One year with my bike, Nandi - Part 3

Sep2-5, 2016- Amruthapura, Sirsi, Yaana, Siddapura

It was the time of Ganesha Chaturthi and my ride plan was to in and around Sirsi. Initially planned for a solo ride. Mean while, Prashathi messaged in the Whatsapp group "Weekend trekking" asking about any plans for weekend. When I said I am going to Sirsi in bike, he said he also would like to join. So, I got a companion and asked him to come down to my home.We both stays in different corners of Bangalore. Since there was Karnataka bandh on Sep 2nd, and he took lot of struggle to reach my place.

It was around 6 PM we started from my room. Believe me, we did not had any route plan, where to stay , where all to visit, nothing at all. I thought will ride till Shivamogga over night and take rest some where there and will continue our journey. By the time we reach Tumkur road, traffic was huge since it was long weekend and also bandh was ended just few hours back. So we decided to go via Kunigal road, then from Chennaayapattana to Arasikere.

Whenever I ride in the Bangalore-Mangalore highway while going to native or during any ride, I visit Yediyur temple. I convey the same to Prashasthi, immediately he said he also wished to visit it. So we turned towards Yediyur Siddalingeshwara temple. Already it was time to close the temple. After having darshana there, we had food(prasaada) at temple's Dasoha nilaya (Dining hall) only. It was already 8:30 PM and still we haven't thought of staying or other plans. Then I thought will stay in my granny's home near Kadur. And after discussing with him, I called my uncle and said we both are coming for staying.

The highway was almost empty and we were riding in the night. From Yediyur, we reached Chennarayapattana.From there took diversion to Arasikere which connects Bangalore-Honnavara highway. Around 12:30 mid night we reached my granny's home Chomanahally in the foothill of Hemagiri hills. Next day, we started early morning from there and stopped at Preethi canteen, Birur for breakfast. Dose here is very nice and I never miss having Dose in this canteen whenever I am travelling in this road.

Preethi Canteen, Birur

From there, we were riding towards Tarikere . Prashasthi saw the sign board towards a Hoysala temple, Amruteshwara temple, Amruthapura. He insisted to go there, as even I am interested in Hoysala temples and architecture, and although I had already visited it but said Yes and we turned our bike towards Amruthapura. 

Amruteshwara Temple, Amruthapura

After seeing the temple, we started towards Shivamogga. From there, we reached Sirsi around 3 PM. We did not had any plan to visit any places.On spot we decided to go to Sahasra linga which is around 15 kms from Sirsi in Sirsi-Yellapura road. 

Sahasra linga

Wooden bridge near Sahasra linga

From Sahasralinga, we started towards Shivagange falls after taking route map from some local person there. He suggested some short cut route after crossing the hanging bridge near Sahasra linga. From there we reached Vanalli, then Shivagange falls. 

Shivagange falls

Though we tried to get down till falls, we couldn't since there was no proper route and many trees were fell down.Also, it was getting dark and nobody were there around.It was like a remote place. Then we came back and from there we went to Ganeshpal, where a small temple is there which will be completely immersed in water during rainy season. During the season we visited, it was surrounded by water and we did not go to other side to visit temple.

The road ends here. Need to go i mud road to reach Ganeshpal

Ganeshpal

I ride my bike in this kind of terrain too

From Ganeshpal, we decided to go to Sirsi and stay there in some lodge. While coming back from Ganeshpal, we decided to visit Sonde swarnavalli matha and then to Sirsi. By the time we reach Sonde, it was already around 8 PM. We got to know that we can stay there, hence we both decided to stay in Matha itself and will start our journey next day early morning.

It was time for evening main pooje by Swarnavalli Sri. We got a chance to witness the last mangalaarathi of the temple there. After this pooje, they will serve food in the matha similar to daasoha in Yediyur we had a day before. Since we were tired of riding around 400 kms since morning, we desperately needed a rest. 

Sonde Swarnavalli Matha

Missiles at Sonde Fort

Shiva temple at Sonde fort

Next day again early morning we got ready,and started our journey. First, we visited Sonda fort belongs to Sonda dynasty which is near to Sonda math. 

Our next destination was Yaana. From Sonda fort, we reached Sirsi, had breakfast there and started towards Yaana in Sirsi-Kumta highway. Earlier, people use to trek for around 6 kms to reach Yaana , but now small vehicles will go almost near to the temple.

