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**RiderMan** · 02-26-2013, 12:28 AM

Originally posted by experimentalhead View Post

"Need not be long ones all the time. Sometimes short and small ones give you same pleasure if not more"
"Unplanned ones are better than planned ones"
"Need not have any destination. Where ever you end up is your destination"

Very much true bro

. Unplanned rides gives me more pleasure than any planned ones. Need not think too much, things happen just like that. Tank up and roll out, no matter where we planned to go, chilling the ride its always a pleasure. Good to see you and your brother are enjoying the same.

BTW Nice pics, simple places but cool captures.

Cheers....Keep riding bro....

**experimentalhead** · 02-26-2013, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by RiderMan View Post

Very much true bro

. Unplanned rides gives me more pleasure than any planned ones. Need not think too much, things happen just like that. Tank up and roll out, no matter where we planned to go, chilling the ride its always a pleasure. Good to see you and your brother are enjoying the same.

BTW Nice pics, simple places but cool captures.

Cheers....Keep riding bro....

Thanks @RiderMan

Ride long

Ride Happy

**experimentalhead** · 03-01-2013, 08:58 PM

Route Maps

Routes taken for one day trips so far.

Riders in and around Bangalore & riders visiting Bangalore may find this useful.

Courtesy: Google maps

1. Ranganathittu:

2. Nandi Hills + Bhoganandishwara temple:

3. Muthathi + Gaganachukki Waterfalls (Shivanasamudram)

4. Manchanabele reservoir + Markonahalli reservoir

More trips and routes & maps coming up soon

**experimentalhead** · 03-03-2013, 11:43 PM

Kokkare bellur

KOKKARE BELLUR:

Got up late on Sunday morning.

By the time I freshened up it was 12 PM

Decided to spend the afternoon with amazing painted storks and pelicans

Had a heavy lunch at Kamath Lokaruchi on the way

Before Maddur saw a huge board stating Kokkare Bellur was 13 kms

1 Km from that board, took a diversion to the left towards Kokkare Bellur

Nice roads. But it was very hot and I was very thirsty

Came across lush green fields. Stopped for some clicks.

Just before entering Bellur, saw few storks flying high and low. It was an awesome feeling to see these birds.

Suddenly came across a tree infested with painted storks living in harmony with other species in the village

Villagers were indifferent to the birds as they are used to this

Started taking pics and I was taken around by a group of small kids and they were explaining about the birds.

It was painted storks everywhere. Pelicans are very few and far in between. I was told that the season has just kick started and by April it will be birds everywhere.

Roamed around the village. Villagers were very friendly and no one questioned when I stopped/ parked my bike wherever I felt like. I was greeted with salutes. I know it was for my ride, not me.

Spent about an hour and a half. For the first time I felt I should have got a better camera, a high end one, as no matter what, I could not take a proper pic when birds were flying.

But what a majestic sight it was whenever the birds spread their wings and launched themselves. They fly with such straight lined body and are really fast.

Just roamed in and around the village and started towards Bangalore around 5.30 pm and reached home by 7.30 pm. It was an afternoon and evening well spent with pelicans and storks.

Now time for few clicks:

Took a wrong diversion

Can you spot the birds, I mean white dots

Pelicans were very few

Storks have to protect their young ones from vultures:

My Guides

What an amazing sight it is to see birds fly with all the freedom in the world.

**Nagesh Patankar** · 03-04-2013, 03:55 PM

Originally posted by experimentalhead View Post

What an amazing sight it is to see birds fly with all the freedom in the world

+1... and its great to see the updates to the one-dayers mate. Nice pics .....

Keep updating ...

**experimentalhead** · 03-04-2013, 06:10 PM

Originally posted by Nagesh Patankar View Post

+1... and its great to see the updates to the one-dayers mate. Nice pics .....

Keep updating ...

