Lakkavalli dam - BRP

Bhadra river project or BRP very famously know to people is a huge dam built across the River Bhadra.This place is also known as Lakkavalli dam since this is located very close to Lakkavalli village.This place is 18 Kms from Bhadravathi town.The drive from Bhadravathi through the Umblebayalu resrve forest atkes one through the densely forested area.This dam was designed By SIR M.Vishweshwaraiah , the then chief Engineer of Karnataka state.It's a 194 Ft high , multipurpose dam serving the purpose of irrigation and there is also a Generating station with two turbines.

The dam is beautiful with full of water through out the year.The dam site is very picturesque.Like any other Dam site there are lots of forested islands with the hill ranges forming a beautiful backdrop.There is also Bhadra wildlife Sanctuary in the backwaters of this dam.The Bhadra wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 492 KM square.One can spot wild animals like Tiger,leopard.Herds of Elephants,Spotted dear.The sanctuary has started a tiger-conservation project called 'Project Tiger' which is an initiative from the Indian Government.When I was a child we have seen a tiger entering the township from this reserve.

This place is equidistant from Bhadravathi as well as Shimoga.But the drive from Bhadravathis is very picturesque. The Twilight hour is the beat time to visit this area.One can capture amazing pictures.Recently the Jungle lodges have started the resort inside the Dam site area and is called River tern Lodge.Nice place to stay .Generally booked over the weekends.

Getting here :

By Road - BRP is 18 Kms from Bhadravathi and Tarikere.From Bangalore,Bhadravathi and Tarikere both are well connected by road.KSRTC has recently introduced Volvo buses which are comfortable and fast way of reaching Tarikere and Bhadravathi from Bangalore.

By Rail - Bhadravathi and Tarikere has a railway station and there are frequent trains that run to Shimoga from Bangalore and Mysore.Birur Junction is around 60 Kms from Shimoga and is well connected by train to most part of India.

Accommodation : There are lots of decent budget hotels in Bhadravathi.But there is resort River tern lodge run by Jungle lodges and is a nice place to stay.

Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary

A drive from Gajanur on the Tirtahhalli road along the backwaters of Tunga through the row of trees , amidst dense forest of Shettyhalli wildlife Sanctuary leads to a tiny little village of Mandagadde.Malnad region has two famous bird sanctuaries. One's the Uluve Bird Sanctuary and the other one is the Mandagadde Bird sanctuary. The drive from Gajanur to Mandagadde is very pleasant and the picturesque. To reach this place. One doesn't need to go through tough terrain but a simple drive on straight road one can see a tiny island formed by Tunga river.That is the Mandagadde Bird sanctuary. Three species of birds mainly the median egret, the little cormorant, and the darter visit during onset of monsoon n stay till early October for breeding and August is the peak season and total number of birds during this month is some where around 5000.
A watch tower is built on the banks of the river tunga to catch the sight of these birds. one can also sit on the river bank and have a look at these visitors dart into the water in search of their catch.One can also go for a Coracle ride to have a close look. The day I visited, I think I was extremely lucky that I got the opportunity to spot a snake bird fishing and feed it's little one. Thanks to the camera I have. Getting here :
By Road - Mandagadde is 30 Kms from Shimoga .From Bangalore,Shimoga is well connected by road.KSRTC has recently introduced Volvo buses which are comfortable and fast way of reaching Shimoga from Bangalore. Shimoga is around 270 Kms from Bangalore.
By Rail - Shimoga has a railway station and there are frequent trains that run to Shimoga from Bangalore and Mysore.Birur Junction is around 60 Kms from Shimoga and is well connected by train to most part of India.

Accommodation : There are lots of decent budget hotels in Shimoga.But , during my last visit I saw that a resort has come up near Mandagadde.It looks like this tiny village is getting a place on wildlife map finally.

Tunga Anicut

10 Km drive from Shimoga on the way to Tirthahalli road takes you to Tunga Anicut built across the river Tunga.The journey to Gajanur through lush green paddy fields and arecanut plantations is very picturesque.The dam is in S-Shape and uniqueness about the dam is , there are no huge Crest gates and is more like an Earthen Dam.Recently the height of the dam was increased.There are lots of forested islands in the Catchment area which makes the view surrounding the dam fantastic and makes an ideal picnic place.This region receives lot of rainfall and is lush green.This place has superb tropical forests and some very pretty hilly areas.

