Sahasralinga and unchahalli fall

My third day of Uttar karnataka trip I covered unchahalli falls and sahasralinga.

It was on Sunday, the final day of trip.
Plan was to first see unchahalli falls reachable by bus.Next spot to see was sahasralinga in sirsi yellapura road.Sahasralinga is closer to sirsi..I also had a plan for seeing banasvasi temple ..But with delays of public transport  and different directions of  these places , covering three spots was difficult.

Sunday was a rainy day .

After breakfast I called for Auto.The receptionist a kind old man, had guided me bus route to reach heggarani a place around 30 KMS away from sirsi.I reached sirsi old bus stand by 10am. The bus  was empty . I  was only the second person in the bus . The bus started to heggarani after 30 minutes .

When bus reached mahaganapthi temple of sirsi it started raining.It had lot of free seats .So I shifted to many windows to check different views along the way.The bus was in same kumta route from sirsi for some distance and the took a diversion towards Heggarani.The route was becoming more beautiful by then. Many more green beautiful places were all around . Monsoons had painted the landscape with greener trees and grass.Rain wasn't very heavy.There were  uphill parts of road surrounded by green pasteurs .

Cows were seen leisurely grazing grass in these fields.

Heggarani
First destination in routes heggarani arrived.

It was small village hamlet with population less than  a  thousand.Still there wee decent roads,  basic shops, cooperative banks.I saw boards of taxis and bikes available to unchahalli falls..As soon I reached heggarani , I came out of bus. I had to open my umberalla as rains started heavier. I took shelter in a small eatery nearby busstop.There was an option of hiring a bike drop to waterfalls trek entrance.

A local man offered me this service at a very nominal charge of 50 rs for travel  of 5 kms.

Rain had become heavier and we started the journey after rains become slower.i still kept my umberalla over my head and wearing m

y Winter jacket.TVS Victor bike went over beautiful hills..Winds accompanied rains .My umberalla was feeling the force of winds.I had to hold it in tight hands.umberalla was completely reversed and trying to get out my holds..And in span of 15 minutes we reached  trek path to unchahalli falls by 12 pm.I asked the driver to come back by 1 pm to the entrance.

Unchahalli falls was discovered by British officer and hence called as  "lushington fall"  his name.Locally its name is kepe joga due it's huge defeaning noise it creates during full flow.

Trek path was around 1 kms.Firsr one has to cross trek path then to use stepped path.Each step was 3 feet long built flat concrete table .It was easier to go down.
Slowly walking in path down surrounded by large trees I reached first viewpoint . The top stream of water falls was visible in this point.One could see water flowing down the top  of waterfalls .It was still raining.Waterfalls  was covered with rain..
I went to second view point some 20 more steps down.Waterfalls gives us full length view  from top to bottom falls here.Some awesome photos can be taken here.

In final view point , one  can see valley  is surrounded by  the tall mountains.I walked little down and captured better pictures.

The waterfall
The stream starts somewhere far from top of mountains..Like crawled zig zag  path of snake , waterfalls comes down forward in a downward angle.Stream Path keeps on widening.In  phasewise increasing  was the downwards descend till falls .At beautiful concave top of hill stream just makes a wide big spread all over huge area hill top and then makes a fall.The fall is big enough that most part of water is spread in air.The rocks in path of fall are like peaked cones.So giving unique view of waterfalls.The feet of fall is visible but is not reachable from this view point.after falling to earth it quitely creates a water stream in valley.

Story of a fall
The skies behind the mountains were visible.The stream comes down along the path  from the mountain sources like fearless light into  the dark space. These  were all rain drops from skies..they gather together from various places.they come and gather together .stronger stream grows by unity of billions of water droplets together. strength comes from unity..flow is faster by their abundance. They come down hills swiftly and fall to the valleys .Some fast droplets even when they fall become moisture and dissolve in air.Water reaches earth with loud noise and continue their flow as stream into rivers and further to sea..

