Route : Bellandur - Hebbal - NH7 - Lepakshi - Veerapur - NH7 - Hebbal - Bellandur
Round Trip : 308 KM
Time : Feb 15th 2014; 9 AM - 5:30 PM
Bike : Thunderbird 350
Riders : Solo Ride
Places to Visit Nearby:
1. Lepakshi: Nandi statue
2. Lepakshi: Veerabhadra Temple
3. Veerapur: Painted Stork Birds (January to August, not guaranteed)
Below two places also on the way, need a better plan to cover them.
4. Sri M Visvesvaraya House (Muddenahalli)5. Rangastalam Temple
Lets move to the Trip....
Tomorrow's (15-Feb-2015) World cup match between India Vs Pakistan is definitely a feast for Cricket fans in India, but different thoughts in my Temple. What if I go for a cool Ride ? I will not get free time again, but I can watch the match again.
Mostly I have to go alone, as everyone will be stick to match. Where should I go ? Planning for <300 KM distance, as I must be active for Monday's Office work. Lepakshi is long pending ride from 2 months or krishnagiri dam, confusion to choose which one? krishnagiri will be fun if we go with friends, but Lepakshi will be more feast for eyes even solo and also veerapur Birds will be a good fun. Decided to go for Lepakshi and filled 500 bucks oil for the Bike tummy, renewed pollution certificate which is pending from past week and Air check...All set for Tomorrow's Ride.
Planning is Very much important for anything in Life, and it will be help full to know how much we are successful to execute the plan. I have planned everything....when to start, how much time for temple, when to return. Planned to start 9 AM exactly and return Home by 6 PM.
As planned, Started at 9 AM and reached Hebbal flyover at 9:45 AM. Today is really very less traffic, mostly because of cricket effect. Weather is no nice and perfect warm for the ride, started cruising at @80, in between testing top speed levels. In week-end's roads are generally filled with travelers, but today I don't find a single group or RE bike on the NH7 must be a match effect.
After ~100 KM's of ride, entered into Andhra Pradesh. Crossed single vehicle allowed check-post barricades and just after that saw the Lepakshi turn sign board. Clear sign board will never make you to use a GPS. From Here, 16 KM's more to Lepakshi. Once you take the left turn from NH-7, with in 1 KM distance, you will see a huge bird's statue on the left side of the road, which goes to Veerapur. will visit it while return.
Half of the distance road is good and less traffic, another half is in repair, road extension is happening currently. This 16 KM stretch is a straight road and no GPS required at all. Once you reach Lepakshi, you will mesmerized by a huge monolithic NANDI on the right side of the road. I though of visiting it while return, as it will be difficult to spend time in temple with hot-sun.
With in 200 mtr or less, Veerabhadra Temple entrance road spotted on left side of the road. I though of checking how big is village, so moved further on main road and with in secs, I see the end of the village. Its very small village but it's a Mandal. Returned back to the Temple road and ride inside. Temple is visible straight away on a small hill structure. Reached Temple at 11:45AM. There is no parking area actually, just a small place made for parking and 5/- for two-wheeler. There is no counter for footware, either keep it with some pooja shop or leave it at the temple main entrance, which comes once you cross the steps.
No fee for temple entrance, need to buy tickets if you want special Pooja (Archana). There are many Idols of other gods/goddess inside the temple, main Idol is Veerabhadra swamy. Finished taking GOD's blessing's and then started exploring the beautiful and numerous sculptures of GOD's and wonderful designs.
History of Lepakshi:
A demi-god (Jatayu) who has the form of a Eagle, was an old friend of Dasharatha (Rama's father). He tries to rescue Sita from Ravana when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana and lost the battle. As he lay wounded, his wings cut off by Ravana, Lord Rama said with compassion, “le pakshi” (rise, o bird!) in Telugu – and hence the name Lepakshi.
History of Temple:
Temple is built on a low, rocky hill called Kurmasailam — which translates to tortoise hill in Telugu, after the shape of the hill. The temple dates back to 1583 and was built by the brothers, Virupanna and Veeranna, who were initially in the service of the Vijayangar kings. However, Puranic lore has it that the Veerabhadra temple was built by the sage Agastya.
Half of the distance road is good and less traffic, another half is in repair, road extension is happening currently. This 16 KM stretch is a straight road and no GPS required at all. Once you reach Lepakshi, you will mesmerized by a huge monolithic NANDI on the right side of the road. I though of visiting it while return, as it will be difficult to spend time in temple with hot-sun.