There are around 90 shikhara of stones there in Yaana, out of which Chandika shikhara and Bhiraveshwara shikhara are bigger ones. There is a Shiva statue in Bhairaweshwara shikhara. After walking around the Bhairaveshwara shikhara, we continued our ride to Vibhooti falls near to Yaana.

Chandika Shikhara

Bhairaveshwara Shikhara

Entrance of Yaana

Vibhooti falls

Vibhooti falls was stunning and road from Yaana to Vibhooti falls in the middle of forest, bends and down together, sometimes up and bends together. Ride in this route was the one I enjoyed much in whole trip. 

From,Yaana we planned to go to Benne hole falls. After some suggestion from local person, decided to go via Manjuguni and from there in short cut we can connect to Sirsi-Yellapura road where we can go to Bennehole falls.

Manjuguni Temple

Bennehole falls

This was the route to reach Bennehole falls

Manjuguni, name came to this village bcoz this whole village will be covered with fog (Manju in kannada), it was called as Manjuguni, some local explained it. By the time we reach there, it was closing time for temple. Then we had a very delicious food which includes Paayasa, rice, tambuli, butter milk, curd in the daasoha in temple. After witnessing the nice architecture of temple built in 9th century, we started towards Bennehole falls.

To reach bennehole falls, have to connect to Manjuguni cross-Karase-Bandala. From Bandala, again ride 3 kms to reach small village called Kasage. From Kasage again continue in same road for around 1 km and take diversion to reach bennehole falls. Since the sign board was also gone, we were confused about the route. Then after confirmation from some local people, we started in mud road for around 5 kms from highway till bennehole falls. Not even a single person we saw in that road till falls. 

After some 3 kms of ride in mud road inside the forest, there was a diversion. We were confused to go in which road to reach falls. Fortunately, we found some small board there and took diversion towards right to go to falls. Reached near by falls, parked bike and had to trek for around a km to reach the falls. Its least explored, unpolluted falls near Sirsi. Pray God that let it not get polluted with more tourists.

From, bennehole falls we came back in same mud road, and then we decided to go to Unchalli falls. Again came back to Bandala., from there again got a short cut from localaites. We reached place called Kanchikai, then Heggarane. From Heggarane Unchalli falls is about 4 kms.

Unchalli falls is also known as Lucington falls since some British officer found it. Also, localites calleD it as Keppa joga meaning Deaf Joga. One more fact about this falls is, a famous Kannada movie 'Nammura mandaara hoove' by Shivaraj kUmar, Ramesh was shot here.

Unchalli falls

After enjoying the beauty of Unchalli falls, we started our journey towards Siddapura. Again got the route from localities and started towards Siddapura. Came across a junction called katri (Scissor) as locals call it there where 4 roads connects. Though we took short cut, since some bridge was collapsed in that route and was not repaired since an year, we took different route after asking people there and reached Sidapura then Sagara around 8 PM and stayed in Prashasthi's home 'Prashanthavanam'. As the name says, really it was Prashantha vana, calm place.

Confused at Katri, a junction of 4 roads

Next day it was Ganesha chaturthi. Had breakfast at his home and it was my wish to visit Varadashrama at Varada hally near Sagara. Could not visit this ashrama when I had been to Sagara earlier, So I conveyed my wish to visit there, then we went to Varadasharama where Sridhara swamiji lived. After a blissful visit to Vradasharama, came back to Sagara.

Prashasthi wished to stay in his home for another day. So, I started my journey to Bangalore from Sagara. On the way met my friend Kumar at Shivamogga and then visited my cousin sister Ashamma's home at Bhadravathi. Since, it was festival, had nice feast at sister's home and started my journey. One of my uncle got to know about my trip and he asked me to visit his home on my way back to Bangalore. So,I visited my uncle's home at Siddaramanahally near Kadur on the way. Since, I was riding alone now, and my uncle asked my another cousin who was also coming to Bangalore to come with me, After having another feast, we started our journey to Bangalore.

A ride of 1250 kms all together ended.

More details about this bike trip can be read in Prashasthi's blog as well.

