Biligiri Ranga Hills (B.R. Hills) on 26th June 2010

Before food - Chanting of Shanti Mantra from children



Distribution of books by Swamiji



School premises



Shri. Sridhar and Shri. Lakshmana



Cultural Programme by School children



Dignitaries on the dais - from Left (Shri. Pavanesh, Advocate in Bangalore, Swamiji, Ramakrishna Mutt, Shri. Sridhar, Prof. C.V. Ranganath, Academic Director, MES Institutions, Bangalore)


Our Trip to Biligiri Ranga Hills (B.R. Hills) on 26th June 2010

We visited B.R. Hills yesterday (26th June 2010). It was really a memorable trip. Purpose is to visit a Government School and to distribute books for the needy tribal children from our Biligiri family and Mr. Sridhar's family. They are all studying from 1st std to 6th std. Total student strength of that School is around 75. Location of the School is beautiful. School is surrounded with full of greenery. You can see lot of trees like Silver Oke, Banian, etc., Breezy wind with not so heavy rain. It's a cool place and good environment for studies.

Before I start my writing, should mention few points over here. For the distribution of books, two persons who took initiative and responsible. They are Shri. C.V. Lakshmana (My father) and Shri. Sridhar. Shri. Lakshmana is now 78 years and Shri. Sridhar is around 70 years. They are so active and have a very good vision for the society. Both of them are really aggressive in their approach and happy to work in the grass root level. Hence they take lot of initiation and think lot of activities for the tribal in B.R. hills area.

I, my cousin Chandrashekar, My Uncle Ranganath, Suresh and our family friend Pavanesh started our journey towards B.R. Hills at around 6am. Morning was very chill and pleasant one. Since we started early, we had a plan to visit a hotel en-route to B.R.Hills. On the state highway of Bangalore – Mysore, Before Maddur, you will see Adigas. Quite a good hotel. We reached hotel at 8am and had a heavy breakfast. I and Suresh ordered Open Masala. Good dish. But not for the morning breakfast. Had a very good filter coffee and started our journey. In Maddur town we need to take left to go to B.R. Hills if you are coming from Bangalore (another route is through Kanakapura). From Maddur to B.R. Hills, route is Bharati Nagar, Malavalli, Shimsha,and Kollegal (from Shimsha to Vadgere road is under repair, but can be managed). After Kollegal, there is a road which goes to Yelandur. But you need to take a small road (kaccha road), before bridge (there is a sign board), which leads to Vadagere. From Vadagere, that road goes directly to the foot hills of Biligiri Ranga check post.

In check post Shri. Lakshman, Mrs. Lakshman, Mrs. Uma Manjunath, Mr. Adarsh Kumar, Shri. Sridhar, Mrs. Srisdhar, Mr. Ashwin, Mrs. Ashwin, and Daughter of Shri. Sridhar joined us in check post. All of them started from Mysore. From check post we directly went to the Government School. On the way to School, we saw lots of greenery, very good Landscapes, innocent tribal villagers, cows and sheep’s ‘Moo’ and ‘Baa’ noises unlike concrete jungle’s honking, pollution, etc.,

On the occasion of book distribution ceremony, our chief guest was Shri. Sureshanandaji swamiji, Ramakrishna Mutt. Teachers from the School welcomed us. Students showed their cultural talent. Did dance for the songs of Environment and a Kolata. It was really enjoyable moment. After the cultural performance, swamiji distributed the books. We could see the joy in the eyes of children and the teachers. Do you know, all the children, after collecting the books from Swamiji, they said ‘Thank you Swamiji’ in ‘English’? We are all surprised. We should appreciate teacher’s efforts. In such a remote place, children speaking openly with strangers means, it’s a credit to the teachers.

After the books distribution, for all the children lunch was arranged. Lunch sponsored by ‘Raghavendra Mutt’, Jayalakshmipuram, Mysore. Lunch was ‘Bisibele Bath’, ‘Mosaranna’ and a ‘Mysore Pak’. You know one thing. They are really having a good culture. Before taking food, all the students chanted shanti mantra. It’s really amazing. Still these children uplifting our culture and heritage.

After this, all of us visited Gangadareshwara Temple, Biligiri Ranga temple and offered puja. Then everybody was moved to Raghavendra Swamy mutt located near ‘Giridarshini' mess in B.R. Hills. Food was arranged for all of us. Finished food and went to Viji’s house to purchase ‘Sogadeberu sharbattu’ (its blood purifier and also act as body coolent) and ‘Nallikai sharabattu’ (for pitta).Later we had a tea.

Few minutes of rest, started at 3pm from B.R. Hills towards Bangalore. On the way near Madddur, we visited a place called Vydyanatha Pura. There is a Shiva temple named as Vydyanatheshwara. On way of our coming back we visited ‘Adigas’ again and had ‘Rava Idli’+’Coffee’. When we reached home it was 8.30pm. Our ‘Biligiri’ family heads passed a resolution to adopt a government School in B.R. Hills and provide them facility for the whole year. Our next project is to distribute Uniforms to them. It is going to happen shortly. Surely I will come back with one more blog after the distribution of uniforms. Overall, it was a very good experience for us, satisfied and memory to cherish.