Trip Details
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Distance From Bangalore
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135 Kms
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Type
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Lepakshi: Historical monument, Carvings and
sculptures, Temple
Rangasthala: Old Temple
Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Chikballapur (incase if you
like temples)
Veerapuram: Painted Storks
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Time needed
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One day for all the above places
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Best time to visit
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Lepakshi: Anytime except during rains
Veerapuram: Mid-December till End-February seem to
be the best time to see too many painted storks. Other months few birds.
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Local guides
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Lepakshi: Ask for the
guide in temple complex. Charges approx. Rs.200/=
Veerapuram: Just see the
tree tops for any birds throughout this village. Walk through the village
streets and see for birds. Ask for the Vet.Clinic and check there as well.
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Stay options
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No need to stay
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Food
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On Bangalore Hyderabad NH you will find Kamat which
is average
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Nearby places
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Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Chikballapur (seen on NH itself)
Nandi hills is on the way, but it is better you go seperately and spend atleast 4 hours or more here.
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Other tips
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·
First visit Anjaneyaswamy Temple in
Chikballapur if you like temples, then Rangasthala.
·
After both the above head to Lepakshi. After
Lepakshi visit Veerapuram.
·
Ask for the Guide in Lepakshi to know more
about the history and interesting details about the paintings and sculptures.
·
Route: Bangalore International Airport,
Chikballapur and after the Andra border take left towards Lepakshi/Hindupur. You
get to pay in two toll booths each Rs.115/= (onward and return journey
together)
·
Carry a binocular and good camera for
Veerapuram to capture the Painted Storks
|
It was on Sunday first
week of August we planned to visit these places in a day and started at 7AM sharp from Bangalore and could reach Chikballapur in 1 hour.
We went via Windsor Manor, Hebbal, Bangalore International Airport,
Chikballapur, Hyderabad NH, Turn left to Hindupur & Lepakshi. Early
in the morning at around 7:30AM, we have seen close to 10 Harley-Davidson bikes
cruising at 100KMPH. We saw almost all colors and all different models.
On the way to
Rangasthala and on the NH (around chikballapur) you get to see Vineyard, Cabbage fields, Brinjal, Tomato, Ragi,
Marigold flower, Rose flower fields elsewhere. Incase
you like to take
photographs or if your kids like to see such fields then these are the places
you want to stop and relax a while.
1. Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Chikballapur
As you approach
Chikballapur, first you will see Anjaneyaswamy Temple. If you like you can stop
and visit the temple.
2. Ranganathaswamy Temple,
Rangasthala, Karnataka
This is an old temple and
the Lord Ranganathaswamy is exactly like the one in Srirangam Tamilnadu or same
as in Srirangapatna near Mysore. The pond near the temple is beautiful. Use google map to find the location, it is close to Chikballapur.
3. Lepakshi Nandi and
Veerabhadra Temple
On the
Bangalore-Hyderabad NH after crossing the Andhra border (checkpost is there)
you will see a board which has the sign for Lepakshi & Hindupur. Take left
there. Once you take left you get to see many signboards to Lepakshi.
First you get to see a big sculpture of painted stork on left hand side. Either
you can visit Veerapuram first or while coming back from Lepakshi. We decided
to come back to Veerapuram after lunch hence continued further.
First you get to see the
very big Nandi (Bull) statue. This seems to be the biggest Monolith Nandi
statue in India. This is so beautiful and so amazingly carved. Look at the
jewels hanging on its ears and its body they are so beautiful. From this statue
you need to go about 250 metres to the Veerabhardra Temple. Plenty of parking
place is there.
Ask for the help of a
Guide there to learn more on the history and interesting stories. As you enter
the temple see the carvings on each pillar and the roof for paintings. Many Monkeys in and around the Lepakshi Temple, so be careful not to eat or open your bags which has eatables. There is
a Hanging pillar and literally you can insert a paper and take out on the other
side. From one angle you can see the complete gap. It is really hanging and
this is really amazing. There are many carvings thorough out and paintings all
over the ceilings. Walk along the inner walls or sides of the temple i.e.
Prakaram and you get to see the seven headed snake on Shivalinga amazingly
carved. Behind this you get to see the Ganesha statue. And there is a Kalyan
Mantapa (Marriage hall) with lots of pillars and each pillar is having unique
carvings.
