Thread: Exploring the Nallamalla forest range, and trekking at Ahobilam

Originally Posted by Nagesh Patankar

Well well, It seems that you are having a great time off late. If I am not wrong this is your 3rd TLog in this month, right? Anyway, loved the pics and the story. Waiting for the next set of pics.
Keep riding mate and ride safe.

Nagesh, I have riding extensively these days, but I did not post many of them. But, soon this riding spree ends and I would get busy. Till then let me enjoy. And thanks for liking the pictures.

Originally Posted by rx100.7050

Loved it man... these type of adventurous trips are always remembered Loved it very much.

Yes! You are true. Its one of the memorable rides.

The return ride after trekking on second day.

I felt lighter by at least 5 kgs after the trek . Adithya and me reached Narsapuram, a small junction 12 kms before Ahobilam. We stopped at the only one fuel station in the surrounding places. We both wished ourselves and Adithya departed. I entered the petrol pump and asked them if the fuel is of quality. I explained to him that the FI system with get clogged if its an adulterated fuel. He swore that the fuel is top quality and meanwhile the supervisor of the pump came to me and did a small test to prove that the fuel of highest quality. He asked me from where I was coming and assured me that the Giddalur route is excellent and the he daily travels in that route. I filled fuel for 500 rupees in the tank that’s almost empty by then.

I asked him to fill air as I suspected less air at the rear. He said the motor is cold now, and it takes sometime to get started. But, again he decided to fill the air and started the motor. He tried to fill the air and the tyre was not taking any air in. To my utter dismay, the tyre pressure started to go less, and the tyre was completely flat. :O I was shocked and got scared as to what to do if the air pump doesn’t work? After trying for 15 minutes, the found that he was using the reserve side of the connecter, which deflates the tyre. I was anxious all this time, and finally smile came to me when the tyre started to inflate. Uff! That was a really scary moment in the trip.

After filling air, took right turn at the junction, and started riding towards Gajulapalle in single lane village routes. There was a little bit of rainfall in these areas, and agriculture was in full swing.

The roads were good for 70 kmph speeds, with bad patches at each village. The roads in villages have huge water pools everywhere with lots of mud. I successfully managed to get into a deep crater hid in a small puddle, luckily I was at 10 kmph speed only. The huge, heavy front fairing of ZMR started to make noise whenever the front wheel falls into small potholes. Seems I overinflated the tyre than normal. Thought of deflating the tyre initially a little, but decided against it, as I feared I may over deflate unknowingly. Anyway, it was not an issue at all, so I left it like that. Soon I reached Gajulapalle and joined the Nandyal-Giddalur state highway, and took right turn towards Giddalur.

The two-lane road was unexpectedly good without a single pothole till Giddalur. Soon I entered the Nallamalla forest again, and surprisingly the forest was thick and very green as if rain had been there for a month. Enjoyed the beautiful curves with great vista on either side of the road.

The road goes under the railway bridge at one place. I was a little unlucky as a train just passed that bridge before I entered.

Soon after this bridge, I found huge piers of old railway bridge at a good height. It was the old train route built by British. And this route is the only connection between Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra.

The railway bridge that I crossed just before is in the back ground.

This railway line comes out of a 1.5-km length tunnel, called Bogada Tunnel. I didn’t have time to explore this route and hence skipped the plan to go near the tunnel.

Soon I crossed the forest and entered plain lands. The road was excellent and I was cruising at 80 kmph. After I reached Giddalur, took left and reached Racherla and then with a couple of enquiries in the villages, was able to reach Nemaligundam (Nemali = Peacock, gundam = pool). This place is in deep Nallamalla forest and has a famous temple The Ranganayaka Swamy Temple. The history says, Mayura Maharshi meditated here for Lord Vishnu, and he dug a small pool for water, and then it became a peacock shaped big pool, with water coming from top of the hill 365 days.

The famous Gundlakamma river starts somewhere deep in Nallamalla forest and reaches here and then flows to Cumbum lake. Flash floods are often reported due to heavy rainfall in Nallamalla forest. The temple is open only on Saturday. As I reached here on Tuesday, there were no people and it was very peaceful. The Pool was huge than I expected, and the small water fall from the hill is a picturesque site. Spent around 20 minutes there, enjoying the deep forest surroundings.

