Agasthya Teertha

Agasthya Teertha is a lake in Badami, in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The lake has been named after one of the saptarishis in Hindi tradition- Agasthya. 

There are some legends regarding the lake as well. It's a rather beautiful lake and if you're in Badami, you should most certainly visit it. There are some local traditions and myths attached to the Agasthya Teertha- it is beleived that the waters of this lake have healing powers, especially since they have been named after Agasthya, the greate sage.

You actually have no choice but to visit it, as it is located where the two Bhootanatha Temples are located. The Agasthya Teertha, along with the Bhootanatha temples form one of the most picturesque sights in all of India. If you're visiting Agasthya Teertha, you are visiting the Bhootanatha Temple- they are not exclusive, for sure. The Bhootanatha temples are dedicated to the Lord Shiva. It's supposed to be dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of ghosts, spirits and souls. The temple is made of rich red sandstone and is incredibly beautiful to behold. There are two of these temples and both of them are placed on the eastern and the western banks of the Agasthya Teertha, respectively.

 In order to get to the Agasthya Teertha, you could take the scenic road from the Badami Caves. The path is winding and slightly narrow- with a mystical feeling to it. This path also passes right through a village. You will be able to see the Badami Caves from the Agasthya Teertha, actually. There are some sandstone rocks around the cave that actually feel like steps- you can make use of these rocks and climb up a nearby hill to get a better look of the Teertha and the temples- an aerial view of the place would certainly be breathtaking. It's, of course, beneficial, that all the caves in the area face Agasthya Lake.

The Beautiful Badami caves are located quite close to the lake. Ideally, you should visit the caves in the morning and then head down to the Bhootnath Temple and the lake. This way, you will reach the lake by evening- you will be able to enjoy the beautiful sunset and the amazing weather, as well.

The best time to visit the Agasthya Teertha is between November and March, when the temperature is sufficiently low and the humidity is also quite low. Badami is well connected to all other major cities of Karnataka. The nearest airport is in Belgaum, which is around 150 km away. You can access this area through the Hubli- Sholapur rail route. If you're coming from Bangalore, the nearest train station for you is Hospet. There are buses directly connecting Bangalore and Mysore to Badami as well. You could always choose to take one of those tourist buses to Badami as well.

Some of the best restaurants you could o to enjoy a meal after the wonderful evening in Agasthya Lake include olden Caves Cuisine, Banashree, Geeta Darshini, Hotel Sanman and Pulikeshi Dinner Room as well.

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.

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.