Somanathapura Temple near Mysore

Location of Somanathapura:

It is about 35 km from Mysore, should take about 45 min.  There are many KSRTC buses I guess. 

I had to find my way from Nanjangud, since I was staying in Nanjangudu. 

I took a bus from Nanjangudu to T. Narasipura.  Tirumanakudalu Narasipura. From T Narasipura I took another KSRTC bus to Somanathapura. Narasipura - Bannur route passes through Somanathapura. 

I left Nanjangudu around 0630 and reached Somanathapura by 0800 hrs.  Buses are not so frequent. Road is good. If you have your vehicle, drive on. Nice green patch, full of paddy field. 

Somanathapura is a sleepy town.  I got down the  bus to see many local villagers sitting under trees looking at me as I was a total stranger. 

There was not a single guy around who was a tourist. I felt happy since there would not be any crowd and I could take pictures with out any hassle. 

I asked some one about the temple. He showed the main entrance of manicured garden with an iron gate just few mtrs across. 

The board says - Entry Time is 0830 hrs to 1700 hrs. 

Hmm..... 30 minutes I had to wait. There were small tea shops and I sat sipping a glass of hot milk and waited for 30 minutes. 

Entry Fees :

Rs. 25 per person - Indian. Rs 300 per person for foreigner. Rs 25 additional if you want to make videos. You can not make videos with an actor.  No photoshoot with people I guess. No pre wedding photoshoot I guessed again.

The place is a heritage place and managed by ASI, and is maintained well.  The temple is now just a heritage place and no Pooja, worship.  After taking Darshana of the deities I felt bit sad, that no worship, no Alankara, no Veda Ghosha, yet felt blessed seeing beautiful Idols of Sri Venugopla, Sri Janardhana, Sri Keshava. 

The temple is amazingly beautiful. Resembles Sri Channakeshava Temple at Belur.  

It has three sanctum sanctorum ( Garba Griha ) for three deities and a common hall (Navaranga). 

Pictures speak more than words.  So enjoy the pictures.

The Temple was built some time in 13th century by Hoysala kings. Somanatha was an high ranking officer at Hoysala kingship, who built the said Temple. 

The temple outer wall has beautiful sculptures depicting the Hindu Purana, Itihaasa events, gods and demigods. I could not recognise many sculptures but could not stop complimenting the architects, builders, artisans who built such a beautiful temple. So much of detailing and work they had to do to build the marvel. 

Sri Vishnu.

Beautiful Sri Venugopala - one of the main deities.  I did not get the good images of other two, due to poor lighting. 

Natya Ganapati

Sri Vishnu relaxing on Shesha. 

Another Devi statue 

A Brahma Statue

Statue of Varaha ? 

Rows of Elephants, Horses and foot soldiers

Sri Vishnu with Laxmi

Mahishasura Mardini ?

Intricate carved ceiling inside the temple. there were many more. I could get only few good images.

Every statue is differently carved. So nicely designed and placed. 

Most of the statues are defaced in one or the other way, most faces are disfigured, unfortunately. Whoever vandalised the temple, were surely filled with hatred or they were absolutely stupid not to appreciate such beauty. 

It was good to be early at the temple. I took good round of temple and clicked clean pictures. By 0930 hrs group of tourists started to arrive. 

With crowd around you get such pictures and editing them is a painstakingly long process and in the process, the picture will lose the quality. 

Above was no crowd but look at the guys 

There were lot of foreign tourists along with local crowd.

Time for me to move to my next spot - Talakadu. I had planned to cover two spots on the same day.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Talakaadu - next post.

In the region the bus service is not so  frequent. Shared autos ply quite regular and less expensive. I took a shared auto from Somanathapura to Mudukutore. Again another shared auto to reach Talakadu. I was there by 1100 hrs.

An architectural marvel standing testimony of the rich culture of the bygone era. 

The skill, knowledge and will to build such land mark temples with such great details are something which is beyond our comprehension  in today's context. 

Unchalli Water Fall, Yana Rocks and Vibhuti Water fall.

Unchalli Water Fall

A beautiful roaring water fall in the middle of dense forest near Sirsi, Karnataka. The spot is about 35 km from Sirsi in Uttara Kannada District in Karnataka, a southern state. 

River Aghanashini drops down about 116 mtr in to steep valley. It is named after a British collector Lushington. Not many are aware of this name hence do not bother. 

Locally it is also called Keppa Joga I read.

There are view points built by the forest authorities in vantage positions. 

Do not attempt to climb down the steep valley. It could be fatal. 

People could enjoy a trek of 5 km from a hamlet called Heggarane, through thick forest. Other wise vehicle can reach as close as 0.5 km from the water fall.

We drove close to the spot, though I would have enjoyed the trek. We were in a small group and had plans to cover more in a day.

Follow the GPS and check intermittently with locals if any road block occurred in previous night, you will safely reach the spot. 

Best time to visit :  October to February.
Be aware it rains cats & dogs during rainy season -   June  to August.  You can visit during rainy season if you are hardcore trekker and like to get drenched. 

Walk through this mud road about half a km and you will hit the water fall. 

Deafening, Roaring sound and view of water fall mesmerises. 

YANA The Gigantic Rock formation

Yana is a spot where you encounter a huge rock formation in the middle of dense forest. This is about 1 hour drive from Unchalli water fall, 40 km from Sirsi, 30 km from Kumta in Uttara Kannda District, Karnataka. 

Two huge rock formation are known as Bhiraveshwara and Mohini  Shikhara. It is also pilgrimage place. People throng here during Maha Shiva Ratri. 

