Nagarhole-National Park

Nagarhole National Park also known as "Rajiv Gandhi National Park", is located 94 kilometers (58 mi) from Mysore in Karnataka in South India. It is spread between Kodagu district and Mysore district. Located to the north-west of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. The park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls. The park has a healthy tiger-predator ratio, and tiger, indian bison, and elephant are much more populous here than in Bandipur.

The park stretches over 643 square kilometres (248 sq mi), protecting the wildlife of Karnataka. Together with the adjoining Bandipur National Park (870 km2 (340 sq mi)), Mudumalai National Park (320 km2 (120 sq mi)) and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km2 (133 sq mi)), it forms the largest protected area in Southern India, totalling 2,183 km2 (843 sq mi).

The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000+ km²), including all of Nagarhole National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.[1]

The main trees found are Rosewood, Teak, Sandalwood and Silver oak. Species of trees of the dry deciduous forest include Terminalia tomentosa, Tectonia grandis, Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Pterocarpus marsupium, Grewia tilaefolia, Dalbergia latifolia and Anogeissus latifolia (Pascal et al. 1982). Other tree species that are seen in the forests are Lagerstroemia microcarpa, Adina cordifolia, Bombax malabaricum, Schleichera trijuga and species of Ficus. In the understorey, species found growing include Kydia calycina, Emblica officinalis and Gmelina arborea. Shrubs like Solanum, Desmodium, Helicteres species and invasive species like Lantana camara and Eupatorium too are found in abundance. The dry deciduous forests have many tree species commonly found in the moist deciduous forests like Anoegeissus latifolia, Cassia fistula, Butea monosperma, Dendrocalamus strictus, Wrightia tinctoria and Acacia sp., while the swamp forests have a predominance of Eugenia. In addition to rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) and teak (Tectonia grandis) the other commercially important species of trees found in the forests include sandalwood (Santalum album) and silver oak (Grevillea robusta) (Lal et al. 1994, Islam and Rahmani 2004)

Flagship species like tiger (Panthera tigris), Indian bison or gaur (Bos gaurus) and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are found in large numbers inside the park. Interestingly, a study carried out by Dr. Ullas Karanth of the Wildlife Conservation Society has shown that the forests of Nagarhole have three species of predators i.e. tiger, leopard (Panthera pardus) and wild dogs (Cuon alpinus) present at an equivalent density (PA Update 2000). The park also has an abundance of jackals (Canis aureus), grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsi), sloth bears (Melursus ursinus), striped

hyenas (Hyaena hyaena), spotted deer or chital (Axis axis), sambar (Cervus unicolor), barking deer (Munitacus muntjak), four-horned antelopes (Tetracerpus quadricornis) and wild pig (Sus scrofa). Other mammalian inhabitants include the common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), brown mongoose (Herpestes brachyurus), striped-necked mongoose (Herpestes vitticollis), black-naped hare (Lepus nigricollis), Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica) and Indian giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) (Lal et al. 1994, Islam and Rahmani 2004) .

Sigandur- island

Some pictures from Sigandur-island. Shimoga District.Karnataka State...

It is beautiful island, 25 km from Saagar Taluk, Shimoga Dstrict.Karnataka state. Especially it is an sharavati

back water. There is an coudeshwari temple in the island, by boat we can travel to that temple.

By boat we can travel to Choudeshwari temple which is located in the island..

Kemmanagundi-Chikamagalur

A major hill-station in Chickmagalur District.Mullayanagiri is the highest mountain range among Karnataka Treks, Kemmenagundi is also known as “KR Hill station”, named after the Wodeyar, King Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. This King had made it his favourite summer camp. All the hill stations will provide us with different experiences.

The leisure visit takes us to Kemmenagundi, K.R. Hill station and Chikkamagalur. Its 258kms away and takes us to the coffee, pepper, oranges, cardamom plantations, nestled in the Bababudan ranges of Chikkamagalur.

The best season to visit Kemmannagundi is September to May. Kemmannagundi is a single, secluded hill surrounded by extensive coffee estates, waterfalls and ornamental gardens. It is the ideal place to get away from the heat and the dust. Kemmanugundi is sure to revive and revitalize us physically, mentally and spiritually. This place is nestled amidst lush green forests. It is quiet, peaceful and serene to live. Chikmagalur is situated in south western part of Karnataka. It is full of surprises like lofty peaks, delightful dale, racing rivers, sparkling streams, captivating cascades, and the crisp mountain air.