During heavy rains in monsoon, the water level in the dam raises and the water gushing out of the dam presents a sight that is attracting visitors.The day I visited, due to the copious rains during the week,water was let out of the dam as the storage in the reservoir has reached the full level. The dam is quite small and on the day of my visit Tunga was just four feet below the danger mark and provided a spectacular sight.

Getting here :

By Road - From Bangalore,Shimoga is well connected by road.KSRTC has recently introduced Volvo buses which are comfortable and fast way of reaching Shimoga from Bangalore. Shimoga is around 270 Kms from Bangalore.

By Rail - Shimoga has a railway station and there are frequent trains that run to Shimoga from Bangalore and Mysore.Birur Junction is around 60 Kms from Shimoga and is well connected by train to most part of India.

Accomodation : There are lots of decent budget hotels in Shimoga.But , there is an Inspection Bungalow in the Dam site and the reservation authority is the The Executive Engineer , Upper Tunga Project,Shimoga.The booking can be done by reaching the engineer on 08182-222972.If you want to experience the rustic malnad life, you can stay at the locals residents as well.

Amrithapura

Amritapura - The Historical village is located in Tarikere taluk of Chickmagalur district and is famous for The Amriteshwara temple.10 Kms from Tarikere town is the 900 year old Amriteshwara temple built by hoysalas in 1196.

Hoysalas built many ornate temples like the one's you find at Belavadi,Bhadravathi and this is also one of those fine example of architectural wonders. Like the other Hoysala temple, this is also a star shaped temple built using Soft Clay stone ( Balapada Kallu ).The base of the wall has 5 moldings which is an older Hoysala style and the entrance has a open Mandapa with many rows of shining lathe turned pillars that support the ceiling of the mantapa. The shrine is connected to the Open Mandapa by a Closed Mandapa. The Shrine is Square shaped with Carvings of Asthadikpalakas, The carving referring Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara is really Good. The lotus here represents Lord Brahma, the Chakra represents Lord Vishnu and the Nataraja in Tandava represents Lord Shiva.

At the entrance of the Sanctum Santorum is the carving of shradula.Shradula is a Mythological Animal Shardula.This animal has the body of an elephant , head of a crocodile and tail of a peacock.

At the Sanctum Santorum is the Shiva linga which is a saligrama from Nepal and not a carved Shiva linga like we find in other temples.

The outer wall of the temple has sculptures depicting the tales of Ramayana,Mahabaratha and Krishna leela.The Ramayana is Sculpted on the South side of the wall.The whole epic of Ramayana , is sculpted in an Anti-Clockwise direction which is very unusual. On the rear side of the temple are the Sculptures of the ShilaBalike which is usually found in all Hoysala Temples. The North side of the wall has sculptures describing Krishna Leela and the remaining carvings depict Mahaabaratha.On one of the panel, the Chief architect of the temple , Ruvari Mallitamma has also shown the way they built temples. it starts with a plain stone, next they make a rough sketch of the design and at last is the fine, detail sculpture. Also very prominent is the Original Hoysala emblem of Sala Fighting the tiger.

To reach Amrithapura, one needs to take a left turn just before Tarikere on NH206.A Kaccha road of 8 Kms leads to Amrithapura Village.
Nearest Railway station is Tarikere.

There are no hotels at Amrithapura and one can stay over at Tarikere.
Nearby Interesting places are Kemmanagundi,Kalhatti fallls,Hebbe Falls,Bhadravathi,Lakkavalli.

Hebbe Falls

If you are a Roadster with wind in you hair, then Hebbe falls is the ideal place to twitch. As one takes the road from Lingadahalli to Kemmanagundi, sprightly falls in two steps become very prominent. Yes, they are the Chikka Hebbe and Dodda Hebbe. The Hebbe falls in two steps as mentioned above.The drive to this place is captivated by mist shrouded forest.

The clouds cast a white blanket through out the journey. One can either trek a distance of 16 kms from Kemmanagundi to reach Doopadagiri estate and then reach Baby estate through the rolling mist or simply take the Four wheel driven jeep ride along a steep narrow path that meanders up from Kemmanagundi to reach the Baby estate. From baby estate, a walk of a Kilometer inside the estate after crossing three high current streams, takes one to the Mesmerizing Chikka Hebbe Falls.