Sthala Virutcham (Temple
Tree) in this temple is both Vilva Maram and Arasa Maram together in combined
form. I heard generally they do marriage for two trees when it they are a small
sapling. Once they grow big they are always together and amazing.
Vilva Maram:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegle_marmelos
Arasa Maram: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_religiosa
Visit my post on “Tree on Tree” which has pictures of similar trees.
4. Veerapuram
This is really a
beautiful village on the way to Lepakshi. There are colorful Painted Storks
visiting this village every year during Mid-Dec till End-Feb. You get to see
too many of painted storks in the
village tree tops. Many times on the ground as well. The villagers are so
protective about the birds and they help these birds. There is a veterinary
clinic specially for these birds. The
villagers took me to the clinic and explained me various things they do to take
care of these birds. Many young birds who were once fallen down from nests with
twisted leg damaged wings..etc are all stay back in village for lifetime and
villagers take care like their own children. They have lots of preserved-fish
for feeding these birds.
Moving onto photos
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| Seven headed Snake Guarding Shiva Lingam and Temple towers behind ! |
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| See the carvings, Shiva Lingam, Jewels and Bells on Nandi, so beautiful ! |
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| Married Trees - Vilvam and Arasa Maram ! |
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| Big Ganesha |
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| Front view of Huge Nandi at Lepakshi, Monolithic ! |
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| Anjaneyaswamy Temple Chikballapur |
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| Anjaneyaswamy Temple Chikballapur |
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| Do you see the Veerabhadra Temple ?, This is just on the left side of Big Nandi, you need to climb up a little. From here you could see the temple and seven headed snake ! |
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| I think he is Virupanna who built this temple |
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| Information board which captures the details of the temple |
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| Main Entrance |
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| Look at the beautiful elephants on the pillar, many damaged now |
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| Carvings on the entrance pillars |
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| Painting of Lord Shiva on the roof |
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| The main attractiion - The hanging pillar, do you see the paper inserted below? |
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| 3 Legs ? |
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| Kalyana Mantapa (Marriage Hall) |
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| Beautiful Pillars in Kalyana Mantapa - Meenakshi Sundareshwarar |
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| Closeup of the married tree |
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| 3 Headed Cow ... !!! |
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| Information Board on Big Nandi Statue |
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| Colorful ..... Lord Ranganatha and Garuda on Left |
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| Garuda in the entrance (inside) of the temple |
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| Lord Hanuman in the entrance (inside) of the temple |
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| Beautiful entrance and the Temple Tower |
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| Rain Water harvesting - Big pond near Rangasthala Temple |
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| Marigold Field on the way to Rangasthala Temple |
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| Vineyard on the way to Rangasthala Temple |
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| Temple Tower |
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| Do you see the Painted Stork? The village is so beautiful |
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| Information Board in Kannada in Veerapuram |
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| Painted Storks everywhere on the ground and they are not scared of you, Heard that they are fallen from nests at early stages and stay here for lifetime |
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| This guy has twisted his leg (fallen from tree while young) and not able to fly looks like |
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| Little one, still not ready to fly or wings or damaged not sure ! He lives on the terrace of one house |
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| Village boys feeding Fish to Storks ! |
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| You just swallowed a Fish right? still want one more? |
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| Special recognition for Mr. Venugopal Reddy |
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| Veterinary Clinic for Painted Storks |
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| Veerapuram Welfare Society |
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| He wanted more and more fishes and was hungry ! |
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| Brinjal (Egg Plant) field near Veerapuram |
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| Ragi field near Veerapuram |
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| This is the where the you take left to Veerapuram on the main road to Hindupur/Lepakshi |
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| You can donate and contact Mr. Venugopal Reddy for any information. |
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| Just walk around the village looking at the top of trees. Birds will be there elsewhere. |
Hope you liked the photos and the details. Share with your friends and let them know about these wonderful places near Bangalore.
Refer to my other blogs
1. Weekend Breaks or Daytrips from Bangalore: http://myjourneysinindia.blogspot.com/2014/07/weekend-breaks-or-day-trips-from.html
2. India's Largest and Longest underground cave of 3.2Kms length - Belum Caves and nearby places
http://myjourneysinindia.blogspot.com/2016/02/belum-caves-gandikota-grand-canyon-of.html
