Trip to Shivagange (Karnataka):

Shivagange is an amazing hillock with special temples for Gangadharaswami. The temple is located about 60kms from Bangalore on the Tumkur road on NH4 close to 8+kms from Dabasspet. The hillock from one side looks like a shiva linga. We heard about this temple and one Saturday morning last week planned to visit this temple. Me, my husband, my son, my mother-in-law and my co-sister started from home at about 8.30 in the morning. We had our breakfast as we had doubts whether something will be available there on the way. We headed towards Dabasspet and it was a slow drive as we wanted to enjoy the trip. We reached there about 10.30. There are a few shops down the hillock and the shopkeepers warn us not to carry any plastic bags with food items, as the whole place is infested with monkeys. We had heard already that on the Shiva linga, if we do Abhisheka with ghee it turns into butter,(which is actually true, as we also gave ghee and we got the butter as Prasad). Then we started climbing the hillock. As the shopkeepers told we had nice time seeing the monkeys grabbing bags from people. My son was pretty excited and was calling for the monkeys. There are about 100 steps to reach the first temple there. Before entering the temple there is another gate which leads to ‘Pathala Gange’ which is said to be a stream of river flowing which is said to be the river Ganges. There is also a cave or tunnel in the Garba Griha which is said to lead to Gavi Ganghadhara swami temple at Bangalore. It is unexplored as it is closed at both the ends for the purpose of safety. We had a good dharshan of the swami and gave the ghee for abhisheka. It was not crowded as still people doesn’t know much about this temple. The poojari there said that he would perform the abhishekha little later. So we proceeded further making my mother-in-law sit in the temple along with my son.

And there is further up on the hillock a small stream of water gushing through a rock which is called ‘olakala theertha’. Only me, my husband and my co-sister climbed above to this place as we heard that there are no steps and it is just rock climbing. If old people are accompanying you, it is better you make them seated in the Ganghadhra sannidhi. We started climbing further and reached the theertha in about 20 minutes. If you want you can wear your shoes if you are new to trekking. But we felt as it wouldn’t me much pious to wear our shoes. On the way there are a lot small shops where you get good masala buttermilk, sugarcane juice, bottled drinks and a few snacks to eat. We had a glass of buttermilk which was Rs.5 a glass. It was very tasty. We proceeded and reached the “Olakala Theertha”. There is a cave and you have to bend below and go inside and you will reach a place where there is a small deep hole inside the rock. You can see water inside and you can put your hands to touch it. But it is said that the water comes up for people who have done good deeds and have good luck. It was my turn to touch the water and I could see the water moving below. I couldn’t touch and at last 3^rd chance I finally touched the water. But my husband could take the water in his hands. It was the same case with my co-sister and she could also not touch the water. I was little upset. But it is said that God always destines you. So we prayed and started climbing down. You can further climb the hillock where there is a big Nandhi. But we didn’t climb further as we had left my mum-in-law behind with my son (being little naughty).

We reached back and on the way we had the dharshan of pathala gange and headed downwards. It is said that there are a lot of temples more. But we were contended by the visit and wanted to go home. On the way about 5 kms towards Bangalore there is hotel Kamat attached to a petrol pump. But be careful have enough cash as they do not accept card. Otherwise you need to go back about 5kms for an ATM. But somehow we managed as we had enough cash with us. The food was amazing and we reached Bangalore at about 2.30pm.