My Ideas/Thoughts/Experiences

Well, a simple answer to the above question… Distract the customer with all sort of questions.

I had some bitter experiences at least 3 times (not sure how many times before) in the last couple of months when I felt the attender has cheated me. And it became very true when I noticed the same when done to another person filling up.

As an example, when you say you could fill up X amount, they press 0 and after a few seconds the another attender will come and distract you with cash or all sort of questions. While you are answering those questions the former will press a key wherein you meter reading will say that you have filled up X amount.

The best way to save yourself is to avoid re-filling in this stations.

I am mentioning the petrol bunks wherein I was cheated and I request readers to keep your eyes glued to the meter while filling petrol in this stations.

1. Bharat Petrolum – Sanjaynagar Main Road
2. HP Petrolum – Munireddy Paliya (Towards Bangalore Cannt from Mekri Circle)
3. Indian Oil – Dasarahalli Main Road

Next time I will make sure I have the video footage of the whole act.

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. Srinivas R
3. Chakrapani
4. Vijay
5. Rajshekar K S
6. Srikanth Chandragiri
7. Myself

Date: 12th September, 2010

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc, Bajaj Pulsar, Hero Honda Passion

Hogenakkal Falls or Hogenakal Falls known as the “Niagara of India” is a beautiful waterfall which is formed from the Kaveri River. It is located in the Dharmapuri district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and at around about 180 km from Bangalore. At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri, drops and creates numerous waterfalls as the water cuts through the rocky terrain creating a continuous thunder. The word Hogenakkal is derived from the the Kannada words Hoge, which mean smoke, and Kal which describes the rocks.

Route Information:

There are at least 2 ways to reach this destination from Bangalore. I exactly don’t remember the way we took while coming back, but this route is shorter then the one we took while going towards the destination. I am not in a position to describe that route, but we have entered Bangalore via Electronic city.

The one that we took while going towards Hogenakkal is as follows,

Outer Ring road -> Hoskote -> Right turn (below flyover) -> Mallur -> Bagalur -> Hosur -> Chikka Belagondapalli -> Hogenakkal

The road is good condition is very good and is not crowded as other roads, as it makes it wineds across the villages. We had all had a very good experience of the village life out there. The best part of it as we enter the forest area, which is inhabited by animals including the elephants, which we had an experience while coming back.

It is very difficult for me to elaborate the experience that we had gone through including the accident which Srikant and Rajshekar had in the jungle with both of them shivering. Anyway it was a good ride, which took almost 10 hrs of bike riding covering a distance of around 372 kms.

Images: http://ophiophagus.assamonnet.org/album/Hogenekkal

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. K.Parthasarathy
3. Manivannan
4. Hardik Gala
5. Purshottom Suryarao
6. Myself

Date: 5th September, 2010

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc, Yamaha Enticer, Hero Honda

Devarayanadurga is a hill station near Tumkur in the state of Karnataka in India. The rocky hills are surrounded by forest and the hilltops are dotted with several temples including the Yoganarasimha and the Bhoganarasimha temples and an altitude of 3940 feet. It is also famous for Namada Chilume, a natural spring considered sacred and is also considered the origin of the Jayamangali river. Another famous temple in the area is the Mahalakshmi Temple at Goravanahalli.

Route Information:

There are two ways to reach this destination from Bangalore. You can either take the Bangalore – Tumkur National Highway or via Yelhanka – Doddaballapur – Dobbspet Road. The former very dry as we undertook while coming from our destination while the later goes through some of the villages giving a lively view of village life.

Route 1:- Take the Bangalore – Tumkur road. Go to till Dobbespet. Go under the flyover and take a right. Take the right below the flyover. The left one leads you to Shivagange betta and right leads to Devarayandurga. It totals to around 80 kms from Bangalore.

Route 2:- As you move from Yelhanka towards Doddaballapur you will come across a section (circle) wherein one way goes to right hand side goes to Nandi Hills, middle road goes to Ghati Subramanya while the left goes to Dobbspet. Travel on that road till you reach the highway. As you enter the highway below the flyover, take the right. You can ask anyone or you will see the markings stating the way to the place. It is around 45 kms from Doddaballapur totaling about 90 kms from Yelhanka.

Images: http://ophiophagus.assamonnet.org/album/Devarayana_Durg

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. Myself

Date: 22st August, 2010

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Chikka Tirupati is a small version of what it exists in Tirupati. The distance is around 50 kms from Sanjay Nagar, Bangalore. The other option is to go via Hoskote and then taking a turn right at Chikka Halli. You need to cross at least 3 villages, but roads are in good condition. If you love roses, this is the way you should take. You will find rose gardens in both sides of the road along with brick making industries. It is around 20 kms from the village. 90kms in total.

