Nisargadhama's longings |
Nisargadhama
forest is one of the tourist attractions in Kodagu, Karnataka. It is an island
formed by the river Kaveri. What you see
everywhere on this 64-acre island are bamboos.
There are also some sandalwood and teak trees. As you walk along the mud track, some deer
will gaze at you with a strange longing in their eyes. Their gaze looks plaintive.
You enter this
forest through a narrow hanging bridge which raises your hopes if not
dreams. You walk along chasing those
hopes or dreams. Bamboos blink at you
everywhere. An air of desolation overwhelms you slowly. You long for something more than
bamboos. More than the wistfulness in
the doleful eyes of the deer.
One of the many huts on the way |
For a change
you can choose an elephant ride. Or
maybe look out for a peacock. The
easiest diversion will be the elevated huts.
Climb up and then climb down. Back
on the mud track, philosophise about life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Take the path
leading to the river. You can step into
the water. Wet yourself. Immerse yourself if you are in the mood. It’s
precious water. It’s the water for which
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have fought many a battle. It is the symbol of an endless conflict,
endless human wants. You can remember
the other conflict that Tamil Nadu sustains in Kerala for water from the
Mullaperiyar dam. You can contemplate on
the history of human struggles.
Kaveri |
Of human
longings. Nisargadhama is a forest of
longings. You can feel its uneasy breathing. A suffocation that chokes the air passage
within you. You realise that the mud
track beneath you has raised enough dust to block your nostrils. Take out the Otrivin phial that accompanies
you like a faithful companion and squeeze the drops into the ducts that connect
your life with the universe.
What nasal
drops can save the universe? Kaveri
gurgles down. Longing to revitalise the
universe, perhaps. But she is powerless. Power belongs to the biped whose longings
have no end.
PS. I visited
the place on 31 Oct 2016 along with a group of students of mine.
At the Harangi dam across a tributary of Kaveri |
It is indeed a charming forest location. I worked for seven years in Karnataka, and, visited many places,but some how could not get info about this spot !
ReplyDeleteThe river makes it charming. Maybe it has seasonal charms too of which I'm not aware.
DeleteLovely description!
ReplyDeleteThe powerful, longing biped are crippling the Ganga and Yamuna too:(
And a lot of other places too!
DeleteGood travelogue. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the humor you put in mentioning the war over waters.
Some places bring out humour 😊
Deleteनोटबंदी के बाद डिजिटल पेमेंट पर जोर, जानें क्या है डिजिटल पेमेंट
ReplyDeleteReadmore Todaynews18.com https://goo.gl/BgzxC9