Acrobatic Rocks of Chikkasoolekere

July 27, 2012

We were on the way from Irakalghad to Kanakagiri. After a brief stop at Chilakamukhi to see the fort, we had crossed NH13 and one of us noticed a a rock formation to our left. I've seen so many rock formations but this was different. We stopped to take pictures. As I shot pictures, the rock formation got more interesting, I decided we all should go there. Mohan Mama said there should be a road because there's a quarry nearby. Though the road had scanty traffic, we two men on a bike happened to be passing by at the moment. We waved them to a stop and and got directions to reach the acrobatic rock formation.

Isn't it wonderful? Such a complex balancing act by Nature.

We went back towards NH13, found the junction the men had mentioned, turned right. About two kilometers down the road we found a dirt track to our right which looked the way to the granite quarry. yeah, we got it! Malatesh mentioned God must have arranged these rocks when he had nothing better to do :)

This isn't exactly a deserted place; it was buzzing with activity. Actually this land belongs to Karnataka Forest Department. We saw a plant nursery; different types of saplings ready to be planted. That's Mallappa Gunnal, he's in charge of  managing work force here. We asked Mallappa if we could climb the rock. Yes, we'll have to climb from the other end. We decided to give a try.

That's Malatesh in the middle and Mohan Mama on the right. And on the left is Hanumantappa Chikkulligeri, he joined us in the adventure.

This is the base of the rock in the front. I was looking for rock painting, no such luck.

The formation is one long arrangement; that's what makes it beautiful.

We are going anti-clockwise around it. The path was riddled with boulders and branches from thorny bushes created hurdles. Notice the boulder on the top, in the middle with a flat face. Part of the rock seems to have broken off and fallen on the rock below.

This place is out of bounds for cattle. Mallappa and Hanumantappa told us they have blocked foot paths   with thorns. The formation looks pretty delicate in this view. Contact area between rocks are small.

Climbing this rock was not as easy as I had imagined. We must have climbed 25 feet, effort was considerable.

Malatesh and Mallappa. That's where we decided to turn back because the climb further was really tough, more of a circus I would say. Coming to the size of the rocks; in the next image I've marked the position where Malatesh and Mallappa are standing.

These are massive boulders and they remain balanced. Imagine the pressure at the contact patches.

Elevation of the Acrobatic Rocks.

Our guide told us that the button shaped rock at the top is called Soole Gundu. Oh, what a name! Soole means prostitute in Kannada. Gundu means boulder. According to our guide, a man lived under these rocks with a prostitute for many years, hence the name. What ever the man did, he had a taste for art. he made this artistic rock formation his home for few years.

If you are ever traveling in the vicinity do stop by and take a look.

Acrobatic Rocks Coordinates: 15°32'17"N   76°16'35"E

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