Chikka Tirupathi, Sarjapur

Route     : Bellandur - Sarjapur - Chikka Tirupathi Temple - Sarjapur - Bellandur
Round Trip : 60 KM
Time       : Oct 26th 2014; 11 AM - 3 PM
Bike        : Thunderbird 350

          After 2 months of office busy, today finally got the time for bike trip. But for my bad, my bike 4th service is due of less than 300 KM. Which means mostly I can't go for any trip. Goggled for shortest trip, nothing showed up. Suddenly Chikka Tirupathi Temple pop'ed in my mind, which is 30 KM hardly. My friend Sathish, who stays very near to my house said OK. 

           Next day, had breakfast and started at 11 AM.  Since we stay near to Sarjapur road, decided to go on same route instead of panathur road (opp to JP Morgan). Till Wipro, traffic is moderate, after that empty roads but with full of speed bumps. After Sarjapur, road (NH-207) is so nice and steep curves through the villages and forms. With in no time reached Temple, temple is very adjacent to the main road and even parking also :). 

           There is No fee for Parking, Shoes and Temple. I read in some reviews says that there will not be much que at the Temple, but today nearly 500 people are in Que. There are lot of monkeys on the top of temple, kids will enjoy them and time pass for us too in a long Que. Surprisingly with in 30 mins, we entered into temple.

[ History of Temple:

           The Sthala Puranams says that It is said that the main idol of Lord Prasanna Venkateshwara  was installed by Lord Agni  the god of fire. The temple is linked to the great epic Mahabharata's Kandava Dhana Kandam, at the end of Dwaparayuga Lord Agni developed severe stomach problems and indigestion after accepting "Havis" (offerings) from the various yagnas performed during those days. He then went to the  Arjuna and Lord Sri Krishna for a solution.

          Arjuna suggested that Lord Agni take advantage of the medicinal herbs present in the Kandava forest by eating it whole. Lord Agni did so and during the burning both Arjuna and Krishna guarded the forest so that no one could stop the forest fire. But unfortunately the King of snakes Takhsaka who was trapped in the forest got injured in the fire. An angry Takhsaka cursed Agni and therefore he lost his tejas (brightness).

          Lord Agni then approached Lord Shiva from help. Shiva advised that he pray and invoke Lord Vishnu's blessings. As advised by Lord Shiva Agni prayed Lord Vishnu. And our Abhadbhandava Lord Vishnu was able to free him from the curse. A grateful Agni then did the Prathistai of the idol named Prasanna Venkateshwara and built a temple for the Bhagvan  The main idol is made from Krishna shila (black rock), about three-and-a-half feet tall and is perched on padma peetam. ]

        After the Temple visit, took prasadam and then came out. Bad thing is, there is no place to eat Prasadam. Exit of the the temple is back side, which is all dirty, dogs and goats roaming all over the place. As everyone having .... we too finished tasty Prasadam (its like mini meals) there only. Started return journey at 1 PM and stopped at Decathlon shopping mall for some time and then reached home at 3 PM. So simple and nice journey after a long time is really a great relief. 

Temple Entrance:

Main Temple:

Rear view of Temple:

Mekedatu

Route : Silkboard - Kanakpura - sangam & mekedatu - Kanakpura -Silkboard
Round Trip : 220 KM
Time : Aug 29th 2014; 2 PM - 8 PM


Bike : Thunderbird 350
Riders : Myself and Anshu

Places to Visit: (Time : 8 AM to 6 PM strictly)

   1. Kankpura Sangam
   2. Mekedatu

  

        It's a long weekend for Ganesh festival and weekend.  We all Friends thought of meeting for some fun, but everyone is busy on festival day with their family except me and Anshu. So I called Anshu at 10 AM, but no response. Anshu called me back at 11 AM and the conversation automatically made a road for bike trip. I suggested Mekedatu since it is rainy season. 

       I went to Anshu room at Bansawadi, and started immediately at 12 PM. Till kanakpura Anshu enjoyed the Thunderbird ride, after that I took the handle. Without any stop we reached Sangam at 2:30 PM. There is no entrance ticket or parking fee, beware of people who ask for parking fee. Finished Lunch by 3 PM in Sangam Restaurant, food is good but costly. Restaurant is right next to the sangam point.


Sangama Restaurant:

Sangama Restauran Menu:

        Sangam is really beautiful to see the much widespread water. Sangam is the place where River Kaveri and Arkavathi joins.  Low face Arkavathi joins with ferocious Kaveri.  Arkavathi water levels are low, but still we have to take the coracle to cross the River. Paid 40/- (To & Fro)  for person and stepped in to coracle. (keep the tickets safe for return journey). In the middle of water he made few spins of coracle....and stopped at a big stone in the half way and told us to walk for the remining distance. We got confused for a movement, but later realized that water levels are very low, closely 30 cm's depth. Walking in a water reminded me of childhood days. (Coracle guy asked us 10/- for Tea ... we did't pay as we don't have change)

That's My friend Anshu walking to the other end of the River:

       From the other end of Bank, we have to take the bus to reach Mekedatu or we can walk. It's too far to walk, may take more than 1 Hr. Bus fare is Rs 60/- for person for round trip, keep the ticket safe for return journey. Totally 3 buses are there, one of them is looks like from stone age. Lucky they are using only good buses, may be because of less rush today due to Ganesh Festival.

Stone Age Bus:

       Reached Mekedatu after a 20 mins of bumpy ride through the rock road. I don't understand why people called it as water falls, but actually its just a river passing through a narrow pass in a small rock hill. So much widespread Kaveri river passes though a small gap with a great force. We can listen the water force sound from long distance. The rocks in the water are beautifully sculptured by water in a different different shapes.

Mekedatu view:

That's ME:

Beautiful rock sculptures made by water:

     I should agree one thing, this place is really dangerous, many people died here. There is no fense or any support to see the water flow. When we reached there, its started raining and it made us more scary to walk on those rocks, but those rocks looks really beautiful after rain. Spent 1 Hr at Mekadatu and then started to Sangam with driver's call for Last bus. 6 PM is closing time, so generally after 5 PM on words, bus guys call it as last bus unless if there is another bus coming. Driver not allowed us to sit on bus roof instead packed all of us inside, there is no place to stand also. We were sweating like anything, to add more worse, in mid way few other guys also stepped into bus and it was like hell ride.  I suggest you to finish Mekadatu before 4 PM, so that you can retain the energy for rest of the day.

  Reached back to Sangam by 5:20 PM, no mood to dip in to the water because of bus ride. So we just sat on the rocks and enjoyed the view. Timely at 6 PM, security blow'd whistle to say end of the day. Again walked back in the water to the big rock and then took coracle. Bike is safe and started back to Bangalore, reached home by 8 PM.

Sangam view:

That's our selfie: