Swarnamuki Bannerghatta National park

A friend told us about Swarnamuki in the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP)range couple of days back and on 15^th June 2014 Sunday trip was planned with my favorite travel partner my 10 year old sweet heart, can anything else make a better gift on a father’s day??? She was so thrilled, she got up and was ready very early in the morning.

However we started only by 7:30 am took Bannerghatta road and reached Champakadhama temple around 7:45 am.
I stay in Barrnerghatta road and this place is very close to where I live.

Champakadhama temple should be around 30-35 km from majestic busstand and well connected by BMTC.

Champakadhama temple has a very big Dravidian style gopuram but the internal structure seems to be a Hoysala architecture minus the carvings. Whatever it is the temple is very beautiful and worth visiting.

Temple was open, we had darshana of Champakadhama swamy (lord Vishnu with his consorts Sri and Bhu devi) spent some time walking around and talking to people to get any information regarding history of the temple with not much luck. (Was not able to take the photographs inside as it is strictly prohibited)

A small lane to the left of the Champakadhama swamy temple takes us to the steps to Narasimhaswamy temple which is the actual trek starting point to Swarnamuki which is about 4 kms from here.

Steps to Narasimhaswamy temple is steep and is taxing too… but is worth the effort for all the view from the top.



 

 

Once reaching the top, further mud road leads into the forest, this is very picturesque route and a paradise for bird lovers. Chirping of the winged friends and view of BNP makes the trek enjoyable and memorable.

 

Red watted lapwings, Robins, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Jungle babblers and lots more are very commonly sighted and also we got a rare sighting of fire back woodpecker (Sorry I was not able to click as it flew even before we reached closer to photographing distance with my 200 mm lens).

 

Please Note: Sunday late morning, on full moon and new moon days this place is visited by lots of devotees. If you are there for birding make sure you reach there early.

 

 

Throughout the route stone structure built by visitors similar to this can be seen all the way.

 

we came across a small pyramid like srtucture built by stones, a lady standing there waiting for the devotees tell them to go around for good luck.

The interesting road finally ends at the Swarnamuki Hanuman temple and lovely pond in front of Ambabhavani temple. This pond is said to have medicinal values and lots of devotees take bath here.

 

 





Some of the interesting things we saw around the temples and pond:



We walked back and reached Champakadhama swamy temple by around 1:00 PM. A day well spent.





I am sure we will be visiting this place again very soon and this time we will also include TK falls in our itinerary.

 

Valley School Kanakapura road visited

A trip to Valley School Kanakapura road

I had seen some interesting blogs from birding friends about the Valley school off Kanakapura road. The trip to Valley school was planned number of times but some how was not able to make it before.
Finally on Saturday morning decided to make a trip to Valley school, though the decision was made late and started little late but managed to report at the valley school security by 7:40 am.
Stared walking along the fence until I reached the a banyan tree where there was lot of activities and had the chance to sight Blue throated Flycatcher

Walked further along to finally reach the famous abandoned house. I was hoping to spot Pittas as I had read in many blogs the Pittas were sighted by birding friends. The Pittas eluded me but I was lucky enough to spot Brown capped Babbler, Copper Smith Barbet and Indian Eagle

On my way back saw a few deer which looked waiting to cross over to the other side  but they were too far from where I was. I waited for some time in anticipation that they might get closer but they chose to take the opposite direction.

By around 9:30 am I decided to walk back to the car and as I started walking back spotted green bee eaters and Red Vented Bulbul.

I am so impressed by this place and variety of birds that are spotted, I will defiantly keep coming back to this place to meet my winged friends many more times in the future.

Other birds spotted:

Purple Sunbird
White Cheeked Barbet
Common Iora
Golden Oriole
Ashy Prinia
Grey Breasted Prinia
Red Whiskered Bulbul
Indian Robin
Pied Bushchat
Small Minivet
Hoopoe
House Swift
Jungle Myna
Jungle Crow
Oriental Magpie Robin
Common Tailorbird
Flameback Woodpecker

A visit to Lalbagh on 24th May 2014

It was a Saturday morning on the 24th May 2014(writing this on 28th) kids were complaining about a silent holiday. For the 1st time in the last few years kids were not taken out for vacation anywhere. So we decided let us have day out in Lalbagh, kids will have fun playing and we do some mango shopping and birding in lalbagh.

Kids had their share of fun, glass house, fountains, thick green grass to roll allover and we did some mango shopping.

 

but it was a very dissapointing day for birding. Except for few pigeons, Myna, great eastern Egretnothing else were spoted, of course before I forget few monkeys as well.

 

 

 

 

It was a relaxing day with family much needed break from the routine worl load. Kids were happy, wife was happy ..... when kids and wife happy it is needlees to say I was happy too.