Travel
Republic India turns a Senior Citizen Today
Written by Srikanth Wednesday, 27 January 2010 00:47
Republic India turns a Senior Citizen today - We celebrate our 60th Republic Day
We have come a long way in the Last 60 years of being republic and almost 63 years of Independence. From being a country out/or still in a state of a turmoil, perceived buy many as a poor country not capable of standing on its own feet to now being called the rising power, a rising economy with one of the highest Growth Rates in any democratic country.
The big question in most our minds is where will INDIA be in the next decade. Will it go into retirement and grow slower or Grow with vigor to a Industrialized country competing if not beating the other economies. Not continue to be called a developing county but a Developed one. Practice Equality and up-liftment of the poor not by communist means but using good governmental scheme and policies as powerful tools. Creating a Ideal country incorporating the good virtues of Communist China and the Liberal America. In today's era where Cloud computing, need based processing / resources is in, its about time we moved away from Caste Based politics and reservation to move into a need based model. Its about time we stop Discriminating people on on basis of caste, these caste based reservation only acts as a Discrimination Tool.
Visiting Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar's Gorur
Written by Srikanth Tuesday, 26 January 2010 22:43
Many know Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar as a freedom fighter, And many others know him as a writer of his famous book "Amerikadalli Goruru" but he holds a special place in my heart for his book "Namma Oorina Rasikaru".
When my friend suggested that we go to his native Gorur, Although the name ringed a bell somewhere in the corner of my mind, My conception was still of a laid back village in the outskirts of Hassan. Even when the Name of Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar came up in the conversations when I was there or when this house was pointed out to me, it did not strike me even once of the connection. It only strikeed me in my sleep today :) (Even after years Indians remember the Name of hero's and heroines of popular films but not the name of the directors)
I was introduced to this book, "Namma Oorina Rasikaru". almost a Decade ago thanks to our Education System (I had very limited exposure to Kannada book / literature in the Educational framework in which I studied),Only a handful, 3 to be exact choose to study this book. With my command over the language not being good, any book would have been ideally forgotten
and buried for good but this book was still holds a place in my rack and my memory. Me being brought up mostly in the city this book gave me a glimpse if the tranquility of Village life, giving each individuals in the story a different and interesting characters, and even giving Non living characters life (You feel that the Bus is actually playing a character in the book, Where the bus even plays the part of a Clock, How conductors and postmans in gorus / villages wre treated at the time.....). The book easily transforms us into this interesting village. Although my exposure to Kannada Books is not even a handful, I could easily consider Gorur's story telling strengths in Kannada to be as good a Jeffery archer in English.
Bike Trip to Mekedatu (mekedathu) , Chunchi Falls and Sangama : September 2008
Written by srikanth131 Tuesday, 14 July 2009 12:45
Mekedatu is a Beautiful Place, Gushing water and Natural Rack Formations/ Rocky Terrain on Both the Sides makes up Mekedatu, Sangam is the confluence of Cauvery and Arkavathi. Sangama/Sangam also hosts an ancient Shiva temple called Sangameswara Devalaya. And Chunchi is just another waterfall.
It was just another weekend, in our bid to get away from the Hectic Life’s and the pollution of Bangalore to More Calm Sunday. We were only Two People (I will refer to the Other Person as MyFriend from here on) and a Bike seems a Better Choice. Kanakapura is around 50KMs From Bangalore. Although Kanakapura Hosts Nothing Special, It’s a Gateway to Many of the Weekend Gateways along the Cavery Basin.
MyFriend met me at Mejestic (Which Seems like an appropriate place to meet as we both were from Different parts of Bangalore), We started of from Majestic at 7:15AM and reached Kanakapura Road, Through Banashankari.
The road to kanakapura is very good (Except for the Unpredictable Potholes every 5Kms) the road is Very Smooth and we can safely drive at 60-80KM/Hour on a Bike. We had Breakfast at Kanakapura Just before the Deviation, Pretty good restaurant. I must say the Idlies were Really Good.
