Have You been Here - Near the Clouds - A short trip to the Mountains
I have been here since my earliest childhood. The place Bathi is just 7 kms from my native place Harihar (Southern part of INDIA). The place has a temple where my grandfather use to go every Monday from the day he started working as school teacher. Since then the practice of visiting has been regular. The place is between a city and a town old PB Road (Pune-Bengaluru Highway). To bypass the traffic and the city roads , there was a new 6 lane National highway built. All the one who does not want to get into Harihar-Davanagere can use the bypass Highway. The location is known to be effect of tectonic plate movement and the post effects of the collision. These are known to be part of Dharwad Rock systems. The thousands of years old volcanic eruptions have resulted in 3 mountains. One is the bigger and other two are considerably smaller and not too steep. The Bathi Gudda is the bigger one and the bed of the mountain has the civilization where the people have built homes and agricultural lands.
The Bathi Gudda is a religious place having a temple which is located a height. The best thing is its not crowded any day of the week. I visited here few days back and there only two more people other than me. A cool place where you can sit an relax, watch to the endless distance and the feel of getting closer to the moving clouds. There is a small trekking track behind the temple which will take you further into a small Cave ( Not recommended to go when its evening and not to go alone ).
The Bathi Gudda has two roads to access, one will take you half way by road and other half has stone stacked steps. The second road which is very new takes you by road till the temple. If I remember the early days, there was just one path which needs to be climbed by foot and no vehicles accessible. The place then was literally a forest and not it looks so cultivated and organized.
Location : Bathi Gudda, India.
I clicked couple of photographs from my smartphone in my last visit. It was a cool day and i reached here by evening 5 PM. Sadly the sunset is on the other side. I need to plan for a sunrise some day. Its never disappointing to be here. I sat here for hours and was very relaxing, watching the clouds move and change their forms.
Some photographs of the clouds
These were taken in smartphone and low light made them look bad after a little edit.
Camera Used : Samsung galaxy S9 smartphone and edits on photoshop express android app.
The floating clouds will surely have a positive thing and relax you from everything. That was my experience being there.
Let me take you to the steps which is accessible only by foot. The Old path was very bad and looked like the worst first trek of my childhood. But now this looks so organized and maintained (May be does not need maintenance other than cleaning them)
The first two above photographs are taken from the top as i had reached top by road with a two wheeler and was taking steps down by foot.
Below photograph is a closer look at the granite stone steps cemented and cracked already. But for sure they will last for years.
Some final approach which is near the temple area.
Flowers from the trees fall on the steps, like welcomes carpet. And the dry leaves too. If you are here i would recommend you to take steps even if you go by vehicles, Its very pleasant and green. Fresh air and lot of greenery to enjoy your hike.
Below writing in in my mother tongue Kannada language, says leave your foot ware here and foot ware not allowed beyond this place. Coz the turn will take you in front of the temple.
To the Right the stone wall stacked up beautifully.
The final steps towards the large open area. This was built recently when they planned for temple renovation (The best place to view the never ending distance and the clouds and bird view. I captured the clouds photographs in landscape and shared in beginning )
I haven't taken any photos of temple. Just the entrance
The tiny flowers and plants from where I was sitting and walking around.
The Dandelion family flowers
The Lantana flowers
And the Parthenium or locally called as Congress plant
I should have had these two photographs before. This is the view which gives you a great feel of Village life. When you get down the steps by foot, after the half way, you will walk through the images below.
Every village is concertized and roads are much better. People have found ways to make enough money and Urbanization has slowly penetrated through their life too.
To End the post I have only one question.
Have You Been Here