Jan 24, 2017
As a part of a Senior Citizen Group we had finished Badami in Northern Karnataka and our Tavera started moving towards Belgaum. As city came closer thanks to Mukessbhai of Jio used travel websites to locate Budget lodge for simple overnight stay. Shriniwas Lodge was found suitable and we started moving towards it.
Unfortunately, it's located in Khade Bazar which is comparable with crowded Bhendi Bazar. Why it's called Khade Bazar needs research. Finally, we reached and checked in after sunset. It was a nice place well designed by architects Shanbhag.
I said a temporary goodbye to my team and left to meet my sisters in Belgaum and enjoyed a nice huge Surmai Fry with xxx and a light dinner after a hot shower. I had bit early brekkie with by BIL Bharat of fresh Papaya, Uppit and Gajar Halwa and joined our Gang for sightseeing of Belgaum.
For a good breakfast we went to Suvarna Mandir next door to Shriniwas Hotel. It's a Udupi style popular joint. We checked our sightseeing list with Hotel Owner. He was Ashok Pai. He is perfect example of generosity of the city and reminds one of a character from books of Pu La Deshpande. He summarily scrapped our list. He provided us a free guide and asked us to visit two ancient temples located in very tiny, narrow lanes.
Thanks to Ashok Pai we covered Kapileshwar and Maruti Mandir. Both these temples are popular and worth a visit. Later, we covered two temples under Army Management. One is Military Mahadev and second Military Durga. Military Mahadev is huge under Maratha Light Infantry Training School with few restrictions on civilian visits. Next to it is ShivSmarak, a huge ground with a huge equestrian statue of Maharaj and replicas of Forts built by him around. Can Mumbai have such simple but inspiring monument?
We moved to Ramakrishna Mission located inside the Belgaum Fort. This place plus one more house near Khade Bazar are special. Swamiji himself stayed here for few days. Both properties are well preserved. One can enter here free and one is allowed to sit and do meditation. We sat for meditation to seek blessings of Swamiji. While we were leaving the Volunteers of Mission enquired about us. They strongly recommended us to visit Kamal Basti, ancient Jain temples next door. Without this guidance we would have missed a great monument.
Kamal Basti has two single story stone structures in granite. Highly polished round pillars and intricate designs which are 900 years old are outstanding and make us proud of our Jain heritage. Most spectacular thing here is a stone chandelier in shape of Lotus. That's why it's called Kamal Basti. I must confess this one monument is worth a visit to Belgaum.
Visit to Belgaum is incomplete unless you buy the local sweet Kunda. Nowadays, one can buy tinned Kunda as more and more Belgaum persons are staying faraway from Belgaum and it's a perishable item. While gang of senior citizens went shopping for it, myself and our driver Sikandar parked Tavera at corner and had nice drink two glasses each. The delightful fresh fresh foaming Sugarcane Juice and we said goodbye to Belgaum and moved towards Gokak Falls.
As a part of a Senior Citizen Group we had finished Badami in Northern Karnataka and our Tavera started moving towards Belgaum. As city came closer thanks to Mukessbhai of Jio used travel websites to locate Budget lodge for simple overnight stay. Shriniwas Lodge was found suitable and we started moving towards it.
Unfortunately, it's located in Khade Bazar which is comparable with crowded Bhendi Bazar. Why it's called Khade Bazar needs research. Finally, we reached and checked in after sunset. It was a nice place well designed by architects Shanbhag.
I said a temporary goodbye to my team and left to meet my sisters in Belgaum and enjoyed a nice huge Surmai Fry with xxx and a light dinner after a hot shower. I had bit early brekkie with by BIL Bharat of fresh Papaya, Uppit and Gajar Halwa and joined our Gang for sightseeing of Belgaum.
For a good breakfast we went to Suvarna Mandir next door to Shriniwas Hotel. It's a Udupi style popular joint. We checked our sightseeing list with Hotel Owner. He was Ashok Pai. He is perfect example of generosity of the city and reminds one of a character from books of Pu La Deshpande. He summarily scrapped our list. He provided us a free guide and asked us to visit two ancient temples located in very tiny, narrow lanes.
Thanks to Ashok Pai we covered Kapileshwar and Maruti Mandir. Both these temples are popular and worth a visit. Later, we covered two temples under Army Management. One is Military Mahadev and second Military Durga. Military Mahadev is huge under Maratha Light Infantry Training School with few restrictions on civilian visits. Next to it is ShivSmarak, a huge ground with a huge equestrian statue of Maharaj and replicas of Forts built by him around. Can Mumbai have such simple but inspiring monument?
We moved to Ramakrishna Mission located inside the Belgaum Fort. This place plus one more house near Khade Bazar are special. Swamiji himself stayed here for few days. Both properties are well preserved. One can enter here free and one is allowed to sit and do meditation. We sat for meditation to seek blessings of Swamiji. While we were leaving the Volunteers of Mission enquired about us. They strongly recommended us to visit Kamal Basti, ancient Jain temples next door. Without this guidance we would have missed a great monument.
Kamal Basti has two single story stone structures in granite. Highly polished round pillars and intricate designs which are 900 years old are outstanding and make us proud of our Jain heritage. Most spectacular thing here is a stone chandelier in shape of Lotus. That's why it's called Kamal Basti. I must confess this one monument is worth a visit to Belgaum.
Visit to Belgaum is incomplete unless you buy the local sweet Kunda. Nowadays, one can buy tinned Kunda as more and more Belgaum persons are staying faraway from Belgaum and it's a perishable item. While gang of senior citizens went shopping for it, myself and our driver Sikandar parked Tavera at corner and had nice drink two glasses each. The delightful fresh fresh foaming Sugarcane Juice and we said goodbye to Belgaum and moved towards Gokak Falls.
