacity.
Total trek distance : 12kms one way
Nearest railway station : Kulem
Forest charges : Applicable. Local guide will take care . You night have to pay extra for camera
Trek on Railway Track allowed ?: No
Best time to visit : During monsoon. A pure monsoon trek to enjoy the full view of Dudhsagar
Dudhsagar literally translates to ‘Sea of Milk’ . Once you visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls and look at the mesmerizing beauty of the falls, you would agree that Dudhsagar is an apt word and there cannot be a better word to describe the waterfalls.
Story Behind The Name Dudhsagar:
There was a beautiful princess. She lived in the palace which was bordering the forest. Daily, she used to take bath in a lake which was near to the castle and after finishing the bath, she used to drink the sweetened milk in a golden jug. One day, when she was bathing, she saw a prince watching her taking bath standing. She felt embarrassed and in order to hide herself from him, she started pouring the jug of milk in front of her so that it can form a curtain. It is said that till date the sweetened milk cascades down the mountain slope and flows in the waterfalls as a tribute towards the modesty of the princess.
Where is Dudhsagar Waterfalls Located?
Dudhsagar waterfalls is located in the state of Goa bordering Karnataka. While the top of the falls in the region of Karnataka, the bottom where the water falls lies in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary which is part of Goa. Located on the Mandovi river, Dudhsagar waterfalls is the highest waterfalls in the South India and third highest in India. Falling from a height of 310m (1017 feet) into 4 layered falls, Dudhsagar waterfalls is one of the top destinations.
How to Reach Dudhsagar Waterfalls?
There are 4 options to reach Dudhsagar.
Option 1: Trek From Castle Rock :
The nearest railway station for the Dudhsagar waterfalls is Dudhsagar railway station. However, many trains do not have an official stop here. Hence, you need to get down at the Castel rock and walk on the railway track to reach the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The total trek distance is around 12 to 14 Kms and one has to pass through 11 tunnels which is a different kind of experience. Unfortunately, the sad news is that, the Karnataka government has banned this option. Hence this is no more an option.
Option 2: Train Travel :
All the trains travelling from Londa Junction to Kulem Station go via Dudhsagar falls. The trains slow down here allowing the passengers to get a picturesque view of the waterfalls. However, the very drawback of this option is you will get few seconds to enjoy the beauty. The luxury of spending ample amount of time gazing at the beautiful falls isn’t available. This option also gives you the expeirence of travelling through the tunnel. There are total of 16 tunnels. Dudhsagar falls is between the tunnel 11 and 12. So, make sure you are glued your eyes to the left side of the train (if you are travelling from Londa to Kulem).
Option 3: Trek From Kulem:
The most popular way to reach the Dudhsagar waterfalls is to trek from Kulem. The trek trail starts within few meters outside the Kulem station. The trail takes you through the dense forest before you reach the falls. The total distance is around 12 KMS and it would take around 4 to 5 hours to reach. The difficulty level is easy as there is not much to ascend or descend. All you need to do is travel on the wide mud road to reach the place. However, you cannot explore on your own and need to hire a local guide. The charges are Rs 2000 for a minimum of 4 people and then changes based on the number of people. They take care of the forest permission, life jacket as well.
Option 4: Jeep Safari from Kulem:
If you are not fit enough to travel 12 KMS one way, you can as well opt for jeep safari. The safari charges are approximately 500 Rs per person. Before you are excited too much, this option is allowed only from October during the waterfalls is not even to half of the fullest. Earlier, own vehicles were allowed but now this is been stopped and you are forced to choose the jeep safari.
There is no accommodation near Dudhsagar falls. The nearest accommodation options are available in Kulem. The options aren’t plenty. After a lot of research, I have found couple of options
If you are planning to trek on yourself, you can choose the above accommodation options. However, there is a forest department required and the permission is provided only with a local guide. The resorts can arrange the guide upon request and the charges are 2000 Rs for 4 people.
Best Option to Trek Dudhsagar?
I have explored many options to trek to Dudhsagar waterfalls. Since the option through Castel Rock is banned now, the best option is to travel through trekking clubs. Few trek clubs provide a stay in the jungle which is an amazing experience.
Best time to Visit?
Undoubtedly, best time to visit the falls is in the monsoon, when the rain is at its peak. The picture in this article is taken in the 3rd week of September. Hence any visit after monsoon is likely to disappoint you.