On the way to Nemaligundam

It was already 4 p.m. when I started at this place, and I was yet to cover nearly 380 kms. I came back to the main road towards Cumbum, and to my rescue, the roads are in awesome state, and I was able to cruise easily at 85-90 kmph. I skipped the plan to visit the Cumbum lake, and started to Markapur from Cumbum. Had to stop at railway crossing, and returned the call of Rakesh. It was almost 5 p.m. at that time, and Rakesh shocked to know I was still there at Cumbum. He increased my fear by telling me that after 6 p.m., the ghat road will be closed towards Srisailam and that I was very far from Dornala. I didn’t know how far Dornala was from there, and was mentally preparing to do a detour via Pidiguralla, which would add some 150 kms more to my trip. After the railway gates open, I started cruising at 100 kmph, and again to my rescue the roads are excellent without a single pothole. I reached Markapur in just 20 minutes, and the found a direction to Dornala just before Markapur. I was delighted to find that Dornala was just 30 kms from there and that I could reach it just before 6 p.m. This road is a single lane most of the part, but I was able to reach Dornala by 5:45 p.m. Filled fuel for another 500 rupees, had some wada for energy as I was hungry.

I enquired there and found that they would allow vehicles in to the ghats till 9 p.m. and was relieved. Thought of taking Atmakur route via the deepest range of Nallamalla forest to reach Kurnool and then take the four-lane highway to home, but it would need to ride for 340 kms more. If I take Srisailam route, it comes for 280 kms. I decided to ride to Srisailam and entered the ghats by 6 p.m. Boy, I was completely blown away by this route. Superb curves and nice weather around. This 40-km stretch is a rider’s delight.

Entering the Nallamalla forest again towards Srisalam.

Sadly due to lack of rainfall, the soil is still to be sowed.

I was completely involved while riding this stretch and forgot my anxiety completely and was smiling in my helmet.

See the colours of the sky. It was beautiful.

Mouth-watering road. The next time I ride to Srisailam, I will definitely ride till Dornala and come back.

Unlike the Nallamalla forest near Giddalur and Ahobilam, the forest at Srisailam ghat were still thin due to lack of rain. The trees just starting to bloom. Last picture for the day before the dark engulfs the daylight.

Reached Srisailam by dark at 7:15 p.m. and skipped the plan to visit the temple. I started riding towards Hyderabad, the deep curves just by the side of the river were a little scary in the night. There was no traffic at all, except for a few vehicles. I was a little doubtful whether the police at checkpost would allow me enter the forest at this time. If they stop me, I would have stay at Srisailam for that night, but the problem would be that nobody offers a room for single person. I was praying inside for the entry in to the ghats. As I neared the checkpost, I found two cars approaching the checkpost and I trailed them. The person there was staring at me, but didn’t stop me. It was a great relief that I could happily ride to home.

It was completely a different experience for me to ride the ghats at night alone. Though the intensity of the light from Nightbreakers good, the high beam was not pointing very far. Also, the ghat road was uneven with curves, so I had to limit my speed between 50-70 kmph. Noticed the chain was making a little noise, but I ignored it. After a few kilometres, I went into a different trans just focussing the light from the headlight, and all of a sudden I felt like bullets hitting my helmet and me, and found them to be big light insects. They crashed on my helmet visor and soon, my visor became very dirty. I couldn’t stop in the mid of the forest to clean the visor, so I just started riding like that with less visibility, looking for a good place to stop and clean the visor. Also I needed some good break to stretch my body, and also as I was feeling a little sleepy. After riding for around 30 kms, I reached the Mallelateerdham junction with few shops there. I stopped, had some water, washed my face, cleaned the visor and got ready again for the ride.

At some curves, I was overshot a bit and it was scary. And again, I felt something wrong with the bike moving away at corners due to uneven road. The though the a puncture came into my mind, and the thought itself was just fearful. Just couldn’t imagine what happens if I get stranded in the forest, a reserve forest of tigers. :O Later found that to be due to coneset and the uneven road with overinflated tyres.

