//ads start// //ads end// ಸುತ್ತೋಣ ಬನ್ನಿ - Sutthona Banni: September 2009

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Kodachadri is a mountain peak (altitude - 1343 m above sea level) in the Western Ghats in South India (Karnataka State). Kodachadri lies in Hosanagara taluk of Shimoga District. The name is a corruption of the Sanskrit word "Kutakachalam." In local Kannada language, it is also called Kodashi Parvatha.Kodachadri forms a picturesque background to the famous temple of Mookambika in Kollur. Situated in the middle of the Mookambika National Park, it is home to several endemic and endangered species of flora and fauna. The rain forests loom in a perpetual layer of mist around the peak. Around peak, shola forest is also there.

This peak is where 'Shankaracharya' did meditation. You will find an ancient Sarvajna Peetha, (built out of rock) of Sri Shankaracharya at the top.

Adi-Mookambika temple at Kodachadri village is believed to be the moola sthana (the origin) of Sri Mookambika Devi.

It is also an excellent locale for Trekkers and backpackers.

It is around five hour trek from Nagodi village, near Kollur. Another easier trekking route on jeep road is also there, which starts from Sampekatte village (Hosanagara Taluk). The trekking route is very beautiful experience. At the top, there is permanent settlement of one Bhat, whose main business is serving the trekkers and devotees with food and shelter - of course, small amount is charged. So much preparation is not required in respect of food and shelter.

Alternative means to reach the peak of Kodachadri is to board a Jeep at Kollur - the return fare from Kollur is Rs. 175/-(Dec2008)per person or Rs. 1400/- per Jeep, which will be useful for those who could not walk (eg. old people, children, women). And it is worth to visit the peak.

The sunset watched from Kodachadri peak on a clear day is enchanting experience. The sunrise is also seen from another hillok behind Tourist Bungelow.

The Karnataka govt. has plans to tar the road right up to Shankarapeedom. Environmentalists allege that this would destroy the peace and tranquility as well as natural habitat of many species in the region.


How to reach there

  • Nearest Town Kollur - 20 km
    • Kodachadri can be reached from Kollur by jeep on a 40 km long winding and slippery mud road with many hair-pin bends.
  • Mookambika Nature Camp - 4 km south of Kollur
  • Nearest airport is Mangalore - 147 km
  • Nearest Railway station is Kundapura on Konkan Railway route.

Accommodation

The temple priest provides accommodation for a very cheap price of Rs 300 per room which can accommodate 6 comfortably. He also provides Vegetarian Food [ breakfast, lunch, dinner]. breakfast costs Rs 10/- and dinner Rs. 30/- [as of January 2009]

Trekking

The Kodachadri trek is approximately 10 km from the base to the peak. One can reach the trekking point via a bus from the Kollur Bus stop for Rs 10/- For people trekking for the first time please do travel with a lot of water and start early. Its a five hour drilling trek. So do carry glucose, food and water as inexperienced trekkers need them whenever they take breaks on their way to the top. Various places along the trekker's path offer vantage points for spectacular sceneries of the surroundings. Another endearing aspect of the trek, is the presence of clouds as one nears the top of Kodachadri especially during the monsoons.

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Information Courtesy: Wikipedia
Photos: Sutthona Banni Team Mysore


Gudavi is bird sanctuary in Sorab, Taluk, around 15 km from Sorab. Various kinds of birds migrate there for breeding in monsoon season (June to December).

A bird watcher’s paradise, Gudavi Bird Sanctuary can be an exciting experience for you. If you choose to spend your weekend or your vacation in the most fruitful manner you can take a ride to the Gudavi Bird Sanctuary. Away from the din of the city life, in an obscure village in Sorab Taluk of Shimoga district in Karnataka, Gudavi Bird Sanctuary offers you an exquisite number of avian species.

Clad in your casuals and good walking shoes you will enjoy the trek along the tree lined banks of Gudavi Lake. It is the month of June that gives an extra boost of life to this spectacular bird sanctuary. The trees become hubs of bright plumage. With powerful binoculars you can enjoy the grey heron and the night heron. You can spot the little cormorant and the white-headed crane too.

The jungle fowl and the waterfowl, the pond heron and the black headed crane are seen thronging together that adds to the beauty of the Gudavi Lake. As you walk around the Gudavi Bird Sanctuary exploring the tree tops and river banks you will be greeted with a cacophony of sounds .

Guduvi is one of the 5 famous bird sanctuaries of Karnataka. According to the survey done in 1993, it is told that 191 varieties of birds are found at Gudavi Bird Sanctuary. Some important birds that are found at Gudavi include White Pebis, Stone Bill, Egret, Cormorant, Snake bird, Heron etc. A platform is built here for a closer look of birds.

Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is an ideal picnic spot to spend weekends or vacations for bird watcher's in the most fruitful manner.

Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is open to from 6 am to 6 pm and the best time to visit this sanctuary is between the months of June to November.

Accommodation:

Accommodations are not available at Gudavi Bird Sanctuary. You will need to stay at Sagar or Shimoga.

Distance from Gudavi bird sanctuary
Soraba: 15 km
Sagar: 41 km
Shimoga: 115 km
Bangalore: 375 km
Mangalore: 270 km


How to get there:

Nearest Airport: Mangalore

Nearest Railhead: Shimoga

Road: Gudavi bird sanctuary is well connected by road. Nearest major town is Sirsi. The route is Sirsi - Banavasi - Gudavi and it takes approximately two hours.

