Bengaluru: Kundadri Hill is a popular destination for Jain pilgrims and nature lovers who are enthusiastic about trekking. It is located in the picturesque Thirthahalli Taluk of Shivamogga district, amidst the typical Malnad landscape. A visit with like-minded friends is worthwhile for recalling a memorable trip.
Teerthahalli, the nearest town: Kundadri Hill is on the Theerthahalli-Agumbe road and about 12 kilometres from Udupi. The state highway is comparatively less crowded than the hustle and bustle scenario plaguing the national highways, almost all the time. The Teerthahalli terrain, despite transforming into an usual urban area from a sleepy small town just a few decades back, continues to retain the grandeur of a place overcrowded with Arecanut plantations.
An uphill task all along the hillock: Kundadri Hill is a beautiful spot in the serene atmosphere and surroundings of the Western Ghats at a height of about 826 metres above sea level. However, the same opinion cannot be attributed to the path all along, as it appears that the so-called road is worn out and poses a challenge not only to four-wheelers, but even two-wheelers as well!
Ruins look like on the top: Once you manage to climb the steps and reach the top of the Kundadri Hill, you tend to forget the unpleasant journey on the way. It is a wonderful experience altogether, as you will just get carried away by the scenic beauty all around and the light, dark green patches and water bodies in between. But the Jain temple above the gigantic monolithic rock saddens the onlookers with its upkeep, giving a feeling of glancing at a place like ruins.
Named after the Jain Monk: According to the local legends, the name Kundadri has been derived from Acharya Kundakunda, a popular fourth-century Jain Monk, who is believed to have taken shelter among these hills. The 17th-century temple is said to be dedicated to Parshwanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara of the Jains. It is the only small temple, apart from two tiny ponds and the only building on top of the hillock attracting the Jain pilgrims from across the country.
A tailor-made Sunset Point: If you happen to visit the hills during the evenings, it's an ideal place to have a glimpse of the Sunset, subject to the wavering wind, as the clouds could play spoilsport! As it remains an isolated place without any habitation and devoid of any facilities to stay, it is better to wrap up your sightseeing as soon as possible and return to your base camp.
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