Avani Betta – Birthplace of Lava and kusha

A rock with Sita’s tears.
Sita’s Kitchen.
Valmiki’s Ashram.
These are just a few of the many curious attractions that make up the magical place known today as Avani.

Located in the Kolar district of Karnataka, Avani shows us a glimpse into the times of the Ramayana. According to the legend of Ramayana, Avani served as the home for a Sita during her second exile. An exile she was forced to endure as Rama wished to quell doubts about the sanctity of the queen of Ayodhya after her rescue from Ravana. Valmiki, the sage and author of the Ramayana, provided Sita shelter at his Ashram at the request of Lakshmana and mentored her two sons Lava and Kusha who were born here.

Avani also witnessed a war between Rama and his sons, who dared to capture Rama’s Ashwamedha horse. Remnants of these historical times that exist to this day in Avani takes visitors on a journey that spans millenniums into the past.

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History

Uttara Kanda Ramayana

Uttara Kanda is the last book of the great epic Ramayana. It describes the return of Rama to Ayodhya, the ordeal of Sita in exile and the birth of Lava and Kusha.

After Rama’s defeat of Ravana and subsequent return to Ayodhya, there was gossip among the citizens of Ayodhya questioning the purity of his wife Sita. To set an example of an ideal king, Rama quelled these rumours among his citizens by banishing Sita to the forest. The sage Valmiki who saw this calamity in his transcendental vision rushed to help Sita and provided her shelter at his Ashram in Avani.

In due course of time, Sita gave birth to two twin sons, Lava and Kusha. The twins grew up handsomely resembling Rama himself in valour, beauty and strength. They were educated and trained in military skills under the mentorship of Sage Valmiki.

After twelve years, Rama performed the Ashwamedha Yagna, the horse sacrifice. As a part of this ritual, a horse was allowed to wander freely. All the land that was covered by the horse unopposed was annexed to the empire of Ayodhya. In order to deny one’s territory to Rama, the horse had to be stopped and Rama had to be challenged in battle. When the horse reached Avani, Lava and Kusha captured the horse and boldly challenged Rama. They did so as they were Kshatriyas, and it was the duty of a Kshatriya to accept a challenge and fight.

As news reached Ayodhya, Rama sent Lakshmana to fight Lava and Kusha. To his surprise, Lakshmana was defeated in battle by the brothers. Bharata and Shatrughna met the same fate as Lakshmana. Following the defeat of his brothers, Rama himself came to Avani to fight Lava and Kusha unaware that they were his sons. But before the battle began, Valmiki intervened and united father and sons.

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Itinerary

Trek and guide details

Trek length	2.6 km (two-way).
Route type	Out and back.
Elevation gain	515 ft.
Guide number	Local guides are available at the entrance. You can also contact guide Venu, 9035106712.
Guide charges	₹500. Make sure to negotiate the price for the full trek upto Sita’s temple, as the initial price they quote is usually for just half the trek.
Entry fees	None.
Parking space	Park near The Ramalingeshwara group of temples. Avani Betta is a short walk from there.

How to get there

Avani is around 100 km east of Bangalore and takes around 3 hours by road via the Hoskote – Narsapura – Kolar route.

Food and fuel

A surprising find, Highway Star just outside Kolar is a typical Bangalore mall with many food options.

2 day itinerary with Avani and Antaragange Caves

• Day 1
  • Leave from Bangalore
  • Visit Shri Ramalingeshwara Swami Temple
  • Visit Avani Betta
  • Stay at Aadya Inn or other nearby hotels
    
• Day 2
  • Visit Antaragange Caves
  • Return to Bangalore

The total journey is around 200 km to and from Bangalore via Kolar. For Google Maps directions, click on places to visit.

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Places of interest

Valmiki’s Ashram

The place where Valmiki lived and taught. It also houses a small cave where Sita gave birth to her two sons, Lava and Kusha. Today, we can see sculptures of Sita, Valmiki and his guru, Veerabhadra Swami inside.

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Pandava Lingas

Five Lingas, one for each Pandava, to commemorate their visit to this point in Avani.

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Sita’s House

This is one of the most interesting places in Avani. The hollows in the rock not only look like vessels used for cooking, but sound like them, too. Each hole emanates a distinct metallic sound. It is believed that Anjaneya flipped this entire rock which was on the ground before to prevent people from walking over it.

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Dhanushkodi / Lakshmana Theertha

A pond created by the arrow of Lakshmana to quench Sita’s thirst. Water is believed to come from deep within the Earth.

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Rock with a horse bite mark

Ashwamedha Yagna was a ritual performed by Rama wherein a horse was allowed to wander freely. All the land that was covered by the horse unopposed was annexed to the empire of Ayodhya.

However, when this horse entered Avani, Lava and Kusha captured it and tied it at this spot. The horse is believed to have taken a bite out of the rock here to quell its hunger.

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Sita’s tears

Following the capture of the Ashwamedha horse, Rama waged war against its captors, unaware that they were his own sons. The markings on this rock are believed to have captured Sita’s tears as she wept upon seeing her husband fight her sons. The black marking is her tears from her left eye, while the white marking is milk from her right eye.

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Oralu Gunde

It is believed that rolling under this rock will cure devotees of their abdominal ailments, as it did for Sita when she was expecting. She relieved her pain by rolling beneath it.

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Sita temple

At the top is a temple, one of a very few temples in the country, dedicated to Sita. This temple is famous among childless couples, and it is believed that if a childless married woman visits this temple and takes a vow, she is blessed with a child soon.

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Medicinal Pond

Used by Sita to cure her two sons of skin ailments.

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Pond for laundry

This pond is believed to be where Sita used to wash clothes.

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Balancing stones and Bangles around Cactus

Devotees balance stones and hang bangles around a Cactus plant here, with the belief that doing so will cure them of their infertility and provide them a home.

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Photos

Paintings

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Views

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