Since, it was raining heavily in Malnad region of Karnataka, I cancelled my ride plan to Ghats and made plan to Belum caves and Gandikota fort which were my long pending bucket list.
Day 1:
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| This was the route we followed. |
Few guys cancelled the ride in the last minute. Niranjan who was OK for any place joined the ride, then Shailesh who accompanied me in Rameshwaram ride also joined this time again.
Day 1:
It was early morning 5:00 AM me and Shailesh met near Banashanakari and Niranjan joined us near Hebbal.. Already, hundreds of riders and cyclists have assembled there waiting for their gangs who go rides in the same route. Since, its first time Niranjan and Shailesh meeting, they got introduced themselves and by 6:00 AM we started from Hebbal towards Hyderabad highway.
Since, there was less crowd in the highway, we could pick up the speed pace and by 9:00 AM we had reached Ananthpura. After a stop there for breakfast, we started towards Tadipatri. From Tadipatri took deviation to reach Belum caves.
Historical facts of Belum caves:
After a trek expedition inside caves, took rest for sometime and started our journy towards Jammalamadugu. We stopped there for lunch and then moved towards Gandikota which is around 10 kms from there.. This terrain in with a small road where we can see the Gandikota reservoir from far and the red color rocks. Also was able to see Deer, few rabbits crossing the road while we ride the bike.
By evening we reached Gandikota fort. Its a small remote village with 1 or 2 bus per day. There is only one hotel here named Hotel Haritha running by Dept of Tourism, Govt of Andhra Pradesh. If anybody have plan to stay here, need to do only online booking and better to book few days earlier. Also, dormitory is available. If beds are vacant, you can get in dorm.
Since we had taken tent we pitched it near hotel itself. Few travelers had pitched their tent inside fort and near to canyon itself. For food, there is no option except Hotel Haritha unless you can cook yourself there.
Brief about Gandikota fort:
Gandikota was founded in 1123 by Kapa Raja of nearby Bommanapalle village and a subordinate of Ahavamalla Someswara I, the Western Chalukyan king of Kalyana. The town played a significant role during the Kakatiya, Vijayanagara and Qutub Shahi periods. The fort was made more impregnable by Pemmasani Timma Naidu. The fort was under the control of Pemmasani Naidus for over 280 years.
Day 2:
Early morning we got ready and we went to canyon to watch the sunrise. Although we had watched sunset on previous day, its nice to watch sunrise too. Since can observe the color of rocks changes as sunshine falls.
After spending some time there, we started our journey towards Bengaluru via Muddanur - Pulivendula - Kadiri - Kodikonda - Bengauru. On the way we stopped at Kadiri to have breakfast and reached Bengaluru by afternoon ending our 700 kms of wonderful ride to beautiful places in a beautiful terrain.
Since, there was less crowd in the highway, we could pick up the speed pace and by 9:00 AM we had reached Ananthpura. After a stop there for breakfast, we started towards Tadipatri. From Tadipatri took deviation to reach Belum caves.
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| Entry to caves |
Historical facts of Belum caves:
The caves are natural and millions of years old, known to the local villagers for years. These caves are first recorded by Robert Bruce Foote in 1884. Explored and charted by H.D.Gebauer, German caver and his team in 1982-84. Declared as natural heritage by A.P Archaeology department in 1989.
Taken over by A.P tourism dept corporation in 2000. Developed and thrown to public in 2003.
After a trek expedition inside caves, took rest for sometime and started our journy towards Jammalamadugu. We stopped there for lunch and then moved towards Gandikota which is around 10 kms from there.. This terrain in with a small road where we can see the Gandikota reservoir from far and the red color rocks. Also was able to see Deer, few rabbits crossing the road while we ride the bike.
By evening we reached Gandikota fort. Its a small remote village with 1 or 2 bus per day. There is only one hotel here named Hotel Haritha running by Dept of Tourism, Govt of Andhra Pradesh. If anybody have plan to stay here, need to do only online booking and better to book few days earlier. Also, dormitory is available. If beds are vacant, you can get in dorm.
Since we had taken tent we pitched it near hotel itself. Few travelers had pitched their tent inside fort and near to canyon itself. For food, there is no option except Hotel Haritha unless you can cook yourself there.
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| Gandikota Fort |
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| Grand Canyon Of India |
Gandikota was founded in 1123 by Kapa Raja of nearby Bommanapalle village and a subordinate of Ahavamalla Someswara I, the Western Chalukyan king of Kalyana. The town played a significant role during the Kakatiya, Vijayanagara and Qutub Shahi periods. The fort was made more impregnable by Pemmasani Timma Naidu. The fort was under the control of Pemmasani Naidus for over 280 years.
Day 2:
Early morning we got ready and we went to canyon to watch the sunrise. Although we had watched sunset on previous day, its nice to watch sunrise too. Since can observe the color of rocks changes as sunshine falls.
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| Entrance of Gandikota Fort |
