One day trip to Shravanabelagola / Weekend Trip to Shravanabelagola from Bangalore
AN ENTHUSIASTIC TRIP TO SHRAVANABELAGOLA
What could be better than a fresh morning filled with chirping birds, enormous trees and refreshing light without any tension or fear? If you are thinking that this is how my Saturday morning started, then you are completely opposite because I had a terrible morning, my hair spread up, books over my face with hooting owls and croaking ravens and completely filled with fear and horror!!
Our tests were starting NEXT WEEK!!! I had a dozen to study
and a million to work on! What could I do? All I could do was to stay calm and
carry on. With all this happening around, nothing but some hot chocolate could
cheer me up.
The whole day passed in textbooks and notebooks with a few
chips around (okay, haven’t you heard that people eat more when they are
tensed?). But it seemed that my parents were having a fun time with me struck
up in these books. Once it was eight o clock, I burst out of my room, snatching
my mobile and sat at “the world’s most comfortable chair for me” chair (actually,
my father’s chair is very comfortable for me, so just renamed it J) after a while, my
father started to talk about some kind of trip with my mother. It looked like
they were trying to attract my attention. However, the talk was about a trip to
Shravanabelagola, a holy Jain temple. Suddenly mother gave such a reply that
almost made me slip the mobile phone from my very own hands! She said, “how
about tomorrow?”
SERIOUSLY!? Tomorrow? Didn’t they know about the fearful
exams? I totally refused them for this. I told them that it would be better to
go some other day. I ended this conversation and hurried to bed. Well… you know
parents have to do whatever their children refuse(most of the time, duh!!)
finally, it was decided that we were leaving all our tension and fear at home
and enjoying the upcoming trip. Actually, it wasn’t a bad idea at all. After
all, I could get some fresh air.
That morning, we were ready to leave at 7:15. The journey
was pleasant and didn’t have any grumbling stomachs for food as we had our
breakfast before leaving. Finally, after a long journey, we had reached the parking lot at 10:15. How perfect! Three hours and we are here! There is a place where you can keep your shoes
and then proceed. I could see the head of the statue of Bahubali from the foot
of the stairs. It was looking like a piece of cake before starting to climb,
but later it felt a thousand steps which ascended to heaven!!
The steps were carved on the mountain and had bars for
support. After climbing for a while, we found few places made to rest ever
fifty steps(I guess)soon then, we reached the first stop, Vadegal basadi. It had
support pillars and was cool. Inside, there was a statue of 3 Jain
Tirthankaras.
Right beside the structure of Vadegal Basadi, on the rocks, were
carved some ancient scripts. They were covered by big slides of glass to
protect them from the radiant sun and to preserve them for future
generations.
After having a few pictures, we continued climbing. Like
this, we saw many carvings, we reached a temple-like structure. Yes! It was the
entrance! We entered the temple with great enthusiasm and
tiredness(mostly my mom and dad!><) there was a dark shade caused by the
shadow and we went forward for a better look.
There stood the tall and high,
one of the largest free-standing statue!! The statue of the Lord Gomateshawara (Bahubali)
measures 17.4m (57 feet) tall. (I have been told it is 1000+-year-old single
stone carved statue of Lord Gommateshwara.)There were many people from
different countries who had come to this holy temple. On the mantapa, there
were pictures of the other ten Thirthankaras who were religious Gurus of Jains.
After having a Darshana, I noticed small writings on the stones. It was clear
that they were the story of this particular Jain monks and their life.
This is the very place once in every 12 years Maha Mastakabhisheka
happens.
Inside the temple, we found the same Thirthankaras yet this
time they were statues, not pictures. After having a round through the temple,
we came out.
There was a place the view was fantastic and there was a place to
have some or plenty of rest. While my parents were gaining some energy back,
the photographer in me rose. I took plenty of pictures and had fun over there.
The view from the top really mesmerized me, Lake, coconut groves and ponds
around with full greenery caught my attention.
Later, we started to
descend. Well, it was as tough as
climbing up, yet I warn you not to rush or hurry down as these are very narrow.
It took us almost 20 min to reach the bottom of the Vindhygiri hill. Shravanabelagola
has two hills, Chandragiri and Vindhyagiri. From top, we can see the beautiful Chandragiri hill, which is as beautiful as this. I and my mother sat
nearby when dad was busy getting our shoes. I was exhausted and wanted to
reach our car as soon as possible(to be honest, I really Adour our car, I can
eat, watch my favorite show on YouTube, have a nap and enjoy!). On the way back
to our car we saw some stalls and toy shops. I took a small yellow smiley face
pouch as my souvenir to remember our wonderful trip.
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