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We waited for Lucky to come near Chandra Layout petrol bunk at nearly 6 30 am. He came ten minutes later that we thought which made matters worse. Three people were sitting at the front i.e Bhanu, Bonda and Lucky. They somehow could manage and then we thought it would be better to have a bike also. So we went back to Mony`s place. Then there was a slight discussion sparked off by Govinda saying that he shall stay back for some reason. We had to console him to nullify that decision of his. CC had got his bike and he was riding it already with Bonda as his pillion rider. The trip finally took off with Bhanu and Mony at the front of the car and myself, Govinda and Lucky at the back.
We were hearing to the very famous audio clipping named Rescue Ganesh which was the talk of the car ;). Bhanu had become a fan of this audio clipping. We went past Yeshwanthpur and in no time we were in Tumkur road. We were regularly in touch with the biker boys for that moment, CC and Bonda. We whizzed past the toll-gate in Tumkur road and we had touched Dobbaspet. We took a left turn there and we were in the Shivagange route. After 3 mins of driving in that direction, we took a break. Then, the photo session took place. We gave every godamm pose. One standing out from the car with doors open, sitting on the car bonnet, 4 guys pissing simultaneously in a straight line were some of the poses I can remember now. But the best pose was when we all jumped at the same time and click, the photo was taken. The best looking photo of that session was taken by Bhanu.
Then, as we neared the temple town of Shivagange, there was another small photoshoot which was taken near a small temple on top of a 10 foot boulder.
After the photoshoot we parked our vehicles next to the temple main entrance. The watch read 9 am. Had plate idlis for breakfast, the speciality in Shivagange. We also were able to get lemon rice which we did not expect to get. After that we went to a kalyani(water square with steps) surrounded by 108 shivalingas. All the shivalingas were named something or the other.
Continued in the next blog( The trek to the top of Shivagange)
The trek to the top of Shivagange which I presumed to be a bit tough in the end turned out to be not so difficult afterall. Probably I have improved my trek fitness after a few treks. We started our trek by 9 30 am and after 10-20 mins, we found ourselves next to a big rock which took some hiking. That rock was climbed by Bonda and Bhanu and others including me were waiting for them to return safely. I saw Govinda move slowly with the bag that we had got. So, I got the bag from him and resumed trekking. Within another 20-30 minutes, we were near the famous Olakallu theertha( which can be literally translated to Within stone water). That temple has a structure of small hole within which water keeps flowing . This structure is within the temple and adjacent to the interior shiva temple. It is said that if a person doesnt get to touch the water in the hole, the person has sinned. There was no power then, so moving into the temple was difficult considering the cavy architecture of the temple. So, the temple priest adviced us to go to the top and come back to this temple later when the power would have come. So, we resumed the trek again and saw monkeys all around. I have had a bad experience with monkeys so I was kinda skeptical about the experience with monkeys this time around also.
In the above picture, one can see the 2 monkeys in the background.
After an hour or so, we neared the top where the climb appeared to be difficult. I had given the bag to CC who led the trek then. Also, the steps which were provided to climb to the top were dangerous. Bonda was carrying a water bottle, which a monkey snatched from him and how well it opened the bottle cap and drank water after placing the bottle horizontally!!. It was a treat to watch. By 12 pm, we had summitted Shivagange with ease and I felt good. As soon we reached the top, the pure air which filled my lungs was blissful. Then we searched for a spot to sleep on the top. I wanted to revisit all the places which I had visited last time when I came in 2004(the first memorable trip with my engineering mates:) ). I quickly rushed to Shantala drop (which is a spot on the peak where queen shantala had committed suicide)
After few minutes, we planned to have a photoshoot. We gave poses climbing a boulder there, few including me later gave bare chested poses for the camera and we planned to sleep on the top for a while cracking PJs and taking rest.
Then, we moved over to the other side of the cliff and took few photos. The best one was at the extreme end:
And the other good pic , next to the bull(Basavanna) perpendicular to the place in the picture above:
The most uttered dialogue in this period at the top was from one of my favourite movies-The Shawshank Redemption. The dialogue said : "Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free".
Then we came down the hill pretty easily taking break at a lot of places to have buttermilk, churmuri( a type of bhel puri) . Also, we went to Olakallu theertha, where we were fortunate enough to have touched the flowing water inside the stone structure.
It was a memorable trip where we enjoyed completely. Not a dull moment in the entire journey and hope I get to be part of many such memorable journeys. Will keep you guys updated on my adventures in this blog.
Adventure is here!!
Continued in the next blog( The trek to the top of Shivagange)
