Happy New Year

Often I wonder what is New year? Is it just a change in calendar? That happens every month if it's a monthly Calendar.

Is it the late night parties ? That happens for many occasions around the year.

It is the crackers in middle of the night? That's there on Deepavali too.

I am sure New year is much more than all this..It is Hope. ಭರವಸೆ in kannada. Hope for better tomorrows.Hope for the better future. 

Next moment is new and fresh. There is a hope in that very next moment. So why only wait for the new year when we can be born- reborn everyday, every minute and every second.

A Sanskrit greeting for the New year sums it up so well.. This is written by pujya Swamiji Tejomayananda.

Kshanam Pratikshanam Yannavam Navam

Taccha Sundaram Saccha Tacchivam

Varsha Nutanam Te Shubham Mudam

Uttarottaram Bhavatu Siddhidam

That which is ever new and fresh, that alone is Good, Real and Beautiful. May this New Year bring you greater goodness, happiness and success.

Happy New Year

Trekking Trails - Namada Chilume ( ನಾಮದ ಚಿಲುಮೆ) - The fountain of faith

Trekking to Devarayana Durga was this year's first and the only outing that too in the last week of the year. This was the first trek that we did as a family!

The drive from Bangalore is quite nice and after an hour of drive , we get into country side. But the scenery changes drastically about half an hour before the place when we will be rightin the middle of thick tress.

The trekking trail starts from a place called ನಾಮದ ಚಿಲುಮೆ, Namada Chilume.

This is a place where Rama and Lakshmana had walked down in search of Seeta. 

I wonder how much complex it would have been for them to walk in such dense and steep hills! I am amused by the fact that is there a place that Rama & Lakshmana have touched while searching for Seetha. May be it was a way to map South India!

The story is that Rama with his arrow brought water for applying tilak and this water is flowing here like a fountain ever since. This is the mythological significance of the place . 

Historically, Dr Salim Ali stayed here for many years for his research. The house has been retained as a memorial.

The trekking trail is steep but manageable for normally fit people. trekking time is approximately 3 hours. Trekking gears and forest guard is advised.

This is Namada chilume

Dr.Salim Ali stayed here

Picture at the peak

Reaching a peaceful place after a hard trek is so wonderful. After 2020's hard trek, 2021 will be just that..

Peaceful and Wonderful!