The location that was causing a stir in my mind due to its stunning scenery and one of my oldest bucket-list item. Yes, I'm referring to the Devaramane view point. As the name implies, I believe it is genuinely a heaven for all(As in heaven is where God reesides and Devaramane translates to abode of God). The gorgeous greenery all around us draws our attention. Well, before I go into detail about how the place was, let me give you a brief overview of how I went there.
It's around 250 kilometres from Bangalore, and we left at 5 a.m. via the hassan highway, taking Chickamagalur route. On the way, we can stop by and visit Belur and Sravanabelagola, but my recommendation is to arrive early in the morning to the view point to take advantage of the foggy weather and see the sunrise.
It was around 8 a.m. when we arrived in Chikkamagalur, and we needed to take a detour at the junction that separates the mudigere and Dharmasthala routes. This location can be reached by driving 2-3 kilometres from Kottigehara to Mudigere and then turning right where the sign board indicates a distance of 12 kilometres to Devaramane. After that, the road is in poor condition. It's a one-lane road, and because we travelled during the rainy season, we couldn't see anything but fog! We drove slowly and cautiously, and due to the poor road conditions, we couldn't even get up to 50 kmph. Many minor waterfalls and water streams can be seen along the journey. Photographers, I believe, adore this location for this reason. The astonishing beauty of nature just captivates us. But this is just a trailor, Picture Abhi Baki Hai Mere Dost.
A few minor temples can also be seen along the road. Driving 25 kilometres took about an hour. It was around 10 a.m. when we arrived at our destination. Our journey begins with a modest entrance sign.
It's a short hike, and we had a great view from every vantage point. We can comfortably enjoy the beauty of nature even on crowded days because it is a large area with many view points. We were absolutely wet by the drizzles because we travelled during the rainy season. We waited a few minutes for the rain to cease, but we knew it wouldn't since we could feel the clouds and the moisture.
We began our journey in the rain, and believe me when I say that I was literally shivering from the prevailing wind. God!! Wet face, hair blowing in the wind, rain drops poking the face from the opposite side, and so forth. To my astonishment, when we arrived at the view point, there was nothing visible!! It's like there's fog everywhere. When we tried to look down, it felt like the end of the world; all we could see were clouds. We waited for the sun to come out for a while, and after a few hours, we were finally able to see what was lying behind the fog. Wow!! What a beauty, was my first reaction.
I've always been curious about the green hills since I was a kid. I even assumed it was the lawn grass that is around it. And by attentively examining it, I was able to obtain all of my answers.
I can't recommend a specific time to visit because this place does not disappoint, even in the summer.
Haarlu flowers, which only bloom once every 12 years, are another unique feature of this location. It's a purple blossom that covers the hill, giving us a mash-up of a green saree with purple embroidery.
There is an 800-year-old Bhairaveshwara Temple on the way down, about 500m to 1km from Devaramane, that is well-known among the people. Because it is "Mane Devru"(home Diety) for many people, we can witness a lot of people praying to the Lord. A pond is located in front of the temple, and there was previously a boating facility. They appear to have put a stop to it now.
Ethina Bhuja and Kapila fishing camp are two other local destinations that can be visited during our visit.