Dabguli: A Prototype of Nature

Thinking about nature, what comes in our mind are flowing river bouncing over rocks, dense forest with myriads of trees, a series of hills and hillocks, chirping birds, grazing animals and many such things. And amidst all these, a temple-not so far, where bell doesn't ring so often, but gives internal peace and relieved feeling whenever it does so. If you could imagine such a place, probably you may find its name as Dabguli.

Few days back on www.meetup.com I found a newly created group named Bangalore trexplorers. The organizer of this group claimed to take us to some of the less known and unexplored yet interesting places in and around Bangalore. Being an eternal nature lover and travel enthusiast I joined the group and found Dabguli as their first place to explore. In my office curiously I asked few of my Kannadiga colleagues about Dabguli but they turned up their unaware faces. And my curiosity went high.

The trip was scheduled on Sunday, Dec 15, 2013 and 7 people including the group organizer turned up for the show. The trip started around 6:30 morning and being the first one to be picked up, got my desired window seat in the Innova, that was booked for our travel. I met Yogesh, the organizer of the trip, whom I found a very decent Kannadiga fellow with quite a good knowledge about the places in and around Bangalore. Gradually the vehicle got filled up with Waseem(Kannadiga), Name-forgot(Marathi), Sumanth (Telugu, likes to be called as Sam J), Chandan (from Bihar, a childhood friend of mine) and finally Ram(again Kannadiga). So it was a wonderful blend of cultures and languages but still all preferred to communicate in Hindi, a good part of the trip which added to our enjoyment.

In Banashankari, we got a short halt for morning tea and got our lunch packed. Here on tea we got a chance to know about each other and phone number and email exchanges happened. We started towards Kanakpura.

On the way we stopped at Degula math. Build back in 12th century on the bank of river Arkavati, Degula math is a centre of learning and religious study. It also serves as an orphanage and poor children from all communities find shelter here. We parked the vehicle in the campus and I took my camera out to take some snaps of this holy place. As we slowly moved towards the temple, suddenly I saw a bunch of boys swaying breakfast plate in their hands and running towards me. I was yet to guess their intention, someone among them uttered, “Anna! One picture please!” I stood smiling and asked them to gather properly so that I can take a full gang snap. But all were in a competition to capture the maximum space of the picture frame. They were getting closer and closer to me beating their counterparts and it was getting difficult to adjust all of them in a frame. Here Ram came to my rescue and instructed boys in Kannada. After photo-shoot they verified their snaps and were eventually happy.

Boys at Degla math

Inside Degula math

Driving on the Kanakpura road, around 9:20am we reached to Kanakpura. Now the time was for breakfast. Spending around 8 years of my life in South India, very confidently I can say that idly is the most common breakfast here and even I love to have it.

We parked the vehicle and followed Yogesh to a shop cum house where we were about to get our breakfast. As I went in, pure and authentic smell of steaming idly gave me hint of an interesting and fresh breakfast. Inside the house there was a small open space where people where queued up (not exactly) for getting idly. Many of customers were holding containers, may be to buy the idlis for the entire family. Yogesh and Sam were queue up on our behalf. Finally we got our plates and preferred to come out and eat sitting near the door of the house. Taste was as original, authentic and pure as the mountain water that drips through rocks. Yogesh told that these idlis are free from soda (generally soda is mixed in the idly batter while preparing) and reason behind its pure taste. Each plate contained 10-12 idlis and it was like a task to finish that. For me around 8-9 idly went easily and struggled for last 2-3 but finished eventually. But what came as the biggest surprise was the cost of each idly plate. Any guess…… It was for just ₹20. Immediately everyone recalled the last time they had idly and how much they paid for a set of it. Did you? :)

Breakfast at Kanakpura

The journey proceeded and people started feeling sleepy because of their early waking on the Sunday which probably only few like and heavy breakfast. This was the time for Sam to pitch in with his professional knowledge about immigration to Australia and Canada. His unique and funny style of speaking caught everyone’s interest and all were back to the real world. 

Soon we left the broad main road and joined the road leading towards Dabguli. Now the rural life started. Cattles tied along the way, grains-drying and processing on the road, kids running around and the local current affairs discussion on the tea shop – all these reminded me of my hometown, Rosera.

Moving further, dirt and soil road started and driver was careful in his work. Ahead of us, amidst greenery along the path, I saw a herd of goats, sheep and cows being driven to the jungle for grazing. With this scene I went into the Kenneth Anderson’s world of Jungle, Beasts and Hunting. Looking at the path and the flora along it, I could easily visualize how beasts of the jungle used to attack on herdsmen and their pets from behind the bushes and trees. Here we stopped for some time as many had to answer nature’s call.

It was around 11:00 am and sun getting harsher, we started feeling sleepy again and for quite some time there was silence in the vehicle. Crossing few hills, as we proceeded it was getting difficult for the driver to drive for Innova has low ground clearance and irregular roads with up and downs were making the vehicle to touch the ground often. After 2 hours of drive since our breakfast, we were nearing Dabguli as it was evident with the faint sound of gently babbling Kaveri. In 10 minutes we were on the sandy bank of river Kaveri. It was 12:00 noon and a scorching sun overhead. Need of the time was a jump into the river.

Removing our shoes and changing for a bath in the river, we stepped out of the vehicle. The constant heat of the sun had made sand hot and it was very difficult to walk bare foot after few steps. We got panic and ran fast towards river to avoid the long time contact with the sand and stopped only when our feet got the soothing touch of water. We took a dip into the river and it was relieving. We had fun with splashing water and played few games.

Playing in river

I climbed on a big rock in the river and had an all direction view of the place. Surrounded by Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills and river Kavery flowing through it, this place presented an eye-pleasing view. Some of the locals informed that few elephants were sighted drinking water in the morning on the other side of the river. Felt excited after hearing this but sadly there was no chance of such sightings for us. 

Beautiful view of MM Hills from the bank of Kaveri river

Around 40 minutes we had fun in the water and then got dressed up and walked to nearby temple dedicated to lord Basaveshwara(Shiva). We bowed our head in the temple and now it was time for lunch.

Yogesh brought few plates from the temple kitchen. We had ample food that we brought with us and felt contented. After lunch we cleaned the plates in river water and made some shadows which I snapped. 

Cleaning plates after lunch

Making shadows with plates

We spent some more time gossiping there in tree shades. There was a plan for trekking in the jungle spread on the other side of the river but it was already 2:30pm and we had to head back. In next 10 minutes we set off to Bangalore.

This time I got the front seat in the vehicle in prospect of snapping few pictures. After 30 minutes of journey we stopped on a hill that presented a beautiful layered view of hills. I got few nature shots here and also had a group picture. We continued after 10 minutes of break there. 

Layered Hills

Beautiful view of layered MM hills.

Group photo

Once we crossed all the hills and were driving through villages, I saw the structured frames made of palm fronds and bamboo for drying silkworm pupae in the sun prior to having the silk spun from them. It was something new and felt excited to know about it. I felt with each travel I am understating the world more.

We stopped by Pyramid valley in Kanakpura road and spent some time meditating there. Finally a great day was over at 7:30pm when I was dropped near my house at Koramangala.

Pyramid valley