Early morning my cell started beeping with messages…Happy Woman’s Day! !
I don’t give much importance to any of these days as long as it really has a genuine reason to celebrate. Womans’s day is yet another day for me…
I remember my granny, who was a woman with a strong will. My grand-pa passed away in his early ages, so my granny was the one who took care of the entire family.4 daughters, an unmarried sister and a son, their education,marriage etc. She had a tough time. But her attitude towards life was very positive, she never thought of running away from her responsibilities, She had this strong will power which made her to face any problem in life.I had hardly seen her crying or cribbing for anything. In her 60’s she had climbed the Tirupati Hills 3 times… Can you believe that?
GrandPa and GrandMa,Wedding Photo
Her father was in army, so naturally she had discipline in her blood.Cooking,cleaning any work she was the perfectionist.She had a great enthusiasm towards life till her last days. I remember her saying, when she was on hospital bed that she didn’t put Mango Pickle that year, because she didn’t get good mangoes.Living life till the last moment right?
I wished Mom for Woman’s day.She replied reluctantly “what’s special in that? It’s just a another day in my life..”. My mom who is a double graduate always feels little inferior because she is not working like other women and is housewife. But I always tell her that she should be proud of herself because today we are all in good positions and well cultured because of her. Not only us,she was there for everybody in our big family. Most of my cousins studied in our house , many kids grew up in our house I remember during summer vacations our house used to be a small day care center!!.All these things would not have been happened if she was working!!
My mother-in-law celebrates Woman’s Day in her office. All women in her office buy new sarees and they go for a lunch in a nice restaurant.I have seen my mom-in-law waiting for this d-day from many months.That day she feels very proud of herself and it’s a honor for to celebrate Womans’s day.My mom-in-law, even though she has not studied much,she can easily mingle with anyone.She is not shy or hesitated compared to my mom who always feel nervous to speak in public.Working outside,meeting people and mainly financial independence makes you confident and extrovert in life. I feel good about her because she is doing what she wants to do in life and she is happy about it.
Other women who comes to my mind are my maids.The maid in my hometown, who lost her husband when she was 30 and now she is 60 still working in many houses. Every month,first week,she will be waiting for the postman ,who gives her 300Rs as Widow Pension.She has to pay 10rs to that postman as bribe otherwise he will not give that money to her!!.
My maid here in Bangalore,her husband drinks and fritters away all the money.She will work in 2-3 houses apart from that does a job in school as sweeper.One day I gave my old bangles,rings to her she said she doesn’t wear all those [even though she is interested].When her husband was not well, she has prayed somewhere [probably a church] and she is not wearing bangles,rings,bindi nothing.
So that makes Indian women really special someway !! Isn’t it??.
Staying in Bangalore and not seen Coorg yet?? So a weekend we were in Coorg with friends.
Coorg also called as Kodagu is 250km from Bangalore passing through Mysore.Since Mysore was not in our itinerary we bypassed it from Srirangapatnam and took the Bangalore – Mandya – Srirangapatnam - Hunsur – Piriyapatna - Kushalnagar – Suntikoppa – Madikeri route.
Coorg land is rich with many coffee estates and they grow the best coffee in India.Most of the houses in Kodagu have some one in the Indian army or navy.They are well known for their bravery and hospitality.There are many sites in the internet which gives info about homestays,food etc in Coorg so travelling is not at all a problem here.
First day we covered Iruppu falls,Bylakuppe Golden Temple,Dubare Elephant Camp.
Next day we went to TalaCuvery and BhagaMandalam.
Iruppu
Iruppu falls
Golden Temple is a major attraction at Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement. The gold coated Buddhist statues in the monastery are impressive and unique, explains the rich cultural heritage of Tibetans.
They have good accommodation facilities here.So we stayed here for a night and early morning visited the temple.
Golden Temple,BiluKoppe
Monks inside the temple
Monk & Buddha
Dalai Lama
GoldenStatues
Paintings on the wall
Dubare elephant camp is good for children.We can bath the elephants ,feed them,have a ride and enjoy.But there are timings for these activities.I remember we should be there before 10AM in the morning to do all these.
Dubare elephant camp
ElephantRide
Dubare Camp
Tala Cauvery where the river Cauvery originates, is my favt spot.We did pooja and archana here.We also did a small trekking to Brahmagiri, a small hillock near by which gives a nice view of western ghats.
TalaCauvery
View from Brahmagiri
Few kilometers away is Bhagamadala where River Cauvery merges with the rivers Kannike and Sujyothi to form a Triveni Sangama.
Triveni Sangama
Bhagandeshwara Temple
Bannerghatta National Park is around 22km from Bangalore. Its wild life sanctuary that spreads over 525 sq. km. A zoo and a butterfly park are the main attractions here.
The forest department also has safaris like lion safari,grand safari etc. inside the park which gives a closer feel of wild animals.When we went on safari we spotted lions,tigers,white tigers and deers.
Ticket prices are reasonable and park timings are from 9 to 5pm except on Tuesdays which is a holiday.
Butterfly park is well maintained and less crowded compared to zoo.We didn’t spot much butterflies as it was an off season.
This is a good family outing spot and if kids are there then they will really enjoy a lot.
Butterfly
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Park Entrance
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Tiger
White one!!
We r together
Walking
There is a saying in kannada “If its god then it has to be Tirupati Timmappa and if it is guru then it has to be Manchale Ragappa “. Hardly people need any explanation about Mantralayam.It is the divine place where Sri Raghavendra swami entered into the Brindavan, alive - Sajeeva Samadhi.It is believed that Shri Rayaru, as he is lovingly called by his devotees, still exist in the samadhi and is fulfilling the prayers of devotees.
Mantralayam is around 550km from Udupi.The preferred route is Udupi-Shimoga-Bellary-Adoni-Mantralayam. Road condition is Good.There are plenty of guest houses provided by the temple as well private hotels for accomodation.
On the way to Mantralayam first we crossed Agumbe. Agumbe, being one of the most heavily raining areas in Karnataka, the whole area is densely vegetated and lush green.If you are looking for a break from the city life and interested in some good trekking then Agumbe is the place to be.
Sunset in Agumbe
Sheep blocking our way
Colors in the sky
Places to visit in Mantralayam are
Manchalamma Temple
Shri Raghavendra Swamy Temple
Shri Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple
Manchalamma, the local deity of Manchale gave the land for Rayaru to contruct the Vrindavanam.
Its a custom here that first we need to see Manchallamma and then Shri Rayara Vrindavanam.
Mantralaya Temple
Tunga bhadra river flows in the back side of the temple which would be floddy during rainy seasons.
Tunga River
This is time we also got the opportunity to visit the house where Rayara Padukas are there.
Rayara Padukegalu
Panchamukhi Veeranjaneya temple is around 30min from here.There are auto rickshaws available to go there. Sri Raghavendhra Swamy was an ardent devotee of Sri Moola Rama and Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya. He performed penance here for 12 years and got the dharshan of Hanuman in the form of Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya, an incarnation of Lord Hanuman. The anjaneya is a swayambu inscription on the rocky cave.
Pachamuki Anjaneya
Bed and Pillow
Pushapaka Vimana/Aerial Vehicle
Some useful links :
http://www.srsmutt.org/
http://www.mantralayam.com/
http://www.gururaghavendra.org/
