Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta

Himavad Gopalaswamy sits in a temple atop an eponymous hill adjoining the hallowed Bandipura National Park. The forest begins where the temple walls end and it is not uncommon to sight an elephant or herds of herbivores on the nearby hills and valleys.

Gopalaswamy on account of his popularity and for the reason that he sits in such a pristine environment, draws people in multitudes...crowds gather here by bus-loads on weekends and decorate the grasslands around the temple with colourful plastics :(

The next time you see plastic there, Pick it up!!!!

Sunflower farms line up the way to Gopalaswamy Betta...

Elephant herd on the way... A very common sight here.

A simple entrance to a beautiful temple

It looked much better than this though:D

A trail to an adjoining hill ... People are supposed to take permission and then go up this track. But suppositions are suppositions and you can still see "devotees" roaming freely there with their plastics:(

This was how the temple looked in the Film Slr days:D

Honey Valley Estate - The paradise beneath Thadiandamol

Added below are my pictures of a realm, where paradise is predominantly green and is washed perennially by the myriad streams flowing down the slopes of one of the greatest Indian Natural treasures, The Western Ghats...


A view from behind the Tribal hut.... Looking at the Manjana Motte hill.

Honey Valley HQ - This is where the gracious hosts of this shangri-la reside ....


Chingara - Honey Valley's very own waterfall ....


Chingara again...


On the way to 'Cheepekund", The natural swimming hole, an hour's walk away from the farm.

The Neelekanti Waterfall... This perennial waterfall makes for a glorious backdrop all through your Trek up the "Ridge Walk" trekking trail.... Grasslands surround the Waterfall and the interspersed Shola Forests add charm to the whole green drama...

Experimenting with shutter speed.
Location: Stream at the "Bottom of the Waterfall Forest". You reach this area at the end of your "Ridge walk" trekking trail.

Rain Fed Pepper


One more shot from the Tribal hut area...

Pepper vines on a Raintree...

"Manjana Motte" Hill from the Tribal hut...

Mists embrace the hill everyday making all the "misty mountain" fantasies look real :D

The simple rooms with the painted loo;)


The Tranquil Cottages...


A trail in the coffee Estate...

Located in the heart of Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka, Honey Valley Estate is in the ideal location for holidaying in South India. It is perfect for walkers, nature lovers and anyone in need of rest and relaxation.... Read more on the official website

These are a few of my favorite roads....

Aane Macro

The right eye of Shekara, the camp elephant at Murkal in the Nagarahole National Park.

This gentle giant was very tolerant towards a long haired mammal trying to poke a Sigma 105mm right up its eye....