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Route: Bangalore-Kunigal-Hassan-Sakleshpur-Nelyady-Dharmasthala-Ujire-Guruvayanakere-Bajegoli-S.K.Border-Kudremukh-Kalasa-Horanadu-Menasinahyadi-Kukre-Basadi-Sringeri-Jayapura-Balehonnur-Vastare-Muthodi-Chikmagalur-Ayyanakere-Belur-Hassan-Kunigal-Bangalore
Not often your parents would be a part of your ride planning. Here is one example of a mother who tells her son , "why dont you go and have a ride, but I will choose the destination this time" . With a smile i reply : "Your wish is my command". Last year she was instrumental in planning(rather initiating the ride itself) to Sirsi and beyond. Then came the list of all the "Theertha Yatra" places: Dharmasthala,Sringeri, Horanadu etc etc. I was like wokey and thus started the plan for the low cost budget ride. Budget ride because most of your food cost will be covered by the temples you ride to. Left on the friday morning(5/10/12) with Darshan's R1 for the company till Bellur cross. Post that it was solo'ism all the way.
Reached Dharmasthala before lunch. To my surprise, there were hardly any vehicles in the parking lot. All thanks to the Bangalore Bandh or the Karnataka bandh that was declared the next day. Quickly freshned up and head to the temple through the main entrance. For people who have been here on a weekend will know what significance this sort of VIP treatment holds. It takes me 10 min flat to have darshan, collect prasad and head to the huge dining hall the temple has. A powernap to compensate the trecherous Shiradi ghats(though its not as worse as it used to bed) rejuvenates the complete self.
Day 2:
Begins with an early morning Darshan and head straight towards Kudremukh, one of my favorite places in KAR. Stop at the check post after seeing a familiar face, the guard who thought Gautham and myself were there to race and also giving some gyan. He also ordered a tea from the nearby shack for me, So kind these guards have become off late. He also went ahead to suggest a nice route from Horanadu to Sringeri. Little did i realize then that the route suggested by him was passing through Balige and Menasinahyadi was core naxal area(infact realised it after the temple guard mentioned about it). It was also in the news for Naxal encounters few weeks back. then the dilemma to take it or not. Finally convinced myself to take the other "unconventional" route. It was truly a bliss to take this route. It completely by-passes Jayapura and Balehonnur compared to the Conventional Horanadu-Sringeri route.
Few Pics from Kudremukh:
And Balige-Menasinahyadi-Kukre-basadi-Sringeri stretch
P.S: for those willing to take this route, get your bike in a really good condition. Any breakdown here is all because of your fault. the nearest help may be atleast 20-25kms away and very minimal number of vehicles crossing this area. So don't expect anybody to come to your rescue.
Reach Sringeri for lunch time. Sadly the temple was closed by then, but the lunch was being served. after having the tummy full , spend some time by the river. Feeding the fishes till the doors open by 4 or so. Leave for Aagumbe after the first Darshan for the evening for witnessing the sunset.
Sringeri Temple
The dining hall
One of the stone Shackles of the temple
Pics from Aagumbe:
Different moods at the view point
Day3:
A freezer cold water to bathe, a foggy cold morning, had all the ingredients to make me suffer from cold. Start for Bangalore via Chikmagalur. The roads from Sringeri to Balehonnur are freshly laid and is a bliss to ride on.
One of the thousands of streams that irrigate this region
The newly laid roads
The mandatory coffee break spot near Balehonnur
The Biker breakfast
Few Macros at the Coffee Stop
Few pics from Ayyanakere:
My Humble Performer
Total money Spent on food+Coffee/tea: 5+21+12+5+20+40=Rs.103/- For all three days
Total money spent on Accommodation: 100+100=Rs.200 for 2 days
Total money spent on accommodation: Rs. 2000/-
Beat this budget for a 1000 kms ride
P.S: except for the fuel part
Everything said and done, it was yet another wonderful ride though the western ghats.
Not often your parents would be a part of your ride planning. Here is one example of a mother who tells her son , "why dont you go and have a ride, but I will choose the destination this time" . With a smile i reply : "Your wish is my command". Last year she was instrumental in planning(rather initiating the ride itself) to Sirsi and beyond. Then came the list of all the "Theertha Yatra" places: Dharmasthala,Sringeri, Horanadu etc etc. I was like wokey and thus started the plan for the low cost budget ride. Budget ride because most of your food cost will be covered by the temples you ride to. Left on the friday morning(5/10/12) with Darshan's R1 for the company till Bellur cross. Post that it was solo'ism all the way.
Reached Dharmasthala before lunch. To my surprise, there were hardly any vehicles in the parking lot. All thanks to the Bangalore Bandh or the Karnataka bandh that was declared the next day. Quickly freshned up and head to the temple through the main entrance. For people who have been here on a weekend will know what significance this sort of VIP treatment holds. It takes me 10 min flat to have darshan, collect prasad and head to the huge dining hall the temple has. A powernap to compensate the trecherous Shiradi ghats(though its not as worse as it used to bed) rejuvenates the complete self.
Day 2:
Begins with an early morning Darshan and head straight towards Kudremukh, one of my favorite places in KAR. Stop at the check post after seeing a familiar face, the guard who thought Gautham and myself were there to race and also giving some gyan. He also ordered a tea from the nearby shack for me, So kind these guards have become off late. He also went ahead to suggest a nice route from Horanadu to Sringeri. Little did i realize then that the route suggested by him was passing through Balige and Menasinahyadi was core naxal area(infact realised it after the temple guard mentioned about it). It was also in the news for Naxal encounters few weeks back. then the dilemma to take it or not. Finally convinced myself to take the other "unconventional" route. It was truly a bliss to take this route. It completely by-passes Jayapura and Balehonnur compared to the Conventional Horanadu-Sringeri route.
Few Pics from Kudremukh:
And Balige-Menasinahyadi-Kukre-basadi-Sringeri stretch
P.S: for those willing to take this route, get your bike in a really good condition. Any breakdown here is all because of your fault. the nearest help may be atleast 20-25kms away and very minimal number of vehicles crossing this area. So don't expect anybody to come to your rescue.
Reach Sringeri for lunch time. Sadly the temple was closed by then, but the lunch was being served. after having the tummy full , spend some time by the river. Feeding the fishes till the doors open by 4 or so. Leave for Aagumbe after the first Darshan for the evening for witnessing the sunset.
Sringeri Temple
The dining hall
One of the stone Shackles of the temple
Pics from Aagumbe:
Different moods at the view point
Day3:
A freezer cold water to bathe, a foggy cold morning, had all the ingredients to make me suffer from cold. Start for Bangalore via Chikmagalur. The roads from Sringeri to Balehonnur are freshly laid and is a bliss to ride on.
One of the thousands of streams that irrigate this region
The newly laid roads
The mandatory coffee break spot near Balehonnur
The Biker breakfast
Few Macros at the Coffee Stop
Few pics from Ayyanakere:
My Humble Performer
Total money Spent on food+Coffee/tea: 5+21+12+5+20+40=Rs.103/- For all three days
Total money spent on Accommodation: 100+100=Rs.200 for 2 days
Total money spent on accommodation: Rs. 2000/-
Beat this budget for a 1000 kms ride
P.S: except for the fuel part
Everything said and done, it was yet another wonderful ride though the western ghats.
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