Kunti Betta

Name : Kunti Betta

Location : Pandavapura Taluk. 130 Kms from Bangalore, 4 Kms from Pandavapura, 25 Kms from Mysore

Legend : The hill is named after the mother of Pandavas/five brothers in Mahabharatha. The legend of this place narrates that Pandavas spent the last few days of their exile in the hills and named the hill after their mother Kunti whom they missed. Kunti Betta is the location where Bheema destroyed the demon Bakasura. The town nearby is called as Pandavapura after the Pandavas.

Diety : The temples are dedicated to Kunti, Mallikarjuna / Shiva and Lord Rama.

Description : The hill has twin peaks with rocks uniquely arranged with clumps of trees growing here and there. It is a perfect place to try rock climbing or to trek on the path and visit some interesting sites pertaining to the legends associated with the place

As the climb gets steeper you will be surprised to land on a flat terrain, where there is evidence of the land having been cultivated a few centuries ago. This place has a rock pond (water collects in the rock like a pond) known as Kunti Kola and a footprint of Bheema is present on the rock.

The hill was also popularly known as French rocks as the French troops had camped in this region in the 18th century to help Tipu Sultan in his war against the British. From the top of the hill the expanse of Tonnur Kere/lake can be viewed.

Nandi Hills

Name : Nandi Hills or Nandidurg

Location : It is situated in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka state. It is located just 16 km (till base) 24 km (top of the hill) from Chickballapur town and approximately 60 km from the city of Bangalore.

Description : Nandidurg hill, known commonly as Nandi Hills, gets its name from an ancient Nandi temple situated on this hill. This temple has a thousand year old sculpture of Nandi. Nandi is the bull in Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu. He is the sacred abode or Vahana to Lord Shiva. An ancient lord Shiva and Parvati temple also adorns this hill. During the Chola reign, Nandi Hills was known as Ananda Giri, Hill of Happiness. There is an ancient temple of Yoga Nandeeswara atop the hill.

Batu Caves - Murugan Temple

Name : Batu Caves - Murugan Temple

Location : Batu caves is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.

Description : The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. Batu Caves was promoted as a place of worship by K. Thamboosamy Pillai, an Indian trader. He was inspired by the 'vel'-shaped entrance of the main cave and was inspired to dedicate a temple to Lord Muruga within the caves.

Wooden steps up to the Temple Cave were built in 1920 and have since been replaced by 272 concrete steps. Of the various cave temples that comprise the site, the largest and best known is the Temple or Cathedral Cave, so named because it houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100 m vaulted ceiling.

Rising almost 100 m above the ground, Batu Caves temple complex consists of three main caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest, referred to as Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, has a 100 m-high ceiling, and features ornate Hindu shrines. To reach it, visitors have to climb a steep flight of 272 steps.

At the base of the hill are two more cave temples, Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave, both of which are full of Hindu statues and paintings. This complex was renovated and opened as the Cave Villa in 2008. Many of the shrines relate the story of Lord Murugan's victory over demon Soorapadam. An audio tour is available to visitors.

The Ramayana Cave is situated to the extreme left as one faces the sheer wall of the hill. On the way to the Ramayana Cave, there is a 50-foot (15 m) tall murti of Hanuman and a temple dedicated to Hanuman, the noble monkey devotee and aide of Lord Rama.

A 42.7m (130 feet high) high statue of Lord Muruga was unveiled in January 2006, having taken 3 years to construct. It is the tallest Lord Muruga statue in the world.

Festivals : It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia which attracts over 1.5 million pilgrims yearly, making it one of the largest annual gatherings anywhere in the world.

Manki Point - Kasauli

Name : Manki Point, kasauli

Location : Manki Point is just 4 km from Kasauli bus stand. Kasauli is located 77 km from Shimla, 65 km from Chandigarh and 50 km from Panchkula.

