About 80 km from Mysore is the Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, a hill with a temple on top of it. This is situated in the Bandipur area. Himavad in Kannada means misty, foggy, and the hills are covered with mist throughout the year, especially in the early mornings and evenings.
The sights from the top are impressive, and there are frequent sightings of elephants and recently, tigers.
We had trekked a bit on the top of the mountain when we went there previously. But this time, we found that access has been blocked - you can't go anywhere else aside from the temple. Not only that, you are only allowed to stay there for a little more than an hour. I think if we'd known this before, we wouldn't have gone at all!
Anyway, here are a few pics.
It wasn't exactly Hiimavad when we went.... we planned it all wrong. Anyway, the drive is quite beautiful. There is another view I loved - but don't have a picture of. You turn from the highway into the road that leads to the betta (hill) and then you see the road stretching ahead of you, with the Betta beyond it - quite a breathtaking sight. I had dozed off on the drive, and had just gotten up, and so I wasn't bright enough to take out the camera and click :(
I don't have good pics of the temple itself - you'll find some here
Location: 80 km from Mysore, on the Mysore - Ooty road. Just after Gundlupet, you have to turn to the right, and the road takes you right to the top of the betta. The road is ok, motorable.
Timings: Between 8 to 5 (approx)
Entry: There's a checkpoint at the bottom of the hill. Cars have to pay 50 rupees, and you need to be back at that point within an hour and fifteen minutes.
There is a restaurant, Pugmark, a part of the Bandipur Safari Lodge, on the highway towards Bandipur, just 7 km beyond the turning to the betta. We ate a buffet lunch there - Wholesome, tasty, food. Reasonably priced.
The sights from the top are impressive, and there are frequent sightings of elephants and recently, tigers.
We had trekked a bit on the top of the mountain when we went there previously. But this time, we found that access has been blocked - you can't go anywhere else aside from the temple. Not only that, you are only allowed to stay there for a little more than an hour. I think if we'd known this before, we wouldn't have gone at all!
Anyway, here are a few pics.
It wasn't exactly Hiimavad when we went.... we planned it all wrong. Anyway, the drive is quite beautiful. There is another view I loved - but don't have a picture of. You turn from the highway into the road that leads to the betta (hill) and then you see the road stretching ahead of you, with the Betta beyond it - quite a breathtaking sight. I had dozed off on the drive, and had just gotten up, and so I wasn't bright enough to take out the camera and click :(
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| The drive up the hill |
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| View from the top |
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| Another view |
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| Bare trees against the blue winter sky. I love winter skies - so clear and so blue! |
I don't have good pics of the temple itself - you'll find some here
Location: 80 km from Mysore, on the Mysore - Ooty road. Just after Gundlupet, you have to turn to the right, and the road takes you right to the top of the betta. The road is ok, motorable.
Timings: Between 8 to 5 (approx)
Entry: There's a checkpoint at the bottom of the hill. Cars have to pay 50 rupees, and you need to be back at that point within an hour and fifteen minutes.
There is a restaurant, Pugmark, a part of the Bandipur Safari Lodge, on the highway towards Bandipur, just 7 km beyond the turning to the betta. We ate a buffet lunch there - Wholesome, tasty, food. Reasonably priced.
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1 comment:
I still haven't got a chance to experience the 'hima' there. When we went there 5-6 years ago, it was almost noon time and there was only scorching heat. It was quite pleasant to roam around the forest area there. We could see elephant foot prints. Surprised that now they are not allowing people to go beyond the temple premises.
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