Thanks @Nagesh Patankar. Sure, will continue to update as and when I would be completing a trip. Do you have any nice places which I can complete in a day in and around Bangalore. I am on a one-day trip solo ride spree of late

Last three Sundays have been just awesome

**experimentalhead** · 05-27-2013, 01:06 AM

Shravanabelagola

SHRAVANABELAGOLA:

It's been close to two months since I finished my solo western ghats road trip conquering Kodachadri
Was planning few rides for last two or three weekends. But nothing materialized and itch was increasing by the day.
Thought this weekend also went in vain as nothing happened on Saturday and woke up very late, by 11 AM, on Sunday.
Wanted to visit Shravanabelagola for quite some time and got it realized today. ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF INDIA
Weather was awesome. Overcast conditions. Total contrast to what it was last weekend. Perfect weather for a weekend ride.
Left by 12.15 PM. Did not stop anywhere. I wanted to enjoy the weather completely. 135 K ms covered by 3 PM. Roads were superb barring a 6 K m stretch near Hirisave where a toll plaza was being built. Otherwise both NH and SH were amazin
Reached by 3 PM. Had lunch. Kept my jacket, helmet and shoes in the cloak room. Then came the surprise. Close to 650 steps to climb. And people were sweating under cool overcast conditions. It was very steep. Thankfully, there was a slight drizzle which cooled everyone down.
I was panting halfway through due to steep climb. I never panted so much even when I climbed the famous Tirumala hills.
Excitement was building up. Entered the serene holy premises of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali. I was just awestruck.
The embodiment of renunciation and detachment from all materialistic things. The first to attain Moksha.
Spent about an hour or so at the feet of the lord. Took Bhagawan's blessings.
57 feet tall statue is just unbelievable. How genius were they who created this phenomenal architectural brilliance. Was not carrying my camera. Put my mobile phone camera to good use.
Felt happy and proud to see the inscriptions in KANNADA, ONE OF THE OLDEST LIVING LANGUAGES IN THE WORLD.
Left the awesome place by 5 PM. Enjoyed cool breeze ride back home. Reached home by 7.30 PM.
Let pictures do some talking.

**metaphoric.el** · 05-27-2013, 06:51 AM

Re: Shravanabelagola

Great travelogue Raghu, Amazing pics as well. & Thanks to you I have new places to visit, added up on my list "Manchanabele & Markonahalli reserviors, Kokkare Bellur" as I was bored of visiting the usual Nandi Hills all the time.

Anyways, Have you tried Hogenakkal falls, for one day ride?
Please do keep updating with places for one day rides which one could visit from Bangalore .

Cheers.

**experimentalhead** · 05-27-2013, 10:14 PM

Re: Shravanabelagola

Originally posted by metaphoric.el View Post

Great travelogue Raghu, Amazing pics as well. & Thanks to you I have new places to visit, added up on my list "Manchanabele & Markonahalli reserviors, Kokkare Bellur" as I was bored of visiting the usual Nandi Hills all the time.

Anyways, Have you tried Hogenakkal falls, for one day ride?
Please do keep updating with places for one day rides which one could visit from Bangalore .

Cheers.

Thanks [MENTION=59230]metaphoric.el[/MENTION]

I went to Hogenakal falls couple of years ago on an office trip. Planning to go once on bike.
Certainly will keep updating. Let me know if you have any recommendations.

**experimentalhead** · 06-04-2013, 01:25 AM

Somanathpur

SOMANATHPUR:

Last week rode to Shravanabelagola and felt blessed to be there at the feet of Bhagwan Gommateswara Bahubali and the great work of architecture mesmerized me. This reminded me that a visit to Somanathpur, another example of architectural excellence and brilliance of our people, was pending for a long time now. Also, June 2nd marked second anniversary of my Avatar-like bonding with my beast. Also, I was on the verge of completing 29000 K ms. I thought all was destined to happen (destined is a big word

) simultaneously. However, the night before I was in a slight dilemma of whether to ride to Somanathpur or to Himavad Gopalswamybetta. Finally decided to ride to Somanathpur.

