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Hi Sakshar! was great meeting you guys at Valparai!

And superb starters btw!! Waiting for the main course

Day 1: Mangalore to Thrissur

The planning of the trip began as I had three days of continuous leaves. Added to that, I had two more days of leaves to my account to be taken. So, 5 days are there with me and was looking for a destination. Kerala trip have been done for many a times, but when it comes to re-visiting the places, God's Very Own Country stands up above the rest. So, Me and Stephan planned for a visit to Kerala.

We started at early hours from Mangalore. It was done to avoid the mad traffic in the daytime. If you start at 4:30 am from Mangalore, there will not be much of traffic to disturb your mental peace. Rather, I was comfortably cruising at above 60 as the Mangalore to Kasargod road was in descent shape.

We reached Kasargod in an hour, took a break and moved towards Payyannur.
At Kasargod

Once we corssed Payyannur, we stopped for our second break near Kannur.
This is where we stopped


Stephan's CBR at Kannur



And that's my thunderbird


Though my bike was serviced just the day before, there seemed to be an issue with the speedometer cable. It stopped working. So, the contact sheet for Royal Enfield showroom came handy. We thought of moving ahead and get it done at Puthiangady showroom.

We stopped at Thalassery for breakfast. This hotel serves amazing food. This is located at diagonally opposite position to the Thalassery police station.


The Puthiyangadi showroom took extra care for my vehicle. They took it on priority and get it repaired in 20 odd minutes.


The RE showroom team: Thanks guys for the lovely treatment



By evening, we were in Thrissur. Called HV Kumar Sir and decided on the next day plan. Quite surprising to know that he was following me all the way in my check-ins. Well, I did not have to update him on my location. While the big day was in stock for the next day, we started hotel hunting.
Checked in to the hotel and started roaming around this beautiful temple town. Found it quite similar to Udupi.

The crossing



The city in motion


Please please wear a helmet


Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple was on my mind since long back







To the almighty





We had amazing dhosa near the railway station. Even, the hotel food was awesome. I love eating with local tastes on my taste-bud.

We slept at 10 in the night. Tomorrow, it was Sholayar Reserve forest that was in our mind.

Good night! Sweet dreams!

Day 2: Jungle ride: to Valparai via Sholayar Reserve Forest

We started early morning towards Chalakkudy. The road from Thrissur towards Chalakkudy passes through the some great stretch of road. We took a left turn 2 km before Chalakkudy and entered into one of the scenic rides I have ever been to.

Lets take off the topic discussion for a bit. Met with this old person. He sells lottery tickets. I took many snaps of him. While editing them last night, I found this pic to be different. I could see the dream in his eyes. The dream of a common Indian. Needless to say, it made me rethink on what we do or what we have is somehow luxury to other folks.


I would love the pictures tell the story.

Enter the jungle:


Every Sunrise, I will wait for you




I see through your eyes:


Suddenly felt that we are being followed by hundreds of bikers. It was actually Kerala bikers "Chai and Pakoda run" for India Bike week to Athirapally falls.
Reunited with lot of xbhp-ians.


Bullet Budhdhas:


I had a dream to be there:


Athirapally Waterfalls, all thanks to my zoom lens:


Reflection of what we see:


On the way:


An old bridge on the way:


Dream-route:


Royal Outlook:



The CBR 250 corners amazing


Turning out:



Fresh green forest:


Jee le zara:


Spending hours in a place like this is the best heal from the boredom:


BSNL Rocked in a poor man's phone:


The broken bridges we dream about to spend moments at:



Hello mother nature:


How about a weekend in that island?


Life at zero kmph


Enroute Valparai, almost there:


Let me know how did you like my post. Your feedback will motivate me for betterment in future.

Next installment is coming soon.

Lovely ride and some great pictures there Sakshar !

Ride On & Ride Safe

lovely sakshar.. amazing pictures too .. wish i could had joined you ... I hate this cubicle life

Till we reached Valparai

Moments in Sholayar forest. A small waterfalls


The dam on the way


A blissful view near Valparai. Stopeed there for 30 minutes dot



Similar to a wallpaper I had in my childhood


Met with this two guys on the way. They are from Munnar and helped us a lot in visiting un-explored places


Another view


Taming huner at Valparai


Point of view:


Pure bliss:


Tea-bed/bed-tea:


The last ray:


A temple at Valparai



We spotted barking deer there. Could not catch it in the frame. It was 9 pm and damn cold.



Coming back with more.. soon.

Valparai to Pollachi

This scenic route contains 40 smooth hairpin bends. We stopped at each of the hairpin bends to click snaps. Have selectively edited few of them for sharing purpose.

Started this journey with this amazing scene. Saach mein dil khush ho gaya




Lovely view, isn't it?



My ride my pride:



Serene:



Stephan zooming in:


Colorful views, near 22nd hairpin bend:



Near Waterfalls Estates:



Duur se koi aaye (remembered the String song here)



View of the waterbody:



Felt like spending the entire day over here.



Pollachi Streets


Streetview



Street food


Street food


Repliaca: bought one




We halted at Pollachi for the night. enjoyed the best of rides for the day. It comprised of the best of the roads with scenic beauties in between Valparai and Pollachi. I must say, its my third ride through the same place but enjoyed every bit of it. Did not put much of words since I feel pictures will define the story the best.

Nice work

Nice work man !!

Nice ride and good photos Saks ... Keep riding

Aneesh

Great Pics SRC. Clap Clap

I am waiting for the Pollachi-Munnar part, please take some time out and continue with the log

Nice pics and ride Sakshar. Seems you haven't taken much of photos (of the landscapes) around Valparai. Athirapally-Valparai-Pllachi is one of the best routes to do, especially in monsoons. It was heaven when we visited.

Bring on the rest. Will keep an eye on this thread.

Ravi anna: there are lots of pics, but taking time to process. And yes, monsoon is definitely the best time to visit.

Hey bro, nice photologues, forest was quite dry witnessed the same when we did the same route Feb 2-3. But we are lucky to spot a herd of elephants (~10) inside the Aliyar dam. Never witnessed such a group of elephants at closure.