AvalokArticulations

This time I will let the ASI guys talk to you about the Haft Gumbaz... Meanwhile I was wondering what a wheelchair was doing inside the tomb...to escort the wounded spirits in the night? and at the back of this well manicured and maintained tomb complex..

As you zip through the Gadag - Koppal highway you will be forced to slow down at Lakkundi village due to the half a dozen or so speed-breakers distributed generously along the road. This is only to be expected in villages adjoining the highway in India, right? And you curse the road-builders for this inconvenience and accelerate angrily once you cross the village. Did it occur to you that maybe the excessive number of speed-breakers at Lakkundi have been installed there for a purpose other than causing inconvenience to you? Did you get the feeling that the numerous speed-breakers at Lakkundi are actually imploring you to stop -over and have a look around? I guess not.  You just drove past a treasure trove of History and culture - of the Kalyani kind. If you bother get off your SUV and begin to explore the by-lanes of Lakkundi you will stumble onto numerous ancient temples and step-wells of exquisite craftsmanship.  Ah, I see, you are now prepared to give Lakkundi

Adoni was known as "Chota Bombay" during the British Raj days because it was a bustling market hub for cotton,grains and textiles. Though the town itself is not very interesting, but a few kilometers drive away from the town is an amazing conglomeration of fort ruins, hill top shrines, dargahs and caves. There were hardly any tourists around except for a few visitors to the Anjaneya Temple. Of course, there was the shepherd boy to keep me company, On every turn or bend in this rocky terrain I stumbled on to a shrine or a dargah. Adoni Fort was controlled by the Vijayanagar Kings for some decades then it was taken over by Bijapur Shahs - later by Nizams, Mughals and finally by the British. It was so hot and dry that day I cooled off near a shady temple pond - and I tried my hand at bird shooting. There were hill top shrines all around - for Shiva, for Yellamma, for Hanuman .. There were caves and nooks used by mendicants and sadhus..

  "Badami - Pattadakal - Aihole" - This is the standard tourist mantra in this region of Karnataka but very few bother to visit Mahakuta. Maybe because they have to take a minor detour to reach there. In fact the group of temples at Mahakuta are the oldest Chalukyan style shrines in Karnataka. You can say this is where it all began...   If you go by road Mahakuta is about 17 KMs from Badami. I decided to take the 5 KMs trek route across the hills. I set off early in the morning went past the giant red sandstone cliffs of Badami - incidentally Badami is also know as "The Mecca of Rock Climbing" in India.   The locals advised me against going on the trek alone because of the desolateness of the route but I went ahead. And I was glad I did..   As is the case with most temples in India Mahakuta also has several legends associated with it:   "Legend has it that this was the place where sage Agastya annihilated the two demon br

  I met Mr. K in Anegundi - he was on a pilgrimage tour. We were staying in the same guest house and one day during breakfast he suggested that I accompany him to Navabrindavan to offer prayers. He further added that a sincere prayer offered at the sacred site will always come true. I agreed not because I am a religious guy but mainly because of the promise of a refreshing boat ride on the Tungabhadra river.     The mood was somber among my fellow passengers. I was wondering what each one of them could be praying for.     It was brief and pleasant ride and I went click,click,click.     We docked at the island where the samadhis of nine Madhva Saints are situated. The local priest was waiting for us.     It was a short walk from the jetty to Navabrindavan.     It was mandatory to wash our hands and feet in the holy river before entering the sacred site.     It was also mandatory to walk in bare chested.