Kiran Naik

September 19 – Saturday. Visit to Balligaavi:
I reached Ranebeenur at 5.00 AM. Went to Kaka’s home in Mrityunjaya Nagar. Had Idli and Uppit (Upama) at 8 AM. Again in my mama’s (Suresh mama) home, had chapathi and potato bhaji. So had heavy brekafast at both the palces.
Plan was fixed that we would visit Varadahalli (near Sagar) and Balligaavi.
I and anna(My one more elder cousin brother – Vinayak) started to decide how many would be coming and where are all possible places. Three members were fixed. I, anna and aai (My mother). We asked kaka (Shivanna – Anna’s father). He said No. Everone forced him to come for tour. Somoehow he did not agreed. My another cousin brother (Vijay – Mama’s son) also came and forced. He did not agreed. Then we called mama (Suresh mama) and mami (Pushpa mami) to join us. They happily agreed. After the breakfast at 10.00 AM, we were all ready to visit Varadahalli (Sridhar aashram) and Balligaavi.

I have not visited both the places and all others had seen Varadahalli (Sridhar aashram) many times. Anna was in driver seat as usual. I was cleaner and aai, Suresh mama and Pushpa mami in back seat. All set and we headed tworads Hirekerur. Its a small road and not many humps in between. After Hirekerur, major station is Shiralakoppa. Shiralakoppa is a part of Shimoga District. As I10 entered into the Shiralkoppa, its all greenary. City is so much rich in agriculture and people dont have the water problem here. Everywhere there was trees, small ponds. Road is well maitained. Roads are good in Shimiga distict, mainly because our Karnataka CM is from Shikaripur. In and around Shikaripur roads are well maintained.

Shiralkoppa to Bellegavi is around 5 to 6 kms. We took right turn towards Balligaavi and left turn goes to Sagar. Balligaavi village is surrounded by old temples of Shiva. Its a beautiful place and famous for Paccha linga. It means a green shiva linga around 4 feet high is situated in the temple. The approximate cost of Paccha linga (Green stone) is around 10 to 15 crores in intenrational market.

Here are the photoes of Pachha linga.

More photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/kiransnaik/SridharSwamijiAshram#

This green shiva linga was situated in the temple which was on the corner of the small pond. Recently some people tried to steal this but could not succeed. Now this linga has been moved into one temple inside the village with security.

We visited Chalukya and Hoysala temples in the Bellegavi. Lot of people visit these temples and its a amzing sculpure. Big nandi (Cow) inside the Chalukya temple is a mjor attraction. Photography is prohibited inside Chalukya and Hosyala temples. Big nandi is a pleasure to watch. Its a precision of art at the highest level.
Below are some snaps of Chalukya temple in Bellagavi:

Below are some snaps of Hoysala temple in Bellegavi:

Everyone was happy to see the Paccha linga and two temples. We progressed our journey to another great place called Sridhar Ashram in Varadanhalli. Varadanahalli is again part of Shimoga district.
We went via Shiralkoppa–>Tadagunne (Petrol bunk). take right turn and proceed to Sagar. Whole journey was pleasant with cool breeze of air, surrounded by green trees, small ponds, nice curvings of the road like ……….:)

More photos are shared here: http://picasaweb.google.com/kiransnaik/SridharSwamijiAshram#

I became ready at 9.15 PM. Decided I will take Pulsar to Electronic city office. Yesterday night was a heavy rain in Bangalore. It rained all over night. Afetr a 500 metres drive, suddenly lady in TVS scooty turned rightside and stopped. I was behind her and suddenly appiled brake. Somehow pulsar did not stopped as expected. It was bit shaky. I thought its because of the hsudden brake. As I moved on to hotel for breakfast, drive was not comfortable. Had breakfast in Bansahankari new SLV and decided I will go by bus. Came back home, parked Pulsar. Waited for Volvo 600 or any 500 bus towards HSR layout.

After 15 minutes, got one BIA bus towards HSR layout. As I settled down, it was horrible traffic in BTM layout today. It took 45 minutes to reach HSR layout. From Banashankari, bus was crowded and no place to stand. The same waiting situation when I reached Silkborad to move to Electronic city. No buses at all. One provate bus came, I got into it. Ravichandran movie was on with a huge noise of speakers. Though movie was not so good, I started watching. By the time bus reached Electronic city, it took 30 minutes. In the scorching heat, I reached office. I am still settling down and sweating a lot. I have no effect of AC.

Hope I would reach quickly and safely to home today evening.