Team G Square: Places to visit around Bangalore / ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು / Bengaluru part-6

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Places to visit around Bangalore / ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು / Bengaluru part-6

31 Heggunda

Type :Hill, Temples

Nearest Town: Dabspet.

Distance from Bangalore: 50kms .

Trek Distance: about 1.5kms (one way) .

Trek level: Easy.

Direction: Via NH4 till Dabspet flyover, go under the flyover and take right turn towards Koratagere(SH3), travel for about 6 kms one will get right turn going towards Heggunda , then one need to take left turn after 1.5 kms so near Dr Ambedkar School.

About: This is place has hill called Ramdevara Betta with a temple dedicated to Lord Rama on top and temple of Lord Hanuman at the base of hill.According to records found here, Heggunda (earlier called Pokkunda) was an important city during the Hoysala period (12th Century).The trail to the top commences with steps, which slowly becomes a gentle rock face till a ruined stone dolmen (mantapa), where a stone pond is located. From here on it is a long and ultra-steep flight of tiny rock-cut steps to the top. The iron railings installed all the way to the top provide adequate support. It is said that Rama's sacrificial horse was tied to this here by his sons Lava and Kusha. There is also a pair of footprints nearby which is believed to be that of Rama.There is one more interesting place on the other side of the hill . A villager told that the there are two small cave temple, one of Nandi and other of Veerabhadreswara on the other side of the hill and also some inscriptions can be found in the temple. Even some Hero stones are found in this region.

Ramdevara Betta

Rock cut steps

Lord Rama's Temple

Way to cave temple

cave temple

32 Seebi/Sibi

Type :Temples, Paintings

Nearest Town: Sira, Tumkur

Distance from Bangalore: 100kms .

Direction:Via NH4 . This place is located on NH4 itself . About 20 kms from Tumkur . From Tumkur the temple is on the right side of the NH.

About: Seebi has a temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha Swamy. According to the legend by a local priest, about 1000 years ago, a businessman with two of his helpers were traveling on a business trip from Chitradurga to Tumkur. They halted at this place for having lunch. While the businessman went to meet his relative, the helpers were involved in preparation of lunch. When the businessman returned, he was shocked to find both of his helpers lying dead in a pool of blood. He sat sadly with his head down. Suddenly an elderly person appeared and informed him that the stone they used for the purpose of cooking was infact God Narasimha Swamy himself and advised the businessman to build a temple here in order to get rid of their sin. Following the elderly person’s words, the Businessman built a temple and got the "Puja" done by a priest from a nearby town, after which both his helpers sprung back to life. This temple was then renovated by the Mysore Wodeyars and Tippu Sultan. The main features of the temple are that the god here is in the form of a rock and the temples ceilings house various paintings depicting stories from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. These paintings currently are in a bad shape and need restoration. The temple architecture is simple and walls are filled with sculptures of various gods and goddesses made of terracotta and lime .They lay weather-beaten yet beautiful. The temple is under the process of renovation .Photography inside the temple is prohibited. There is also a Kalyani near the temple.