Shivaganga is around 50 km from Bangalore, towards Tumkur. It is around 15 kms from the highway. Shivaganga is a rocky hill with two temples. Pay the parking fees (20 rupees) to some youths guarding the entrance near an arch long before you reach the temple. I guess after that you would be free to park anywhere, but there is a good parking place available near a large pond, at the bottom of the hill and very near to the path to the top.
Steps cut on the rock and steel railings along the path guide you to the top. You can keep your shoes on, though you would see quite a few people barefoot. The place might be crowded on a weekend, and if you don't relish that ensure you walk quickly and right to the top most peak. Not too many people manage to endure the climb till there. On the way you would pass numerous refreshment stalls. You would also pass through a couple of temples, one right at the bottom of the hill and another at the top. At the bottom of the hill there is a curious wall kind of structure on the hill, probably to guide the rain water down the hill.
Watch out for the monkeys. They are one of the most interesting items to watch, as long as the feeling is not mutual. Don't carry any food in open bags, strap your bags and bottles carefully. There was this monkey that snatched a water bottle from a kid and was trying to drink. It was lifting the bottle and putting the wrong end to his mouth and was probably wondering why no liquid was coming out. It would then look carefully into the bottle to check the existence of water and try again. But only after a few attempts it realized that the bottle cap was on and deftly unscrewed it!
While there, one should relax and enjoy the isolation. Patience and a camera would be invaluable companions here. Driving back in the sunset with crop fields lining both sides of the road is also enchanting. Not too many good eating joints out there, so make sure you have your fill someplace on the highway or carry your food if you plan to stay for a long time.
Steps cut on the rock and steel railings along the path guide you to the top. You can keep your shoes on, though you would see quite a few people barefoot. The place might be crowded on a weekend, and if you don't relish that ensure you walk quickly and right to the top most peak. Not too many people manage to endure the climb till there. On the way you would pass numerous refreshment stalls. You would also pass through a couple of temples, one right at the bottom of the hill and another at the top. At the bottom of the hill there is a curious wall kind of structure on the hill, probably to guide the rain water down the hill.
Watch out for the monkeys. They are one of the most interesting items to watch, as long as the feeling is not mutual. Don't carry any food in open bags, strap your bags and bottles carefully. There was this monkey that snatched a water bottle from a kid and was trying to drink. It was lifting the bottle and putting the wrong end to his mouth and was probably wondering why no liquid was coming out. It would then look carefully into the bottle to check the existence of water and try again. But only after a few attempts it realized that the bottle cap was on and deftly unscrewed it!
While there, one should relax and enjoy the isolation. Patience and a camera would be invaluable companions here. Driving back in the sunset with crop fields lining both sides of the road is also enchanting. Not too many good eating joints out there, so make sure you have your fill someplace on the highway or carry your food if you plan to stay for a long time.
3 comments:
Its nice trekking place . Frequent buses available from bangalore . This is located 12 kms before tumkur called the village as "Dobbaspet" . Take an auto from dobbaspet busstand to temple for 10Rs. per head . Pooja timings- 6am-2pm and 5pm-7pm .Bus charge from bangalore - Rs. 34 and it is 56 kms far from bangalore towards tumkur . The miracle thing here is ghee becomes butter when you pour on shiva linga. They will charge Rs.101 against ghee abhishekam including fruits,flowers and ghee.
Its nice trekking place . Frequent buses available from bangalore . This is located 12 kms before tumkur called the village as "Dobbaspet" . Take an auto from dobbaspet busstand to temple for 10Rs. per head . Pooja timings- 6am-2pm and 5pm-7pm .Bus charge from bangalore - Rs. 34 and it is 56 kms far from bangalore towards tumkur . The miracle thing here is ghee becomes butter when you pour on shiva linga. They will charge Rs.101 against ghee abhishekam including fruits,flowers and ghee.
When I went I was told that I couldn't wear shoes. That turned out to not be true. You only have to take off your shoes to go into the temples. I had awful blisters and burns from the rocks. My feet are not nearly as well seasoned as the kid's that I saw running up the hill!
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