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Yana: Unusually beautiful natural wonder

Yana Unusually Beautiful Natural Wonder 1
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Enchanting landscapes have always been a typical characteristic of Karnataka’s topography. From magnificent waterfalls to canopies of lush green forest, the state lies in the bed of nature.

The fantastic landscapes of Yana have always caught the eye of visitors for its peculiar yet unusually attractive features. This small village and hill station which is located just 140 km away from the city Hubli, offers spectacular forests, hills, unusual stone formations and a variety of birds. Yana is termed as one of the best natural getaways in Karnataka.

The most famous location to visit lies in the Sahyadri mountain ranges of the Western Ghats – Bhairaveshwara and Jaganmohini peaks. At the foot of the Yana peaks, there is a stunning cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. There lies a legend behind these hills which makes the location even more enticing. This popular legend which paints the history of Yana says that Bhasmasura, an evil demon, performed penance to Lord Shiva and obtained the power of reducing to ashes anybody on whose head he placed his hand. An ungrateful Bhasmasura, however, soon decided to test the boon on his benefactor. To escape from him, Lord Shiva came to earth and hid in Yana. Lord Vishnu taking the form of a beautiful woman Mohini, challenged the demon to dance and made him touch his own head and thereby reducing him to ashes.

Beauty of Yana is said to be as captivating as Mohini from this legend and the place is said to be adventure seeker’s ultimate destination. The rock formations at Yana are gigantic and crystalline-like. With the passing of time, these limestones have turned blackish brown and lots of beehives dot the rock surface. Owing to the link the place has with the Lord Shiva, it comes as no surprise that the festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated with much ardour at Yana. The 10-day long festival has classical dance and music performances as well as Yakshagana performances.

Although once the roads to Yana were difficult to access, due to its raging popularity, a lot of new roads have been paved which makes it easier to access the place. Hiking and trekking on the Yana peaks is a very popular sport here which attracts a lot of adventurers. Apart from this, the place also offers itself as an excellent location for bird watching. The wide scenery of the forest in this small village is also a site to behold and enjoy. Trek to visit Vibhooti waterfalls can also be excellent adventure activity in Yana.

Image courtesy Ranjithkumarj16 and Ramesh Meda , Sonarpulse from Wikimedia Commons

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SC H Varghese

Harshita Mary Varghese graduated with a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Aloysius College Mangaluru and is quickly learning the ropes of the emerging Media Industry. She has excellent language and reportage skills. She excels at human interest and travel stories.

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