Vani Vilasa Sagar Dam

On our way back to Bangalore from Chitradurga, a fantastic fort visit, we saw the signboards leading to Vani Vilasa Sagar dam by Karnataka Tourism Dept. We had time and steered the car off NH4 towards the reservoir at Hiriyur, 40 km from Chitradurga. The dam is around 15 km on Hiriyur - Hosadurga road but boards (in Kannada) takes there without any confusion.

Vani Vilasa Sagar dam, also called Mari Kanive, is truly an architectural wonder. I have been numerous dams in Karnataka and according to my opinion, this reservoir is most marvelous engineering creation. The two mantapas or pavilion halls built on the two ends of the dam are constructions to watch. While I took a look at the halls, I forgot to take the snaps. The view points on the hillock at the other side leading on top of the dam provides a fantastic view of the forests and wind mills beyond the water.

Vani Vilasa Sagar dam was built by an engineering team headed by Tara Chand Dalal on the order of his king of Mysore, Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV in early 20th century. The Mysore king had to pledge some royal jewellery due to shortage of money and hence it was called Vani Vilasa Sagar. Vani Vilasa was the name of the youngest daughter of the Mysore king (source: Wikipedia). The dam, built across the river Vedavathi, measures 162ft by 1300 ft and is the source of domestic water for the nearby towns Chitradurga and Hiriyur and is the source of water for agriculture for Hiriyur and Challakere taluks through canals on the both sides of the dam.

It is a good picnic spot and one can spend a couple of hours with family.

Chitradurga Fort

Chitradurga Fort visit was planned in the previous night. And the count decreased from car capacity of 5 people to only 2 when we actually started. Nevertheless, we took off on September 24th, 2011. "Nagara Haavu", veteran Kannada actor Dr. Vishnuvardhan's first film was shot here. Following this, many other movies were shot. A Couple of years back a Kannada movie namely "Kallarali Hoovagi" was entirely filmed here which covers most part of the fort in detail.

The drive from Bangalore to Chitradurga was smooth except that we paid Rs. 213/- for the toll (most of it was 2-way since we were coming back on the same day). The road is very good and the traffic, apart from trucks, was less. We covered 200km in just about 3 hrs and reached fort by 11 am. Guides would be available, both of us were not much aware of fort and the dynasty, so we thought it would be better to hire a guide. There were 13 licensed guides who take around Rs. 250/- for a 2+ hrs tour through the fort. ASI has declared this fort as a monument of national importance and hence any destruction is considered a serious offence now.

The fort covers about 1500 acres and houses a palace and 18 temples, a series of connected water tank, 19 gateways, 38 entrances, 35 secret entrances and 4 invisible passages and almost 2000 watchtowers, store rooms and garadi mane (traditional gym) and a jail. The fortification wall length is 8 km. There were some rocks which looked like elephant and frog. There was an interesting method to cut the rocks for construction material. Masons used to drill closely-spaced holes along straight line and pour water for months and the rocks were split precisely.

The fort, built in stages and expanded from 10th century to 18th century, consists of seven circular walls and popularly called "Elu Sutthina Kote" in Kannada. Of these, 2 are now part of the town and only from the third one, the present day fort starts. The walls contain loopholes to shoot the enemy and are surrounded by moat. After couple of 90 degree turns The gateways are accessible only after a couple of 90 degree left and right turns through passages. This slowed down invaders and made them easy targets so as not to allow the enemies to force open the door with long metal or wooden pieces by hitting the door gaining the momentum running to it.

Many of you might have heard the story of legendary Onake Obavv. This was the place where single handedly killed hundreds of enemy soldiers who were trying to enter through secret passage with only Onake (pestle).

To end with, it was a fabulous day and it's worth a visit. It was 2 pm when we climbed down and we returned after something fill our stomach. While returning we visited Vani Vilas dam off Hiriyur, a town on the way to Bangalore from Chitradurga on NH4. I will write about that next.

Dr. Subramanian Swamy on 2G scam

This is an hour video of Dr. Subramanian Swamy on 2G scam. You may just listen and continue your work. I was reading bits and pieces of Dr. Swamy's words on 2G scam. Thought of searching for some of his speeches and found this one among others.

It gives a look into extent of scam. For those who do not wish to support Anna for whatever the reasons, might want to see this since Dr. Swamy is always taking into courts and fighting against corruption.

Phishing E-mail for Income Tax Refund!

For those who are not sure what phishing is, click here. Basically, it is a method to get confidential information from you like bank A/c details or passwords etc.,

Well, I had received an e-mail today from Income Tax Dept. (somebody claiming so). I am pasting that here just to give a warning so that people do not get fooled and give away confidential information and being cheated in return.

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from: Income Tax Department refunds_portl11@incometaxindiafiling.gov.in

Dear Valued Taxpayer,

We have reviewed your tax fiscal payment for previous years and have resolved that you are qualified for a refund of the sum of 36,120.25 INR which is your accumulated tax excesses. Please submit a tax refund request and allow us to process it within 7(seven) working days.

To submit a request CLICK HERE

We appreciate taking the time to learn about our tax refund. It's one more way Income tax department can make your tax payment experience better.
Endeavor to fill in your Information correctly,to enable us make refund to your account without any delay.

Refund can be delayed for some reasons:

• Applying after deadline of notification.
• Submitting incorrect account information.

Tax Refund Department
Department of revenue,
Ministry of finance, India. 

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I knew it was phishing e-mail because of following reasons.
1. It was not from "incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in" but was from "incometaxindiafiling.gov.in"
2. Income Tax dept doesn't ask information through e-mail and more over if you take a look at the link, it was redirecting to some unknown website.
3. This week only I had got CPC processing status as Nil Tax Payable/Refund
4. Income Tax dept doesn't pay refunds of multiple financial years in single shot. (PS: As per my knowledge)