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No, No, it’s definitely not what it sounds like. There’s no Kashmir or Kanyakumari in this one! Though the former is on our “to do” list and a Kanyakumari ride is on next month. And yes it does seem like ‘jungle season’ for me! This was just a ride through the forests of Karnataka and Kerala.
Forests always fascinated me. Even as a young lad during my school days, there was nothing I loved more than to explore the forests of Kodanad in Kerala during my visit to our ancestral home in the summer holidays. After a sweaty day of wandering, the joy of a dip in the cool Periyar River is still hard to match.
Of course time has moved on. Two wheels have joined me and also a partner who shares my wandering spirit, but my fascination with forests still lingers. Maybe it’s a desire lying dormant within us all, a longing to reach out to our roots, to touch and feel the very beginnings of our existence on this planet we call Home.
Our last ride this September:.. http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/2...ing-green.html Included large stretches of forests and woods and the joyful memories still clung to us, so we decided to make another ride through another route to kindle the ‘jungle spirit,’ so to speak !
The Onward Route : Bangalore/Mandya/Mysore/H.D.Kote/Kabini/Nagarahole/Mananthavadi
Crack of dawn take offs are almost mandatory for us. We love the chill morning air and the cool wind on our face as a brand new day breaks, bringing with it promises of the joys which lay before us. And as we see the slow brightening of the horizon and the listen to the steady beat of our steed, we know we have left our maniacal city behind and look forward to the freshness of the forests ahead.
After a quick breakfast at Mandya, we soon reach Mysore and turn on to the Mananthavadi road. It’s another one of those single lane roads meandering through lush green fields and woods with very sparse traffic. Though not made for high speeds, the sights and sounds are a biker’s joy. Shortly, we reach Kabini Reservoir and decide to explore a bit.
Later we continue on towards Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. A stretch of the Reserve has been cordoned off temporarily and we had to take a deviation to ride through around 20+ k.m of the worst imaginable stretch of bone jarring “road”!! Finally we come out feeling somewhat like James Bonds drink – “shaken but not stirred”!
Back on the smooth forest road it’s time to take in the sights, smells and sounds (often an eerie silence) of a long stretching road with the trees on both sides reaching out with a warm embrace. We sight an occasional deer on the way and sometimes pause to allow them to cross the road. They hold all the rights here and we must respect it.
Further down we see a small crowd on the road and stop to witness one of the saddest scenes ever. An elephant, a tusker at that, had just got electrocuted and killed and was being dragged aside by forest officials using a JCB. Seeing the magnificent animal lying still on the roadside was truly heartbreaking.
We continue on and soon leave Karnataka and enter the Kerala border and decide to break for lunch. As usual, we eat at a small restaurant to eat a typical Kerala style meal which was simple and yummy.
By late afternoon we reach our friend’s place where we are to spend the night. It’s up on a hill with an amazing view of the hills and forests of Wayanad all around. Night sets in quite early here and as the mist starts to settle in like a cool white cloak, we soak in the silence punctuated by little night sounds and feel the chill in the air as darkness takes over. It’s time for a warm drink, some hot food and long conversations.
The Rest....Up Soon,
Cheers Guys,
Ride Safe
Forests always fascinated me. Even as a young lad during my school days, there was nothing I loved more than to explore the forests of Kodanad in Kerala during my visit to our ancestral home in the summer holidays. After a sweaty day of wandering, the joy of a dip in the cool Periyar River is still hard to match.
Of course time has moved on. Two wheels have joined me and also a partner who shares my wandering spirit, but my fascination with forests still lingers. Maybe it’s a desire lying dormant within us all, a longing to reach out to our roots, to touch and feel the very beginnings of our existence on this planet we call Home.
Our last ride this September:.. http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/2...ing-green.html Included large stretches of forests and woods and the joyful memories still clung to us, so we decided to make another ride through another route to kindle the ‘jungle spirit,’ so to speak !
The Onward Route : Bangalore/Mandya/Mysore/H.D.Kote/Kabini/Nagarahole/Mananthavadi
Crack of dawn take offs are almost mandatory for us. We love the chill morning air and the cool wind on our face as a brand new day breaks, bringing with it promises of the joys which lay before us. And as we see the slow brightening of the horizon and the listen to the steady beat of our steed, we know we have left our maniacal city behind and look forward to the freshness of the forests ahead.
After a quick breakfast at Mandya, we soon reach Mysore and turn on to the Mananthavadi road. It’s another one of those single lane roads meandering through lush green fields and woods with very sparse traffic. Though not made for high speeds, the sights and sounds are a biker’s joy. Shortly, we reach Kabini Reservoir and decide to explore a bit.
Later we continue on towards Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. A stretch of the Reserve has been cordoned off temporarily and we had to take a deviation to ride through around 20+ k.m of the worst imaginable stretch of bone jarring “road”!! Finally we come out feeling somewhat like James Bonds drink – “shaken but not stirred”!
Back on the smooth forest road it’s time to take in the sights, smells and sounds (often an eerie silence) of a long stretching road with the trees on both sides reaching out with a warm embrace. We sight an occasional deer on the way and sometimes pause to allow them to cross the road. They hold all the rights here and we must respect it.
Further down we see a small crowd on the road and stop to witness one of the saddest scenes ever. An elephant, a tusker at that, had just got electrocuted and killed and was being dragged aside by forest officials using a JCB. Seeing the magnificent animal lying still on the roadside was truly heartbreaking.
We continue on and soon leave Karnataka and enter the Kerala border and decide to break for lunch. As usual, we eat at a small restaurant to eat a typical Kerala style meal which was simple and yummy.
By late afternoon we reach our friend’s place where we are to spend the night. It’s up on a hill with an amazing view of the hills and forests of Wayanad all around. Night sets in quite early here and as the mist starts to settle in like a cool white cloak, we soak in the silence punctuated by little night sounds and feel the chill in the air as darkness takes over. It’s time for a warm drink, some hot food and long conversations.
The Rest....Up Soon,
Cheers Guys,
Ride Safe
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