1. http://prashasti-prashantavanam.blogspot.in/2016/09/SahasralinigaShivagangaGaneshfallsSondamatha.html

2. http://prashasti-prashantavanam.blogspot.in/2016/09/SondaFort.html

3. http://prashasti-prashantavanam.blogspot.in/2016/09/Yaana.html

4. http://prashasti-prashantavanam.blogspot.in/2016/09/VibhutiFalls-manjuguni-Bennehole-unchallifalls.html

One year with my bike, Nandi - Part 2

July 24th, 2016 - Goravanahally

This time it was my friend Malli who insisted to go for a ride. Also, it was already a month I had been for any ride outside city. We searched for places within 100 kms from Bangalore and finalized to Goravanahally Mahalakshmi temple. It was decade ago had visited this temple when been to my friend's home nearby Goravanahally.

Our ride started from Banashanakri, Benagluru via Nice road, then to Tumkur road. After Nelamanagala will reach Dabbaspet. From there have to take right towards Koratagere. If we take left, we can go to Shivagange hills. We stopped at Dabbaspet to have breakfast and then started towards Goravanahally.  After having devi darshana at temple, we went to Theetha dam which is near by. Took rest there for sometime and started back to Bangalore and reached by evening after around 200 kms of ride to and fro.. Though we planned to go to Devarayanadurga on the way. somehow plan got dropped.

Gang of local kids at Theetha dam

July 31st, 2016- Ghati Subramanya and Nandi hills

After a week, again planned for some ride. This time plan was made 2-3 days prior only. Two more friends were suppose to join the ride in another bike, But Friday night they cancelled. We both, me and Malli do not wanted to cancel the ride, so as per plan, next day early morning we started our ride.

From Bangalore to Yelahanka, from there to Doddaballapura and then Ghati Subrahmanya temple. We stopped at Yelahanka to withdraw amount from ATM and some funny incident happened there. After withdrawing money, we sat on bike and were discussing whether to have breakfast at hotel next to the ATM or somewhere else. Then we decided to have somewhere after Yelahanka. Then I while I was wearing helmet,he had got down from bike and I was unaware of it.  I stared bike and started riding.I was murmuring something to him about route, and this much kms to ride and all. Then after around 4 kms of ride, Suddenly, I realized he is not in the pillion seat. I got a shock and was thinking did he fell down from bike somewhere. Immediately I stopped and saw few missed calls from him. Then called him, went back to pick him again.

At Ghati Subrahmanya temple

Near Ghati entrance

After having a fine darshana at temple, we checked the routes to Nandi hills,which was near by. So started towards Nandi hills, it came as a unplanned package.Then by asking short cut routes with locals, somehow we reached base of Nandi hills.

Uphill towards top of Nandi hills 

Since it was weekend and was hugely crowded. we dont wanted to spend more time in Nandi hills.So after quick walk around the park, temple and all, we got down and had lunch in the foothill. Then we checked route to Baagalore and decided to ride via Nandi cross,since we can visit Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple at Nandi village which was near by.

Kanive Basavanna

On the way to Nandi village, we visited Kanive Basavanna temple, at Sultanpet village where its believed that huge Nandi a monolithic is growing ever year. The Nandi is abut 5 feet height. We sat there for sometime, it was very less crowded and more peaceful. 

Temple complex

From Basavanna temple, we reached Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple, a 9th century temply built by Nolamba dynasty at Nandi village. Since I was more interested towards history and architecture of historical temples, I was moving slowly around the temple complex and trying to understand the architecture. 

I enjoyed each and every pillars of temple and sculpture there. Felt that I need to visit it once again and to spend more time here. Then after spending ample of time, stared towards Bengaluru via Nandi cross which concocts Bangalore-Hyderabad highway.

Few more posts to come about my other rides.

One year with my bike, Nandi - Part 1

Its been a year I got my bike, Royal Enfield Classic 350. It was my thought of passion to own a Bullet. Travelling being adhesive by birth, have traveled across the places by various modes, been ride with friends in their bike. So got a thrilled passion to go for rides in my own bike.

One fine day after some discussion and arranging some money, booked my dream bike. Plan was to get Electra 350, but finalized to Classic 350 after suggestions from friends. After a month of waiting period, got my bike in the mid of May 2016. Though my plan of first ride was to my native Halebeedu and to visit Pushpagiri hill near my village, couldn't plan accordingly.

