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Srisailam Yatra - Trip Log
Background
Srisailam is a peaceful town about 232 kilometers south of Hyderabad on the banks of river Krishna. There is a dam over river Krishna in the city known as the Srisailam dam which is 512 meters long. Srisailam is also an unique forest sanctuary apart from being an important pilgrimage town. The forest of Srisailam is the hub of the largest tiger reserve in India.
The Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple of Srisailam is one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingas' of India. This temple is situated on the southern bank of Krishna, on a 457 meter high hill. The presence of this temple makes Srisailam the most venerated sites of India. The temple is dedicated to Sri Mallikarjunaswamy and his consort Sri Bharamaramba Devi.
I have previously completed yatra over motorcycle covering the 8 important temples of Lord Ganesha called Ashtavinayak. It was single day ride where I covered approx 750 kms. My next target was to do a trip to Srisailam on the motorcycle. After trying to get company of some fellow riders for this trip, I decided to undertake solo!!
With some study of the road directions, weather forecasts, places to halt, etc and trying in vain to convince my family, I decided to go-ahead with the 3 day trip starting from 28th Aug 2009.
Day 1: 28th Aug 2009. Distance: approx 900 kms
(Panvel to Pune)
(Pune to Solapur)
(Solapur to Hyderabad)
(Hyderabad to Srisailam)
Crossing Hyderabad was quite a task. There is very crowded road from BHEL circle which broadens as we cross Hyderabad University and IIIT campuses. I was hoping to take the newly build Jawaharlal Nehru Outer Ring Road, but the wide sign board with a red across the motorcycle symbol, meant that I needed cut across the city. I needed to ask for directions on several occassions ate-up substantial time and it was 6:30 PM by the time I reached Srisailam Road to stop again for fuel and some snacks. By 7 PM it was dark and I still have 200 kms to cover. Since Srisailam is Tiger Reserve situated in the middle of Nallamalai forests, the forest department closes the road gates at 9:30 PM. I reached the gates right on time to be included in the last batch of 20 vehicles to cross over to Srisailam. Covering the last 50 kms of forest in the night on a lone motorcycle was quite an adventure!! Reached Srisailam at 11:30 pm. After some struggle to find accommodation, I was cozily asleep in an AC room at the Temple Trust motel named Ganga Sadan.
Day 2: 29th Aug 2009. Distance: approx 500 kms
(Srisailam to Solapur)
I had a religious pooja at the Temple of Sri Mallikarjunaswamy and his consort Sri Bharamaramba Devi in the morning and after breakfast was ready for return journey by 11 AM. With some stops on the way for scenic pictures I reached the new Rajeev Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad by 4 PM. Refueled myself and the bike and continued onward journey to Solapur. I could once again enjoy zipping across the broad and well textured road surfaces to reach Solapur somewhere around 10 pm. Checked into the best hotel at Solapur called Surya International. It provided for a comfortable stay with modern amenities and tasty sumptuous meal.
Day 3: 30th Aug 2009. Distance: approx 400 kms
(Solapur to Panvel)
As expected, I was quite exhausted by the long haul rides on pervious two days and decided to take it easy. After proper 7 hour sleep and good heavy breakfast I was set on the final leg of my return journey by 9 am. After the entire hustle bustle of Solapur Pune highway I was finally back to familiar roads from Pune back to Panvel. Had couple of brief stops at Pune, Lonavala and Khopoli, I was back in the loving warmth of Home by 6 pm.
Memorable Incidences:
1. How I got place to stay at Srisailam
2. Petrol Bunk owner at Solapur
3. Lunch at Hyderabad Airport Workers Canteen. GVR.
During my return journey, I had planned to catch a quick bite at the new Hyderabad Airport at Shamshabad. But the motorcycles were not allowed to park near the airport and it was almost impossible for me to unladen my heavy bags tied carefully to the bike and go to Airport. Just when I was about to continue further to find some other restaurant on the way, a traffic security guard asked me what I was looking for. Upon listening to my predicament, he pointed his finger towards a big shed at a distance, and asked me to go to the Canteen there. With lots of apprehension and also giving in to my hunger at that time I decided to give it a shot. I realized it was the GVR workers canteen. (GVR is the Infrastructure development company which is building the new Airport.) I was very pleasantly surprised to see excellent cleanliness and quality of food being served at the canteen. In fact it turned out to my best meal on this entire trip!!
