Billikal Betta

Though still confused as to where to go for our weekend getaway, we finally head towards Billikal Betta, which is a not-so-popular trekker's paradise not far from Bangalore. It is also a locally famed place of pilgrimage, as we discovered later. A smooth 50 km ride from bangalore took us to kanakpura, the only big town in the vicinity. From there to Harohalli and past a few villages, the road winding through lush green paddy fields and shrub forest with the Billikal Betta hill in the foreground, we finally reached the base of the hill from where it was a steep ascent. The destination still seemed to elude us with nothing but bushy forest around and no habitation in sight. Yet we carried on taking a few breaks here and there for our photo sessions along the way, giving us some fabulous views of the valley below and the blue mountains beyond.

On our way to the top, we came across two lazy buffaloes enjoying a bath in a muddy pool oblivious of all the activity around i.e. we clicking pictures of them for which they didn't even mind to pose. There was also this big hill across the valley with the temple of Anjaneya standing almost at the edge of it, which seemed quite inaccessible and the only way to reach there would have been, i guess, to trek all the way down into the valley and up again right almost to the top. So we gave it a miss and resumed our journey.

In no mood for further stops, we finally arrived at the top. Though the temple of Ranganathswami has nothing great to offer as far as the history or the structure goes, it's the whole experience which lends it importance...the huge rock with the temple beneath and scores of panoramic views of the valley and plains below. As we explored, we saw another shrine nestled between rock outcrops with a little staircase cutting across to the top where, seeing a couple of locals binging on beer, we went no further. And the two curious 'elephant-painted' rocks in the area adjoining the temple can hardly be missed.

With a little rest and tea-break in the temple verandah, we made our way back home, still clicking pictures of the sunset behind. The ride till the temple and back was a bit arduous since the road is nothing but a mud track but still, motorable. The scenic journey makes up for all that hard work. It's well worth a visit, esp. as a day-trip from Bangalore.