The Volagamadhi Hills
were quite close to Champion Reefs. We could see these Hills from our school St Joseph’s
Convent. Every year during the Lenten Season, the Stations of the Cross is
conducted on these hills. There is a legend that Tippu Sultan made a passage
through these hills from Srirangpatna near Mysore in order to escape from the
British. Just before the hills there was a beautiful natural lake and
it made a perfect picnic spot and was a favourite fishing spot as well. The
water from this lake was pure and crystal clear and it was used by the villages
nearby for drinking and cooking.
The Volagamadi Hills in old days were covered with Borum
Bushes, Jambolena / Jamlum and other trees. Many youngsters from KGF would go
in groups to spend the day in these hills playing hide and seek in the small
caves dotting the hills and climbing the
trees to search for bird nests. They’d shoot at the monkeys and crows and knock
down the borums and jamblums from the trees with their catapults. When it was
time to go back they would take home the baby mynahs, parrots, and squirrels
that they were able to catch to keep as pets. Some of these youngsters (their
faces sun burnt and mouths stained purple with eating Jamlums) would come back
laden with broums, Jamlums and guavas. They
would generously share these spoils with their friends who didn’t accompany
them and sometimes their mum’s would even make wine from the Jamlums that their
son’s brought from their trips to the hills!!
I remember the many times we went to the Volagamadhi Hills
as children – sometimes from School and
also during the Lenten Season for the Stations of the Cross. Quite nostalgic
thinking about those golden days.
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