Jogfalls

Jog Falls has created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 meters (829 ft) is the highest plunge waterfall in India[1] Located in Shimoga District of Karnataka state, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction. It is also called by alternative names of Gerusoppe falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi.[2]

There are many waterfalls in Asia - and also in India - which drop from a higher altitude. But, unlike those falls, Jog Falls is untiered, i.e., it drops directly and does not stream on to rocks. Thus, it can be described as the highest untiered waterfalls in India. The waterfall database gives it 83 scenic points while Angel falls is at 97.

'Sharavati': A river which rises at Ambutirtha, near Nonabar, in the Tirthahalli Taluk. It takes north-westerly course by Fatte petta, receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne Hole on the left above Barangi. On arriving at the frontier it bends to the west, and precipitating itself down the celebrated Falls of Gersoppa and passing that village (properly Geru-Sappe), which is really some 29 Kilometers distant, discharges into the sea at Honnavar in North Kanara. The name Sharavati, arrow-born, is in allusion to its flowing from the Ambutirtha, which was formed by a stroke of Rama's arrow. The stream is crossed by 70 anicuts, from which small channels are drawn having an aggregate length of 42 Kilometers.

The magnificent Falls of Gersoppa or Jog, that is, the waterfall, are unquestionably the grandest natural beauty in Karnataka, rich as it is in splendid scenery. They eclipse every other Fall in India and have few rivals in any part of the world. "While excelled in height by the Cerosoli and Evanson cascades in the Alps, and the Falls of the Arve in Savoy, the Gersoppa cataract surpasses them in volume of water precipitated ; and while much inferior to Niagara in volume, it far excels those celebrated falls of the New World in height. L.Bowring says:- "It may truly be called one of the wonders of the world, for though the volume of water is less than that of the Cauvery, the immense height of the chief fall is almost without a parallel."

Their existence appears to have been unknown at the time of Buchanan's journey in 1900. The Sharavati, flowing over a very rocky bed about 250 yards wide, here reaches a tremendous chasm, 960 feet (290 m) in depth, and "performs (as Captain Newbold has expressed it) this stupendous lover's leap from the chains of the giant Ghats into the arms of his ocean-rescued mistress- prolific Kanara." This is in allusion to the legend of the formation of the western coast by Parasu Rama.

The water comes down in four distinct falls, presenting a scene of transcendent grandeur and sublimity, whose effect is greatly heightened by the wild and beautiful country around, covered with a wealth of luxuriant vegetation. The Raja Fall pours in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 830 feet (250 m). Half way down it is encountered by the Roarer, another fall, which precipitates itself into a vast cup and then rushes violently downwards at an angle of forty-five degrees to meet its famous compeer. A third fall, the Rocket shoots downwards in a series of jets; while the fourth, called the Rani (Dame Blanche), is an Undine-like cascade gliding quietly over the mountain side in a sheet of foam.

The most favorable time for visiting these glorious works of nature is in the Monsoon season, though it is enveloped in a dense cloud of vapour, through which rises the thunder of the invisible mighty waters in their fearful descent.There are good bungalows on both sides of the falls. Close by the side of Bombay Bungalow is a slab of rock projecting over the verge of the gulf, by lying down on which and peering over, the best view is obtained of the appalling abyss from above, rendered more striking by the continual flight across it of myriads of rock pigeons, which find a congenial home in the face of the cliffs.

Says a visitor in the month of August about 130 years ago " I lay down flat on this shelf and drew myself up to its edge, over which I stretched my head. A sight burst on the view which I shall never forget and can never hope to describe. I have since looked down the fuming and sulphurous craters of Etna and Vesuvius, but have never experienced the sensations which overwhelmed me in the first downward gaze into this (hibernice) volcano of waters; for so it looks ; a chaotic scene that rivets with basilisk fascination the gaze of the spectator. It was with great reluctance and with an intense feeling of depression that I withdrew my head, drenched in spray, from the brink of the precipice. One might almost gaze for ever on this abyss in which a mighty mass of water appears eternally burying itself in a mist-shrouded grave. The clouds of spray which continually ascend heavenwards in slow and majestic wreaths appear to typify the shadowy ghosts of the entombed waters."

