At the end of the first part, we stopped at a distance of 70km away from Madikeri. At least at the end of this part, I'll, hopefully, reach Madikeri...
As I already told, a ride on the SH88 was really awesome. After that stop at the bus stop, I was riding at a constant pace of mid 60's. After travelling one or two kilometres, I again found a mile-stone showing the same info 'Madikeri 70km'...it was so surprising how they maintain these sign-boards. However, I was not at all upset...because I love travelling..unless the destination is my office.
I crossed 'Periyapattana' with in no time or I didn't observe the time. Around twelve-thirteen kilometres after 'Periyapattana' I started observing a slight change in the construction style of houses on the left side of the road and some people in the Buddhist attire walking around. Then I realised that my next stop, Bylakuppe, was closing in... I asked some people for the route I need to take to reach the 'Golden Temple'. I was told to take a left turn and to travel a few more miles, around 4miles, to reach it.
Bylakuppe - The Tibetan settlement:
This is the second biggest Tibetan settlement in India after 'Dharamsala' of Himachal Pradesh.
Here in Bylakuppe, the Tibetan population is predominant. Though the constructions were not completely in their architecture, we will find good number of dragons and other things specific to their culture. I felt, I was in some different country when I saw them in the stalls, the vegetable shops, and in the school for Tibetan kids. The best part is the way they greet each other. They look like some kind of peace loving people - perhaps, I felt so... as the Buddhists are stereotyped as so...
It was so great to feel a different ethnicity - particularly in the southern part of the country, far away from the Tibetan boarder.
I reached the 'Golden Temple' around 11:55am. I parked my vehicle and entered the premises of the temple. It was clean and well maintained with lots of greenery. As soon as I entered the temple, people started asking me for photograps... Yes! you read it correct. As they immediately learnt that I was alone, people started giving me their cameras for taking their group pics... ;) It was very funny. This might be the first time I photographed people... Generally I prefer pics of nature to that of humans. After the photo session, I spent good amount of time in side the temple. I photographed the characteristic paintings of the Buddhist temples. I thought there might be some story or theme behind the paintings. However, I couldn't exactly figure out the story but tried to decipher some of them as the changing state of The Lord Buddha from the Princehood to the Priesthood. Though I didn't know the complete story of Buddha, I tried to relate the things I knew about him with the paintings on the walls. But the actual story behind the paintings is - they are called the Tibetan Thangka - the paintings depicting all the incarnations of Buddha and the deities of the Vajrayana Buddhism.
Cauvery Nisargadhama - An Island park:
Cauvery Nisargadhama is a island located amid the Cauvery river. There is a hanging bridge that connects this island to the main land. The main attractions at this place are the hanging bridge on the river, Elephant rides, Rabbit park, Deer park, Bamboo groves, Boating, Tree houses or view points.
It was about a 20mins travel, 13-14km, from Bylakuppe. I reached, in fact crossed, 'Nisargadhama' around 1.20pm as I was looking for the same name I mentioned. But it was 'Cauvery Nisargadhama' on the board. It was on the left side of the road. If we are not alert, there is a high probability of missing it.
As I already told, a ride on the SH88 was really awesome. After that stop at the bus stop, I was riding at a constant pace of mid 60's. After travelling one or two kilometres, I again found a mile-stone showing the same info 'Madikeri 70km'...it was so surprising how they maintain these sign-boards. However, I was not at all upset...because I love travelling..unless the destination is my office.
Still 70km away from Madikeri...
I crossed 'Periyapattana' with in no time or I didn't observe the time. Around twelve-thirteen kilometres after 'Periyapattana' I started observing a slight change in the construction style of houses on the left side of the road and some people in the Buddhist attire walking around. Then I realised that my next stop, Bylakuppe, was closing in... I asked some people for the route I need to take to reach the 'Golden Temple'. I was told to take a left turn and to travel a few more miles, around 4miles, to reach it.
Bylakuppe - The Tibetan settlement:
This is the second biggest Tibetan settlement in India after 'Dharamsala' of Himachal Pradesh.
Here in Bylakuppe, the Tibetan population is predominant. Though the constructions were not completely in their architecture, we will find good number of dragons and other things specific to their culture. I felt, I was in some different country when I saw them in the stalls, the vegetable shops, and in the school for Tibetan kids. The best part is the way they greet each other. They look like some kind of peace loving people - perhaps, I felt so... as the Buddhists are stereotyped as so...
It was so great to feel a different ethnicity - particularly in the southern part of the country, far away from the Tibetan boarder.
