Corona has opened many new doors and options in our day today life. Not only it taught us cleanliness and social distancing but also work from home and E-marketing. If it has closed the doors of earning for many, it also motivated us to find alternative ways to survive, how to strengthen social bonding, recreate oneself.
Corona motivated us to find the new ways and look around you rather than distant places. Lot many people who did not know their surroundings are now awakened like a new born baby whose world is his room.
So I think Corona motivated us also to look around. After hovering, carassing the lesser known sites around Bangalore such as Big banyan tree, Manchanbele dam, Hoggenekal, Shiva Samudram, Pearl valley, Koti lingeshwars, Bhoga Nandeeshwara, Devan Halli fort, Bangalore fort, Tipu palace, Rangan Titu, Srirangpattam, Turahalli, DD Hills, Gudi Bande fort, Chhota Ladakh, Chitradurga, Makali Durg, Sir Vishvesarraya birth place, Tipu birth place, Mandagiri Hills, Kailasagiri and Kaiwara and so on so forth we found one more Markendeya Hill and Antargange.
After seeing these places this week I recommend to use your own transport, spend some time amid the temples in forests, live the place and remember our heritage and folklores preserved by these local guys.
Itinerary
I think you can cover only Markendeya and Antargange temples (one way 78 KM) in a day. Koti lingeshwara is also 10 KM from Antargange but will be hectic for a day.
Location
Markendeya temple is about 15 KM before Kolar on NH4 or via Hosakote-Malur Road. Markendeya temple is situated close to the Vokkaleri Village in Kolar District of Karnataka. while Antargange is about 10 KM from Markendeya hill temple. Both these places are in Kolar Distt, Bengaluru.
The car can go up to Markendeya temple foot while in Antargange you must climb 220 steps (medium tough).
Where to stay
No nearby hotels. You can stay at Kolar if you want to perform any “Havan” in Markendeya temple otherwise take it as weekend getaway. For “havan” phone number of a panditji mobile # 9448116303 is marked.
About trip to Markandeya temple
My rating 3.5/5 because it was not crowded, amid forest, no stairs so well approachable, very calm and quiet place. Lot of monkeys to entertain all.
History of Markendeya temple – Bhrigu Rishi and Marudmati were not getting blessed with child and so they meditated Lord Shiva. Shiva appeared and offered conditional blessing if they want a child with long life or a child of 16 years span but known in history. Bhrigu rishi chose option 2. And hence Markendeya Rishi was born. Nearing age of 16 Markendeya made a hard tapasya by installing a sanctum of Lord Shiva to please Lord shiva so as to save himself from Yama, God of death. Other sanctums include Bhairaveshwara (Kaal Bhairav- God of death), Nandeeshwara idols- the transport of Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parwati. So all Shiva family is here.
We started at a bit late by 11.30 due to some pre-occupations and reached at about 2 PM at Markendeya temple. It was a cloudy day and moderate winds flowing. On the way we saw a lake a typical water body, not sure if natural or due to rains. We stopped here to relax and photos.
We spent about an hour and half at this temple. This temple looks old about 300-400 years old.
The main temple has sanctum of Lord Shiva as per locals this is the idol which was installed by Rishi Markandeya here. We should believe this and have instilled the power of spirituality and “param ananda” which can take back with you at home.
There were many monkeys keeping eye on us continuously so we decided to take lunch at some other place on way. The place is scenic with rocks and greenery around. You can sit for two hours to enjoy this place.
The indie of temple
Since we could not take lunch near temple due to monkeys we halted at a big flowing water body for lunch. This is on way going from Markandeya it is 6KM from Antargange.
About trip to Antargange temple
My rating 3/5. This rating is lesser than Markendeya as the place was overcrowded as more people came for seeing the flowing stream. Despite being the place in forest the place is not kept clean. The place is slightly tough for senior citizens as there are 220 steps to reach to main shrine.
Antara Gange is famous for Sri Kashi Vishweshwara temple, also known as Kashi of South. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. In the temple is a pond which gets a continuous flow of underground water from the mouth of a Basava (stone bull). It is believed that drinking water from the pond cleanse one from many diseases.
This is a point of trekking of 3 KM (medium range) which covers water stream along with rocks, boulders, caves. Interested ones can do rock rappling too but for that better explore some tour operators from net who offer it as day trip with lunch.
Epilogue
This is a good weekend getaway for people around. The forests are beautiful and it is undoubtedly gives a respite from hustle bustle. I think it will much more enchanting in rainy season. You can trek not only at Antargange but also on Markandeya temple. I wish to go here again.
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