With in 200 mtr or less, Veerabhadra Temple entrance road spotted on left side of the road. I though of checking how big is village, so moved further on main road and with in secs, I see the end of the village. Its very small village but it's a Mandal. Returned back to the Temple road and ride inside. Temple is visible straight away on a small hill structure. Reached Temple at 11:45AM. There is no parking area actually, just a small place made for parking and 5/- for two-wheeler. There is no counter for footware, either keep it with some pooja shop or leave it at the temple main entrance, which comes once you cross the steps.
No fee for temple entrance, need to buy tickets if you want special Pooja (Archana). There are many Idols of other gods/goddess inside the temple, main Idol is Veerabhadra swamy. Finished taking GOD's blessing's and then started exploring the beautiful and numerous sculptures of GOD's and wonderful designs.
History of Lepakshi:
A demi-god (Jatayu) who has the form of a Eagle, was an old friend of Dasharatha (Rama's father). He tries to rescue Sita from Ravana when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana and lost the battle. As he lay wounded, his wings cut off by Ravana, Lord Rama said with compassion, “le pakshi” (rise, o bird!) in Telugu – and hence the name Lepakshi.
History of Temple:
Temple is built on a low, rocky hill called Kurmasailam — which translates to tortoise hill in Telugu, after the shape of the hill. The temple dates back to 1583 and was built by the brothers, Virupanna and Veeranna, who were initially in the service of the Vijayangar kings. However, Puranic lore has it that the Veerabhadra temple was built by the sage Agastya.
The sculptures are marvelous, and there are many of them. Hanging pillar, roof painting, naga sarpa, big foot, kalayna mantapa are the main attractions. Must hire a guide, otherwise we will miss many historical things.
Covered mostly all the corners of the temple and started to NANDI statue at 1:45PM. Its really huge, learned its India's biggest Nandi and 2nd larget monolithic statue after Gomateshwara. Snaped few pics and started to Veerapur.
Took right turn where I saw the Birds statue, Veerapur is around 7 KM's far from that statue. Entire road is in good shape and with sharpe curves, but very narrow, anyhow there is no traffic at all. After reaching Veerapur, stopped at the first cross where forest dept sign board about the birds placed. Asked the locals about the birds, they say: Birds came few months back and left as no water in surroundings. As a natural lover, I felt very sad about how humans (we) are spoiling the nature and other living things as well. With a great disappoint started back to Bangalore.
Reached NH-7 at 2:45 PM and slowly increased speed to @80 and sometimes more. Weather is coll while riding, but so hot when we halt. Reached home safely at 5:30PM (30 mins before the expected).
Pictures:
Route map closeup: (try arrow directions from veerapur to NH-7 directly, instead of coming back)
Beautiful roof paintings:
Each pillar shows different god forms or life style of our ancestors:
Close up of some pillar:
7-head Separant and Shiva Lingam :
Kalyna mantapam (marriage hall):
that's me at one of the beautiful sculpture:
Covered mostly all the corners of the temple and started to NANDI statue at 1:45PM. Its really huge, learned its India's biggest Nandi and 2nd larget monolithic statue after Gomateshwara. Snaped few pics and started to Veerapur.
Took right turn where I saw the Birds statue, Veerapur is around 7 KM's far from that statue. Entire road is in good shape and with sharpe curves, but very narrow, anyhow there is no traffic at all. After reaching Veerapur, stopped at the first cross where forest dept sign board about the birds placed. Asked the locals about the birds, they say: Birds came few months back and left as no water in surroundings. As a natural lover, I felt very sad about how humans (we) are spoiling the nature and other living things as well. With a great disappoint started back to Bangalore.
Reached NH-7 at 2:45 PM and slowly increased speed to @80 and sometimes more. Weather is coll while riding, but so hot when we halt. Reached home safely at 5:30PM (30 mins before the expected).
Pictures:
Route map closeup: (try arrow directions from veerapur to NH-7 directly, instead of coming back)
Temple Entrance:
Close up of some pillar:
Hanging Pillar closeup & long shot : ( its not completely hanging)
Kalyna mantapam (marriage hall):
that's me at one of the beautiful sculpture:
Big Foot: ( Most of the people say its Sita's and there will be always water in it)
That's the India's biggest monolithic Nandi: (4.5 mtr high, 8.23 mtr long)
Bird's Statue:
Forest dept sign board about the bird's: (in Telugu)
Tips:
Take your own food, there is no good hotel at all unless you come to NH-7
Hire a Guide, otherwise you miss lot of interesting stuff.
Finish Temple visit before 12 PM, as the Temple built on hill and it will be so hot to walk around.
Careful with Monkeys at the Temple, may pull your luggage.
Parking fee 5/- for two wheeler, no fee for entrance/camera.
Very nice article, just what I needed.
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