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Lunch

At 1 pm I walked back to the gate.bike driver was waiting for me..We reached heggarani bus stop..To pass on time till 1 :30 I went around fields and green Pasteurs of heggarani..I took bus back to sirsi.. It was again raining .Though Path back was very scenic around I took a nap for sometime during travel.

After lunch in sirsi is started my journey to sahasralinga 17 km from Sirsi.

Sahasralinga is place of religious importance in river salamala.It is famous for  many lingas carved out in the rocks in riverbed.
The Shiva Lingas were built under the patronage of Sadashivarayavarma, king of the Sirsi kingdom of early 18 th century.

Yellapura bus from sirsi is one of best way on getting here.sahasralinga cross is nearest bus stop.This place is scenic surrounded by areacanut farms , forests and hibiscus trees.The roads on sides of yellapura road are beautiful filled along green fields and forests.I took a right from yellapura road towards sahasralinga..First there were huge areacanut trees farms in these roads.Dogs were keeping eye on people.I saw a big house garden was full of flowers  surrounding huge house in centre.I tried to take pictures here.but the dogs in house was barking. I decided to walk along my path.Then I passed along the forests.Monkeys  carrying their  offspring were seated in the main road.As soon they see human movement  , they run back to jungle.it was only 1.5 KMS very scenic road through forest.I was the only one to walk till I reached sahasralinga river banks.As soon I saw sahasralinga I was fascinated.I  have seen sahasralinga in few pictures and excited now to see it in reality.Memories from pictures and reality is entirely different qualities . Here River flowing through so many lingas and basava nandis is eye soothing side.I guess this only such unique spot.
I got down in river and reached to few lingas in river.There were few spots that were difficult to reach due to good water flow. People were catching other hands to proceeds to some lingas on sides.The water currents were more pronounced in few parts.So one needs to tread the path cautiously . After spending sometime,  I walked towards other side of river.it was surprising to see a calm river on upper stream of the river.Riverflow is more in river beds  with linga.It was like two opposite sceneries close to each other within few metres.

I sat on rocks on a rock in middle of river  for  watching the river flow and sun slowly moving togwards west end , getting ready to set for that day.I walked back to entrance of Sahasralinga and had tea in a teashop.There was a hanging bridge around here.Walking along hanging bridge one can enjoy new views of the river.There was close by village in sonda that can be reached by hanging bridge.

I walked back to yellapura enjoying the views of forests, monkeys and arecanut farms. I reached yellapura sirsi road. I was waiting for bus back to sirsi..A small lotus pond is seen in center if green land.The pond is square in shape  Surrounded by green lawn around it.It was beautiful to see such a small lotus pond inside field.
Marikamba temple sirsi.

As soon I reached sirsi at 7 pm , I liked to see marikamba temple again.I walked through sirsi streets to reach banavasi road  where temple is situated.I got better views and pictures of temple in better light of evening..marikama temple is in high platform .It's wall painted with various mythological paintings.its khavi painting are unique art of 16 the century.i did a peaceful darshan of temple.
I took auto from the temple.By coincidence it was same autodriver who dropped me from temple in Friday.He was very happy that I travelled twice in Three days from temple in his auto service.He feels it's good coincidence from goddess.

With this I took the luggage and started back to Bangalore..

This fascinating trip to sirsi, Yana, sahasralinga, unchahalli, jog falls will remain in memories for a lifetime..

Monsoon trip to uttar karnataka - day 2 In yana and kumta

On second morning  after a sound sleep I got up to get ready and  see one of my dream landscapes the yana.Today was a day in which dreams will become a reality and stored as cherished memories.

Coming down to hotel reception I met the receptionist .He was guiding me daily by telling bus routes.he asked me about my plans for the day.
Once I told plan was to see Yana,
his suggetion was to reach a village called devanahalli and hire a bike to Yana.

