Sankeshwar-Murudeshwar-Sringeri-Belur

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Route taken for the trip over 4 days covering 1600kms.
Bangalore -> Mundgod  -> Hubli -> Belgaum -> Gadhinglaj -> sankeshwar -> Belgaum -> Hubli  -> Gokarn -> Murudeshwar -> Kollur -> Thirthahalli -> Sringeri -> Belur -> Bangalore
Day 1: Bangalore -> Hubli -> Gadhinglaj
We went to wedding of my cousin at Gadhinglaj, started early morning around 5:30 and reached Mundgod by 10:00 AM, had breakfast met my cousins and uncles. Left to Hubli had lunch and then reached Gadhinglaj by around 3:30PM. Attended functions and rested.
Day 2: Attended marriage and started from Gadhinglaj.Went to  Shankarling Math Sankeshwar.
 Shankarling temple, Sankeshwar
Shankarling temple is on the bank of river Hiranyakesi.Some say that Shankarling Math was founded by none other than Adiguru Shankaracharya himself. Some say that this was built around 1500AD by Rastrakootaas.
ಶಂಕರಲಿಂಗ ಗುಡಿಯ ತೇರು
ಗುಡಿಯ ಆವರಣ
Towards the river.
We then went to Hubli and checked in into Ananth Residency and called it a day.
Day 3:
Left hubli after having breakfast. Drove straight to Gokarna through the scenic Yellapur, Ankola, route.
 Taking a short break On the way.
The Cruze and the Vento
Pooja & Mohan on Gokarn Beach
 ಗೋಕರ್ಣ ಬೀಚ್
Parking is not easy if you are going to the temple in Gokarna, You have to go meander through small streets and then parking is almost near the beach. When we went there the queue was long and before we could take darshan the temple was closed for a few hours. On the way back from the temple, got a chance to shake hands with sandalwood director Yogaraj Bhat. We then went to Idagunji Ganapati. Called up RNS hotel in Murudeshwar and booked 2 rooms for us and it was a very good decision. After Idagunji, we had lunch on our way to Murudeshwar and checked in into RNS residency. There was huge rush and rooms were full.
 Murudeshwar temple's Gopuram
We went to Murudeshwar beach in the evening. Man o man. that was the thickest density of people I have ever seen on any beach. More people than even Baga beach. We decided to go back and return early morning to the beach.
ಮುರುಡೇಶ್ವರ ಸಮುದ್ರ ತೀರದಲ್ಲಿ ಜನಸಾಗರ
Murudeshwara temple complex, with the hotel on the right.

Ishaan playing with Mohan mama

Went to the beach in the morning, not many people today and kids got place to play and enjoy!

Vaibhavi's art on the beach

Long beach with fewer people 

Shadow selfie

View from the hotel Room

View from the restaurant

View from the reception area

Hotel entrance

We visited temple after the breakfast, not much queue and we got darshan peacefully. Kids were

Famous shiva statue of Murudeshwar

View of the beach on the other side from the temple

Capturing the tall gopuram in single snap itself is a challenge

Inside the temple complex.

At the entrance

We then checked out and started towards kollur mookambika temple. Plan was to visit the Kollur temple have lunch and reach Sringeri by the evening and halt there. By the time we reached Kollur it was afternoon, we visited the temple, there was a big queue but it was moving well. The temple complex is very beautiful. It is around 1200 years old. It also has an wooden chariot for the goddess which is intricately carved. We had a simple lunch on the outskirts of Kollur and left for Sringeri.

I depended on map my india GPS software to guide us with the roads and it always looses common sense at the right moment and chooses shortest path to the best path. I deally we should have joined back NH17 and reentered it. But the GPS took us into the jungle roads. Roads started becomming narrower to the point that we looked to be going through private properties.  Road conditions were pathetic in a few strectches. But the good thing about this was we were deep inside the western ghats / malnad region and could see the daily life and ways of the people. The route was pretty scenic. We passed through a board which said Kodachadri was very near, but we resisted going there in order to reach Sringeri in the evening. We also passed through the village of legendary kannada writer and poet Kuvempu. Name of the village is Kuppalli. Finally we joined the good roads near Thirthahalli and reached Sringeri at about 8:00 PM in the evening. Roads were pretty good from Thirthahalli. Had simple dinner at a restaurant in the town and retired for the day.

 Vistited the Sharadamba temple at shringeri. this temple was founded by Adi guru Shankaracharya. Although not planned all the temples in this trip have been related to Shankaracharya.

Temple complex is built on the bank of river Tunga

Sringeri Temple Architecture

A beautiful tiled roof old style multistory building near the temple.

Sringeri temple premises

Beautiful Temple Architecture

All of the kids had Akshara Abhyas. Sringeri temple is known for this. Lot of people get their kids to this temple for this.

     After the akshara abhyas session

After visit to the temple we started back to Bangalore. Plan was to visit Halebeedu and Belur temples on the way.

The route back is scenic and drive was wonderful. This is snap of river Bhadra on the way.

Golden Jubilee OBA meet at SSBJ

Sainik School Bijapur is my Alma mater. The Old Boys Association and school management had planned grand events throught the golden Jubilee year including a visit by President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee. 

I joined SSBJ on 8th June 1988, I clearly remember that day. It has been more than 25 years since then. Our batch 1988-95 was the silver Jubilee batch.

Went to school after 18 long years.

Started from Belgaum in Manju's Bolero. Clear skies typical North Karnataka fields and dry air makes one Nostalgic. We miss many things in Bangalore.

This is 1000 year old temple renovated. Just before Mudhol.

Inside the temple

River Krishna after Jamakhandi

Ibrahim Roja, Bijapur.

Adilshahi house - our home for 7 years

M I Room

Still remember we lost south zone finals on this very ground by just a single point. Match that brought tears.

Parade Ground, where we spent our Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons.

Recreation hall, too many memories of goofing around during afternoon and night preps.

Anteroom - Socks ball cricket, shoe polishing and second sunday snacks 

With Senior cadets

The Quadrangle

Evening function was spectacular and attendance was great. Met many many people Teachers, Support staff, seniors, juniors and remembered the grand old days.

Horse stable

Only Ginde and Manja were fit, rest unfit.

Two seater plane .. its there since ages

Inside SR Kanthi Auditorium. I hated public speaking and this view still scares me.

It was a memorable reunion. Thanks to the OBA and school management for providing us an opportunity and live the school life for a day. We stayed in Wodeyar house.

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