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Monday, March 28, 2011

Fort Midigeshi, Tumkur

     'Midigeshi' is a village located on the Tumkur-Pavagadh state highway. There is a lesser known hill top fort nearby this village. The fort is believed to have been built by a local Chieftain named Nagareddi and the fort itself was named by him after his wife Midigeshi, who was called so because she had  hair (kesha) long enough that reached her heel (midi). This place was ruled by queens of the same family for a long time.
    Chikkappa Gauda (Madhugiri's Chieftain) conquered this place after he was driven out from Madhugiri and Channarayanadurga.  Later, this place was captured by Haider Ali, then by the Marthas, again by Haider Ali 's son Tippu and finally by the British troops under Lord Cornwallis who later abandoned it. According to the legend, a beautiful princess named Chikka Mallamma was kidnapped by the Muslim rulers and kept in the hill fort. When she prayed to god for her release, the rock split  making a path for her descent and later she entered the fire in front of Lord Malleshwara.
First View of the Hill Top Fort
Midigeshi Fort
Reaching this village was relatively easy as it is located on the state highway. After entering the village, we inquired about the route for ascent. We started our climb hoping to make it  to the top before the temperature went up. This fort, like many other forts around the area is seven tiered. The major part of the fortification now is in ruins. The initial climb was very easy until we reached the second gate. Here, we had to overcome   a steep slope which was the most exciting part of our climb. After crossing the third gate, we came across a fleet of rock cut steps and thereafter the climb was easy.
Initial Climb
First Gate
Second Gate
Well Laid Steps
Cactus
Steep Climb
Third Gate

Fleet of Rock Cut Steps
Closer Look of Rock Cut Steps
View Downhill
 After crossing the sixth gate, we reached leveled ground. The first thing that caught our attention was a water pond which was probably their main source of water. There were narrow canals leading to the pond which were carefully designed so as to collect most of the rain water and increase the level of water in the pond. We then proceeded further to the Mosque like structure, probably built during the reign of Hyder Ali. The minarets of the Mosque were quite interesting. There were many structures in this area  including a ruined temple. Finally we reached the seventh gate which probably was an entrance to the erstwhile palace or the place where the king and queen lived. The view from the top was breathtaking.
The Final Climb
Sixth Gate
Water Pond
Rain-Water Transporting  Canal
The Mosque
Stair to the Top of the Mosque
 Water Pond
Ruined Structure
Last Tier of the Fort
Granary Entrance
Light Entering the Granary
Ruined Structures
Ruins Viewed  from the Top of the Mosque
View from the Top
Bird's Eye View of Midigeshi
  Lord Venkataramana Temple
   There are other magnificent temples of that period in the village along side a Jain temple.  There is no witness for the participation of the ASI in maintenance of this place. Altogether, a  nice place to visit.

Directions from Bangalore: Bangalore - NH4 - Dabspet - Right turn - Madhugiri - Bypass - Midigeshi
 
Distance from Bangalore: 120 kms

Places to visit around:  Madhugiri, Madakasira, Channarayanadurga , Pavagada, Ratnagiri, Bhasmangi and many more

Trip Date: 30 Jan' 2011

Related Posts:
1.Bhasmangi Fort
2. Raichur kote
3. 125 Forts of Karnataka





Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Places to visit around Bangalore/ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು/ Bengaluru - Anniversary Post

   It is time to celebrate! The journey of Team G Square's blog for the last one year has been successful and we are extremely delighted. We started to blog with our major objective being able" to compile places we have visited  in and around Bangalore". And we are happy to know that since the time we have put our best foot forward in this direction, apart from having shared knowledge, we have also learned much from it and continue to do so. We celebrate by sharing our anniversary post which is a brief compilation featuring places to visit around Bangalore. On this occasion, we would like to wholeheartedly thank all our readers, bloggers, supporters and well wishers for having given us the much needed encouragement and good wishes.We also thank you for sharing such wonderful posts which help us learn more about our rich Indian heritage. We are very grateful to all of you. The places  listed below are already presented  in detail in our older posts (Click on the name of the place for more details).

