Sogal

How does it feel to be visiting a place again after 25 years?

I have cherished the memories of my visit to Sogal with my mom, brother, granny, cousins, uncles and aunts during my high school days. I liked the hilly terrain, the trees, the little stream playing it's way down the hill creating three waterfalls. I particularly remembered a rock shaped like a little chair. I could actually sit on it. I was hoping to see it.

Chetan and I decided to have breakfast and then... Half a dozen restaurants were open for the day. We checked out one and the owner, a young guy was stuck to chair busy watching TV not even willing to move at the sight of customers. Forget it. We moved over to Someswara Restaurant.

You can see for yourself how busy the little place looks. We had uppit and tea.

An ancient pestle & mortar caught our attention.

The short climb up, statues are plenty here, we were shooting them, these three ladies passed us. As I aimed my camera at them they pulled up their saree pallu to cover their heads.

Nandi flanked by Lord Shiva and Parvati.

That's a double statue of Shiva overlooking the waterfall.

Everything's green.

At the top, I could see the changes, the place had changed so much and I did not like these changes. It's not just the concrete that put me off ...the place was one big mess ...plastic bags and clothes strewn all over.

The sight of this waterfall evoked 25+ years old memories of bathing here with brother and cousins. I remember granny saying that people with backache come here for water-treatment- the force of falling water on the back is supposed to relieve pain.

Look carefully, there are two right under the water.

Inside the Shri Somanatha Mukhya Devastana.

It's a lovely ancient temple with a touch of modern insensitiveness ...vandalism in the name of development.

A hero stone with Halagannada inscription. Thank heavens, these guys did not think of painting this too.

With little effort one could probably read the inscription.

We climbed up the hill following the path. The place was unrecognizable. We saw few peacocks here. This is another ancient temple... you can guess what's going on in my mind by now.

The inside wall was covered by paintings of well known saints of North Karnataka, a few Hindu Gods and Shiva's ardent devotee Bedara Kannappa.

We got bitten by mosquitoes and decided to leave. I wished local people clean up this place, and visitors help maintain cleanliness. 

I said hello to these two little twins in green and pink.

Just before I got back into the car I noticed this little fellow making a big show of reading and writing. He made my morning.

Checking off Sogal from my list, we headed towards Gokak waterfall. The last destination of the day was Sirsangi, the village of historical monuments.
.........