Yet another trip with fragmented (1/3) James party. Guru and family had already visited the place but short notice to Pai family. I needed this break very much.
To everybody’s surprise this time I browsed the net to find the nearby places Tumkur and got a thumbs up from Guru. I had planned it for Friday but Chiu had advance booking to go to More with her cauliflower friend. The two cauliflowers used the new More outlet as playing ground and parents distanced themselves on fear of getting embarassed. I asked Seema to check whether Rakesh and family would like to be party for short trip. This was captured by in house Tv9 (darling Chiu) and she assumed that Rajat will join us and was jumping with joy. This happiness was short lived since Rakesh had to stretch on Friday and not advisable to go for drive on Saturday morning. Hell broke loose and Chiu took decision not to accompany us for the trip since her brother dropped off. Seema had to cajole her and make up her mind for today’s trip.
Chiu and I got up at 6 AM today which we are not used to and Seema unveiled her innovation “Kanchi Idli” on the breakfast table. She first told me to enjoy aroma and then have it. Aroma was good but I felt like eating “Rulama Idli” which is prepared during festivals since Rice Idlis cannot be prepared. Seema’s expectation was that I would eat 6 or 7 idlis but I tried hard and restricted myself to 3. I spoilt the plan of packing the innovation to short trip and carry over to next day. For most part of onward journey, Seema was silent and just staring at me. I repeated dialogue that I had 3 and appreciated the innovation.
We (including parents) hit the road at 8 AM IST (read as Indian Stretchable Time). On the way we made sure chiu’s school is physically present to send her from Monday (11th Jun). It is difficult to engage her in summer holidays which has now stretched beyond the limit. As usual, good roads to Tumkur took a toll on my pocket. Folks inside the car pointed at Kamat and before they could decide I had whizzed past. Seema started asking Goravanahalli as we neared Tumkur since she knows I have the habit of getting lost. We took deviation from highway to reach Mahalakshmi temple 34 km away. On the way I had hit and run case with puppy which suddenly made its entry on the road.
Gorvanahalli temple is at very remote place but enjoyed driving on the stretch which is well maintained, usually villages will have mud roads or roads with craters. We were stopped by a fellow for parking fees well before the entrance when parking was not in sight, good pro-activeness. At the same time, vendor put his hand inside the car and sold the coconut saying it is Rs. 10 cheaper than temple premises, this is overcoming the competition. To break coconuts inside temple (Rs.2), nothing comes free in life. It took us hardly 10 min to complete the ritual and hit the road again.
Our next destination was “Namada Chilume” and deer park. I would re-name the place as “monkey’s adda”. I bought some biscuits and cool drinks, closed the car windows to eat the stuff even then a small baby monkey got on to the car to peep what is going on inside. Supreme court’s order of removing the sunfilm helped this monkey to see what is going on inside. After pet pooja, we visited the Namada chilume where water springs out of tiny hole. It is said that Rama during one of his vanavasa day’s did not find water to put tilak on his forehead and hit an arrow to get water. After that incident the place became known as “Namada Chilume”.
On our way back we saw lot of deers near the fence since caretaker had placed lot of leaves for afternoon lunch but could not take snap since Seema had not carried camera. There was one more set of deers (Jinke Marina) which I have informed Guru. Guru you missed it J
Two more temples (Yogalakshmi Narasimha and Bogalakshmi Narasimha). Taking 250 steps to reach the Yogalakshmi Narasimha at the hill top drained our energy and we skipped Bogalakshmi Narasimha. Outside the temple there are eatables and cold drinks you name it sold by road side vendors. Hill top gives picturesque view of surrounding places of Tumkur. Next place was Sidaganga Mutt, after entering mutt we went around in the car and felt the place to be same as Dharmastala. We missed Sidaganga temple.
It was 1 pm and was badly hungry. Raced the car to Tumkur city and started searching for a good hotel. Autorickshaw driver pointed to us Nanjundeshwara hotel. We had sumptuous lunch (2 Puri thali, 2 jollad roti thali, 1 fried rice). Fried rice was prepared by James and Chiu did not like it. We could not distinguish between Puri and Pappad. After lunch the driver demanded for sweet paan which was given. Seema became furious at the mention of ShivaGanga and PatalaGanga since it is her time for afternoon nap. The driver had to obey the orders and silently hit the road back to Bangalore.
One thing to appreciate is the roads are good connecting interior parts and good picnic spot. Only thing we need to hire security guards to take care of ragging by Monkeys. Good place for drive amid greenery.
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