A nondescript detour off the Bengaluru- Tumkur highway led
to a narrow road with intermittent tarmac that meandered its way past open
lands and a few scattered houses. In a
few minutes I was at the base of Basadi Betta, a popular hillock which is also
known as Manadargiri.
A few meters before Mandaragiri hill, stands the tall statue
of Thirthankara, welcoming people to his land. A popular Jain shrine, Manadaragiri has caught
the attention of travellers with the beautiful Guru Mandir which is in the
shape of an inverted Pinchi (a peacock feather fan) next to the statue of
Thirthankara. This 81 feet tall structure with its hues and
the art works which made a pretty frame took my attention away from the statue of Thirthankara. Guru mandir was built in memory of a Jain saint, and the inner walls have stories and paintings from Jainism.
Manadagriri which is also known as Basadi Betta is a hillock
with a few Jain shrines atop it built between 12th and 14th
century. More than 400 steps lead to the top of Mandaragiri. It was a
quick climb and I scaled it in less than half an hour. Though not spectacular,
the aerial views of the surrounding areas were a delight as I walked up. To the
left of the temple is a pond with boulder strewn hills all around. However, the
view behind was a stunner with the blue Mydala kere lake slowly revealing
itself and gleaming against the brown backdrop. There is a narrow trail that leads
down from the hillock to the waterbody. Strolled around for a while and headed
back as the sun got harsher.
Mandaragiri is a nice short getaway from Bengaluru and remains
not so popular on the tourist map.
Travel Tips:
1. Mandaragiri is 65 Kms from Bengaluru. It is ideal to
travel in your own vehicle.
2. There are no restaurants nearby, so do carry water and
energizers.
3. It is highly recommended to visit early in the morning to
avoid the harsh sun.
