Exploring Karnataka.

by Sagar Dhutre (India)

A leap into the unknown India

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Exams were about to come. I was studying hard for them which was a herculane task for me. My dad came from his work ; gave me a map and said, "This is our route. Have a look at it." I had an idea that was planning for a trip but was not sure of this soon. In a week or two, bags were packed and we ready to go. A night before the travel day my all grandmas and relatives had arrived at our house as they were coming too. Chaos was all over and you know what this is the real fun of a trip. I remember that I hadn't slept all night before the travel day. The sky was orange, the bright red sun was arising and we were ready to go. The second most enjoyable part of a journey is the travel. Discovering the change in the dialect, culture and language as we move on. Being a man of letters my dad made the journey the most memorable part of it by telling stories, funny jokes and incidents. My grandfather sang traditional songs all the way. My grandma had brought many on the way food and stories with her. We reached the first destination : Shravanbela Gola. Shravanabelagola (Śravaṇa Beḷagoḷa) is a town located near Channarayapatna of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 144 km from Bangalore. The Gommateshwara Bahubali statue at Shravanabelagola is one of the most important tirthas (pilgrimage destinations) in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Western Ganga dynasty of Talakad. All this information was provided to us by our own guide 'My Dad'. I can't think even of a moment without him. We clicked pictures and headed to our next destination 'Dharmasthala'. The centuries-old Sri Manjunatha Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a place of Hindu pilgrimage known for its large statue of the revered figure Bahubali. The Manjusha Museum's eclectic collection includes manuscripts and early wooden chariots. The day was over and we gathered in the garden of our lodge. The bonfire was set and songs were played. We all enjoyed the night a lot and then went to sleep. Our next stop was Gokarn. A popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus, it’s known for sacred sites like Mahabaleshwar Temple, which has a shrine dedicated to the deity Shiva. Nearby, Koti Teertha is a temple tank where devotees wash in the holy waters. Most beautiful temple I've ever seen. The next place I remember was Marikmbika temple at Sirsi.It is also known as Doddamma Temple, with "Doddamma" denoting the "elder sister" of all Mariammas in Karnataka. The central icon is an eight-armed image of Durga, also known by the names Renuka and Yellamma. It was built in 1688. We were late to reach this place so we didn't got a lodge to stay. Hence we went to stay in Dharmashala ( a place where you get a dinner and can stay for free). But this Dharmashala was different from others because it was a place were childrens taught Hindu culture in deep. At 4 am in the morning the Godly chants were sung by the childrens staying there. Actually the the tour was 5 days in all but I don't remember a lot because I was just 10 at that time. But still there are few places and moments which are unforgettable and cannot be described in words. They have been saved permanently in my mind. And I remember ever single moment spent with the person because of whom this trip was possible. Not only this trip but my entire life. I am nothing without you and my travel story will always be with you..........