Yana, nature’s wonder!
We planned to visit Sigandoor, since we had continuous holidays followed by Sunday during September… As usual, later the plan turned to Kodagu & Goa and finally fixed to commute to Yana…
It was not only a trip but a dream of 12 years of ours was being realized… Kotresh, Lokesh & I had gone to a movie called “Nammoora Mandara Hoove”. It’s the first movie which has captured the glorious and magnificent structure of the magic rocks of Yana. Then & there itself we took the oath amidst hundreds of audiences, that we would visit the place!!!
Trip to Yana was initiated by me when the plan of Goa was postponed… I could able to manage to convince Kotresh and Lokesh but not Dikki, a real gadfly… Thanks to HR skills, finally we took him into our confidence. The plan was very simple that we will be visiting Sirsi first (Wherein Devi Marikamba is located) then Banavasi & finally Yana. But the mode of journey would by bike only! Even I had not completed the sentence Dikki started his regular style of denying the plan. Now again the NECESSARY steps were taken & finally made him to agree…
Each member of us started a variety of stories to our parents towards the trip since the journey mode was by bike that too for almost around 400 kms.
We left our place Davanagere by 05.30 am by ear-piercing slogans ‘Taayi Sirsi Maarikaambege? Jai (Bolo Mata Sirsi Maarikamba ki? Jai)!! The weather was very cooperative the dropping rain paused completely & it was not too sunny also (During these days the Haveri roads are known for their scorching effects!!). We reached the placed called Thiluvalli for tiffin. We tasted all the varieties of the hotel & got the free guidance from the hotel owner & left the place by 09.30am.
We stopped exactly before Maate Maarikaamba temple of Sirsi. The colorful temple was built in 1688. The famous 'Maarikamba Jaathre'(fair), commemorating the goddess Marikamba is held by the temple authorities every alternate year. Thousands of devotees from all parts of the country witness the fair, making it one of the biggest festivals in the region. Close to the Marikamba temple are the temples dedicated to Maha Ganapati and Shri Gopalakrishna.
22 km away from Sirsi, the famous Banavasi Madhukeshwar temple is situated. The reighning deity Madhukeshwara of Banavasi, derived name from the colour of the linga, which has colour of honey.
Sode, Sonda & Swadi are situated at a distance of 22 km from sirsi. The main deity of Sonda is lord Trivikram along concert goddess Rama. Just beside the temple, the famous Vadiraja Mutt is situated.
By performing the FORMALITIES we took some snaps. Here we stopped for a while to decide whether to move to Oonchalli falls or to Yana! Fortunately it was decided very quickly to move to Yana. Lokesh as usual reminded about the food that we do not get anything in Yana. So he & Dikki took care of arranging the food and Kotresh & I walked into the city for a while. We could find that St.Anthony's church in Sirsi and is situated in the center of the town, and is the main church for the minority Christian population in the region. Sirsi has an average literacy rate of 79%, which is much higher than the national average of 66%, quite intellegent city!!!
We tried to interact with nearby people but the details were not sufficent. I started my usual style of introducing myself as an artcle writer & has been nominated by so & so paper…The result was astonishing!!
The climate in Sirsi is strongly influenced by the monsoons, and the climate is quite humid & moderated by proximity to the sea. During the monsoons, the region receives one of the heaviest rainfalls in the world. As a result, the region also has a large variety of wildlife. The vegetation in the region is mainly moist deciduous and valuable timber wood is found commonly in the forests of the region. But people opine that, deforestation and poaching have been causes for concern in recent years.
The river Aghanashini takes birth near this place called "Donihalla" and flows towards the Arabian Sea in the West. The river has also created many waterfalls along its path.
By this time we received the call from Lokesh to get back to temple side since the food was ready. Around 12.40pm we left the Sirsi.
