A Summer Sojourn amidst the Western Ghats

Western Ghats has always fascinated me since childhood in so many ways. I have been visiting different parts of the same in Karnataka since I was 5 but it was always laced with the same theme. Temples.

I wanted to change it in more ways than one. For once I did not want to visit temples but explore the place. I know it feels cliched but as cliched as it may sound not knowing where to go and you set out, you enjoy the journey more and more. 

It was a long weekend and a vacation was begging to be taken and after a lot of thought and not knowing where to go and not get burnt, we ran out of choices. Then the old friend - SHIMOGA came to my rescue. Shimoga was the place I have enjoyed many of my summer vacations at my aunt's place.

Me and my wife set out and all we knew about the vacation was we left for Shimoga and en route we would visit any place that interests us and continue further. 

Day1: 

Left Bangalore at 6:00 in the morning, we headed towards NH4 and in no time we were cruising on the highway. we planned to visit Kemmangundi (Chikkamagalur District) and for that we had to take the Tumkur - Gubbi - Arsikere Route. A deviation at Birur set us on the way to Kemmangundi. I had no idea about the place and did not know what to expect. 

The road was in pathetic condition for the last 5 kilometers to the summit. Once you reach there, you will know it is a quintessential Picnic spot. It had parks, flower garden and a travelers bungalow. The most surprising part of the whole place was it was empty (Which is  what we kind wanted.). We left the place and on the way down, we saw a narrow path which read would lead to  Shanti Falls. The path was so bad that there was no way i could take a turn to return to the beginning. we took the risk  and it was totally worth it.

Shanti falls (Kemmangundi). The place was absolutely empty. The water was too damn cold and the taste was out of this world. The falls in itself was not a  big one but the  experience of being there was truly  spectacular. Had a bath, took along a bottle of water and loads of memories. It was the best experience for the entire trip.

we left the place in some time and reached Badhra Reservoir project (BRP) in Chikkamagalur district again. This was the first time i was entering a dam and the catchment area just  mesmarized me. Such a vast expanse of Water. we left the place and reached Shimoga by 6 in the evening. A Day to be Remembered for a long time to come.

Day2:
Left Shimoga at 6 AM and headed towards Teerthahalli (62  Kms from Shimoga). On the way we planned to stop at Sakkare Bayalu (Elephant camp) where wild  elephants came to  river Tunga for  a drink in the morning but gave it a miss as we would get late for the other things planned on the day. We had planned to visit Kundadri, Rameshwara temple in Teerthahalli for a dip in Tunga and Agumbe for the sunset. But little did we know that our plans were to be completely wasted.

Someone very learned about Teerthahalli and its surroundings advised us to visit Kavale Durga and it should not be missed. We reached Kavale durga first and started the ascent by 8:30 in the morning. (Kavale durga is a fort built by the Nayakas during their reign).We reached a summit by 9:30 little did we know that we were just half was up. The climb was a little difficult given out fitness levels and we touched the summit by 11:30 AM to be  soothed by the cool breeze blowing at the top. It was a great feeling given that the sun was blazing away at 39 degrees. the view was amazing and we did not feel like  getting back down. It was out first trek and we promised ourselves to get fit and go on more such adventures (if you can call it that)

We reached Teerthahalli by 1 and had a great meal at "Hotel Mayura" following which  we left  to  Rameshwara temple. We gave Kundadri a miss because; a) we were shit tired, b) It was a difficult ascent and i doubted my legs would be able to control the vehicle and c) it was burning. So we felt a cool dip in the Tunga would be ideal and we reached the river bank only to find barren rocks and scorching sand and a little water just  enough to dip in our feet. We could cross to the other end of the bank without even our ankles getting wet. It was summer and we had  all the proof.

We dropped Agumbe plans as well as we felt it would be late and the tired souls needed some rest before the trip back to Bangalore the next day. On the way back to Shimoga, we visited Kuppalli (Birth place of famous Kannada poet Kuvempu). the place was so calm and serene, we knew the inspiration behind Kuvempu's amazing poetic skills. A visit to Gajanur dam meant we wasted half an hour on our  way back  to Shimoga.

Day3:
We were on our way back to Bangalore by 1 PM and en-route we visited my Wife's Native Malali and a nearby Temple place Bagavalli (A temple maintained by their Family) and back to Bangalore by 11 in the night to enjoy a nice dinner at home.

It was an experience to be had because of the unpreparedness and the surprises that were in store. We had little plans even those were not followed but had thousands of Memories to take back. With a promise to return to the magical western ghats again and again we came back to reality called Bangalore.

Total Distance covered: 880 Kilo meters
Total Time: 3 days, 2 nights

Nandi Hills - A failed Sunrise - Parathas - Back by 0945

It was a boring week. The two of us; me and my best half working in IT had similar blues of not living our lives at all owing to work. We rarely  thought something other than work. It reached saturation and we both were frustrated. Eager to make the weekend better, we planned to go out somewhere. A new Royal enfield that had not scented fresh air for the first 1000 odd kilometers and was screaming for some. 

The Day: (6th Feb 2016) Woke up at 0430 in the morning, we planned to reach the summit before Sunrise.
Left at 0500, equipped with nothing but flimsy jackets, we set out and Found out we were in the wrong attire. The weather was cold and the jacket struggled to keep us warm. We were sport enough to ignore that and enjoy the ride. It was bliss from the regular clogged roads of Bangalore. Quickly reached the airport road and the bike too reached speeds of 100 and beyond. The ride to the summit is a nice smooth one(other than the rare hiccup as it was the first time i was taking a bike up a hill). The roads are excellent and the sign boards are adequate for someone going there for the first time.

we reached the summit at 0550 right before the sunrise and we were shocked to find a long queue for the tickets. Parked the bike and stood in the queue and got our tickets only half and hour. We could see some light and were certain that we had missed the sunrise even though google proudly proclaimed that the sunrise would be at 0645 hours. Cool breeze brushed past us time and again as the hands hesitated to come out of my riding gloves. It was chilly at the top but what we witnessed disappointed us badly. there were hordes of people around and equally  bad was the small cloud cover at the horizon which blocked the sunrise. By the time we were able to see the sun, the fun of the view was out.

Took out my camera after a long time and i knew my skills have dwindled beyond embarrassment. Clicked a few pictures and soon we were on our way down. The throat was itching for some coffee and we had one at the Nandini stall there. The descent was equally fast and we were on the highway just 2 and half hours after we reached the summit in the morning.

On the way back entered the Indian Paratha Company and hogged some yummy parathas. Some chaas and a customary Bike pic and off we were to home. Back home by 0945, the lazy weekend followed.

Total distance covered: 110 Kms.
Time: 5 hours for the entire trip

A trip to start off. It was refreshing. we were surprised that we could wake up so early. Many more trips to come.