Now there were three options to reach Yana hills

•  Reach kumta which is around 60 kms from sirsi and take rare afternoon  bus to Yana
• Go to devanahalli village from sirsi and take a bike or auto to Yana
• Reach bus stop in  kargod village next to yana cross and hire a bike /auto.

I took third option as I will get all three choices bike,auto and bus at 1 pm that comes from kumta.

I took sirsi kumta bus to stop at kargod.Auto from there took 350 rs for 16 km journey to reach Yana.
. Route took a left at Yana cross into a road running in deep forests.

There were few farm houses and small villages on the way..The road led me to gates of yana .I took some cashews from the hut shop.Trekking path divided into to two after 30 metres. I enquired the route to two young ladies at entrance
They confirmed straight one was route to yana hill.

 Path to yana

Stream near yana

Monsoon trip

As I went ahead in trek route , sounds of flowing water stream were increasing along the path.but waterway wasnt visible for sometime.There were few wooden seats on sides of route .Three circular resting points were under concrete roofs in different places in the trail.

Step by step downhill water flows

 Rains were playing hide and seek out of skies during the whole day.My  umbrella came handy whenever it rained.After 1 km, I found the waterstream on route's right side.Water was running down the hill in steeped phases from Yana hills adjacent to trek route .I went into water stream in two different places and clicked some beautiful pictures.the water was glittering and reflecting sunlight wherever path got exposed to the sunlight. one such place, when  water moved a step downwards, they divided along circumference of small rock  then joined to fall together .Further reaching ground they spread out  flat on surface of next step in the path.placing my feet on cool water stream was a first happy moment of the day.
I was in no hurry to reach my destination any time soon as I felt  this journey was itself was my destiny.

Paths of water divided before merging at  bottom

Water stream of yana

Moving futher were steps to mohini shikara.on the right was a small ganapathi temple

I worshipped ganapathi from opening in grilled doors and continued my hike .

Mohini shikara

                         Jungles of yana

Peaks of mohini shikara

Moving further I came to bhairavaeshwara shikara.There was Siva temple on the foot hills.The linga in Yana is suyambu(natural formation) and gets water droplets from roof of the cave.there is yearly car festival in yana.During british period there were around ten thousand people living around yana.now there are very few families living here including priest.after having darshan , I came around the temple.The temple security guided me to steps to ascend Yana caves at top.

Yana caves

There were around thirty steps to top entrance

For  first five minutes, I was alone in cave till the arrival of a tourist group.yana cave is truly amazing and wonder filled landscape.yana cave starts on left part of the hill and ends on other other side of hill.its is like walking into vaccum passage inside hill.the roof of yana  is also inconsistent.I saw just a stone separating two edges of roof.it reminded me of edakal cave in wayanad.In other part of cave I saw a heart shaped hole on the roof that brings in sunlight to the cave.cave  was dark in some parts and lighted in other parts as sunlights  comes in through the gaps of cave roof.

Light entering on the walls of cave

Stone connecting walls

Deep walls of cave and hole in roofs

Heart shaped roof

Temple in bhairavaeshwara shikara

Honey bees 

Shapes of yana - natural raw architecture

 It's really amazing experience to be in such place
I took group picture of a gang who were going vibhooti falls next .I was hesitant to ask lift to vibhooti falls.i came down right side of cave  there was stepped path that led out of caves .As I took steps down from ths hill, fresh rains started .I kept my dslr camera safe inside bag
I walked towards the temple.In one location I saw other hill mohini shikara surrounded by evergreen forest.I took a shot in my mobile phone.the photo came out as classy signature shot of trip itself.I took this from mobile camera under umberalla just before heavy rains.

Signature shot of yana.

I headed to the temple premises again due to heavy rains.when rains  stopped, I was about leave the place and catch 2 pm bus to kumta .By then railway employee spoke to me about my trip.I was telling my missing plan to vibhooti falls.He was also travelling to vibhooti waterfalls in private vehicle.There is another gate for Yana which is only 750 metres long.This gate connected to the road to gokarna and it  also connected vibhooti water falls.He suggested me to ask  for lift or hire a private taxi from the gate.So I headed to other gate of yana.I would see huge trees . The sun light was coming through green top of high trees.

