Coastal Karnataka - part 3

Day 4 : Murudeswar - Kollur - Agumbe - Horanadu
Day 5 : Horanadu - Hallebudu - Sravanabelagola- Bangalore

Day 4: We didn't have a strong itinerary for Day 4. Our initial plan was to visit Jog falls and head back to Bangalore. But we were told Jog didn't have water and was not worth the trip. With no planned itinerary and check out time only by 12 noon we had plenty of time to spend at Murudeshwar and I finally got into the water. The beach has facility for ladies to change, I found it extremely useful. It also had a mobile bus with bath facility and locker if you need.

After 12 it was too late to reach Bangalore so we headed towards Kollur. We were lucky to reach there by 2.45 and were the last few to get the dharshan of Mookambika. the temple closes at 3.00. I was a bit sick so again no photos for memoir. We next headed towards Agumbe for the next sunset experience. But after Gokarna I was not too impressed, but never the less it was quite good. It is a popular affair as i saw many tourist gathered at the sunset spot. After the sunset we headed towards beautiful Horanadu through the hilly and winding roads. He hoped to reach Hassan for the night halt.

But it was too late and we reached Horanadu only by 9.40. Though the temple was open till 10 we decided to rest for the day. So we did some room hunting. Again by gods grace we got an excellent room at one of the best hotels (Durgamba deluxe hotel) there for a reasonable amount (rs. 800) though it had no TV and western style facility..i was very very happy with the place. It reminded my village house and the hot sambar rice was really yummy after that long drive. All the warm clothes I had packed came handy for our stay at Horanadu.

Day 5: By now I had lost track of day and date. The hotels at horanaddu use fore from logs to heat up water. So Hot water only between 6 and 7 in the mornings. At 6 in the morning there was a hard bang on every room with a load voice yelling about the availability of hot water. It was quite dark for 6 am and the visibility was poor due to thick fog that was settling all around. We got ready for the temple visit by 7 and the annapoorneshwari temple was one of the temples with longest queue that I visited in this circuit. But I was very happy with the way the place was managed and we got an excellent Dharshan.

We decided to get the aarathi done and joined the 9 am pooja. I had never felt so moved by anything before. The lighting of lamps and ringing of bells and the vedic mantra chant was soul cleansing experience. i would love to be there once again to participate in a pooja like that. It was a very spiritual experience I thoroughly enjoyed.

We started back towards Bangalore at around 11 am. Reached bellur for lunch aroung 2 pm and spent some good time at hallebedu watching the Hoysala temple for Shiva. The carvings there are some of the most beautiful, better than Belur and Somanathapura temples. especially I liked the Govardana carving.

We then headed towards Sravanabelagola. We reached there at 5.45 and were told the temple closes at 6.15. We were to rush up and the steep hillock was unnerving. I think there were atleast 450 to 500 steps to climb. By the time I reached, what appeared to be the top i had gone breathless several time and I kept praying to good that I remain fit enough to climb it. On reaching the top spot I realised it was not the end and it was only 2/3 I had covered.

It was an accomplishment that we reached the top in time and spent good 10 minutes before we headed back. The tender coconut shop at the base is strategic and i was thankful that i could quench my thirst and recoup after all that hard work. Sravanabelagola was a fitting finish for the wonderful 5 day trip. We reached home sweet home by 10 that night.