There is a small cave temple with self manifested Shivalinga, with natural water dripping constantly on the self manifested Linga. It is said that the water drops remain constant through out the year even during heavy monsoon.

Enjoy the images of the rock formations. 

Mohini Shikara

Bhyraveshwara Shikhara

One can walk around the rock - Bare foot Parikrama of the Bhyraveshwara 

Vibhuti water Fall

After Yana we headed for Vibhuti walls. Here do not follow GPS. It shows a round about route. Follow the short cuts with the help of locals. 

If you are travelling from Sirsi, you can reach via Devanahalli, Hegadekatta, about 35 km. If you have to travel from Yana to Vibhuti, you can follow the below shown route, using a short cut.  

We had a lunch break in between. There are few road side hotels. Better if you carry your food. 

The Vibhuti fall is a small beautiful hidden in Sahyadri range of western ghats. You need to walk a paved, mud road of about 1 km through dense forest. It is a nice lush green patch with fresh air. 

Carry a set of spare clothing if you want to take a dip and swim in the small pond formation. Very refreshing to lay down in such a fresh water. 

There is a life guard present, just to keep a watch on - over confident tourists. 

Best time to visit : October to February. It would be difficult during heavy monsoon I guess, except for those who dare heavy rains and leeches. 

Now enjoy the pictures.

Walk through dense forest for about 0.5 km and then hit the Water Fall

How to reach : 

Unchalli, Yana, Vibhuti can be covered in a day if you drive along either from Sagara or Sirsi.

Unchalli water fall, Yana, Vibhuti Fall would be around 180 km altogether if you start from Sagara and bit less if you start from Sirsi. 

Distance between Sagara and Sirsi is about 70 KM. 

Distance between Bangalore and Sagara is about 400 km. 

Nearest Railway : Sirsi

Nearest airport : Mangalore. 

Best time to  visit : October to February.  

If you like heavy rains and dare leeches, visit during June July.

Doodh Sagar Water Fall, Goa

I landed here by error.

Plan was to visit a water fall near to Tambdi Surla Shri Mahadev Temple, after visiting Tambdi surla Temple.

I had told the cab driver the same. He nodded with confidence. I took it on the face value. I did not cross check.

Doodh Sagar water fall is another popular water fall close to Tambdi Surla Temple, falling in the same Bhagawan Mahaveer Wild life sanctuary.  The cab driver automatically assumed it to be Doodhsagar, when I said water fall.

My plan to visit the Tambdi Surla water fall, which is less crowded I guess.

After Tambdi Surla Temple, we started off. 30  minutes later i realised that something was wrong and asked the cab driver. He promptly answered.

Hmmm..... I thought for a while and then accepted to visit Doodhsagar. It was anyway in my list but not during this time.

It falls in Bhagawan Mahaveer Wild life Sanctuary, about 60 km from Panaji. Nearly 50 km from Ponda on NH 748 towards Mollem.

Road is quite good. Not much of traffic.

Good time of day to visit is morning hours, before noon atleast, I would say.  During the peak rainy seasons the Doodh sagar route is closed. So, choose your time of day and month accordingly.


Collem is the base spot. Beyond this point, you can not take your vehicle. You need to take the shared jeep organised by the local union of jeep organisers.

It was 1100 hrs when I reached the spot. There was long Q for ticketing. It was quite hot sunny day.

I really do not like a crowded place on a nature trail like this. I for a moment thought of going back. But stayed on anyway.

I have to explain the system for the sake of readers who would visit.
Entry to trail : Rs.400 per person considering that you take the shared jeep of seven. Rs.2800/- per jeep.

Every one must take a life jacket. It is mandatory. You can get it on rent at Rs.30/-

Camera fee (standard camera) : Rs.30/-. Mobile camera is ok. No fees.

Forest entry fee : Rs. 50 per person.

One can walk the trail. Fees are still applicable except Rs.400/-  Life jacket is still mandatory.

They have limited number of jeeps. Each jeeps takes seven guys to the water fall base, which is 12 km and takes 45 minutes. You will be there for about one and half hours and then return by the same jeep. The road is jungle trail.

There is a strict guy with far south Indian hard accent who controls the operation of ticketing and assigning the jeeps.

If you are group of seven then it is simple, he takes Rs.2800/- and gives you the jeep number and calls the driver. If not, he will make you sit, (not yet taken the money). You will have to wait till he forms a group of seven. Once group of seven is formed including you, he would take the money and you are off on the vehicle.

He must have been a wonderful air hostess in his previous birth. The way he explains - what you should do and should not, about safety, timing, route etc and manages the counter, he is no less than an experienced air hostess, except that he did not have the grace of of an air hostess.

Let alone grace, he was like an ex SS nazi officer doing air hostess's job like.

How ever I could not avoid appreciating him for what he was doing diligently.

The 12 km trail is through rough jungle road, muddy, bumpy, good green. I thoroughly enjoyed.

I do not think it will be good idea to go there during rainy season, if you are not familiar with tropical forest. It a very beautiful lush green tropical natural forest. 

Once you reach the water fall, you are on your own, Just walk down further few hundred meters and hit the water fall. 

It is river Mandovi flowing across state of Karnataka and crossing state of Goa before merging with Arabian sea near Panaji. 

The river falls down almost 300 mtr and 30 wide. It must be much more beautiful during rainy season. 

You can jump into water and spend enjoy the nice water. Life jacket is for this reason, I understood later. 

Beautiful water fall. What i did not like is the noise the people were making. Well, every body has a different way of enjoying the nature.  I should not complain.