Circular No. 2

MENSA MEGA WINTER ECO-TOUR

This year MENSA MEGA has planned a tour to in the winter vacation. The places of visit will be: , , Pottukadalu, Sirsi and Swadi.

Aihole: It is historically famous as the cradle of the architecture. There are almost 125 temples divided into 22 groups, scattered all over the village. The most important ones are as follows: Durga temple, Ladhkan temple, Gowda temple, Meguti temple, Ravanphadi temple and ASI museum. Only some of the main temples could be recovered here. There are number of other temples of interest in Aihole bearing witness to the prolific temple building activities of the Chalukya. A Sculpture Gallery is being maintained by the Archeological Survey of , in the Durga Temple Complex and is open on all working days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance is free.

Badami: Badami was the capital city of the early Chalukya empire (in 6th century). There are four rock-cut temples replete with carve pillars and bracket figures. There are fragments of magnificent frescoes in some caves. The cave temples of Badami, a few miles west of Pottukadalu, were hewn out of solid rock, as early as 550 AD The pattern is similar: a veranda with pillars, a hall with columns and a small cell for the deity. The exterior is plain but the interior is lavishly adorned. The first cave goes deep into the rock. Dwarfs occupy the front of the veranda with a Nandi bull on the left and 18-armed on the right. There are also images of and goddess Durga. The second temple is smaller and also dedicated to Vishnu- depicting the various incarnations. The third cave is the biggest with a double row of pillars. The other is a Jain temple built at a later period, with figures of the Tirthankaras, Parasnath and Mahavira. The Archeological Survey of India on the Bhutanatha Temple Road maintains a Sculpture Gallery. Entrance is free. Timings: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Fridays.

Pottukadalu: Pottukadalu is a tiny village, only 22 km. away from Badami and is known for its ancient structural temples built by Chalukyas. Kada Siddheshwar temple, Galagnatha temple, Sangmeshwara temple, Mallikarjuna temple, Virupakesha temple, Papanatha temple, Jain temples and ASI Museums are the important places of visit, here.

Sirsi and Swadi: This is a very good example of evergreen forest in the southern part of India. Sirsi is a commercial place. Swadi is in dense forest and 18 km. away from Sirsi. Shri Vadiraj Mutta is situated in the forest where we will be stationed. The Mutta is a good example of how Indian spiritual component is interrelated to nature.

Accommodation:

There will be no overnight stay on the first and last night, as we will be traveling by private vehicle. At Badami we will be staying at Mookambika Deluxe (08357-20067, 20637). At Swadi, accommodation is in Shri Vadiraj Mutta’s primacies. The rooms have attatched bathrooms but no beds. The students must sleep on mattreses.

Food: Hotel Mookambika Deluxe at Badami will provide clean hygienic food. Ganesh Bhavan has taken responsibility of providing South Indian food at Swadi.

Instructions: 1) One can bring maximum Rs.300 as personal money on hi/her responsibility. 2) No music system. 3) Less expensive cameras are allowed. 4) No jewelry and other expensive articles. 5) Cooperation is the key of success of the ecotour. 6) Karnataka has its own unique culture. One should not pass any comments on nature of lifestyle, language, etc. 7) Students should carry a bag for waste disposal. 8) Intake of any kind of personal medicine should be informed to the resource person in advance. 9) Sufficient and exact quantity of food should be brought for first day dinner so as to avoid food wastage, preferably in plastic or aluminum foil. 10) Plastic spoon, glass and plate is essential.

Things to bring: 1. A sack and air bag 2. Pair of sport shoes and slippers 3. Toilet kit: soap, dental stuff, comb, etc. 4. Clothing: 4 cotton T-shirts, 4 cotton shorts, trousers + Punjabi dress (for girls), sweater. 5. Adequate inner clothes 6. Towel 7. 1 liter water-bottle 8. Cap, Scarf 9. Bed sheet, warm bedding 10. Torch 11. Night dress for girls 12. Match sticks, candle (2), Odomos 13. Handy notebook, pen and pencil. 14. Good amounts of snacks to enjoy

Fees: Registration: Rs. 500/- Tour Expense: Rs.3000/- (Including registration Fee)

Contact: Mrs. Asha Apte, MENSA office, 4th Floor, Jnana Prabodini, 510 Sadashiv Peth, Pune 411030. Phone No. 4477691

Narayan Desai, Ph. No. 98230 11614