Entrance Of the 'Golden Temple'
While I was waiting for her to leave, the little lady in the below image was giving so many poses. In fact this was the only pic I clicked. I truly repent not capturing all her poses.
The Bell and a Cute little lady..
I reached the 'Golden Temple' around 11:55am. I parked my vehicle and entered the premises of the temple. It was clean and well maintained with lots of greenery. As soon as I entered the temple, people started asking me for photograps... Yes! you read it correct. As they immediately learnt that I was alone, people started giving me their cameras for taking their group pics... ;) It was very funny. This might be the first time I photographed people... Generally I prefer pics of nature to that of humans. After the photo session, I spent good amount of time in side the temple. I photographed the characteristic paintings of the Buddhist temples. I thought there might be some story or theme behind the paintings. However, I couldn't exactly figure out the story but tried to decipher some of them as the changing state of The Lord Buddha from the Princehood to the Priesthood. Though I didn't know the complete story of Buddha, I tried to relate the things I knew about him with the paintings on the walls. But the actual story behind the paintings is - they are called the Tibetan Thangka - the paintings depicting all the incarnations of Buddha and the deities of the Vajrayana Buddhism.
One of so many beautiful paintings
One more interesting thing about the temple was the statues of the 'Buddha' and two others 'Padmasambhava' and 'Amitayus', standing tall almost at a hight of 60ft. If possible, observe the dragons on each side of 'Buddha' and colourful cylindrical hanging things on the either sides of the image.
Padmasambhava - 58ft; Buddha - 60ft; Amitayus - 58ft
I inquired with some of the fellows about the history of that temple and how the Tibetan people flew so far to reach here in Bylakuppe. But to my surprise, nobody here knows about those things. The Tibetan people, living here, abandoned their homes in Tibet and came here as a result of the Chinese invasion. The guys I met in the premises of the temple were...read carefully... "Kun Sung" from Arunachal Pradesh, "Nim Ha" from Darjeeling and four people from Tibet. I felt like, these fellows were in there just as a customary thing..they were not very well into the 'ism they were following. However, speaking to them was very nice, especially with the ones from Tibet. I was trying to communicate with them in, a language I think of as, English. But they were thinking of it as 'Hindi' and responding that they were not aware of 'Hindi'..even I don't..he he..I fooled them. Somehow, I managed to speak to them (read it as struggling to communicate) for almost 20 minutes. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. I forgot the names of those fellows.
THE Tibetans I was talking about
I liked this place so much that I wanted to buy something as a remembrance of this place. The surroundings of the monastery were full of the handicraft shops. I though of buying a 'Prayer Wheel'. But I don't know how to pray..!! So I bought a pendant of 'Laughing Buddha'. It was 12:50pm when I came out of the temple. I had Momos and started for my next destination..."Nisargadhama"Cauvery Nisargadhama - An Island park:
Cauvery Nisargadhama is a island located amid the Cauvery river. There is a hanging bridge that connects this island to the main land. The main attractions at this place are the hanging bridge on the river, Elephant rides, Rabbit park, Deer park, Bamboo groves, Boating, Tree houses or view points.
It was about a 20mins travel, 13-14km, from Bylakuppe. I reached, in fact crossed, 'Nisargadhama' around 1.20pm as I was looking for the same name I mentioned. But it was 'Cauvery Nisargadhama' on the board. It was on the left side of the road. If we are not alert, there is a high probability of missing it.
Promise...!! I clicked it for the bridge only :)
A superb view from the hanging bridge...
I just walked across the park twice and explored almost everything. I liked the Bamboo groves very much. Please be cautious while entering any bamboo grove. Nobody warned me about this before...I ended up witnessing a couple being busy in some biological activities. I am not sure if it is usual there or it was my misfortune(obviously..I came to enjoy the Nature. Not to see the bio-chemistry). I wanted to go for a elephant ride. But very disappointed to know that the morning session was over and I need to wait till 2:30pm for going for a ride. It was so hot over there..and I felt it was more of humidity than the temperature. I think afternoon is not a good time to visit this place. I enjoyed seeing the school of fish feeding on the things thrown by the people went for boating. The fish were very big and clearly visible from the bridge. I entered some no-entry zones to take pics. I can't call it venturing but I trespassed.
Elephant Ride.. Missed it.. :(
View Point...
I regret but Worth Trespassing...!!
After having a good break, I started to Madikeri at around 2:15pm and to put a full stop to my today's travelling. I reached the outskirts of Madikeri at around 3.10pm after negotiating a good distance on the ghat section.
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