Sundar the traveller

This is my recent travel to Balagondarayana Durgam on 4th May 2019, a Saturday and a New Moon Day. This small hill, which takes barely an hour-to-90 minutes to climb and descend, has little to write about the hike. However, let me explain other details like the trip plan, temple information, the location, history and geographic beauty. I used to see this hill and the temple on top every time I travel between Bangalore-Salem. The temple and the hill are visible soon after the Krishnagiri highway tollbooth (within 8 kms). With a MSL elevation of ~620-900m, it is not that steep, but the valley below the hills through which the highway runs makes it look majestic. This temple is situated on a hill top known to the locals by the name Melumalai, and the area is situated in an elephant corridor (indicated on the highway information board). Every Hindu temple in India is unique in its own way, and this was no exception. Built during King Krishnadevaraya’s times, the main deity of th