May 21st-Yediyur:

My rides begun within a week after I got my bike. First ride was to Yediyur Siddalingeshwara temple near Kunigal on May 21st and it was solo ride. Its a ritual to perform worship (puje) for new vehicle.So decided to go to Yediyur temple. Now I visits Yediyur temple every time I go for ride in that route.

Yediyur Temple

After few days got a call from my friend Darshan. He being a avid traveler wanted to go somewhere and called me to go for some trip. After few suggestions in mind, we decided to go to Ramanagara hills (Ramadevara betta, hills of God Rama) also known as Sholay hills which got such name since the Sholay film was shot there,

June 4th- Ramadevara betta, Sei Revana Siddeshwara betta

So, it was June 4th 2016, early morning we started our ride. I picked him from his home in Vijaynagar and we started towards Mysuru road. Since it was Saturday and already Mysuru road was rush with number of vehicles. After a break at Bidadi to have delicious tatte idli and vade, we moved towards Ramanagar. By the time we reach checkpost , the main entrance was not yet opened.So parked bike there only, crossed fencing and started towards main steps to reach top of hill by walk itself. 

Ramadevara Temple

After climbing in unauthorized hill, reached the foot hill where steps begins. Then reached temple. From there, if we go behind the temple, we can climb to another hill. Took rest for some time, then moved towards top. After a salam to Hanuman statue carved in the rock, climbed the steps to reach top. Sat there in a calm breeze for some time, enjoying the nature and other hills around.

He got this centipede to play

After getting down from Ramanagara hills, decided to go to Sri Revana Siddeshwara hills popularly known as (SRS Hills). Have to reach there from Ramanagar. Had to climb around 1000 steps to reach the top of hill to visit the temple. Though we were little tired to climb the second hill in a day, and since we both are trekkers we managed with less hassle. After visiting a temple, we got down and had a food in the temple where they have a Daasoha for all visitors. 

Though I decided to return back to Bengaluru from SRS hills itself since there was a sign if rain, Darshan insisted to visit Kaveri sangama near Mekedaatu. We got the routes from some locals there and ride towards Sangama which was around 60 kms from Revana Siddeshwara betta. 

When we give juice, even monkey will not say NO. This at SRS Hill

After a nice swimming in Sangama, we started towards Bengaluru and we got stuck in rain in the middle and had to stop for sometime near Satanur and reached home around 9 PM.

June 10th-13th, Halebeedu, Pushpagiri, Chikkamagalur

Then a week after a day comes to take my bike to my native for first time. En-route to my native visited Yediyur again and reached my home. After seeing my bike and knowing its cost, family members and friends starting saying "you would have taken car by adding some more amount to this, instead of taking this bike." Believe me, at least 100 people have said this to me. I tolerated some how.

Getting down from Pushpagiri

Next day, went to Pushpagiri hills near my village where Mallikarjuna swamy temple is there to perform ritual puje there. After coming back, my Dad asked about my bike's gear and all,then without my notice he took my bike ,went for a test ride and said "it is very good for ride, worth for that amount". Then he took my Mom for a round. And from then he stopped saying the dialogue about car that "you would have taken car....." Since the day I booked it, he used to say, why that much costly bike, instead you buy a car. But that dialogues stopped this day.

Next day was suppose to attend some function in Kadur and I decided to go via Chikkamagalur. It was thrill to ride in the country side in the village mud roads when your bike is OK for all roads. 

Stopped in the middle, when some old man asked for lift

In Chikkamagalur met my friends Bhagya and Vidruma and then spot decision was made to go to Hirekolale lake which is around 10 kms from Chikkamagalur in the foothill of western ghats. Ride was awesome in the midst of forest and in cool weather. 

At Hirekolale lake

After having a delicious Masale dose and hot Jamoon at town canteen, Chikkamagalur we departed and I ride towards Kadur in the ghat road where there are few scary bends. 

After coming back to my native, went to Hulikallu hills near Halebeedu where Veerabhadreshwara temple is there. It was many years back I visited there and recently there was temple renovation happened. So my parents said, will go there also since I got a new bike and same day new calf was born in our home. So decided to go there.

Hulikal Veerabhadreshwara Temple

After 750 kms of ride covering Yediyur, Pushpagiri, Hirekolale lake, Hulikalu betta reached Bangalore with other ride plans.

About  more rides in the upcoming posts..