The glory of Navadurgas - Channarayanadurga

Exploring places far-off, we usually forget to appreciate what is in and around us. To annul this habit, we embarked on exploring places close to Bangalore. Channarayanadurga grabbed attention for more than one reason. Half a day can be spent surveying the remnants of the fort besides admiring the view from different vantage points.

 

 

This piece of architecture was engineered by the not so eminent rulers of Madhugiri in the 17th Century. Fort has been occupied by Marathas, Mysore Wodeyars and eventually abandoned when it came under British rule. Treasure hunters have contributed immensely to the deterioration of the fort.

 

Consisting of three levels, the first is the strenuous part. The steep rock surface puts your cardiovascular fitness to a good test. Rock formations are fascinating, with beguiling contours made by flowing water. The landscape magnifies from a mere village to nearby water bodies, hills as far as your eyes can grasp, and a vast sky with feathery clouds. The scenery energises in the ascent, and soon fort walls are just a few steps away.

 

 

 

Walking inside the doorway of the fort takes you back in time. In the inner part sits a small pond undisturbed, in the company of a banyan tree. A compact temple on the shore, a tiny well, mantapa, forms the second level of the fort. The top of the fortress and the second rampart is visible from here. The climb here onwards is not demanding. Stroll around or sit by the pond, partaking in the tranquillity of the place.

 

 

 

The rectangular structure in the last part of the fort contrasts with the circular fortification of the first level. Various paths lure you into exploring the ruins, do so at your own risk, depending on the risk appetite. Only one pathway takes you to the crown of the fort. It is noteworthy how we huff and puff to hike this fort, which many years ago was built without machinery and technology.

Ramadevarabetta - a duet of legends

Legend in different time frames. First, the mythology of Ramayana and next, the legendary super-hit movie Sholay. Ramadevarabetta, close to Ramanagara, holds dear more than one reason for its prominence. The fictional Ramgad in the Indian film Sholay is the actual place at the foothills of Ramadevara Betta. Well laid out steps, painted colourfully, takes you to the top of the hill. A versatile place, it hosts a working temple for the spiritual, mesmerizing landscape for nature lovers. 

At 60 kilometres from Electronic City, Ramanagara, also known as the land of seven hills, has various viewpoints with captivating sceneries. The vast parking lot can accommodate several cars and motorcycles. A diversion at the humongous Hanuman statue on the main road will take you towards the destination. Apart from a small shop at the foothills, the main Mysore Road is the only other option for food. 

 

The hill is part of the Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary. This gives a chance to the bird watchers an up-close view of the rare birds. There is a check-post where Rs.25/- per person, Rs.10/- for a two-wheeler is collected. Remember, you are not allowed to fly your drone here. The timing for the temple is 9am to 5pm. Because of that, the gate will remain closed at other times. Climbing approximately 350 steps is not an arduous task. There are plenty of stone benches to rest, with ample greenery around.

Opposite the Rameshwara Temple, there are seven boulders, signifying Sapta Rishi (seven saints). The holy pond of Ramateertha is not accessible, as its depth is unknown. Folk tale says Rama shot an arrow to form the pond, which has not dried ever since. There are various small temples with statues of different deities. To add to that diverse enchanting scenery from a variety of viewpoints.

 

 Folklore tells us the story of Kakasura (king of crows). During the exile, Rama and Sita happened to visit this place. While Rama was asleep, the crow attacks Sita and not wanting to disturb the husband deep in sleep, she decides to tolerate the pain. Rama is awakened when a drop of Sita’s blood falls on him. Rama aims an arrow at the crow, at which the bird flew to Vishu and Shiva for refuge. They suggested asking for forgiveness from Rama. For forgiveness, the crow had to sacrifice a part of its body. Which happened to be the left eye. Hence it is said that crows can’t see from their left eye. Also, a crow has never been seen in the locality since.

Sugreeva captures the moment when Rama ascended the throne, with Sita on the left, Lakshmana and Hanuman on the right - carved on a stone. On his way to Kishkinda, he had to battle a demon named Sukhasura, during which he had placed the idol on the ground. After which, he could not move it and has remained there from then on. This is another legend from mythical times.

Thimappana Betta - picturesque location for photoshoot

Thimappana Betta, situated off Mysore Road, is a popular place for photoshoot. There are many hills around Ramanagara to explore. At approximately 70 kilometres from Electronic City, it is an ideal place for a half-day outing. A diversion after Ramanagara Bus Stand leads towards Kootagal Village. There is a board in Kannada indicating the deviation to go towards Thimappana Betta. At the entrance arch, a fee of Rs.20/- (two-wheelers) and Rs.50/- (four-wheelers) needs to be paid.

This place falls under Ramanagara Regional Forest. Whether you are paying for the forest department or the Temple is open to question. Tarmac is good all the way to the Temple. Watch out for the narrow stretch as you near the destination.

 

 You can no longer take the motorcycle atop the hill, as barricades are blocking it. A small pond next to the Thimappana Swamy Temple is serene, and opposite to the Temple, is one of the viewpoints, with a stone bench. A short hike on the hill from the parking lot is where you see the famous Twin Rocks. This forms the terrific backdrop for whatever the genre of the photoshoot. A 360-degree view of the surrounding scenery is captivating.

The twin rocks look very inviting for an adventurous person, though there is no obvious route to reach there. It is an ideal place to bask in the tranquillity of nature if there is no photoshoot in progress. 

There are no restaurants or shops nearby, though the Mysore Road highway has no dearth of options. Savour a Thatte Idli from one of the many restaurants near Bidadi en route.