Srisailam is a peaceful town about 232 kilometers south of Hyderabad on the banks of river Krishna. There is a dam over river Krishna in the city known as the Srisailam dam which is 512 meters long. Srisailam is also an unique forest sanctuary apart from being an important pilgrimage town. The forest of Srisailam is the hub of the largest tiger reserve in India.
The Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple of Srisailam is one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingas' of India. This temple is situated on the southern bank of Krishna, on a 457 meter high hill. The presence of this temple makes Srisailam the most venerated sites of India. The temple is dedicated to Sri Mallikarjunaswamy and his consort Sri Bharamaramba Devi.
I have previously completed yatra over motorcycle covering the 8 important temples of Lord Ganesha called Ashtavinayak. It was single day ride where I covered approx 750 kms. My next target was to do a trip to Srisailam on the motorcycle. After trying to get company of some fellow riders for this trip, I decided to undertake solo!!
With some study of the road directions, weather forecasts, places to halt, etc and trying in vain to convince my family, I decided to go-ahead with the 3 day trip starting from 28th Aug 2009.
Day 1: 28th Aug 2009. Distance: approx 900 kms
(Panvel to Pune)
(Pune to Solapur)
(Solapur to Hyderabad)
(Hyderabad to Srisailam)
Crossing Hyderabad was quite a task. There is very crowded road from BHEL circle which broadens as we cross Hyderabad University and IIIT campuses. I was hoping to take the newly build Jawaharlal Nehru Outer Ring Road, but the wide sign board with a red across the motorcycle symbol, meant that I needed cut across the city. I needed to ask for directions on several occassions ate-up substantial time and it was 6:30 PM by the time I reached Srisailam Road to stop again for fuel and some snacks. By 7 PM it was dark and I still have 200 kms to cover. Since Srisailam is Tiger Reserve situated in the middle of Nallamalai forests, the forest department closes the road gates at 9:30 PM. I reached the gates right on time to be included in the last batch of 20 vehicles to cross over to Srisailam. Covering the last 50 kms of forest in the night on a lone motorcycle was quite an adventure!! Reached Srisailam at 11:30 pm. After some struggle to find accommodation, I was cozily asleep in an AC room at the Temple Trust motel named Ganga Sadan.
Day 2: 29th Aug 2009. Distance: approx 500 kms
(Srisailam to Solapur)
I had a religious pooja at the Temple of Sri Mallikarjunaswamy and his consort Sri Bharamaramba Devi in the morning and after breakfast was ready for return journey by 11 AM. With some stops on the way for scenic pictures I reached the new Rajeev Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad by 4 PM. Refueled myself and the bike and continued onward journey to Solapur. I could once again enjoy zipping across the broad and well textured road surfaces to reach Solapur somewhere around 10 pm. Checked into the best hotel at Solapur called Surya International. It provided for a comfortable stay with modern amenities and tasty sumptuous meal.
Day 3: 30th Aug 2009. Distance: approx 400 kms
(Solapur to Panvel)
As expected, I was quite exhausted by the long haul rides on pervious two days and decided to take it easy. After proper 7 hour sleep and good heavy breakfast I was set on the final leg of my return journey by 9 am. After the entire hustle bustle of Solapur Pune highway I was finally back to familiar roads from Pune back to Panvel. Had couple of brief stops at Pune, Lonavala and Khopoli, I was back in the loving warmth of Home by 6 pm.
Memorable Incidences:
1. How I got place to stay at Srisailam
2. Petrol Bunk owner at Solapur
3. Lunch at Hyderabad Airport Workers Canteen. GVR.
During my return journey, I had planned to catch a quick bite at the new Hyderabad Airport at Shamshabad. But the motorcycles were not allowed to park near the airport and it was almost impossible for me to unladen my heavy bags tied carefully to the bike and go to Airport. Just when I was about to continue further to find some other restaurant on the way, a traffic security guard asked me what I was looking for. Upon listening to my predicament, he pointed his finger towards a big shed at a distance, and asked me to go to the Canteen there. With lots of apprehension and also giving in to my hunger at that time I decided to give it a shot. I realized it was the GVR workers canteen. (GVR is the Infrastructure development company which is building the new Airport.) I was very pleasantly surprised to see excellent cleanliness and quality of food being served at the canteen. In fact it turned out to my best meal on this entire trip!!
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