Baba
Budan Hills
The Western Ghats in
Karnataka have many peculiar features. The chain
resembles a horse-shoe with the opening to the
North-West. The Northern Arm commencing with the Hebbe
Hills (4,385 ft.) stretches Eastwards without
interruption for about 15 miles; then bending Southwards,
it presents to the East an unbroken wall of more than 20
miles. The Southern arm is formed by the Basavangudda and
Waddin Gudda Ranges. The entire chain is a stupendous
ridge 6000 feet above sea level and in some parts only a
few yards wide at the summit, rising at intervals into
loftier peaks. The slopes are steep and grassy and the
ravines well-wooded, through which flow perennial
springs. Numerous coffee plantations are to be found on
the sides, which are densely clothed with forests, and in
the Jagar Valley which is a stretch of forest as far as
the eye can reach.
The highest point is the
symmetrical Mulaingiri, 6317 feet above sea level,
towards the South of the range and is the loftiest peak
between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. Next to this,
North Eastwards is the Baba Budan Giri, Vayu Parvata or
Maruth Saila (6214 ft.), close to which are the sources
of the rivers Veda and Avathi. The hollow which succeeds
marks the shrine of Baba Budan. The conspicuous conical
peak on the outer edge of the eastern face is
Deveerammana Gudda. A beacon is lighted here on the
Deepavali festival which is visible to all the
surrounding country.
Near the North-East angle
is situated Kalahathigiri (6,155 ft.). To the North of it
is Kalahathi Bungalow, formerly a hot-weather retreat for
European Officials. These vast wilds and solitudes with
scarcely a human habitation, were until a few years ago,
well stocked with a variety of game, from the elephant
and bison downwards. The advance of the coffee planter
has now forced back the savage denizens to remoter and
more secluded spots. The Baba Budan Hills was the cradle
of coffee cultivation in southern India, and the slopes
of the entire range, as well as the south of the
forest-bound Jagar Valley are now occupied by the coffee
gardens. On the North East of the range is the Abbe falls
with a descent of 600 ft. by a stream running to the
Bhadra.
The Puranic name of
Chandra Drona, the creator of the moon, seems appropriate
to this range, the highest in the state, as it is of
crescent or horse-shoe form, enclosing the thick forests
of the Jagar Valley. The term Galipuje by which it is
called in certain inscriptions connected with it,
connects it with Vayu, the wind God.
Though the range is
called Chandra Drona in the Hindu Puranas, it derives its
present name from a Muslim saint who took up his
residence on one of the Southern slopes. He is stated to
have reared coffee from the seeds he obtained at Mocha,
and thus to have introduced that important staple into
India. A cave containing what the Muslims believe to be
the seat of meditation of Hazrat Dada Hayath Mir
Khalandar and the Hindus to be the throne of Sri
Dattatreya is a venerated place of pilgrimage for
adherents of both the creeds. The Hindus believe in the
reappearance of Sri Dattatreya as the final avatar of
Vishnu at the mouth of the cave, into which he vanished
in ancient times and the introduction of the millennium.
A Muslim Khalandar who is the direct descendant of the
Saint is the custodian of the institution. He is held in
reverence as the Sajjada Nishin by the Muslims and the
Mathadipathi Guru by the Hindus (See the Mysore
Gazetteer).
Athigundi, about four
miles (1 1/2 miles by foot-track) is the principal
village on the hills. A good road, motorable throughout
the year, connects this place of pilgrimage with all the
nearby towns. March, April and May are ideal for
visiting. There are regular buses from Chikkamagalur and
Bhadravati. During the rest of the year, there is either
biting cold or pouring rain. Pilgrims in this period come
by regular buses to Athigundi and reach the place walking
a distance of 1 1/2 miles. Free boarding and lodging to
pilgrims are available throughout the year. There is a
restaurant also. For the convenience of those who like to
cook their own food, there is a provision stores where
all essential commodities are available at reasonable
prices. Utensils are supplied by the institution on
request. Pilgrims coming by train alight at Kadur on
Bangalore-Miraj line and take a bus to Chikkamagalur.
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