Sogal, Murgod and Saundatti

Sogal:
Sogal is almost a isolated place, known for the Somaeshwara temple built by the Rastrakuttas. Legend has it that Shiva married Parvathi at this place. You see a serene water fall and when you climb up the steps adjacent to the water fall you reach the temple.

Murgod:
On the way to Saundatti from Belgaum, a little deviation in the the travel will take us to Murgod, a quaint little village, sleepy and the sort a city bred with a penchant for rural life would love to spend. One can do so at this Chidambar Ashram which is the samadi of a 16th century saint.

The Asharam

A grand two storey building in the village

Saundatti:

Saundatti - known for the devadasi cult prevailing hitherto is a famous temple town. The presiding Deity being Renuka Yellama. The surroundings rocky hills of the temple give a sonorous glow in the twilight of the day.

View of Temple in the Twilight

Ganagapur- Gulbarga District

Gangapur in Gulbarga District of Karnataka is a famous pilgrim centre and a known Dattathrey Peeta. The temple town is almost a village-dusty and as you would expect any pilgrim town. But it offers the photographer in you a very colourful images
This is a where the devotees sit and recite the scriptures day and night on fulfilment of their vows.

The river front of Bhima , with devotees taking a sacred dip

And what could this be a make shift dressing room? - this is on the banks of river Bhima

The temple chariot standing majestically in a open space littered with cow dung with the earthy smell that today's city dwellers may almost not have experienced

Enchanting Rural north Karnataka_On the way to Shishuvinala

Rural India always bewitches me. any rural area for that matter. When in France I was able cajole my hosts, who were gracious enough to show me there country side will post these photographs on another day but today this lovely countryside on the way to Shishuvinala.

You must me there to experience the nip in air, the laid back attitude of the people you come across more often than not one is reminded of Robert Frost's line "I have miles to go Miles to go before I rest", but then in today's time will the miles to go ever stop? Note that all the images were shot in a travelling car, such is the miles we have to cover...

So you see a haystack (view the small temple on the background)

Banyan Tree standing majestically and its over hanging roots tantalizing touching the waters of the placid lake.

A boy riding a Buffalo with aplomb.