To reach Dodda Hebbe, after Doopadagiri before taking a right turn to Baby estate, one needs to turn left to reach Dodda Hebbe. This trek is very treacherous and has to be trekked.
This Roaring falls gushes from a good Height and demands one to stand under the cascading sheets of water and one can enjoy wriggling in pleasure. It’s an idyllic place, devoid of cell phones, the usual city pollution and other tourist is the Hebbe Falls.
This moss laden region is full of leeches during monsoon. It’s advisable to carry salt or Snuff powder to get rid of leeches. The best protection from leeches is to mix snuff powder with Coconut oil and apply till knee length. The Leeches are just not attracted to you and no leech bites. Travel light since there is no place to keep bags... They are bound to get wet. The wintry chill in the air near the falls is sharp biting.
To reach Hebbe Falls, Reach Kemmanagundi and hire a jeep to hebbe falls. One can also Contact Mr.Babu for this service on 91-9449700403. The road can also be trekked.

This place is closed after six in the evening since the animal movement is very high. There are no places to stay near Hebbe and the closest place is Kemmanagundi.

The superlative beauty cannot be described by words and just needs to be experienced. My happiness was percolating and I was totally thrilled looking at this falls amidst the forest.

Kemmanagundi, the slumbering hamlet

Kemmanagundi, Derived from the kannada word Kempu Mannina Gundi which in English means, The land of Red soil. This place also gets its name from the presence of Iron ore which makes the soil look red in colour. Kemmanagundi or The Krishna Rajendra Hill station is a weekend break from Bangalore and is around 260 Kms.This slumbering hamlet is at an altitude of 5000 Ft above sea level. This place has always been famous as hill station and the Iron ore mines, though the mining doesn’t happen anymore.

While I have made around fifty or more visits to this place but, it’s only now I decided to pen down about this place.

This place is well connected and navigable. The road traverses the entire stretch upto an altitude of 4700 ft. This Spectacular Mountain Vista is clothed in unexplored region.
This is one of the places in Malnad where one comes across a vast canvas of Geography and avifauna, of botanical and forest types. The most interesting journey begins from Kalhatgiri where the Deep forests begin. On either side of the roads are the continuous Coffee estates shaded by Teak, Silver oak and the Orange trees and of course, the numerous streams which come into life during monsoon.

With the vast presence of Massive trees, rarest orchids and ferns Kemmanagundi is a veritable paradise for nature lovers. There are number of trek routes and grasslands around Kemmanagundi which can be explored. My all time favorite has been the trek to z-point. It gets its name because of the Z Shaped route. The Road to this place is quite narrow and treacherous. In the mid way is the tiny Shanti Falls. From the tip of Z-Point the View of The Bhadra Dam is simply breath taking. Apart from the trek to z-point, one can also enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the Rock Garden and the rose garden near Rajbhavan. The view of Sunset from Rajbhavan just cannot be missed. The entire hill station is covered by landscaped gardens. The view of tanigebailu valley is pictureperfect. This area resounds with hoots of wide variety of Birds and insects.
One can ensconce oneself in one of the modest accommodations provided by the Horticulture department guest house. The Dattatreya Bhavan and RajBhavan are decent and quite comfortable.
It’s a Perfect destination to savor the exhilarating experience. There is certain vibrancy in the air and charge that gets one going.

Reaching there:

Drive from Bangalore via NH4 and later at Tumkur take NH206 and continue on the NH till u reach Birur. At Birur main circle take the road which goes to Lingadahalli and at Lingadahalli turn left to go towards Kemmanagundi.

This place can also be reached from Tarikere which is beyond Birur on the NH206.At Tarikere , take a left turn towards Lingadahalli and keep following the signboard to reach Kemmanagundi.


One can also take the Janshatabdi Express (Bangalore-Hubli) at 6AM from Bangalore city Railway station and get down at Birur. From Birur hire a Jeep or catch a private bus or a taxi to reach Kemmanagundi.

The nearest airport is Bangalore 260 Kms.

For detailed information on the route contact me.

Stay @ Kemmanagundi:
The most popular is the Horticulture department guest house. One can do the booking at Kemmanagundi Horticulture department guest house by calling 08261-237126 .At the hill station there are no private resorts or lodges or any home stay. But, there are many home stay near Kemmanagundi. Believe me, spending the night at Kemmanagundi is totally a different experience and don’t miss out on the night walk in the hill station.

What to carry???
Good pair of Floaters and non-slip shoes, so that you are prepared for the rain. Of course the Umbrella and water proof jacket. The temperature changes and nights are quite cold. It’s advisable to carry warm clothes with good torch with charged Batteries.

