Place: Gundal Dam
Distance: 150kms x 2
= 300kms
Directions: Bangalore
> Kanakpura > Mallavali > Kollegala > Gundal Dam
Krew: Dileep (Koof) > Ashok
(Momz) > Karthik (Sp)
Bikes: Enfield
> Pulsar
Previous
Visit: Ganalu Falls & Shivanasamudra
Budget: Rs 540/head
IN
LESS THAN 50 WORDS:
One crazy unexplored places around
Bangalore. But the day of the trip was chaotic there were riots in Kanakpura
and Ramnagar region due to the arrest of DKS. We had ride through slushy fields
and get away from the mob and the burning tyres. One of those trips where we
felt so much resistance to reach the place, one we reached it, all things fell
in place and smoothness followed to the end.
INTRO &
PLAN:
As koof had come from Nagpur for semester end holidays, we had met few
times at Laxmi and then we decided to finish of the JD during a trip. Hence we
first planned a ride to Gandikota and then we decided to head to Gundal Dam and
finish the JD at Buyyandoddi with some fish fries.
TIME: 22:00 (29/8/2019)
ASSEMBLE
& LEAVE:
Yeah I was up by 5AM, did a few
push-ups and sit ups, all the physical training had kept me pretty good shape.
Koof came to my home and parked his bike, we both took off on my bike to meet
Momz at PES NICE toll. After formal greetings, we took off via the NICE road
towards Kanakpura road.
TIME: 07:30
RIDE 1:
(Bangalore – Kanakpura – Malavalli – Kollegala – Gundal Dam)
This would have to be one of the most resistance filled yet fun ride.
Every moment, our radar was full on alert. As we exited the NICE road, there
were cops all around the place sending back 4-wheelers. We thought it might
subdue as we proceeded out of town, and we could have never been more wrong. We
fuelled up our bikes fearing the petrol bunks might close down. As we proceeded
the weather chilled down but the smell of smoke in air could be felt
throughout. As we were aproachin Kanakpura, my mouth started watering thinking
of the yummy Masala Dose at Vasu hotel, but then there stood a mob of 20-30
people setting fire to buses and tyres and there was absolute chaos all around
the place. Keeping a safe distance, we asked a few local auto drivers for
alternate routes and then proceeded through villages and re-joined the main
road after a few kilometres.
Breathing a sigh of relief we continued for a 5-10kms and there was the
second mob blocking the road with a fallen tree and setting fire to it. So we
took another deviation through the fields, but as it had rained, our bikes got
stuck in the slushy mud and we had some fun removing it out and helping others
who took the detour following us.
Finally after the ruckus, and shoes completely smeared with slush, we
came out of the villages, it was actually very much fun absorbing the ambience
of villages rather than blindly riding on highways. Anyway, as we entered the
pipeline road, we were able to cover some distance, but at a slow pace. Then we
heard at Sathnur both the main Kanakpura road and the Pipeline road had been
block by a mob, this was quite frustrating. When we encountered the mob, who
were still beginning to set fire to tyres and shit, I decided to give an unsual
twist, went straight to the fellow who was setting the fire and asked him the
best route to Kollegala. This took him aback, Momz was confused and so was that
poor chap. Knowing where all the strikes were happening, he politely told us
the best route. Thanking him we proceeded to reach Halaguru for some much
deserved breakfast.
TIME:10:15
Sitting inside as we began our breakfast the shutters were closed as the
mob had begun striking outside, we thought of the option of visiting any nearby
place and returning or somehow reaching Gundal staying at Kollegala overnight
and returning back the next day.
The ride after Halaguru became peaceful as we entered the Mandya
District. No signs of any riots, hence we cruised along a bit fast to make up
for the lost time. Saying a big hi to Shivnasamudra we cruised into Kollegala.
Proceeding from Kolegala, it was time to test our memories of the route to
Gundal. Getting every turn right,
remembering the solar farms, chicken farms we made it to Gundal in one piece.
TIME: 12:00
GUNDAL DAM:
Riding on top of the bund was a pure joy. The view you get to the left
is simply breath taking. We decided to go and inspect the Travellers bungalow
on top and then return for a dip in the waters. We reached the top of the
bungalow and the view from here is simply magnificent. Taking the contact
details of the Government officials, we thought we would swim first and then
decide whether to stay or move back to Bangalore.
As we rode back towards the bund, the sight in front of us shook us. The
right side of the bund was completely invisible with fog and rain and the winds
were blowing towards us. As we proceeded hardly 5mins, down came the showers.
We still rode on top of the bund and parked our bikes and rested for a few mins
near the gates.
Then we decided either way we were getting into the waters, so doesn’t
matter much if we get drenched. We parked our bikes on the bund and one foot
into the water, koof came running back, we started laughing. Then I took a turn
and then I came running back. Before momz could enter we pushed into the waters
:P
The water was freaking cold and the skies were playing all along. Few
moments of sun and few moments of rain. One point of time half of the reservoir
was sunny and the other half was raining. It was simply crazy! After about
30mins in water we decided to head back out and return back to Bangalore on the
same day keeping our fingers crossed. We called up the Buyyandoddi Fish place
and requested them to keep 5-6fishes aside as we would be dropping by.
TIME:13:30
RIDE 2: (Gundal
dam – Kollegala – Mallavali – Buyyanadoddi – Kanakpura - Bangalore)
The ride back was a flat 150kms, but with an awesome stop at
Buyyanadoddi. As we left Gundal we knew we had burnt a lot of our time
navigating the detours. Hence we sped up and as we did, down came the rains. It
was not as intense as last time but nevertheless heavy, but we didn’t want to
get stranded 15km away from Buyyandoddi and couldn’t rain as in the Ganalu
falls trip, so we pulled over, buckled up, kept all phones inside and rode in
the rain. Like they say “if you don’t
ride in the rain, then you don’t ride!” but things eventually cleared up
and taking a deviation from Halaguru, we stopped at a small bar nearby picking
some sides, we sat at Buyyandoddi for the next 1.5hours as the rain picked up,
the temperatures plummeted, the fish was piping hot and down it went in one
smooth go!
Once we left Buyyandoddi, we knew we had few precious minutes of
sunlight. The entire Mysore road was closed due to the riots. .Kanakpura road
is dangerous after sunset. Hence, we had to make full use of the sunlight which
was available then. So we rode at good pace pretty much non-stop, cruising past
Kanakpura, finally about 15km from Bangalore we pulled over for a leak and then
as the sunset in deep, we entered the NICE road and reached back home for some
good Golgappas.
TIME: 19:30
CONCLUSION:
“This was one crazy chapter, i mean considering the intensity of the ride. We had to constantly make PLAN B,C,D .. and it went on. The angry mob is never nice thing to encounter on a trip. But we kept options open and pulled the chapter off. “
Until next time, Cia \m/
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