Places to Visit Around Bangalore - Mekedatu Sangama

'Mekedatu' means 'goat's leap' in Kannada. Mekedatu located along Cauvery in Kanakapura Taluk. It is about 100 km from Bangalore via Kanakapura. 

At First We get to see the Sangama, Sangama is the place where Arkavati merges with Cauvery. Then on the Circular boat (teppa in kannada) we can cross the sangama to go to the other side for Mekedatu. It is a pleasurable ride across the river. Then comes in the fun ride, the bus ride on a dancing road to reach highest point of this place then go down the steps to reach the rocky or I should say the rocking Mekedatu. The gushing Cauvery is just worth all the steps climbed down and hardships. The View is a real pleasure. 

The river Cauveryflows through a deep gorge so narrow that one would think that a goat can leap across it . It is not really so narrow and no goat commonly found in that part of India could cross that distance in a single leap. The name comes from an incident which id believe to have been witnesses by herdsmen in that area a long tima ago. It is said that a goat being chased by a tiger mad a desparated attempt to save its life by leaping from one side of the gorge and managed to cross over the raging river below, whereas the tiger did not attempt to replicated this feat, and abondoned the chase. The point where the goat leaped has widened since then from erosion caused by the river Cauvery.

There is also some mythological significance to this place (both Sangama and Mekedatu). As per one version, the Goat (meke) that is believed to have leapt across the Cauveryriver was Lord Shiva in disguise. On both rocky precipies of the gorge, on ca find strange holes, whose shapes resembles goats's hooves, though several times larger. It was thought that only divine goats could have marked their 'footprints' in such hard rocks.    

At Mekedaatu, the Cauveryruns through a deep, narrow ravine of hard granite rock. The river, which is more than 150 meters wide at the confluence (at Sangama) flows through the hardly 10-meter-wide gorge at Mekedatu. One can see the ferocious flow of all that water.

Upstream on the Cauveryis the well known Shivanasamudra Falls with its hydro-electric power station. 

Pleasure to eyes and fun too. A very good place to visit.

Travel to Chitradura - The 7 tiered Fort

The Chitradurga Fort, has 7 tiered protection and was considered impregnable. It is a pleasure to visit this fort.

It takes us back to the legend and bravery of obavva, and true achitechtural skill of engineers of that time. It is designed in such a way that people inside the fort would never have scarcity of water even if it doesnt rain for a year!!
In the 7 tiered fort, each of the entrance has be built at a 90 degree which would help the soldiers easily target the enemy as they try enter the fort.

On the enterance in the first tier on the right, we can find a giant grinding stone where the bombs were prepared for defence and protection of citzens. Further inside, we can find an elephant shaped rock on the way. Then we come to the famous "tuguyalle" the identity of Chitradurga. Legend says that the deepam (light) was enlightened by swing tied to the tuguyalle  

Chitradurga is not only famous for the fort but also for the 'Murugarajendra Bruhand Matt' headed by secular swamiji, who belongs to veerashiva Community. This mutt provided guidance to the rulers of Chitradurga.


Chitradurga is immortalised by its ruler Madakarinaika, who rulled during the rule of Hyder Ali at Srirangapatna. Hyder Ali made number of Conquests to subdue Chitradurga. But its chivalous ruler repulsed the attack time and again.


Once Hyder Ali's behugaras (spy) finds out a small inlet in kannada called 'kindi', through which milk and other ;essential supplies would go into the fort. Hyder Ali's soldiers enter the fort through this kindi, but their efforts were thwarted by the wife of the watch tower guard called Obavva who ;used the pestle which is used to pound rice and other grains and smashed the heads of the incoming hyder Ali's soldiers who creeped through the kindi, and through her sacrifice the Chitradurga Fort was saved and obavva became a legend and balads her song in her memory..



There are about four main water storage inside the fort on one the enterance, other 2 at the middle of the for near obbavvana kindi and the main gopalswamy honda.There are many temples inside the fort and on the peak of the fort there is Gopalswamy temple, from this point we can have a a very good view of the fort

Chitradurga fort is worth a visit by every traveler. A nice place to visit early morning.

Places to Visit in Bangalore - Buddha vihara

Mahabodhi Loka Shanti Buddha Vihara

This place is near to the freedom park, near to race corse road, its a peaceful place with a very clam environment. 

There is a Buddha temple at the enterance of the Buddha Vihar. Inside the temple we can find a Buddha statue in golden colour and also the history of buddha is depicted as paintings on the walls of the temple. Outside the temple on the left we can find a small enterance to the garden, further inside we can find another small temple within in a well maintained garden composed of may different kinds of flowers and plants with medicinal values.

Inside we see a Buddha statue about 3 foot tall under the bhodhi vrisksha, this takes us back to the history where it is believed that Buddha got enlightment while sitting under the bhodhi vriksha.(peepal tree) As the palce suggests this temple preches the main preaching of buddha, Peace!

Good place to visit. It brings in peace for the mind.

Places to Visit in Bangalore - Pyramid Valley

Pyramid Valley

Pyramid valley is located in kanakpura road, not too far from city. Yet the place is very calm and provides a very soothing Environment our mind. 

It can be seen on or left while we travel towards kanakapura on kanakapura road. We get lot of directions boards on the way which makes it easy to find it.There is good amount of parking space too. If you happen to visit it in afternoon in between 1-2 lunch is also available here.

Pyramid valley may be is built on traditional roots with a modern adaptvity, its reception pic shown on the right is a example for that. One can see thoughtful sayings from  famous personalities on each of the poles on the way to pyramid.Further towards left there is a resturant and play area for kids.

 We get to see a buddha statue right in front of the gaint pyramid. we can wish for something and put coin into the water near this buddha, it is a belief that the wish comes true.

Then comes the Giant Pyramid, we will have to climb stairs a bit to reach the meditation hall. Inside the hall we can go to the hightest point of the pyramid through spiral stairs in the middle of hall. while we come put of the hall, we can see huge buudda carvations on the walls in the ground floor, its marvellos and we can buy good spiritual and personality development books.

On the whole this place is serene and is ideal for meditation for those who do medidtaion. For others also it is a good place to visit.