Kaivara

Amidst the busy schedule of work and abundance of tension and stress a chance for a weekend getaway is all that everyone might wish for. But how often do we find really impressive locations around a city that we can complete visiting in a weekend? Well, if you are a resident of Bangalore then the possibility of finding such a spot isn’t too bleak at all. Located just 70-80kms north-east of Bangalore is Kaivara, a lovely town located in the Chickballapur district of Karnataka. For all those stressed out corporate workers this location should prove to be the perfect stress buster you’ve been waiting to encounter.

Kaivara in Kannada means a compass. Now why is a town named compass? Well, if you’ve visited the place without one, things might become a bit more lucid. The rocky terrains and the zig zag plains with the boulders can easily get you lost if you are not on a pre-designated path. Though with mobile phones and improved connectivity the chances of getting lost is less, a less careful traveler can always lose track here.

Historians and religious people will find this small town largely amusing. The town is believed to be connected to the Mahabharata. This is said to be the place where the Pandavas spent their exile. The legendary story of Bheem killing Bakhasura took place in a cave near the town. Plus there are several temples of high spiritual value present here. One such temple is the Kailashagiri of Ambaji Durga temple.

Also known as Kailsantha Kshethra this temple is placed inside a man made cave. Constructions around this cave started almost 14 years back and people are still trying to make ways and entrances into the temple. The cave houses a number of temples. One can find idols of Ganesh, the famous four faced Chaturbhuj Shiva, Lakshmi. The cave also houses a giant hall which is a fun place for people to experience the phenomenon of echo. Vehicles can travel only a certain distance to the cave after which one needs to climb up to reach the place. Though a bit straining the trekking experience is out of the world with stunning backdrop of the rugged mountains surrounding the town.

Once this temple is covered your next stop should most likely be the Amaranarayana temple. Kannadigas and people from Karnataka must have heard the name of the famous Narayana Thathaya. 

For those who haven’t, he is one of the most famous poets of Kannada literature. It is believed that this saint found enlightenment in this temple and even wrote down a few predicted events of the future. The cave where Narayanasamy meditated can also be seen. The Yogi Narayanasamy Ashram can be a good place for you to rest for a while after this visit.

Once done you can then visit the Bheema Bhakana betta. This is the place where people believe that Bheema killed Bakhasura. Plus this forest also has a temple of lord Shiva believed to have been built by Bheema himself. The tour can be completed in a day, however, you can try and spend another day roaming and enjoying the picturesque view of the hills around the town.

The town is easily accessible by both public and personal transport. One can take a bus to Kaivara cross and then take another heading towards the town. The journey should roughly be around 2 hours or lesser in case you are traveling by car. The town can be covered easily by hiring a taxi or a cab.