Total trek distance : 12kms one way
Nearest railway station : Kulem
Forest charges : Applicable. Local guide will take care . You might have to pay extra for camera
Lalbagh might be a common place for many Bengalurians. Taking an early morning walk in the green rich Lalbagh is something that most of the South Bengalurians have done. But, what attracts a lot of people for the Lalbagh is the flower show for the Independence day and Republic day. Like every year, Lalbagh botanical garden in Bangalore is all set for the famous Lalbagh flower show to celebrate the Independence day. And this time the theme is special as it is dedicated to the Indian forces: Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. The objective of this theme is to bring the sense of patriotism in the minds of the citizens. The Lalbagh flower show is showcasing more than 87 varieties of flowers. Check out some amazing pictures of the Lalbagh flower show
The Siachen Glacier at Lalbagh Flower Show:
Siachen is the highest battleground in the world.
Soldiers reaching the Siachen Glacier
Military Base camp
Soldier Guarding the Border Line:
In addition to the armed forces, there is a section which is dedicated to the ISRO GSLV
The flower show is also dedicated to 85th Film anniversary.
Picture of film reel
In addition to this, one can also find plenty of shops allowing one to shop plenty of things.
The flower show has started from August 4th and will be open for the public till August 15th. The charges for the show is 70 RS for adults and 20 Rs for children. To reach Lalbagh, you can avail the services of Metro. There are good number of buses reaching Lalbagh from Kempegowda bus stand Majestic, K R Market and even Banashankari bus stop.
Shravanabelagola, located at a distance of 143 KMS from the capital city of Karnataka, Bengaluru is famous for hosting the tall statue of the Lord Gomateshwara popularly called as Bahubali. Mahamastakabhisheka at Shravanabelagola to the Lord Bahubali revered mainly by Jains is an event that occurs once in 12 years.
About Lord Bahubali:
Lord Bahubali is the first Thirtankara who achieved the salvation. Commonly called as Gommateshwara, he meditated motionless for a year in the standing position. He was born to Rishabhanatha and Sunanda in the Ishvaku dynasty, Having fought with his brother, he felt disgusted and renounced all his powers and also became Digambara(leave all his clothes) and went on to meditating standing for one year.
History of Mahamastakabhisheka at ShravanaBelagola:
The statue of Lord Gomateshwara was built in Shravanabelagola around 981 AD. And the procedure of Mahamstakabhisheka is said to be started in the same year. Thus, the largest festival of the Jain community started more than 1000 years back. Millions of people around the world gather here to witness the festival. The festival is celebrated every 12th year. The Mahamastakabhisheka ended on July 29th 2018 after an extension of months. The festival was supposed to end on 25th February. This is the 88th Mahamastabhisehka performed at Shravanabelagola.
About Mahamastakabhisheka at Shravanabelagola:
Mahamastakabhisheka as the name suggests is the grand festival of anointment of libations to the lord Bahubali. It involves smearing of the Lord Bahubali idol by the contents of 1008 pots carried by the devotees. There are in total of 21 types of Abhishekas done. Below is the list of few of the common types of Abhisheka.
Jalabhisheka ( Anointment of water)
Ksheerabhisheka ( Anointment of milk)
Haldi Abhisheka (Anointment of turmeric powder)
Kesar Abhisheka ( Anointment of Sandalwood paste)
Pushpabhisheka ( Anointment of Flowers)
Missed Mahamastakabhisheka at Shravanabelagola?
Feeling sad for missing out on the biggest festival? No worries. Though you need to another 12 years to witness the festival, attend the Mahamastakabhieskha in Dharmsathala in 2019.
How to Reach Shravanabelagola?
Shravanabelagola is around 147 KMS from the capital city of Karnataka. The place is well connected.
The nearest airport to Shravanabelagola is the Bangalore International airport. From Bangalore Airport, you can hire a cab to Shravanabelagola which is roughly 200 KMS. You can also reach the Bangalore bus stand or city railway station from where there are good number of buses and trains.
There are around 5 trains from Bangalore Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna station and Yeshwantpur railway station.
Buses directly to Shravanabelagola are less in number. However, you can catch the Hassan bus and get down at Hirisave from where Shravanabelagola is just 18 KMS. From Hirisave, there are enough local connectivity and also buses. From Shravanabelagola bus stand, the temple is clearly visible and walkable.
By Own transport:
Travelling through the own transport is one of the best option. Travel in the Bangalore – Mangalore Highway and take a deviation to the left at Hirisave.