Legend : According to legend Kasauli came into being when Lord Hanuman, on his way to getting the Sanjeevani herb (Magical Herb) touch the hill by his foot thus top of hill is in foot shape. Description : This Hanuman Mandir is situated atop the 300 m high hillock, called Manki Point, where Lord Hanuman is supposed to have rested his feet. There is about more than 200 plus upstairs for the main temple from the main gate of the temple. This temple lies within the confines of an air force radar station and base and is subject to security restrictions (no cameras or bags allowed). This temple is located in the middle of the Air-Force base camp, so the whole area is protected by the air force.

You have to bring with yourself ID proof like Voter Card, Driving License, PAN Card, Adhaar Card etc. if you want to visit the Hanuman temple. On a clear day, one can get views of nearby cities like Chandigarh. One can reach this point by road or on foot. On foot, it takes nearly two hours from Kasauli town but the scenery and harmony you enjoy makes the walk worth the effort.

Other Attractions : 

You can visit the Air Force base camp where you can see dummy model of aircraft, weapons and other instruments which are used by the Air Force. You can also visit famous Kasauli Market , Kasauli Christ Church and open area of Kasauli forest with your family/friends. You can also visit Baba Balak Nath Temple at Garkhal which is about 3KM from Kasauli bus stand.

BABA BALAK NATH TEMPLE - Kasauli

Name : BABA BALAK NATH TEMPLE

Location : On the Graner Hill top, Kasauli
Located 77 km from Shimla, 65 km from Chandigarh and 50 km from Panchkula.

Legend : It is believed that Baba Balak Nath ji one night appeared in dreams to a local resident - named Vijay Kumar and told him to built a temple at the place, where the present temple is located. This temple is of its own kind where many issue less couples visit to be blessed with a child, whose baptism ceremony is also performed in the same very temple. A number of photographs of such blessed children are the evidence, which are kept as record by Baba Vijay Kumarji in the temple.

Baba Balak Nath Temple - Deosidh

Name : Baba Balak Nath Temple

Location : Baba Balak Nath Temple is situated 70km from Bilaspur and 30km from Hamirpur. This place called Deothsidh in the Dhaulagiri Hills of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most significant temples of north India, placed atop an outstanding hill.

Legend : Baba Balak Nath Sidhpeeth is one of the most famous pilgrims in Himachal Pradesh, also known as the God`s own land. The ancient Cave and temple architecture relates to the Deot Sidh era in Hamirpur District. Lakhs of devotees from India and abroad visit this temple to reinforce their firm faith in the "Siddha Tradition". There are a number of myths and legends surrounding the Baba Balaknath Temple in Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh. The history of this temple states that Baba Balaknath was born in three ages in different forms and in every birth he was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Baba Balaknath worshipped Lord Shiva and even helped out people in distress. Till today pilgrims convey a number of their desires to Baba Balaknath in order to turn them into reality.

Description : A cave, created from rock, enshrines a magnificent idol of Babaji. It is also believed to be the sacred abode of Babaji. Devotees offer `Rot`, prepared with flour and sugar/gur at the altar of Babaji. Some even present goats for sacrifice. However, females are prohibited to enter the inner cave; a raised platform just opposite to the cave has been specially erected for female worshippers for Babaji`s `Darshan`. Six km from Baba Balak Nath Temple, there is spot named Shahtalai, where Baba is assumed to have observed penance. It is also considered exceedingly sacred to the pilgrims. The trustee board, Sidh Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust looks after the proper functioning and maintenance of the temple. Sunday is considered an auspicious day of Babaji, thereby attracting thousands of faithfuls. Una Railway Station is the nearest railhead.

The devotees who visit Baba Balaknath Temple offer Rot along with sugar or Gur (Jaggery) at the altar of Babaji. Females are not allowed to enter the cave and they can only get a glimpse of the idol from an outside dais. During the Navratris, pilgrims throng to the Temple. Government of Himachal Pradesh makes arrangements in tents for their accommodation and provides them with other bare necessities. A few kilometers away from the Baba Balaknath Temple, lies the Shah Talai connected by a ropeway, which is also an important tourist attraction.

Website : http://www.indianetzone.com/22/baba_balak_nath_temple_hamirpur_himachal_pradesh.htm