66) Shivanasamudra (Gaganchukki & Barachukki): (13/11/2012)

Place: Shivanasamudra (Gaganchukki & Barachukki)

Distance: 150 x 2 = 300kms.

Directions: Bengaluru – Chenpatna – Sathnur – Gaganchukki – Barachukki.

Particiapants: Chaithanya(Padiyar) > Manohar(Manu/Notorious) > Karthik (Sp).

Bikes: GS 150 > Pulsar 150.

Previous visit: Shanmukha temple & Omkarhills.
Budget: Rs 400/head

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

This was another formal run to the wonderful waterfalls. Like last time we put ourselves below the mighty falls & experienced the super awesome force of the waters. And oh yeah the best of the foods were on the menu as it was SH-17(Mysore road).

INTRO & PLAN:

It had been quite time since we had visited these falls. So a run was scheduled, with Manu & Padiyar on the confirmed list and the bakery set as the meet up point we crashed.

TIME: 22:00 (12/11/2012)

ASSEMBLE:

Yeah I was up at about 05:00, did a few push-ups & sit-ups, had some coffee and was all set to go. We met at bakery and had a long chat over a hot cup of tea as it had been long since we had met. After the tea we left Bangalore.

TIME: 07:00

 

RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Bidadi)

This was a 30kms stretch. We left Bangalore & kept a smooth pace throughtout on the highway for the next 30kms to reach Bidadi. We pulled over at our regular Tatte Idly hotel and munched on some superb breakfast.

TIME: 07:30

RIDE 2: (Bidadi – Kabbalu – Gaganchukki)

This was about 110-120kms stretch. After an excellent breakfast we left Bidadi. Continuing at a decent pace we reached Sathnur & took a deviation to reach Kabbalu. We stopped & showed our respect to this mighty hillock & we continued further to reach Kanakpura road. From then on it was pure cruising to reach Mallavali T-junction and heading further we reached Gaganchukki.

TIME: 10:00

 

GAGANCHUKKI:

The waterfalls looked beautiful like always. The waters were fading off but yeah spent about 15-20mins at this place. Oh yeah, a new road is being laid to this place so it was a bumpy ride to this place.

TIME: 10:30

BARACHUKKI:

Barachukki is about 8kms from the previous waterfalls. And one can get down into the waterfalls here. The roads were pretty good, so without much difficulty we reached the second falls. The place had a complete makeover thanks to the Karnataka Tourism Dept. The steps had supports, a few outposts were provided to get a better view of the waterfalls.

 

So we made our way down the steps and crossed a few slippery streams to reach the base of the waterfalls. As I sat ashore, Padiyar & Manu climbed a few rocks and made their way below the mighty waterfalls. After about 1.5 hours we dried up & decided to leave Barachukki.

TIME: 12:15

RIDE 3: (Barachukki – Sathnur – Kanva/Manju Dhaba)

This was about a 100kms stretch. We rode non-stop till Mallavalli, then stopped and came to decision to ride in Kanakpura road till Sathnur rather than rejoin Mysore road at Maddur itself. So we continued till Sathnur, took a small break, then rejoined SH-17 at Channapatna and finally reached Kanva(Manju) Dhaba for lunch.

TIME: 14:45

 

KANVA(MANJU) DHABA:

Ah yeah we were all dead hungry back at Barachukki itself, but we had pushed for another 2.5hrs. But trust me it was all worth the wait :) See the snap, Drool right!!! :D

We ordered a nice heavy lunch & sat back for the next 60mins munching down. After a heavy lunch we left the dhaba.

TIME: 15:45

RIDE 4: (Manju Dhaba – Bakery)

This was a 60kms stretch. This was our home run, so all we had to do was stay awake n get this last shit right. After about 60mins we reached back our bakery& had some hot tea.

TIME: 16:45

Until next time Cia \m/

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65) Shanmukha temple (NICE road) & Omkar hills: (6/11/2012)

Place: Shanmukha temple(NICE road) & Omkar hills.

Distance: 10 x 2 = 20kms.

Directions: Bengaluru – Shanmukha temple – JSS College – Omkar hill s.

Participants: Madhu(k.) > Karthik (Sp).

Bikes: CB Unicorn > Pulsar.

Previous visit: Mavathur  lake, Nelligudde kere & Manchinbele.
Budget: Rs0/head (Little Petrol was enough :P)

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

This was the shortest chapter we have pulled off till date. This time for a change it was definitely the destination that was important rather than the road which leads to it.

INTRO & PLAN:

This run was planned when we saw the sun go down in the Global Academy. It had been more than year since we visited Shanmukha temple. First we planned to go to only Omkar hills but ended up covering up both places. Madhu was the only one on the confirmed list.

TIME: 23:00 (5/11/2012)

 

ASSEMBLE & RIDE:

Yeah I was up at about 05:00, did a few push-ups & sit-ups, had a little coffee & left my home at 07:00. Went to bakery which was the starting point, had some tea etc., again & began the ride the places.

Shanmukha temple is just 4kms from here, so nothing much to write about the ride to the place. We took a shortcut, went below the NICE road and reached Rajarajeshwari Nagar.

TIME: 07:30

SHANMUKHA TEMPLE:

We spent about 30mins this place. This temple is clearly visible from the NICE road; hence some of the people I’ve come across call it the “NICE road temple. The ambience of the temple is simple brilliant, very tranquil in the mornings. Lots of changes had been done since our last visit.

Latest update being the crown is being filled with crystals which make the top sparkle from a very long distance itself adding to the majesty of the place.