After some time, saw two to three deer and some rabbit crossing the roads. At one point, at a small curve, when I was at 70 kmph, a bird flew to my face very fast and it went back immediately into the forest. I got scared for a moment and applied sudden brake. My heart was pounding, and then realized it was just a bird.

At last got down the ghats at around 9 p.m., and the roads from there to Dindi and Kalwakurthy were really nice without a single pothole. But, as the chain was making lots of noise, I started riding at only 70 kmph. Reached Kalwakurthy bypass by 10 p.m, and found the chain to be very loose and infact touching the bottom. I didn’t have any clue as to why the chain became loose so sudden. I asked the puncture mechanic there to adjust the chain but he said he can’t. Thought of taking some good rest and removed all my gear. Sat at a dhabha and order dal roti with omelette. Meanwhile called up KP and explained my situation, and he suggested me to adjust it myself with the help of the puncture guy there. The dhabha wala overheard my conversation and told me that there might a chance that a mechanic shop open in side the Kalwakurthy town. I went inside, and to my luck, found one mechanic and got the chain adjusted.

Even after adjusting the chain, the noise from chain was just like that, and hence started to ride at 70-80 kmph only. The road from Kalwakurthy to Hyderabad was also excellent. Reached the ORR junction the srisailam highway and took the ORR, thinking who would petrol the ORR at that night. It saved me lot of time and reached home very soon by 12:45 a.m. Retired to bed immediately, and then there was powercut.

The next day found the chain to be very much dry and the noise gone completely with lubrication.

The second day of the trip was quite eventful, with 5 hours trekking, and then 500 kms of solo riding through forests. This one surely will be cherished for lifetime.

And, thanks to Rakesh for lending me the ZMR. It gave me amazing FE of more than 45 kmpl for this trip.

Originally Posted by ravi@17bhp

Nagesh, I have riding extensively these days, but I did not post many of them. But, soon this riding spree ends and I would get busy. Till then let me enjoy. And thanks for liking the pictures.

Yes, definitely. Enjoy it till your are free. The routine chores are always there to keep us busy otherwise. Feels good that you are visiting such awesome places. Even we get to see them through the pics.




That is so inviting . I especially liked the Nemaligundam pond pics ... Just awesome.

Too good, Too good. A treat for eyes. Nice and detailed write-up there Mr.Explorer. Hope you both enjoyed every moment of riding and trekking. God bless, Ride safe.

just beauty, hat's off to you as got darshan at home..

very detailed log and amazing pics

choice of destination and the route you chose were too good
nice to see that you are making travelogues for the ride

i envy you for the rides you are doing

Originally Posted by chiyaanchinnu

Too good, Too good. A treat for eyes. Nice and detailed write-up there Mr.Explorer. Hope you both enjoyed every moment of riding and trekking. God bless, Ride safe.

Thanks Chiyaan. :}

Originally Posted by tejasmph

just beauty, hat's off to you as got darshan at home..

Thank you Tejas.

Originally Posted by harsha645

very detailed log and amazing pics

choice of destination and the route you chose were too good
nice to see that you are making travelogues for the ride

i envy you for the rides you are doing

Harsha, no need for the envy. You too can do these rides if you give a try. You guys always search the four-lanes; try for two lanes and one lane, these rides will automatically happen.

Too bad...
- that we're unable to join the ride
Worse T'Log...
- that it provokes us to get out of office & hit the road
So...rated the worst...
- FAST FIVE

Lol

Originally Posted by aargee

Too bad...
- that we're unable to join the ride
Worse T'Log...
- that it provokes us to get out of office & hit the road
So...rated the worst...
- FAST FIVE

Lol

ROFL. After the first line, I frowned initially Loved the way your wrote.
Thanks RG for liking the trip log and rating it Five.

Fantastic log!
I just love these less explored places...loved the trekking route...esp the pic where you see the bridge in the valley...keep exploring!

Cheers!