Devarayana Durga - Hill Station & Pilgrim Center
A blanket of peace and a wave of fresh air is what you need these days. Who doesn t like the idea of a holiday ? It is an excellent way to get away from business responsibilities, enjoy a wonderful time with friends and family.
It was another Weekend coming up, with my friends I was just thinking of places where we could go. We wanted to go on a long drive away to a cool, beautiful place around Bangalore. We had two options either go to Nandi Hills or Devarayana Durga. We had already seen Nandi Hills many times, Finally we decided that we will go to Devarayana Durga. The next day, early in the morning around 6.30 A M We left Bangalore & reached Tumkur within one hour. It was awesome weather in the morning.
Tumkur is seventy kms from Bangalore, very well connected by rail, air and road route. Tumkur is the place where great people like Dr Raja Ramanna, India’s nuclear scientist, Great sculptor Amrashilpi Jakanachari were born and brought up. Fortunately Tumkur is my place of birth.
After having the breakast in KyatSandra, we left to Devarayan Durga. This is a splendid rocky hill station situated in the midst of picturesque scenery at an altitude of 3940 feet, about ten kms from Tumkur .The hill station is encircled by forests and doted with numerous temples. The Yoganarasimha temple and Bhoganarasimha temple are located at the hilltop.
Devarayanadurga is also famous for the 'Namada Chilume', a natural spring considered sacred and is also considered the origin of the Jayamangali River.
I have visited this beautiful place several times, A place so magical would bring you into a calm and serene state.
Places of Interest around Devarayanadurga :
Namadha chilume :
This placeis of about ten Kms from Tumkur . It is a small streak of water flowing out of a rock. According to a Legend during the exile of lord Ram and Sita, Sita was thirsty to quench her thrist, Ram shot an arrow on a rock from which water came out. No one knows the source of the water till date. According to another legend When Lord Rama didn’t get water to apply Tilaka on his forehead, he shot an arrow into the rock then the water came out from the rock. That is why this place is called as Namadha Chilume.
According to the history this place was originally known as Anebiddasari (the place where the elephant fell) it was named after a chief named Jadaka called as Jadakana Durga. Finally this place is known as Devarayana Durga after it was captured by Mysore king Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar.
This place is enclosed by the forest department. There is a government guest house, Dr. Salim Ali, ornithologist also known as the "Bird man of India" was said to have stayed in this guest house during his visits to this place.Dr. Salim Ali had collected moist-deciduous species in this area, which are no longer to be seen now.
LakshmiNarasimha Swamy Temple:
This temple has been built in the Dravidian style of architecture, faces east. It has been constructed by Kanthirava Narasaraja I. The enclosure and tower were repaired in 1858 by the Mysore king Krishnaraja Wodeyar III according to the inscriptions. At the base of the hill is the Bhoga Narasimha temple and Yoga Narasimha temple is on top of the hill.
Other Temples :
There is a temple of Narasimah , Kumbhi on the third elevation stands. This Narasimha temple consists of a Garbhagriha, a sukanasi, a navagraha and a mukhamantapa .There are three sacred ponds or Kalyani here known as Narasimha-teertha, Parasara-teertha and Pada-teertha.
A Hanuman temple, known as Sanjivaraya, who stands with folded hands is present. This temple is said to be older than the Lakshmi Narasimha temple. Higher up above is a small shrine of Garuda.
The sacred hill town is also famous for the 'Sri Bhoga Narasimhaswamy jathra' or the car festival. This is an annual festival held during full moon day of 'Phalguna' (mid February to mid March). During this festival in Devarayanadurga, devotees from the region of Bangalore and Tumkur come and participate.
The forest department has developed a nursery of medicinal plants near Namada Chilume. There are about 300 varieties of rare ayurvedic plants in this nursery. Group of similar species of plants are cultivated on specified plots for easy identification of the plant varieties. The nursery, known as the mini forest of medicinal plants, has been developed with the objective of conserving endangered species of plants on Devarayanadurga hills.
There is a Deer Park in the vicinity of the Namada Chilume. There many spotted deer taken care by the forest department.
There is an artificial lake that spreads over nearly 1000 acres. The Indo-Danish Dairy project and Government Horticultural and dairy farms are located here.
This place offers a lot of trekking and hiking opportunities along with rock-climbing. One can hire Forest Department Bungalows situated in the park. The booking can be done either at Tumkur or Bangalore but not at the park itself.
One can enjoy the un-polluted greenery and fresh air of the Namada Chilume. It is good try for one day trip. One needs to carry their own water and food, though there are small shops around the place
If you are the person looking for a great destination for history & loves the nature, hills, rocks ,trekking, temples than this is the perfect place for you.
How to reach :
By road : 70 kms from Bangalore (From Bangalore -> Yeshwanthpur -> Dobbespet -> right turn under the flyover leads to Devarayandurga )
Nearest Railway Station : Tumkur
Nearest Airport : Bangalore International Airport
Temperature: The maximum and minimum temperature range varies from 18 to 32°C.
Best time to visit: It looks very beautiful in June – December.
Things to carry:Camera,Warm Clothes.,Trekking gear. Basic First aid kit. Food, snacks, water bottle.
Accommodation at Tumkur:There are many hotels and restaurants in the Tumkur Region. They are comfortable and provide excellent accommodation and dining facilities. There are many Three Star and Budget Hotels like Hotel Woodlands , Hotel Nanjudeshwara & Hotel Dwaraka,
