KALLAHALLI & HOSAHOLALU.

Last saturday, we had planned a trip to Lord Varahanatha temple, at Kallahalli.

At around 12 pm, we started and proceeded  through the K R S  road. After K R S, the road continues  through DINKA, Bannangadi etc. Kallahalli is about 20+ kms away from KRS, on the banks of river Hemavathi.
   As always, rivers or waterfronts have always been my prime destinations,  but sad part is that, it is not permitted  to take photos of the Deity. A lot of development works  are going on- building renovation.
Some 14 years ago, I had visited the place, which at that time was in ramparts. The Idol  is 18 ft tall! but, lower part of the same - the Peetham has been burried in the ground to ease up viewing for devoties, which in turn raises the ground level to 5- 6 ft.
 I never enter temples which are crowdy  and that day was no exception- Vaikuntha Ekadashi. I stayed outside and shot some pics.

I thought it would be more joyful to shoot at the waterfront than enter the shrine.

I wish I could reach the island in the background,

As usual, rich blues and reflection fulfilled my thirst.

There is a stone structure which can be used as a prop, if found empty!  People who throng there, use it to have food and the result is  in the foreground.

Temple from front.

From the side. Observe the height of the temple, which was not so previously.

golden color of the shrine, always compliments the blues of the sky.

This time I used a new lens 70-300mm is usm, which I acquired recently.

 Afterwards,we proceeded towards Hosaholalu, near K. R. Pet. There is a Hoysala styled Temple, dedicated to Lord Lakshminarayana. By the time we reached there, the temple was closed and we could have the outer views only.

Hoysala architecture fascinates us with its intricate details. These are views  from behind the temple.

Finally it was 6 pm, indicating us to return home. we bid adieu with these flowers-

KARIKE ROAD.

   Recently we visited Karike road, which is known for waterfalls.

   Karike is a place situated at the southwest border of Kodagu District. The road leading to Bhagamandala, has a junction at the entrance gate of Bhagamandala, from which a right turn laeds to the Karike road. Though the road is said to be a state highway, its condition is pathetic- from motorist's point of view.

    A stretch of 30+ kms from the Bhagamandala juncton to Karike has been a visual delight. From a place called Tannimoni, the real drama starts- waterfalls at every nook and corner of the road!! total 34 waterfalls in just a span of 20kms, upto Karike. It was almost  the end of Monsoon,  so we were able to spot only a few- others had dried up.

Rich paddy fields mark the place  near Tanimoni, worth th framing.

 After Tannimoni, the land  between two hills narrows down and forms a gorge at Karike. Before waterfalls, we can have a glimpse of lush green  at our left.

The step by step structure of the paddyfields  caught my attention and I responded.

Gate of an estate. This type of  Gates ar common at our countryside, but  the rainy  ambience has enriched the look.

Just copied one of  my favorite shot, from the book 'The Oregon'.

There were signs of heavy rainfall, which made us to reconsider our move. Any way I wanted to record it.

The hill in the background is said to be Talakavery.

Greens, Greens and Greens everywhere. I wanted to illustrate the nuances of green.

 From here, the actual drama starts.

Though  there are notnames for these falls, one of a passerby told  this one is called as "RANI ABBE" meaning Queen's falls.

Amma in front of Rani abbe, for understanding the height of falls.

Rani abbe from the front.

Rani abbe in the reflection.

The downstreams of one of the waterfalls. 

The bridge at Karike. All the water from the falls,  flows down here. Before this place, there is  a small powerstation. 

The road leading towards Karike.

The road from where we arrived.

 The stream seen from over the bridge.

The building in white is the power genertion plant.

SHIVAMOGGA TRIP 2012.

   On 10th of this month, all five of us had planned a trip to Shivamogga. The idea was to visit Baalagaru, Bheemanakatte and upto Hulikal.

   At 6 am, we started from Shivamogga Bus Station towards Teerthahalli. Shivamogga Bus Station has been reconstruted and got a facelift.


                                      Before starting our journey, a quick snap of the Bus station.

    It was very misty in the morning, I wonder, how the driver of our cab was able to see the road.  Shortly, we reached the Gajanoor Dam, the Dam across the river Tunga. Photography was not allowed there. We moved over and reached  a place, where the backwaters  had some dry trees, which made a beautiful scene.  Here, the mist was playing supportive.

     I shot only a couple of frames, but Pabbi- Shreenivas-Anand and Pavamana shot some 20+ images. There imagination was endless, but the time was, so, we departed from there.
 
  As we proceeded, stopping here and there for some photos,

                                    The nice curves in the road and  its colour complements with the green.

  we reached a small village - Toodooru, for breakfast. I was free till their return and shot these flowers.

As we moved, Balagaru was nearby (some 7-8 kms before Teerthahalli) and we enquired about the Mutt and reached the place. After having bathed and completing the rituals, we started shooting-

                                                           Arecanut farm before the Mutt.

                                                           Balagaru Mutt seen from river. 

                                                                         Tunga river. 

     While returning, from riverfront, we  took darshan of the deities of the  Mutt. The Swamiji blessed us  and we left the place.

                                                            Balagaru Mutt and its entrance.

                                  The door has intricate carvings  of  Dashavatars  of Lord Vishnu.

    Sitting there are,  Shreenivas, Pavamana, Pabbi and Anand. This time I had taken a new Speedlite- Nissin Di 466 with me, which I had acquired recently. It was  a test for the gadget and I found it functioning satisfactorily. Nissin Di 466 is a small flashgun having a Gn of 33, works well for casual occations, not hurting our pockets.
   
      Our next destination was Bheemanakatte. Some TV Serial was being shot there and the place was crowded. We returned to the Bheemnakatte Mutt soon, after taking some snaps and left the place.

                                                                   There was a lot of play of light and shade.

                                                      Bheemanakatte Mutt seen from the pathway that leads to river.

                                                                                          Entrance of the Mutt.

                                                                Bheemeshwara temple.

   After Bheemanakatte, we stopped at Teerthahalli to have some food.  Our next destination was  to go upto Hulikal bridge. On the way, there are innumerable spots  for photography. Hulikal  has been popular for its annual average rainfall since some years, but that day it was bright and sunny. We did not see much interesting there, decided to packup after some quick snaps.

                                                On the way to Mastikatte[Hulikal]

                                                          Small shrines near Hulikal bridge.

                                                 Backwaters of Mani[Varahi] Reservoir.

                                                                         Hulikal bridge.

                                                          The old road, which has submerged in the waters. 
   
While returning, we stopped at Mekeri Bridge and  at some other spots for shooting some  reflections.

    At  Gajanoor Dam, there were a lot of photo opertunities- including clear reflections, better than these, but
our return journey was fixed and we had to depart.