A) Hill Forts: 
1   Savanadurga (45 kms) 

Water Pond (Savanadurga Hill)

 2   Nijagal Betta (50 kms)

Nijagal Fort

3   Skandagiri (50kms) 

Skandagiri Sunrise

4   Makalidurga (55kms)

Makalidurga Fort Entrance

5   Devarayanadurga (55kms)

Devarayanadurga

6   Huthridurga (65kms)

Rock Cut Steps - Huthridurga Fort

7   Gudibande (75 kms)

Gudibande Fort

8   Varlakonda (80 kms)

Lord Rama Temple Atop Varlakonda Hill

9   Kabbaladurga (80 kms)

Kabbaladurga Fort Ruins

10 Channarayanadurga (95kms) 

Channarayanadurga


 11 Gummanayakanapalya (140 kms) 

G N Kote

B) Hill Temples: 

1  Akkayamma Betta (25 kms)
Goddess Durga inside a ruined Temple on Akkayamma Betta

2   Narsapura Betta (40kms)

  Agama spotted in Narsapura Betta

3   Mahimapura (45 kms) 

Beautifully Carved Pillar (Mahimapura Temple)

4   Aladahalli (50 kms) 

Lord Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Aladahalli

5   Bilikal Ranganatha Swamy Betta (50 kms)

Common Jezebel Spotted on Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta

6   Mandharagiri (55 kms) 

Mandharagiri Hill

7   Heggunda (60 kms)

Heggunda Ramdevara Betta

8   Antaragange (60 kms)

Antaragange

9   Hadinakal (110 kms)

Lord Hanuman Pillar, Hadinakal

10 Hatyal (115 kms) 

Entrance to Narasimhaswamy Temple, Hatyal

11 Adichunchanagiri (120 kms)


Adichunchanagiri Temple

12 Shravanabelagola (150 kms) 

Lord Gomateshwara, Shravanabelagola

C) Hoysala Temples: 

1 Kaidala (80 kms) 

Chennakeshava Temple, Kaidala

2 Hosa Budanur (100 kms)

Kasi Visveswara Temple, Hosa Budanur 

Anantha Padmanabha Temple

3 Aralaguppe (120 kms)

Ceiling Carving, Kalleshwara Temple, Aralaguppe
Chennakeshava Temple, Aralaguppe

4 Tandaga (125 kms)

Sculptor, Chennakeshava Temple, Tandaga 

5 Basaralu (130 kms) 

 Hoysala Emblem, Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu

6 Hariharapura (135 kms)

Ruined Temple, Hariharapura

7 Machalaghatta (135 kms) 

Nandi, Malleshwara Temple, Machalaghatta

8 Hosaholalu (140 kms)

Venugopala Temple, Hosaholalu

9 Somanathpuram (140 kms)

Mahisasuramardini, Keshava Temple, Somanathpuram

D) Water Falls / Dams and Reservoirs: 

T G Halli reservoir (30 kms) 

Peacock Pansy spotted at T G Halli Reservoir

Manchinbele Dam (40 kms)

Ashy Prinia spotted near Machinbele Dam
Kanva Reservoir (65 kms)

Kanva Reservoir


Jaramadagu Waterfalls (70 kms) 

Jaramadagu Falls

Chunchi Falls (75 kms)

Chunchi Falls

Sangama and Mekedatu (75 kms)

Sunset, Sangama

Vani Vilas Sagar Dam (140 kms) 

Vani Vilas Sagar Dam

E) Temples:


Binnamangala (35 kms)

Lord Shiva, Binnamngala
Gulur (80 kms)

Lord Ganesha, Gulur

Seebi (100 kms)

Gopura, Narashimaswamy Temple, Seebi

Kurudumale (110 kms)

Ganesha Temple Complex, Kurudumale

Melukote (140 kms)
Kalyani and Yoga Narashima Temple, Melukote

F) Parks :


1 Bannerghatta National Park (25 kms) 

Red Eared Turtle, Banneraghatta National Park 

2 Ramohalli (30 kms)

Black Shouldered  Kite spotted near Ramohalli

3 Innovative Film City (35 kms)

Innovative Film City

4 Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (125 kms) 

Black Headed Ibis Family, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

5 Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary(130 kms) 


KWLS
6 Horsely Hills (140 kms)

Jacaranda  Avenue, Horsely Hills
Dancing Peacock, Horsely Hills
   We feel that our travel experience is only 'a drop in the ocean' and there is much more to see and explore. A life time may not be enough! Nature is vast, beautiful and is the most unselfish. It reminds us of the quote "the best things in life are free and worth every penny". Nature has been very kind to man and it is our duty to conserve and preserve the same. If not, we're afraid that the beauty it holds can be lost forever. Nature commands respect after all. The signboard below rightfully says it all I guess.

True. Isn't  it?