Kalhatti Falls

The cascading Kalhatti falls is 230 Kms from Bangalore. Immense trees, Coffee plants, creepers of pepper, cardamom and cinnamon interspersed with teak, Orange and Silver oak is what you find through out the journey to Kalhatgiri from Kalhattipura.

At Kalhatgiri, the main attraction is the Kalhatti falls. This falls hurtles from the top of Chandra Drona hill in ten steps to flow before the Veerabhadreshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This falls is tucked between the private Coffee estates is a good place for hiking. One can go climbing the rocks and that’s what is called Kalhatti in Kannada and try to explore the source of the falls. Kalhatti falls is best in monsoon and gives a stunning sight.

The pleasant forest air surrounded by dense forest and coffee plantation offers a great place for a picnic. A weekly sandy on Sunday happens at Kalhatipura and is worth watching, where the Villagers do their weekly shopping right from Bangles, Fishes to Groceries.

The only lace to stay at Kalhatgiri is the Horticulture department guest house which is facing the Kalhatgiri falls. The rooms have densely green views and one can listen to the sound of water playing over rocks.

From here, the route passes through Kemmanagundi and then to Bababudangiri and Mullaiyanagiri.

Getting there:
Drive from Bangalore via NH4 and later at Tumkur take NH206 and continue on the NH till u reach Birur. At Birur main circle take the road which goes to Lingadahalli and at Lingadahalli turn left to go towards Kemmanagundi. At a distance of 15 Kms from Lingadahalli is the Small village of Kalhattipura. Proceed in the direction of Kemmanagundi and take a left turn to reach this Cascade.

This place can also be reached from Tarikere which is beyond Birur on the NH206.At Tarikere , take a left turn towards Lingadahalli and keep following the signboard to reach Klhattipura.

One can also take the Janshatabdi Express (Bangalore-Hubli) at 6AM from Bangalore city Railway station and get down at Birur. From Birur hire a Jeep or catch a private bus or a taxi to reach Kalhattifalls.

The nearest airport is Bangalore 260 Kms.

Malnad , The Unspoilled Beauty

The very soul of my below writing and further writing on the places in and around Malnad is bound up with the ambience of my childhood and intense memories embodied in the surroundings of Malnad.This is an attempt to make people aware of the depleting beauty of this region.
Malenadu means in Hilly region. Male means Hill and Nadu means Region.Malnad covers portions of Shimoga , Chickmagalur, uttara Kannada and Hassan districts. It's a land of panoramic natural scene with crops like Areca nut, Coffee, Variety of Spices from pepper to Cardamom , and Beetle leaf. The forests are rich with precious trees like sandal, rose wood and teak. The sandalwood is the best of its kind in the whole world as its fragrance has a special quality and the oil extracted is used in sandal soaps, which is famous even now ( Mysore Sandal Soap ) :D.This region is also birth place for many rivers like Tunga,Bhadra,Sharavathi,Netravathi.

Malnad weather is wonderful through out the year and best in monsoon. One can See summer , Monsoon and winter in this region. During summer , the days are bit warm and nights are cool from April to may. During Monsoon , from June to August , it's raining continuously and receives an average rainfall of 1000 to 3800mm annualy.It's the finest time to experience Malnad Rain which never stops once started. Trekking during the monsoon has a special charm which no other season can provide and this region is heaven for trekkers, nature lovers. Winters are quite cold from October to January.
Being in this place is a retreat where one can discover almighty's creative talents at his very best. One can let the world drift away as one enjoys the exotic surroundings, spectacular mountains, sanctuaries of Seclusion ,lush green coffee plantation, unspoiled wilderness, gushing streams, surging waterfalls, breath-taking sunsets , a truly mesmerizing landscape. The air here is so pure and unpolluted with fragrance of Coffe,pepper,Cardamom and wide variety of flowers which are unique to this region. Numerous waterfalls drop over the mountain walls and hill sides. Rushing streams flood into rivers. Warm weather and heavy rains are ideal for the abundant growth of tropical vegetation which covers the country with thick forests. The monsoon brings greenery all around. Even an ordinary hill walk is a pleasure during the rainy season.

Plenty is there to write about this region and is famous not only for its natural beauty but also for its people, their custom etc. about which the narration will be made in my coming posts.

Hoguvenu Na, Hoguvenu Na,
Nanna Olumeya Goodige
Maleya Nadige,
Maleya Beedige
Siriya Cheluvina Roodige

Taken from Kuvempu's work…...