Ramadevarabetta Hills

Kote Anjeneya Temple

By Meera

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A view of the  broken steps to the anjaneya temple 

Ramdevarabetta Hills in Ramnagara district of Karnataka which is now a vulture sanctuary has innumerable temples from different eras and each pertaining and depicting the visit of Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman during their 14 long years of Vanvaas. So, one can see many young enthusiasts as also old people during the weekdays as also the weekends who flock in great numbers to the main temple of Pattabhirama. However, a few of them also make it a point to visit other temples. Some are easily accessible while some are remote and isolated.

Located at a height of 2450 feet, the hills have seen the construction of many temples in different periods but mostly during the rule of Bengaluru feudal chieftain Kempegowda. However, these hills has been the repository of Closepet granite, so it has become an infamous site for quarrying, thereby affecting not only the vulture sanctuary but also many heritage sites.

 

Another view of the  broken steps to the anjaneya temple 

The gateway to anjaneya temple 

Since I had been to the main temple many times which has now been modernised and renovated, I decided to trek down to the Kote Anjaneya Swamy Temple that is said to be more than 700 years old. Not many people venture to come here and one could see only youngsters going down a path which may be, had steps once upon a time. But now that is all gone, it is just a stony pathway – very rough which one has to traverse amid rocky and bushy outcrops as also rich high and low tree cover. Before entering the gateway, which is said to be the fifth one, you can see beautiful carvings on a big rock depicting Lord Krishna with Anjaneya and Jatayu on either side. These have been beautifully carved on the lower portion of the rock and the priest daily offers pooja here and then only proceeds to the Kote Anjaneya Swamy temple.

A small hanuman carving on the stamba in front of the temple 

 

Another carving

Fortification to the anjaneya temple 

Going down the hill and then going round in circles and further up and down takes a bit of time. One needs a bit of energy, interest and concentration as one tends to slip often on the smoothened rocky pathway. Once you reach the gateway, there is clear evidence of a concentric fort around the hill as maybe, the Ramnagara town too was fortified. The fort wall is in various stages of degradation and since it falls inside a sanctuary, fortunately, it has been left alone.

 

Kote anjaneya swamy temple priest 

Since it was a Sunday, many devotees had come and it is believed that any vow that is taken here will be fulfilled by Kote Anjaneya Swamy, informed the priest. According to him, the temple was older than the other structures and was venerated by one and all for many centuries. Many Kings and Queens trekked to the temple during the olden days as Lord Hanuman fulfilled all their wishes. And if fulfilled, one had to trek again to pay their obeisance to Kote Anjaneya, the priest said.

 

Way down to anjaneya temple 

The view of the scenic hills from this gateway is pretty good while if one has the energy, we can go further down two levels – there are some carvings of Lord Rama’s feet on a portion of a rock. But I did not dare to traverse the rocky and lonely pathway further down. There are different pathways once you come up to the main temple. Some of my young relatives suggested a trek to another hill, this time to Sugriva’s hill but I said enough is enough, let’s keep something for our next trip to Ramdevarabetta – the iconic and popular trekking destination for many rock climbers from Bengaluru.

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