A 2-days’ leisurely trip in Northern Karnataka

Though I did pass through few cities in Northern Karnataka on my way to Goa & Shirdi before; never got down for a local round-up anywhere. Last fortnight me & my friend planned visiting couple of places there – Badami, Gadag & Hubli. Caught a night train from Mysore; reached Badami (historical place in the Bagalkot Dist) enroute Hubli. Engaged a full-time auto & landed first @ Mahakoota, a lonely place around 12 kms off Badami, had a dip at the temple pond before a darshan at the Eshwar temple & set off to the heritage sites – Pattadakal & Aihole, again at a distance of 15 to 18 kms. Abandoned temples with plenty of beautiful sculptures stuns one no end but I personally feel none could come up with the grandeur of our Belur & Halebid temples – entry fee Rs.30 & 40 each. Next visit : Badami caves. I was wonder-struck looking at the mountain-size rocks here, with zig zag caves here & there. Climbing up the lofty stoney stairs, a look around; really amazes; what with a big pool below, adjoining an Eshwar temple to your right and human habitats spread over to the left. Cool breeze soothes the body that makes you forget the physical strain claiming up the steps. After spending some time in these UNESCO heritage sites, moved straight to the famed Banashankari Amman temple. Heavily crowded it was - not only the temple precincts, but even the eateries, parking zones all flooded with devotees. It took more than an hour standing in the queue for the darshan circumventing the grilled pathways up & down. If such a crowd is seen on a week day, imagine the situation at week ends. Anyway, after the meals, we reached Gadag, a district headquarter now. Visited the famous Veera Narayana temple, a Vaishnavite shrine - one among the five Narayana temples consecrated by Ramanujar, the Srivaishnavite saint of the 12th century. . Then on to the Trikuteshwara temple, hardly 500 mtrs from here. Few yards away is the mammoth 118 ft. high statue of the Shaiva Guru Lord Basaveshwara, overlooking a lake. A small museum of him is there below the idol, that gives exhaustive information on his life and achievements. .

Next is the last on our itinerary – Hubli (now called Hubballi). The twin cities Hubli-Dharwad are, I learn, called Cultural capitals of Karnataka. Though there are many sites to see here, we could cover only a few owing to time constraint. First in the list was Kittur Chennamma circle, hardly half a km from the City Railway station (Siddaruda Mutt Hubli junction). Here is where the popular Kannada film song ‘Huttidare Kannada Nadali Huttabeku’ (a Rajkumar starrer) was picturised. It now stands distorted, in the name of beautification, don’t know since how long. Next destination was the 3000 Mutt, the 12th century monastery of Shaivaite monk Guru SIddeswara, at a walkable distance from the Kittur Chennamma circle. Our final jaunt was Sri Siddarooda Mutt, 2 to 3 kms from the Chennamma Circle. In fact Hubli Railway Station is named after this Swamiji who lived during first quarter of last century.

Had been to ISKCON temple too, an added attraction now – around 5 to 6 kms from the Railway Station on the way to Dharwad.

Pleased to give out few prominent details on the City.

1 Do not miss out Basaveshwara Khanavali, a vegetarian eatery that has many branches throughout, known for Jolada rotti, prepared out of Jowar (a fibre rich millet) with optional pure cow-ghee topped Holige, a sweet dish.

2. City buses here are called ‘Chigari’ meaning deer in Kannada.

3. Another fully air-conditioned town-bus service called BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) ply in plenty between Hubli Rail Station and Dharward – around 18 kms - with stops at each point. Its operation resembles our Metro Rail. The road stretch on this route comprises 4 lanes : 2 ‘In’ and 2 ‘out’ ways. BRTS buses exclusively use one each for their mode, while the other two are open to public vehicles. At each stop, an exit door opens for people to go out after inserting the ticket at the automated out-way gate and the other in-gate allows people to board the vehicle after buying tickets at the entry point. Good it is.

This is my ‘escapade’ to few places I wished to visit since long.

N.DEVARAJAN, Mysore Date: 27.02.2024