The Falls are seen to greatest advantage from the selected points of view which have been cleared on the Mysore bank, the most popular being Watkin's platform. From this side a descent may be made to the pool below, the water in which is 130 feet (40 m) in depth.But this is a difficult undertaking and the re-ascent extremely laborious. The view looking upwards from below is generally considered far less impressive than from the other points, as regards the Falls themselves, but the grandly rugged features of the chasm and the winding gorge in which it is prolonged are more clearly seen in all their savage nakedness.

The varying effects of light and shade at different hours are extremely beautiful. A lovely rainbow spans the waters in the afternoon, rising with the declining sun, and even lunar rainbows are said to be formed in certain aspects of the moon. Rockets and blazing torches or bundles of straw, cast over on a dark night, throw out a fitful glare upon the jaws of the abyss, producing weird and solemn effects as viewed from the Raja's Rock. No words can suffice to adequately describe the charms of a scene replete with every element of the sublime, combining in one superb panorama so many varying aspects both of terror and of beauty, all instinct with the life, the force and play of moving waters.

River Sharavathi splits up into four different tracks which are named in accordance with their perceived trajectories[3]. Going from left to right respectively in the picture, the names and the reasons for naming are:

Raja (King): Named so because of its apparently 'dignified' and 'serene' fall.

Roarer: This stream appears out of a mass of rocks, making a tremendous amount of noise.

Rocket: Consists of a large volume of water streaming out of a small opening at a very high speed.

Rani (Queen), also called Lady Dame Blanche: The stream has a winding, twisting trajectory, said to resemble the movements of a female dancer.

Mysore - A Historical Place

The Palace of Mysore (Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು ಅರಮನೆ) is a palace situated in the city of Mysore in southern India. It is the official residence of the Wodeyars - the erstwhile royal family of Mysore, and also houses two Dunbar halls(ceremonial meeting hall of the royal court).

Mysore is commonly described as the City of Palaces, however, the term "Mysore Palace" specifically refers to one within the old fort. The Wodeyar kings first built a palace in Mysore in the 14th century, it was demolished and constructed multiple times. The current palace construction was commissioned in 1897, and it was completed in 1912 and expanded later around 1940.

Mysore palace is now one of the most famous tourist attractions in India after Taj Mahal with more than 2.7 million visitors. Although tourists are allowed to visit the palace, they are not allowed to take photographs inside the palace. Price of admission for foreign tourists is 200 INR., and for Indians - 20 INR. All visitors must remove their footwear to enter the palace.

Chamundi hills :The Chamundeshwari Temple is located on the top of Chamundi Hills about 13 km from the palace city of Mysore in the state of Karnataka in India. The temple was named after Chamundeshwari , the fierce form of Shakti, a tutelary deity held in reverence for centuries by Mysore Maharajas.

Museums

Chamarajendra Art Gallery

The Jagmohan Palace, built in 1902 to mark the coronation ceremony of Krishnaraja III, now houses the Chamarajendra Art Gallery. It houses an interesting collection of disparate objects including antique furniture, musical instruments, ceramics and ivory. On the top floor, there is a splendid collection of musical instruments as well as magnificent paintings by the renowned 19th century artist Raja Ravi Verma of Kerala.

Manasa Gangotri

The western part of the city houses Manasa Gangotri the campus of Mysore University. There are two most visited sites the Oriental Research Institute (ORI) and the Folklore Museum. The ORI houses a collection of Sanskrit manuscripts, while the Folklore museum has one most important ethnographic collection of South Indian toys, puppets, and household objects as well as two wooden chariots. Don’t miss these sites while you are at Mysore.

Srirangapatna

Srirangapattana or Srirangapatna is a small town of historic, religious and cultural importance located 13 kms away from Mysore city. Known to the British as Seringapatam, this island fortress in the Kaveri River enjoys some historic significance as the site of the battle between the British and Tipu Sultan, the “Tiger of Mysore”. The British finally killed Tipu Sultan and captured the city in 1799. The town had a polygonal bastion, constructed by the French engineers, appointed by Tipu. Today none of the structures within the fort survive except the bathing ghats and the ramparts. The temples, mosques and palaces are worth seeing here.

Gumbaz

To the south of Daria Daulat Bagh is the Gumbaz, the tombs of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The walls of the chambers are decorated with the tiger-strips motif favoured by Tipu. The Viceroy, Lord Dalhousie in 1855 had gifted ebony and ivory doors to this extraordinary monument.