As you are already aware a Bangalore based foundation 'Sanghamitra Buddha Foundation' is planning on carving up (read as defacing) the West face of Handigondi into a massive Buddha statue. Handigondi is the highest granite outcrop at Ramanagaram with a height of 1050 ft. there is a very large reserve forest behind the rock. One can see this massive monolith to your left on the way from Bangalore to Mysore a few kms after Bidadi.

Here Rock climbing forms a minor but important point in this too. If this goes ahead we can forget climbing in this area and in Ibrahim farm area. Two important birds - the white backed vulture and the yellow throated bulbuls will also vanish. It will set a bad precedent for others to follow.

This place is home for many forms of lesser but important wildlife like sloth bear, leopard, small cats, wild boar, snakes, birds, reptiles and insects. We feel that it should be preserved with its natural beauty rather than be used for the purpose as envisaged by the foundation.

There is a small group of friends of nature actively trying to get the Karnataka Government and the Central Environment Ministry to stop this project. As part of this - one of the methods was to hold a protest rally at the site itself. This would then communicate a strong statement to the Government that there are people who are aware and are protesting against this. This is very important.

We therefore request you to help us by being present in this protest rally.

We plan on having such a protest on Sunday 29^th at Handigondi, Near Gopalpura village Ramanagaram. The time of gathering shall be 9.30 am near the rock. Check the map for exact location.

We are sure that continued action and attention will help in getting this project scuttled.

Be sure to be there and get as many people as you can. Also pass this information to all like minded friends of Nature.

Save our natural resources.

Details of how to get there and other details.

Take the Bangalore-Mysore highway, going will be slow since the road is being converted into a four lane highway. Pass Bidadi town, you will know this when you pass a bridge over the railway line. A new bridge is also being built at this point. Be alert after this point, travel for about 5kms, and look for a banner on your left. Stop at the banner as this is the gathering point. We will all gather and move in one group from here.

Caution – since there are lots of road works going on the going will be slow. Drive with care and do not take chances. Leave early to counter traffic, diversions and ensure that you reach in time for the protest.

We will travel for a few kms after this on the highway and turn left at a railway crossing. We cross the tracks and travel for about 3 kms to a parking point. We all park here and then walk to the base of the rock. We shall be walking the last bit over fields that belong to poor farmers, so do not damage any crops, plants when you traverse these fields.

The protest walk shall be a silent protest till we reach the base of the rock. We will then be briefed about the nature of the project and what will be the ecological damage. You will be handed placards to carry during the walk in and the walk out. On getting back to the parking point after the protest please return the placards to the organisers. During the walk and the drive in we shall be going through villages, take care to be polite and not to damage or trespass.

We start the protest around 10.00 and hope to finish by 11.00 am, we then move back in an orderly way and get back to the highway.

We request you to bring lots of water, some sort of head cover (cap/scarf/hat) since the sun will be up and summer is at its peak. Carry snacks and breakfast if you want to.

Please remember it is very important that we do not leave any garbage (bottles/tetra paks/food covers/wrappers/etc) or litter when we leave. Pack all garbage you generate and dispose safely in city when you get back. Help us by being watchful about garbage so that we have a litter free protest.

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