My Camera Log

It had been a long time since my last trek. I couldn’t do any monsoon treks or rides this year, and the itch for adventure was real. On Saturday evening, while chatting with Kiran, I mentioned the idea of doing a short ride and trek near Bengaluru. Madhugiri Betta came to mind, and Kiran was instantly in! We quickly decided to go for it. Madhugiri is about  110 km from Bengaluru  and takes around  2.5 hours  to reach. Our plan was to start early and begin trekking before 8 AM. We left at  5:00 AM , stopped for a quick breakfast on the way, and reached  Madhugiri around 7:45 AM , just as planned. Trekking here is allowed from  6:00 AM onwards . At the entrance, you need to register your name and show an  Aadhaar card  (one per group is enough). The entry fee is just  ₹30 per person . I had visited Madhugiri nearly  15 years ago , and honestly, I didn’t remember much. But as soon as we reached, we started our climb, hoping to finish b...

This post continues from my earlier blog,   Mahabalipuram Temple Complex – Part 1 .   After exploring the first half of the complex, I moved on to the other side, which is home to the   Lighthouse   and several beautiful monuments. The  Mahabalipuram Lighthouse  stands tall on a rocky hill, offering breathtaking views of the town and the Bay of Bengal. Built in the early 20th century, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the sea breeze and the sunrise — though, unfortunately, it was a cloudy day during my visit, so I missed the sunrise view. Just beside it is the  Olakkannesvara Temple , also known as the  Old Lighthouse . This ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, sits atop the hill and offers a stunning panoramic view of the sea and the surrounding monuments. Next, I stopped by  Draupadi’s Bath , a small rock-cut structure connected to the legends of the Pandavas. Though simple, it highlights the fine craftsmanship of the Pallava artisans and ...

The Mahabalipuram Temple Complex is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site filled with ancient monuments and rock-cut temples. During our earlier visit to the Shore Temple, we couldn’t explore this area fully, so this time I made sure not to miss it. I started early from the resort around   6:15 AM   and reached the complex just as it opened — I was the first visitor of the day! Without the crowd, the place looked even more peaceful and magical, and the cool morning breeze made the walk even better. The complex has two entrances — one near the  Lighthouse  and the other near  Krishna’s Butterball . I began my walk from the Krishna’s Butterball side and explored the following beautiful monuments: Krishna’s Butterball:  A huge, round boulder that looks like it’s about to roll down the hill but has stayed perfectly balanced for centuries. Ganesha Ratha:  A beautifully carved stone temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha, showing the elegance of Pallava architectu...