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Courtesy: Wikipedia



Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Safari is located in the Shimoga district of the state of Karnataka, India.
Tavarekoppa, about 15 km north-west of Shimoga on the Sagar road, hosts a wildlife sanctuary. This place is unique in South India as it hosts a large number of tigers, lions, leopards, and various other wild animals. The forest department provides jeep safaris through the luxuriant forests to witness the marvel of nature and animals roaming freely in the natural surroundings.

Shimoga lies about (274 km) south-west of Bangalore. The nearest airfield is Mangalore Bajpe Airport, 200 km from Shimoga. The place is well connected by road and rail to important cities of the State.

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Courtesy: Wikipedia


The Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary is situated in the Malenaadu region under the Shimoga district, towards Theerthahalli in Karnataka. The Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary has a spectacular collection of migratory birds. The Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary of Karnataka is well connected with other parts of Karnataka by regular state bus service. The Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary is a small and well maintained sanctuary of the Karnataka state.

This is one of the few bird sanctuaries in the Malnad region of the Karnataka.
Mandagadde is surrounded by dense forest. A small island is formed by the flowing river Tunga and every year, three species of migratory birds take shelter on the leafless trees found here: the median egret, the little cormorant and the darter. During the peak season in August, the total number of birds in the sanctuary is estimated at 5000. A watchtower has been erected for viewing these winged visitors. Boating arrangements for closer viewing of the nesting birds have
also been made by the Forest Department.

The Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary of Karnataka is the natural habitat of varied species of local as well as migratory birds. The Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary is covered by a dense forest with river Tunga flowing through it. There is a beautiful island where three types of migratory birds namely median egret, darter and the cormorant nests. These avian species club around the branches of the trees which gives a spectacular sight from far.

The migratory birds come to the Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka mainly in the month of August. If you stroll around the place or trek you will be amazed by the chirping or cacophony of sounds by more than 5000 birds in the Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary.

With the first ray of sunlight in the dawn, the echoing sound of the birds of the Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka fills the air.

You can spot the different species of birds by standing on the watch tower of the Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary at Karnataka. But it is advisable to seek local help or get the guidance from the forest department to identify the bird species and explore the sanctuary. There is a dam close to the Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary at Karnataka at Gajanur where you can pay your visit during your trip to the sanctuary.

How to reach there...

Shimoga– 30km
Bangalore – 345km
Mangalore- 140km

Where to stay...
For further information contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Shimoga Wildlife Division,
D C Compound,
Shimoga – 577 201
Tel:08182-222983

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Courtesy: Wikipedia


Chandragutti is situated between Sorab and Siddapura on a rocky mountain bed. It is famous for the temple of Renukamba, mother of Sree Parashuram.

Hundreds of devotees visit this pilgrimage center every year. Chandragutti is 15 km west of Sorab. This place is very good for trekking.

Chandragutti of Sorab taluk in Shimoga District is a beautiful village situated in Sahyadri ranges. It has the famous Renukamba temple. Devotees use to take bath in river Varada, about 3 kms from here, and walk to the temple. It is situated on a hill at the northern side of the village and with a flight of steps to reach it.

First you will get a Mutt belonged to `Naatha pantha’ and then Kalabhairava temple. And at the end of steps is the temple of Goddess Sri Renukamba, where a golden statue of the goddess is worshipped inside a cave.

In front of it is a small temple in which Elu Hede Nagendra (Divine King cobra with seven hoods) and Parashurama, son of Renukamba, is worshipped. And beside the temple is a statue of Matangi.

There is another path for the devotees to get down from the temple, which is without proper steps but gives one an exalting experience to while on this path. On this way there is a temple of Shoolada Beerappa, in which thousands of tridents, which are said to be rose from the earth, are worshipped. Even devotees add to the number with their offerings. Beside this temple situated a pond called `Ammanavara honda’, to which water flows from a bigger pond called `Tavarekere’, situated at a still higher region behind Renukamba temple. And from this water flows in a small canal to agriculture fields. At the beginning of the flight of steps is a sacred well in cradle shape called `Tottila baavi’.

Apart from this, there is an old port, said to be of seven folds, situated amid a dense forest. If you walk for in the forest behind the temple, you will get different entrances which take you to the peak, which is a huge rock mass. From there it is all beautiful scenery of the village, hill ranges, farm lands and ponds. On this huge rock are three wells, two of which contain water even in summer days. There is a stone construction, which is said to be used for storing weapons by the then kings.

Route: Chandragutti is 106 kms from Shimoga and is on the way from Sorab to Siddapur. It can be reached from Sorab (18kms), Siddapur (16kms) and from Sirsi (40kms).

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God Sri Parashuram & Nagadevate

Shoolada Beerappa

Goddess Renukamba in Cave

Photos: Shriharsha.B.S.-Banavasi (Mysore)
Informtion Courtesy: Wikipedia



Varadamoola is located 6 km. from Sagar town. Varadamoola is the source of the river Varada. Varada flows through the town of Banavasi before joining Tungabhadra.

Here you can see the Goddess Varadamba Temple.

The Varada, another tributary of the Tungabhadra, rises at Varadamula near Ikkeri in Sagar taluk, runs north past Chandragutti (Sorab taluk) and Banavasi (Sirsi taluk of North Kanara) and turns to the north-east. Entering the Dharwar district, it flows north, bending round gradually to the north east. South of Bankapur and Savanur, it runs with an easterly course into the Tungabhadra at Galaganatha below Havanur.

A legend says that the Varada (which means a boon-giving river) originated in the Bhagirathi water poured from his conch by Narayana (Vishnu) on the head of Shiva at Varada-mula in order to pacify the flame of austerities performed by Shiva.

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Photos: Shriharsha.B.S.-Banavasi (Mysore)
Information Courtesy: Wikipedia