The Nandi at Lepakshi faces the shiva linga on serpent in temple. one can see it, even though there are many house in between

Now that you mention it, I did notice that!

Thanks guys. I have been planing this one day trip for almost 2 years now. Something or other comes up and till date, not done it.

Hope to do it soon. Thanks for the road updates.

Hi Ampere, is it the first left after the Toll Gate? Yesterday I hv travelled up to Darmavaram via NH7, and want to spot the left turn. But couldn't ..!!!


I too have the same openion. The traffic is very less after Devanahalli and Chickaballapur. There is hardly any shops, houses (and even trees for shade..!!) on the side of NH 7 till NS Gate. I was able to keep average of 102km/hr..!!!

Thanks
Rajesh

Ampere, thanks for updating this thread!

Two Sundays ago we took the Fiesta for a run and thought I'd combine it with a Lepakshi visit.

I reached the Toll gate and Raxa academy but did not see any turn. There was a petrol bunk and when I asked he said go back but couldn't locate the turn off. I didn't see any board either. We got very delayed in our start from home, moreover it began to rain, so we returned.

Where exactly is this turn off and is there any board?

There was a temple on the road in the Karnataka side, lot of crowd everywhere on the road and roadside, what temple is that?

Me too!
.

Damu, Rajesh,


OK let me tell you another landmark, which is easier. After you cross the first toll gate, you will hit Raxa academy.
After Raxa, could you located the APTDC hotel? The left turn is few paces down that hotel

You will see lots of trucks parked there.

Also this is BEFORE the Puttuparthi diversion
(This diversion now is very obvious thanks the Sai Baba board which they have put at the turning).

Damu, I am not aware of the roadside temple. Did not notice it. And yes there is a small board which says Lepakshi to the left.
I did notice it.

That goddess in that Temple is called SUNKALAMA AVVA, she comes under the categories of GRAMA DEVATHA'S(Village Gods).

The Temple is basically a very small one say it is 5x5 feet.

On tuesdays and fridays its very hard to get dharshan.

@damu, @rajesh

I had been to Lepakshi last year, if i remember correctly, the distance from Hebbal to Bagepalli is about 90 KMs.

Bagepalli is the border village from Karnataka side, one will have to go through a area where lots of trucks are parked on both sides of the NH7 road. There one needs to take a left side, the road is very narrow.

a bit further one can see some crane birds made of concrete and a elevated lake one has to drive further

from NH7, Lepakshi is about 20-23KMs.

@Star,

Now since the toll booth has come up, its an easier land mark.
After the toll look for Raxa and then look for APTDC restaurant.

Also I tried to find out how this elevated lake looks like.
(I hope you are referring to the lake separated by a huge bund on the left side of the road).

I climbed up to see what it contained and this is what I found:

@ampere

now the lake seems to be hiding below those plants.

This was the crane


This was the elevated pathway


This was the lake near the tree which is seen in the above picture


We had a home cooked breakfast there under the tree shade

So basically, we keep to NH7 till we come to the first toll gate. After that, we continue till we reach RAXA and APTDC hotel and take the left which comes right after. Am I right? I am planning to go there this weekend, so would like a conformation

@Star I did see the crane. I think the shade where you guys sat, is the tree-group, which you can see in my first snap, that I attached in the previous post. Looking at the bund I kind of guessed that there would a look. This coupled with Crane's statue, made me believe that there has to be a lake and a bird sanctuary some where there (Very much like Kokrebellur)

But that was an amazing location.

Raj, yes thats exactly the route.

Options for food: Around 7 km after Chikballapur there is a Kamat on the left while going towards HYD.

Ampere, thanks again. I guess I should be able to find it now!

Reddy, thanks for the information.

You are right, it is very small, so much so I could hardly spot the temple itself. That day (Sunday) there was a very large crowd at that place, like a "santhe", so many people were around.

Star, thanks for clarifying. Hope I find this next time with all the details from Ampere and you!

Damu, Next time you will have your Garmin with you!

Hi Ampere,

I didnt know about this place earlier. The pics were good. Need to check it out.