On the way we wanted to have a small pause from journey. A glanced at a brook could not stop to stop our journey for a while to click the snaps… A variety of angels, solo, group & so on... After a gap of half an hour we decided to resume our jaunt. Unfortunately, our Golden Star Lokesh, took my bike key with him and moved further with Dikki by another bike. After a while Kotresh & I searched for the key & found that it was with Loki since he was driving by bike! We tried to reach them over mobile but how does it reach as it’s a deep forest!!! Never mind, I asked Kotresh to get ready for further photos, cause I knew that they would come back after a while…We took a great photos but the heroes did not turn at all!! We asked one of the bike riders to convey the message to our friends that the vehicle key is there with them & to ask them to come back soon.
Meanwhile, Kotresh asked me to help him to push the vehicle so that at least we can cross the zigzag roads & save some time. By the time we reached a nearby village we had lost all our energy as we had pushed the vehicle for almost around 4 kms. We tried to contact them over mobile once again but was useless. All of a sudden my light of idea gleamed & I went on asking for the key of any mobikes. Fortunately a school teacher was present on that day & was teaching for the students. I came to know by the young crowd surrounded by us that the teacher owns a Hero Honda that too a Splendor, Desh ki Dhadkan…Dhak.. Dhak…We went to the teacher & explained the situation & took the key from him & tried. Believe me, for a single attempt it opened!! Kya safety hi Hero Honda bike ka?!?!? We saluted to the surrounded mob & to the needy teacher & resumed the journey further.
On the way, the great mobikers Lokesh & Dikki were returning. Kotresh finished all his pooja mantras & we saw that the bikers for whom we requested to convey the message were taking their bath near a small brook. Kya help hi!!!
It was around 03.00pm when parked our dog-tired vehicles at Yana. By that time we were totally exhausted, we three rode the vehicles but Dikki was taking his deep breaths!!! Kya friendship hi na?!?!
When we glanced at the tip of the first rock all our aches & pains went off…And that was the first rock. We get three gigantic rocks here. Each rock offers a separate posture whenever you watch them in different angels. The color combinations, the dissimilar postures!! Simply amazing! And it was a dumbfounding experience!!
The Bhairaveshwara peak is about 120 meters and the Mohini peak is about 90 meters from its base. These two peaks are solid composition of black crystalline limestone.
As per mythology, Lord Vishnu (as Mohini) killed an evil demon, Basmasura at this place. It’s because of the same the soil color is black as ash!
A cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is found at the base of the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara. Water drips from the projecting rocks over the Shiva idol, and people call this water as Gangodbhava.
The idol of Goddess Parvathis is found at the base of the Mohini Shikara.
The original name of the place is ‘Sahadripura’s Bhairava Kshetra’. From centuries, on the auspicious day of Shivaraatri, fair & Utsavas used to take place in this region. People were rushing to the fair in thousands in number across different locations.
Once a British officer asks people, where they are rushing to by looking at the crowd. The answer was ‘naavu Yana maaduthiddeve’ (we are traveling, the ‘Yana maaduvudu’ in Kannada carries the meaning of traveling). The officers felt that the place name could be Yana itself! And they inserted the name YANA into India’s map!!
The other attractions of the place are the small waterfalls, tiny villages (we are not sure whether to call them as village since only a few houses were there), never ending lush green & the combinations of perfect & challenging roads (believe me almost a km we rode our bike in first gear itself & could not change to second)!!!
By the side of a brook we had our delicious packed food. It was awesome!! We sang & danced together for a while & said bye to the ceaseless pleasure of nature YANA…
Hints to you:
1. If you wish to commute by bike please ensure the condition of the bike and at least 150 cc bikes are ideal.
2. If you have your own four wheeler vehicle, make sure that you are a perfect driver!!
3. Pack your food material either from Sirsi or Kumta, since you do not get anything except juice.
Your road guide:
1. Kumata > Anegundi (17 KMs) > Sandalli (17 KMs) > Yana
2. Sirsi > Devanahalli > Vaddi > Yana (Total 37 KMs)