Got up very late by 11.15 AM. Again was in a dilemma, whether to ride or be cozy in the bed given the beautiful rainy and cold weather.
Somehow got out of the bed and was ready by 12:35 PM.
Kick started my ride at 12:45 PM
Beautiful weather and was a bliss to ride the bike
Took Kanakapura-Malavalli-Bannur-Somanathpur Route. Distance was 137 K ms. Even though it was NH till Malavalli. It's not four lane.
Greenery around and trees with flowers of varied colors indicated that monsoon has arrived and it's here to stay for some time.
This route has lot of traffic till Malavlli. And, also had to deal with lot of idiots on two wheelers thinking of themselves as Rossi (even though I am dead sure they do not know who Rossi is)
What surprised me more was once I reached Malavalli, few, whom i sought help with directions, did not know where Somanathpur existed and were taking wild guesses. Finally an auto rickshaw driver came to my rescue.
From Malavalli to Bannur, roads are not in great condition. Lot of mountain-like humps and one such hump scraped the base of my bike too. Road is slippery and some portions had pits filled with water. Definitely not the zone to be in high speed.
From Bannur to Somanathpur, around 8 Kms, roads are superb. On the way saw a field infested with some beautiful white birds. I wished I had an high end camera to capture those. I felt more bad at not having a good camera when I reached Somanathpur.
Reached Somanathpur by 3:45 PM. A small little village. Entered the premises of Chennakesava temple. Very neatly maintained. Got my entrance ticket for Rupees 5.
The moment I approached the front porch of the temple, I knew that I am in for some architectural treat.
I entered the temple. Both from inside and outside, I was awestruck. Jaw dropping architecture I must say.
I paid my obeisance to Lord Krishna and sought blessings. One of the most beautiful statues of the Lord I have seen till date.
In that era to sculpt those statues, ceilings, and the entire temple is no mean achievement and that too with such accuracy. I am sure my 2 megapixel mobile phone camera will not do any justice to what I saw. I still could not believe what an astonishing and incredible talent existed. I felt blessed to be standing there and also felt relieved that those brilliant minds did not come alive and grilled me about basics of engineering, especially about lathe. I am sure they would have taken me for a ride and laughed uncontrollably about where I would have stood in front of them. Just touching those pillars, the finishing, just brilliant.
Outside the way Dashavatars of Lord Vishnu are carved and the battle scenes are sculpted, just unbelievale. What focus, concentration and stamina and perseverance. Mind numbing. The creativity is seen even the way windows are sculpted. The ceilings are incredible. I took pics of ceilings. But, poor lighting conditions and my 2 MP camera stop me from posting the same. Those pics would be insult to those great minds and their astonishing work.
Alas!!! Like any other civilization, ours also came to a stagnation point. But, I am happy that these sites are protected and preserved and we still can witness and be amazed at what our generations could do hundreds of years back.
Left Somanathpur by 5:15 PM. Took Somanathpur-Bannur-Chamanahalli-Mandya-Bangalore, covering a distance of 135 Kms.
Country side beautiful roads, bad patches here and there, roads till Mandya. Once joined Bangalore-Mysore road, thought rest of the ride will be smooth and swift.
But, first got stuck in a Jam near Channapatna. Then, it started pouring cats and dogs. So, it became a monsoon ride as well.
Rode slowly given the insane Sunday traffic on Bangalore- Mysore road.
Was thoroughly drenched and was greeted by water logged and completely damaged roads, thanks to eternal Metro construction, of Bangalore. What I thought would be a three hour ride back home had become close to four and a half hours ride.
On the way back my beast completed a run of 29000 K ms in absolute stock condition. My beast has been with me on all sorts of ride and has taken all sorts of beatings but never gave up on me. I am gonna cherish every moment I have spent with my best friend. He truly is a loyal companion. My Garuda. My Airavata. My Avenger. I hope our journey together continues and we conquer many more territories in the near future.
Now. let some pictures do the talking. I apologize in advance for not coming up with high quality pictures. Because my DSLR is of only 2 megapixels you see

I hope I am forgiven by the great people who created Somanathpur for poor quality of pictures showing their unparalleled work. I am sincerely sorry!

