About Kudremukh :
The
Horse-Face Hill Station 95 kms south-west of Chikmaglur town is the
Kudremukh (Horse Face) range, so named because of the unique shape of the
Kudremukh Peak.
Overlooking the Arabian Sea, the broad hills are chained to one another
with deep valleys and steep precipices. As yet 'undiscovered' by tourists,
Kudremukh is a secluded hill station, which retains much of its pristine,
natural beauty.
And a holiday here can be truly delightful. Lush green forests interspersed
with rivers, grassy slopes, captivating cascades and rare orchids providing
an idyllic background for trekking.
Kudremukh is trekker's territory with the richness of its flora and fauna
waiting to be discovered. Situated 1,894.3 m above sea level, Kudremukh is
rich in iron ore deposits.
The Kudremukh Iron Ore Company conducts
mining operations and transportation of the ore as slurry, through a
pipeline to the port at Panambur near Mangalore.
This has given new life to the region and converted this isolated tract
into a humming modern township without taking away its natural beauty.
Excursions :
Gangamoola - In Samse Taluk of Chikmaglur district, the
Gangamoola Hill is surrounded by thick forests. Three important rivers, the
Tunga, the Bhadra and the Nethravathi have their origin here. A shrine of
Goddess Bhagavathi and a Varaha image measuring 1.8 m within a cave, are the
chief attractions. This cave is inaccessible during the monsoons.
Jamalabad Fort - Jamalabad is famous for its fort built
by Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore in 1794. The fort was renamed after his
mother Jamalbee. The village, which lies at the foot of a high rock, forms a
part of the Kudremukh range of hills near Belthangadi.
How to get there ?
Rail - Nearest rail head is Mangalore.
Road - Kudremukh is connected by road to Chikmaglur,
Mangalore and Sringeri.
About Mysore Palace :
The Mysore Palace, built is Indo-Saracenic style with domes turrets, arches
and colonnades, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and
works of art from all over the world. The tastefully decorated and
inticrately carved doors open into luxuriously decorated rooms.
The palace has now been converted into a museum, which treasures the
souvenirs, paintings, jewellery, royal costumes and other items, which were
once possessed by the Wodeyars. It is said that the palace displays the
largest collection of gold items, quantity wise. The Durbar hall of the
palace has an ornate ceiling and many sculpture pillars which are said to
have been painted with gold.
The walls of the palace are painted with pictures of the Dassera
processions and these paintings are painted in such a manner that from any
angle you can see the procession coming towards you. The royal throne of the
Wodeyars is displayed during the Dassera festival. The palace was originally
built of wood, which got burnt down in 1897 AD and was rebuilt in 1912 AD.
About Tipu's Fort :
Situated
opposite the city market, Tipu's Fort is known for the beautifully carved
arches in Islamic style on the gate walls. Originally built in mud by Kempe
Gowda in 1537 AD, the fort was extended and fortified by Tipu Sultan. Kempe
Gowda built a brick and mud defence structure on this site in 1537 AD.
In the 18th century, it was solidly rebuilt in stone by Hyder Ali and Tipu
Sultan. It's a sturdy, little fort, though much of it was destroyed during
the wars with the British. The fort is well known for the well-preserved
Ganapathi Temple within its precincts and it still attracts many devotees.
One of the temple's outer walls carries an exquisite carving of Sri Krishna
playing his flute.
In this fort, Tipu's father Hyder Ali imprisoned David Baird along with a
number of British army officers.