Continuing further the road will Deviate and We have to take the smaller road to the Left, The road further is slightly bad for a few kms (may be 5 kms) after which is the newly laid road, However a Bridge construction is going on at least 5-6 Places we will need to take the Side roads, etc (This will be a good landmark for people taking this road for the next 3 years at least considering the pace of work of all Infr Projects in Karnataka). I felt Liberated with the fresh Air, Greenery all around, Mountains and Small water Bodies, You will feel a Thousand Kilometres away from Bangalore.
We both saw this Beautiful House and Hope that we Owned it someday, Imagine Waking to this Beautiful Air, The Sound of Birds, Mountains on the Right, Flat Bed area on the Left to play Games in, and a waterbody to dip yourself in the evening, Away from the city.
The last few Kilometers to sangama are even more Scenic, The View of the river when we drive down the mountains and the especially the 3 HairPin Turns. I am sure that many would have met with an accident here. Hopefully I was not one of them. There are however warning boards there, but are placed after the first turn
From there we need to take a Boat to continue to Mekedatu. I parted with my Bike there. Fish, Edibles, EGGs etc are available here. You might want to Buy things here as in Mekedatu there are no shops, except people who sell 14Rs water bottles at 25Rs.
The Boat ride costs Rs.40 Each (up and Down) just for the few meters across. I would have called this extortion if not for the Buss ride further. The boats are those Round ones (“Coracles"). The Boat ride across was a good experience, would be better if the Group was larger.
After we had crossed the River were we in for a Surprise, we paid for 40Rs each for the Transport toMekedatu; although Jeeps were available we were seated into a Vehicle which 30 Years ago might have looked like a Bus. Considering the shape in which the bus was I doubted that I would even reach the place. Only other choice was to Trek the few Kms.
My thoughts went to how the bus actually got there, I was thinking whether there was actually a road to get there. However I clarified with the Bus Guy and One more local also that the Bus and jeep was got there when there was less water (summer) across the River. The Bus started off and it was rocking (literally).
Photograph Slideshow:
Alas we reached Mekedatu in One Piece and was greeted by a amazing view , Water Flowing below between the Rocky Lines on Both Sides. It was wonderful. It looked like the Waters travelling in Incredible speeds had managed to Cut through the rocks.
We climbed down to the rocks, Thanks to the steps (Might be a 100 steps or so, Almost same as Muthathi or the ones in Abbey Falls). The rocks were Incredibly smooth and Looked like water had been flowing over them for a few decades. My friend pointed out that It looked like Granite stones.
We spent the next hour or so on the rocks exploring them, going further down. I had a few Minutes of nap. We found a cave to take Pics in and Washed out faces, kept my feet in those cool gushing waters, and…… That’s it.
We had to go further and further down the stream through the rocks to find a good spot for us to Sit. We travelled back after the hour in the now crowded bus, Bumping my head many a times in the Bus (I am 6ft tall)
Took the Boat back, For a tips of 10Rs (he asked only 5Rs, we are generous you know --) ) the boatman swirled the boat for around 10-20 turns and was a near rollercoaster ride. It was great. We then had Double Omelettes Each and Started off.
Next Stop was Chunchi Falls Just a 6 KMs Deviation from the main road. Parking change was Rs.10 (Sangam parking was the same too). The parking was all that I Can remember, Because the Falls was not worth it. When the Water tap in my House rooftop Broke, There was a Larger Fountain I think. We can only hear the Waters sound like a Small 2 Ft Falls. But If anyone is planning to visit Mekedatu then you could visit this only to pass the time.
Next stop was kanakapura, Back the scenic route. It was 3PM By the time we reached and after some Info collection we found that VASU Hotel (Sri Lakshmi Vilas Coffee House) was the best Hotel in Town. (Also Confirmed in my last visit), We rushed in , Somehow managed two seats after 10 mins and Had Masala Dosa and Set Dosa Respectively. There was a yellow colour sweet (Like a Abbuto , a Holega covered in a Dry Masala ? ) , They call it some puri , Which I was planning to try out. But as my Friend was not in Mood we left. However Food was tasty. I will recommend this place any day. The Building is however Old , with Not yet Broken Chairs and tables.
And it was a Quite ride back to Bangalore…… Was raining when we reached , Dropped off my friend at BSK and Came Home. The total odometer reading had neared only 200KMs that day.