**experimentalhead** · 06-05-2013, 12:06 AM

Route maps

Routes taken for one day trips so far.

Riders in and around Bangalore & riders visiting Bangalore may find this useful.

Courtesy: Google maps

5. KOKKARE BELLUR:

6. SHRAVANABELAGOLA:

7. SOMANATHAPUR:

**metaphoric.el** · 06-05-2013, 10:33 AM

Re: One day rides

Wonderful log mate. Somnathpur was awesome.
Speaking about poor quality? The pics are wonderful. It might be a 2mp camera, but you have done quite a bit of justice by capturing such wonderful pictures..

-
Sent from my Nexus !

**whymail** · 06-05-2013, 01:19 PM

Re: One day rides

awesome... i must compliment u on the trip & the fotos... cheers!

**experimentalhead** · 06-06-2013, 11:25 AM

Re: One day rides

Originally posted by metaphoric.el View Post

Wonderful log mate. Somnathpur was awesome.
Speaking about poor quality? The pics are wonderful. It might be a 2mp camera, but you have done quite a bit of justice by capturing such wonderful pictures..

-
Sent from my Nexus !

[MENTION=59230]metaphoric.el[/MENTION] Thanks a lot

Originally posted by whymail View Post

awesome... i must compliment u on the trip & the fotos... cheers!

[MENTION=61028]whymail[/MENTION] Thank you

**experimentalhead** · 06-09-2013, 11:03 PM

Kanva reservoir

KANVA RESERVOIR:

I am on a one day (sometimes even half a day or less than that) rides spree.
Was thinking of visiting Kanva reservoir for quite sometime now. Has been on my check list for long.

After finishing some Sunday work, was free by 3 PM. Was watching some channel on which John Abraham said sometimes he prefers Motorcycle rides and was talking about his Rohtang pass to Spiti ride. That was more than enough to trigger my ride. Just slung my bag, and started the ride.

Left by 3.40 PM. Weather was awesome. Overcast conditions and I was in the mood.
After few kilometers from Ramanagar, one has to take a diversion to right and 8 K ms of country side ride begins. Just awesome.
Fresh air. Had slight headache since noon. Nature took front seat and all aches took back seat.
Finally reached reservoir. Loved the sight from far. Just rode around the dam which was closed for public.
Lovely place. Did a bit off-roading and as I approached the pond/ lake ( I don't know what to call that water-body), I saw many people who were kind of on a picnic.
The water body is surrounded by small hills, fields and the dam.
Saw both families and bachelors having a good time.
But the way they were having good time saddened me. Many had converted that beautiful spot to an open bar and restaurant. Lot of litter around. Saw many drunkards and gamblers indulged freely in their world
There were few birds in the water. I am not sure what species they were.But were outnumbered by crows and eagles because of litter around.
Just sat on my bike, enjoyed the clouds and cool breeze for about twenty minutes, and then rode back.
Again back to untouched nature side roads. While riding back I just imagined some nice and clean restaurant in the middle of Kanva reservoir which was eco friendly.
Reached Bangalore-Mysore highway.
Right next to the diversion leading to Kanva reservoir, very famous ' Sri Kengal Hanumantharaya Swami Temple' is situated.
Paid my respects and obeisance and spent some peaceful time in and around temple, and then started my ride back home.
Traffic was insane. By the time I reached home, nature had taken back seat and head ache had taken front seat.
But, mom's face and coffee provided much needed relaxation
Let pictures do some talking. Again sorry in advance for the quality of pictures. Again used my mobile phone's 2 MP camera. Also battery charge of my phone was over. Hence could take only few pics and could not take any pics of the temple.

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Refreshing and leisurely one day motorcycle rides

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