Classmates meet after three and half decade

Some good things happen when you take bull by its horn

"Fate chooses your relations, you choose your friends."
- Jacques Delille (1738 - 1813) French poet.

Kudos to Chandrashekar and Shanmugam for making this

Classmate meet come true after 35 years nearly 

The venue initially fixed was Brindavan hotel at M.G.Road

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was unanimously agreed to changeover to Empire hotel Shivajinagar

Now comes the turn to order, just debated after soft drink order

"True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and choice."
- Samuel Johnston

Thali order was cancelled and Biryani instead was ordered

Along with starters, Kebabs and Pepper chicken suggested by Advocate

Sathya chatting with Dev at teachers home

Advocate Thyagrajan making his point vociforerously

 I can never think of promoting my convenience at the expense of a friend's interest and inclination."- George Washington,

Chandrashekar and Pandian agree to his point of view

Shanmugam joined us in time, on the way to teachers house

Chandrashekar sharing a sweet moment 

With L Col Satya Rao

"Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant."
- Socrates,

Family potrait of Bharat Mandana

 The happiest moments of my LIFE  have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.THOMAS JEFFERSON

Trimurtis

Teacher Achayyapa felicitated

"Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three." --Confucius

Teacher and Bharat

Teacher with her grand child

After 35 years KV MEG classmates 1977 batch reunion potrait

Teacher Achyappa, Left to Right Umesh Derebail, Chandrashekar, Thyagarajan, Pandian, Margabandu, Shanmugam, Lt. Col Satya Rao & Bharat Mandana

"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired." -- Mother Theresa

Shanmugam clarifying doubts with teacher

Bharat noting the cell nos of mates

Pandian engaging teacher's attention

A grand finale saying goodbye to teacher.

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with."
- Mark Twain

Badami Fort Trip

How did Chalukyas of  Badami manage to build  such beautiful edifice did intrigue me to the core.  It is quite obvious they must have struck a gold mine in their empire, which was the primary source of  financing to construct everlasting monuments.

Badami Fort Gateway

It definitely helped to brush up my knowledge of  history.  Pulakesi II ( 609 - 642 AD ) is credited to have minted the first gold coin in south india history after the Guptas.  The circular gold coin contained the boar symbol which was adopted as emblem of the Chalukyan emperors.  

Mantap at Badami Fort

The next logical step was to find the source of ancient gold mining in Karnataka.  I remembered sometime back Karnataka govt. had signed a MOU for exploiting  Hutti Gold Mines.  These mines were disbanded from ancient times.

Video from Badami Mantap

The discovery of  wooden logs, charcoal, pottery and ash in Uti Muski greenstone belt reveals that gold was mined in this area.  Radio carbon dating of the wooden logs reveals that it dates back to 660-780 with a marginal variation tallies perfectly to Pulakesin II reign.  Uti gold mine  The gold minted in 4 grams was known as huna which literally means money in kannada ( honnu which meant money minted out of gold )

Shivalaya on Badami Fort

The Chalukyan emperors blessed with discovery of gold mine near to their ancient capital Aihole, naturally migrated to safe haven of  Vatapi ( Badami ) where they constructed a magnificent capital city. It was strategically located between two hillocks and blessed with a lake.

Shivalaya with Elephants background

The Chalukyan emperors engaged the services of the artisans from Kadamba dynasty luring them literally with Gold coins.  The abandonment of  Ajanta caves too gave the rulers additional skilled manpower to construct the magnificient cave temples of Badami.  It was almost a competition to build monuments beyond compare that spurred artisans at Chalukyan capital and nearby Pattadakal area.  They were naturally rewarded handsomely by the emperors in the form of  Gold Currency.

Video Overview of  Badami Town

Demolished structure

Nature too blessed the Chalukyan emperors with red granite stones to sculpt their god and godesses in form of  Shiva & Vishnu in various forms, glorifying their deeds and accomplishments. The myths of the hindu gods were eulogised beyond imagination to curb the spread of  buddhism and jainism in the chalukyan territory.

Echoing Watch Tower

Nature has to a large extent has protected the cave temples of  Badami, some of them have been resurrected by the ASI.  The landscape was slightly changed by invasion of  Tipu Sultan to suit his strategic needs.

Bhootnath temple Video

Shivalaya temple video

Super watch tower

Exit Gateway to the fort

Museum Complex at Badami

This museum complex is one of the best planned with plenty of landscaping.  All the artefacts and idols found in and around badami have been housed in the museum. It is worth visiting the museum.

Another fort entrance through Museum

Crevice video

Behind of the Musuem complex

Badami Museum Complex display

                                         Landscaped Garden in Museum complex

Bhutnath temple complex on Augustya Lake

Guys can you afford to miss the monuments financed by discovery of a goldmines at Uti, apart from the famous Badami caves, this hillock behind the Museum at Badami is really adventurous and consumes a full 3 hours.  Many tourist guides and packages avoid touring  this spot. Do not miss Badami Fort visit for heavens sake, the tour will transport you into the splendour unleashed by the discovery of Goldmine.

Siddeswar blog on Badami fort

Pondicherry Trip