Another weekend, and there's that urge to move out of the city. This time, we decided to explore the area around Kolar, which we haven't explored previously as it is a bit far from our place.
But this area has many hidden treasures, and we decided to explore 3 places on a day trip: an old quarry filled with water and stunning views, a temple and hill where Lord Rama's son Lav and Kush are said to have been born, and another temple with one crore Shivalingas.
THE ITINERARY Bangalore - Chota Ladakh View Point - Ramalingeshwara Temple, Avani- Kotilingeshwara Temple - Bangalore
ABOUT RAMALINGESHWARA TEMPLE, AVANI
The highlight of the trip was a visit to Ramalingeshwara Group of Temples, Avani. Avani is a sleepy little village in the Kolar district of Karnataka, whose claim to fame is this temple and the hill behind it.
Avani Betta is the place where Lav and Kush, the sons of Lord Rama are said to have been born. There is a small pond and a Sita Mata temple over there, and there are steps cut into the rock to take a hike up Avani Betta.
There is a temple at the base of the hill, which is a real hidden gem. Dating back to the 10th Century, it is believed to have been constructed by the Nolamba Dynasty. Even on a Sunday, there weren't many people around, and we had the whole place almost to ourselves.
Inside, there are temples dedicated to Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughana. These are Shiva Temples, and there is a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Navagrahas as well.
We didn't trek up Avani Betta, but if you have time, it is a worthy effort to go up the hill.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT
1. Chota Ladakh View Point: On our way to Avani from Bangalore, we stopped at this old quarry popularly known as Chota Ladakh. The views are stunning and you can get amazing insta-worthy pictures here.
2. Kotilingeshwara Temple: We visited this temple on our way back to Bangalore from Avani. It was around half an hour from Avani. There are one crore Shivalingas in this temple and the largest Shivalinga and Nandi statues are awe inspiring!
3. Antharagange Temple and Caves: We didn't visit here, but it can be added to a full day itinerary. The temple is lovely and the caves are worth exploring. Just hire a guide before you venture in.
So if you are looking for an offbeat day trip from Bangalore, this is a wonderful option. We had a blast and our kids really enjoyed running around in Avani!
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