Kanyakumari-Kashmir Round trip - Day 5 - Gokarna - Vallabhgad Fort - Belgaum - Agashiv Caves - Keshariv Mandir

Day 5 - Gokarna - Vallabhgad Fort - Belgaum (fort and temples) - Agashiv Caves - Keshariv Mandir

Kilometers Covered - 490 Kms

Walking - 10000+ steps

We were informed the previous day that temple will open by 6 AM. However, it was opened around 4.45 AM itself. When we reached Gokarna temple, around 200+ people were already waiting there. We did Vinayaka darshan and waited for 2 hours in Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple for darshan. According to legend, the Atmalinga was perforce placed at Gokarna, in the temple precincts where it is now deified. It was Ravana, the demon King of Lanka, known from the epic, Ravana had carried it there from Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. This is one of the holiest site for Shiva and finds its mention in several Puranas, Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Vinayaka played an important role and has a separate temple just near the main temple. 

                                      

On the way back to hotel for check-out, a small (around 5x5 feet) outlet caught our vision. Steaming vessels pulled our feet. Settled there for hot steamed idlies, chutney, sambar and crispy vada. Hogged it like first time idly eaters - ROFL (8 AM)

We planned to visit Hosavada waterfalls - around 20+ kms from Gokarna; however, villagers stopped enroute to inform that there's no water (saving an hour of journey). 

We went straight to Belgaum, the route was mesmerisng and pleasant. Sailed through excellent ghat roads, scenary - would stay as one of the best scenic route of the trip. 


It'll be a news if Karnataka Police didn't stop a TN vehicle - they stopped on the outskirts of Belgaum, we spoke and disappointed them without giving options for fines. Belgaum has a fort in center with many mandaps, historical structures, temples etc.., inside it. We visited the durga temple in entrance, Jain temple, couple of Hoysala mandapams and Ramakrishna Mutt (all these are within the Fort campus) - energetic walking after a beautiful drive

We then fuelled the car in Shri Dattopant Automobiles - IOCL pump, Belgaum

  


Our next site after Belgaum fort was Vallabhagad Fort - a fort located 57 kms from Belgaum. It is in the Hukkeri taluka of Belgaum district, of Karnataka.The fort is situated on the Khadya hill mountain ridge close to the Pune-Bangalore national Highway. It was super hot and humid, roamed around the fort (unfortunately, no water bottles in hand). There was a deep, big and dry well above the fort - could only see thorny bushes though. Moderate level of climbing and walking required ;)




We started hunting for a nice vegetraian restaurant enroute Satara (Maharashtra) and found Haldiram's - wowww :) went there - tasty thali and felt heavenly :) 3 PM


Post lunch, we went via a village route to Agashiv Caves - Karad, Maharashtra. The Karad Caves form a group of 66 Buddhist caves located about 5 kilometers south west of Karad, near the village Jakhinwadi overlooking the Koyna River. It's a steep trek and fortunately added many steps to our walking (which made the trip very unique)





Just before reaching Satara for stay, we also visited Keshariv Jain Temple (last spot for the day)
                                           
                                            

 

We then settled in Pari Residency, Satara to watch the IPL Final - CSK won the last ball thriller :)

Luv,
Krishna & Mahadevan
insta - viswanatkr01

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