As it had just rained there was beautiful reflections of daylight from water droplets floating on the green leaves.

                        Yana gate in Gokarna road

                         Huge trees -- visual delight in Yana trail

Leaves reflecting the sunlight after rains

It was 2 pm when I reached Yana gate.I had a cup of tea in hut shop.I requested few travellers  for drop to vibhooti falls.After 30 minutes , a driver agreed to help me.He was happy to drop me taking whatever money I was offering .his guests were a middle aged couple who were seeing vibhooti and heading toward Gokarna and murudeshwara temples.i was very grateful that people agreed to give a drop to gorgeous vibhooti falls.

The road from  Yana to vibhooti was  rough .It was uphill at start  and downhill by the time we moved closer to vibhooti.I could hear the sound of water flow along the road but couldn't see it.beautiful valley and mountains along the road were pleasant to my eyes.

vibhooti falls

From vibhooti gate, entrance fees was nominal 5 RS.Once you walk to it's trekking path , sound of water becomes louder.At one side down was  beautiful valley facing the sun.You can sit on wooden bench and see beautiful valley for a long time.

I saw a arecanut farm on lower lands of thick forests.In between woods of areacanut trees, they had planted bananas plantains.I guess reason would be arecanut tress may reduce the winds during rains and protect bananas from falling.

As I walked towards waterfalls I was amazed at sight of water falls that flows down in four steps

.one cannot see top stream beyond top

water source  .The stream takes a bigger descend from top and two more smaller jumps to the left first and the right .Finally it pours into a small pool of cool water.

water again overflows from this shallow pool to continue it's path .Vibhooti name  comes from three levels the water takes to reach the pool.the water here is very cool.The flow is through out the year.I could see young boy  diving into the descend of water falls into the pool.though this act was risky the same  can look adventurous to ones eyes in a naturally beautiful waterfalls

Natural pool Vibhooti falls

The soil here was little loose due to moonsoon rains.So walking on slopes can be skitty as I experienced.

After vibhooti falls the vehicle dropped me near highway in gokarna-kumta route.we passed through very beautiful villages in achave,hillur.they left me in bus stop near high way.i took my lunch at Pai hotel.Food tasted good and  I was little hungry. I took aa bu to kumta .kumta is town  on shores of arabian sea where one can regularly get buses to sirsi from kumta.I took a auto  to kumta beach.

Kumta beach is one of most beautiful beaches i haven seen in these parts after Gokarna beaches.there was a big hillock on the right on which sitting  and watching sea waves is a pleasure.

Monsoon had made sea rough than usual.The waves were fast .they were hitting the rocky shore enthusiastically and with never ending zeal.post watching sea I would write small poetic sentences very next week.

I took many pictures of sea waves rushing embracing rocky shores.sea waves once came fast and furious and hit the hillock with force that it could raise top to spread out into white medium  travelling up through the air and reach me with it's droplets .i was at edgenof rocks when sea touched me.just before horizon the water surface far was shining with descending sun light.The sun was shining like silver plate moving into dark clouds.few moments it came back to give one more beautiful view only to rest for the night.

There were some youth in white dresses who were celebrating ramzan on that day.

They requested me for their group pictures shot dslr cameras

As I shot some pictures they go more interested in pictures and started giving poses as different set of group.I sent them dslr pictures that night after reaching my hotel as mobile was off then.

I also took pictures of crescent moon near kumta beach bus stop.later realised it's crescent shape was  also related Eid .I took  bus to sirsi from kumta bus stand at 8 40 pm

I reached my hotel at 10 30.this was most full filling day as Yana was on my cards from past 1 year and now in my travelled places

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Like all good experiences coming to end this day also came to end.