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**akshay** · 09-26-2021, 01:13 PM

After spending a little while watching the waterfalls, we continued the ride and began to enter the forest. There were no other vehicles apart from the odd forest ranger's jeep which we encountered. This stretch of the road is around 90 km long from Athirappilly to Valparai. The roads were in good condition for the first 60 km with the remaining 40 km in terrible broken down condition which slowed the ride down considerably.

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**akshay** · 10-30-2021, 08:28 PM

Here are some more pictures from the forest part of the ride

**akshay** · 10-30-2021, 08:41 PM

We eventually emerged from this forest after battling broken roads the entire afternoon and were ecstatic to see the Valparai checkpost. The ride from here past Sholayar Dam is super smooth with twisties and tea gardens characterizing it.. We checked into Hotel Tall Tree Nest which is situated above the Suzuki bike showroom at the exit of Valparai towards Pollachi. After parking our bikes we headed for a late lunch to Saravana Grand for a delicious lunch. Later after wiping our bike down we called it an earl night.

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**akshay** · 10-30-2021, 08:45 PM

We began our ride back home early the next morning and wound the bikes down the hills amidst a cold foggy morning. After hitting the plains some time later we stopped for a cuppa chai.

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**akshay** · 10-30-2021, 08:49 PM

Some random pictures from the stops we made along the way to Chitradurga where we broke for our night halt. We left early the following morning to reach home for a late lunch. Another epic ride to our favorite places in India, DONE!

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**akshay** · 10-30-2021, 09:04 PM

Enjoy this video from Munnar via Athrapally Falls to Valparai. Experience riding through a dense forest. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel and support the rider.

**akshay** · 11-06-2021, 08:19 PM

This overnight ride to Hyderabad was over the Valentine Day weekend on Feb 13/14 2021. We began our ride towards Sholapur at 5.15 am from our usual meet-up place near Hadapsar.

**akshay** · 11-06-2021, 08:38 PM

The ride from Pune to Sholapur is a familiar road to us and is one of the last few smooth roads left around Pune which is a pleasure to ride on. Enroute we stopped for some breakfast and before you could say Jack's your Uncle the bikes were growling at entrance of Sholapur.

After crossing through Sholapur which had some narrow portions at the exit due road work going on we came upon Naldurg Fort which is located in the Osmanabad district where we stopped to take a few pictures and drink some water.

A few kilometers further on we came to the bridge over Bori River with the Naldurg Fort visible in the distance.

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**akshay** · 11-06-2021, 08:49 PM

The highway after crossing the fort is smooth, four-laned and makes for fast riding which both of us gobbled up and were able to open the throttle on the bikes which we seldom get to do. Restaurants are very few and far apart on this stretch and we gladly took a short break at Food Pyramid near Kamkol toll plaza in the Zaheerabad district.

**akshay** · 11-13-2021, 07:27 PM

We began to pull into the outskirt of Hyderabad around noon and upon enquiry learnt that motorcycles were not allowed on the Ring Road. Damn! This meant that we would need to go through the entire city and face all the heavy traffic. After enduring this ordeal with the weather beginning to turn warmer we reached Jubilee Hills an hour or so later where we stopped at a pump to refuel the bikes.

We rode past Banjara Hills and were heading for Hyderabadi Biryani at Cafe Bahar, a restaurant which was highly recommended to us for a good meal. And the meal did not disappoint despite the restaurant being a little away from Banjara Hills.

**akshay** · 11-15-2021, 08:19 PM

After this satisfying and scrumptious meal, I managed to swing my leg over the bike and get back into the saddle. On the way to the hotel I wanted to stop and check out the house where I grew up at Banjara Hills way back between 1975 to 1978. I remember the place had a large terrace where I had learnt how to cycle and also recall a sun basket there to cook the meals. Everything has changed now except the 'rock castle' which is still standing there like a rock. The little time I spent there brought back so many lovely memories including the play school 'shishu sadan' which was located up a slope just outside the building gate.

**akshay** · 11-15-2021, 08:27 PM

We continued from here down Banjara Hills and soon arrived at our hotel The Taj Banjara. Perhaps due to the pandemic, we had managed to get a VFM deal at the Taj and were looking forward to our stay there.

For dinner we ordered room service and chilled out. The black dal was recomended, so we called for that.

**akshay** · 11-15-2021, 08:37 PM

The next morning we began the return leg early at 5.15 am and as luck would have it my bike blew the alternator which brought the ride to a screeching halt about 70 km later. I was still very early around 6.30 am and after finding the nearest petrol pump I managed to get the bike across there. It was Sunday and after locating a mechanic I got a tow into Sangareddy.

Much credit goes to the mechanic, as he identifyed the problem fairly quickly and got the bike fixed by around 1.00pm. Gurpratap and I chilled out on the garage charpai discussing whatelse, bikes! We finally made it home by around 9 pm all safe and sound and after the tricky part of riding in the dark. As they say Shit Happens!

**akshay** · 11-16-2021, 08:20 PM

This is the video from the Hyderabad - biryani is life wala ride.

**akshay** · 11-17-2021, 08:41 PM

This travelogue is from a ride to Mount Abu from Pune between October 14 to 17. We began the ride amidst a cool morning at 5.15 am from Pune and headed to Thane and then Airoli and then encountered the mother of all traffic jams to cross Fountain Hotel and then another traffic jam on the NH 48 Mumbai to Vadodra highway. For all riders travelling this crappy stretch of road please add at least 1.5 hours to your travel time and a tube of fair & lovely to hide the soot after this stretch.

I am not a fan of NH 48 till Vadodra which is a busy, dusty and plagued with traffic on the wrong side of the road. Be prepared for another traffic jam at Surat. Nevertheless we soldiered on and after stopping at McD for lunch finally came to the turn off for the Halol - Godhra bypass. The road and ride from here becomes much better and we finally reached our halt for the night by around 6.30 pm at Hotel Luxeria in Godhra.

For dinner we called for a delicious baked dish of Veg Lasangne and finished that off with some dessert.

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