OMKAR HILLS:

We reached Omkar hills t about 08:15; it is hardly a 15mins ride from Shanmukha temple. Omkar temple is situated right behind J.S.S College, Uttarahalli road. First we visited the huge clock tower, then the “All God’s Club” and finally the main temple..

1.  Clock tower:

* Largest Clock tower in India, bigger than Big Ben, London.

* Total weight 500kgs, each hand weighs 40kgs.

* Total height is 40feet.

Other info is written at the place, get out there & read it :)

2. All God’s Club:

We call it by this name cause, there are all forms of the single entity (or what I believe energy) present here. There is a huge tree like the enlightenment tree ha-ha, surrounding which are Hindu, Islam, Christianity, Sikh, Jain & Buddha. 

 

3. Omkar temple:

The temple is constructed in North-Indian style. There are 12 linga’s and each has a separate Gopura over it. We made a quick lap around the 12 different lingas from different states each with a different name. Then went outside and sat with the Pulliyogre enjoying the view of NICE road & Shanmukha temple seen about 5kms away.

Finally we left the place t about 09:00 & rode back at a slow pace to reach back base for breakfast.

TIME: 09:15

 

CONCLUSION:

“Some of us our religious, some aren’t but the respect we give to the place is something that has overpowered our personal opinions. This might have been the smallest chapter we have pulled off, but this is the run which taught us the biggest lesson” :)

Until next time Cia\m/

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64) Mavathur lake, Nelligudde kere, Manchinbele dam: (28/10/2012)

  

Place: Mavathur lake, Nelligudde kere & Manchinbele dam.

Distance: 150kms (full circuit).

Directions: Bengaluru – RRDC – Manchinbele – N.G lake – Bidadi - Mavathur.

Participants: Chethan(Zethu) > Deepak(Deefu/KBT) > Karthik (Sp).

Bikes: Zeus > Avenger > Pulsar.

Previous visit: Maddur Ice breaker.

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

This was another short run to three or rather two reservoirs around the city. A triple reservoir ride turned into double as the third one had turned into a dried up grassland.

INTRO & PLAN:

Initially the plan was to visit Mavathur lake. But thankfully we combined Manchinbele & Nelligudde lake along with it. Deepu & Zethu were the only ones on the confirmed list. After the plans were confirmed we crashed.

TIME: 23:00 (27/10/2012)

ASSEMBLE:

Yeah I was up about 05:00, did a few push-ups & sit-ups, had a cup of coffee and was all set to go. Left my home at about 06:45 and reached Rajarajeswari Nagar Arch to find Zethu already waiting. After about 30mins Deepu arrived & we left Bangalore.

TIME: 07:30

 

RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Manchinbele)

This was a good 30-35kms stretch. As we left Bangalore, we cruised along SH-17(Mysore road) to pass Kengeri & RRDC. Once we reached RRDC, took a right turn to reach Big Banyan and continued further to reach Manchinbele.

TIME: 08:00

MANCHINBELE:

This time the entire reservoir had a mist layer over it. And Savandurga which usually can be clearly seen from here was totally lost in the fog. Spent a good 15-20mins here and left.

NELLIGUDDE KERE:

This is not as famous as Manchinbele, but equally beautiful place. It is hardly a 10mins ride from Manchinbele. It had been more than a year since we visited this place. Like last time we rode on the top of the bund and stopped on it to enjoy the lake view. The water levels had gone down considerably due to the lack of rains or rather no rains this season. But the road which runs alongside the bund looked wonderful like always. We spent a few minutes at this place & decided to head further.

 

BIDADI BREAKFAST:

A 5mins ride from N.G Lake took us to Bidadi. We pulled over at our regular hotel for some Tatte Idly & Vada. Had some coffee & rode back to the Innovative film city Junction & Took a right deviation here.

TIME: 09:15

RIDE 2: (Bidadi-Mavathur)

The road which connected Bidadi to Harohalli had a right mixture of good, bad & no roads. Initially the roads looked very promising, wide and neatly laid. As we progressed it got messy. We spotted the ‘Vrishabhavati reservoir’ as well, trust me you better keep your distance from this one. 

 

Continuing further we joined Kanakpura road at Harohalli, rode till Jain international school then pulled over. We knew that the deviation to Mavathur was about 5-6kms from this point, so rode carefully for the next few kilometres. Once we found the right deviation a superb off-road ride with green fields around us took us to Mavathur.

TIME: 10:15

MAVATHUR DAM-GRASSLANDS:

We parked our bikes a few meters from the dam and walked towards it. The canal looked completely dried out, if you think that disappointed us, the view beyond the bund completed shattered us.

 

The entire reservoir had completely dried up. The sun was up & it was scorching hot. We were pretty much down in spirit. But then once we spotted ‘Bananthi Mari betta’ afar we were back on track and scheduled a trek to these hills sometime next year.

TIME: 10:45

 

RIDE 3: (Mavathur – Bangalore)

This had to be one the worst stretches ever. The roads were decent but as it was a Sunday, the horrible traffic got on our nerves pretty bad. We usually give a lot of respect for the other vehicles on the road. We kept left and cruised at a slow pace until a shit-head in an Innova tried to run me over expecting me to go off the road & into the lake. We pulled over took a break, then things got pretty serious. We rode towards almost centre with our light switched on.  After a about an hour or so we reached back Bangalore at noon.

TIME: 12:00

Then we went to our regular Hoskerehalli Donne Biryani for some heavy lunch then headed home for some rest.

CONCLUSION:

“Mavathur being dried up might have been disappointing. Some of you must have thought riding all the way there was a waste. But I feel these are the runs which bring out the best out of the future runs (hope it made sense, if not, it will). Cheers!!”

Until next time Cia \m/

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