Route Information:

You need to take the outer ring road to K R Puram and later on take the road to Whitefield – ITPL road, NH 207. At the Chikka Tirupati mini town circle take right to go to Chikka Tirupati temple. At the entrance you will find an arch as you enter. Roads are excellent except in some places.

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. Myself

Date: 1st August, 2010

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Thippagondanahalli Reservoir, also known as T G Halli Dam or Chamarajsagar, is around 35 km west of Bangalore towards Magadi. It is a man made reservoir which is being used by the BWSSB to cater to the drinking needs of western Bangalore. As of now, the whole reservoir is being fenced by BWSSB and entry to this dam is not allowed for the commoner, so we had to be content with viewing it from a distance.

Further down on the same stretch, as you reach Magadi, you can find one of the largest monolith hills in India, Savandurga. It is around 20 kms from the T G Halli Dam and around 55 kms from Bangalore. You can either use the Bangalore – Mysore highway or come from Magadi, which we took. The hill consists of two granite cliffs of 4000 feet tall and 13 kilometers (8 miles) in circumference , one called Bilibetta or white peak, another Karibetta or black peak. We were able to see some ruminants of the fort wall, not sure whether it really exists or not. Its an amazing place to go rappelling and rock climbing.

Route Information:

The T G Halli Dam in on the route to Magadi on the right hand side. You can see a old temple in the middle of the reservoir.

As you enter Magadi, you find a circle stating that you need to take the left towards the hills. It is around 8 kms from therein. It is around 1226m above sea level.

This is Ophiophagus giving you live update from the Bangalore-Mysore State Highway. Today, as every other day, we are about to witness the race to death in the Bangalore – Msyore State Highway. To keep you with the updates, I would again like to inform you about the rules and regulations that one has to meet before taking it on.

Participants: 2 wheelers, 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers, 6 wheelers, Trailers …
Contestants: Any user ir-respective of age
Vehicle: Any make, Local/Foreign
License: Not mandatory
Driving Skills: Not essential
Circuit: Bangalore – Mysore State Highway
Race Type: Death race
Timings: Open 24 hrs

The very good about this race track is that it is open to unrestricted public viewing and any one can participate from anywhere on that circuit and tend to increase on weekends. The track makes it’s way through small villages as well as some major cities, making it easily accessible to all the contestants.

Since I planned to push on updates on the track and the race status, I hoped into a Tata Indica and joined the already moving race group. I met the group at the Mysore intersection, one way coming from the city while the other being from the by-pass. Our driver was driving at 100 kmph, when I am being zoomed passed by 5 cars and when queried about the speed to him, he promptly said around 120-140 kmph. Our driver put his foot on the gas, and woh, we were also on par with them at 110 kmph. One Mercedes Benz and a Skoda Laura have just zoomed pass me at around 150 kmph leaving all of us behind trying to be the first. There is hardly and space between the two of the cars. If one puts on the brakes, I am sure the other would just ramp on the other. With both flashing indicators, they were just passing each one of us in the race track.

As we were cruising along on that speed, oh, what do I see! I see a cyclist trying to make it’s way on the the circuit. As far as I can see, he is seated on his Hero cycle, with one hand holding on to the cycle while the other hand trying to adjust his `lungi`, which does not seem be holding on to his waist. God, please don’t take his `lungi` off, else their might be a sudden increase in the Testosterone level in some contestants.

My driver would just shift the gears in order to lessen the speed along with the breaks. Oh what an idea, though it leaves the engine burning. As we are competing with one another, I notice a a group of villagers walking just beside the circuit, one set trying to cross the circuit and the other happily sitting by the side of the circuit gossiping, while our contestants are zooming by. Oh no. God save them.

The space that is between the cars is hardly a meter and everyone takes it granted that the former would not stop. The best part is that all the big vehicles would be driving on the extreme right so that other’s would have overtake through the left, a new overtake rule. They are the Big B’s of the road and would not give any indication while changing lanes making it difficult for us to shift and overtake. One needs to squeeze past them as we and fellow racers did.

I reached Bangalore and was lucky enough to complete the race and come out unharmed. Will update once again when I would be a part of the race. With government easing on the speed breakers rules on the roads, hope to have some more excitement as days go by.

This is Ophiophagus signing off for the day.

Participants:

1. K.Parthasarathy
2. Sudhir P.
3. Puskar Paranjpe
4. Myself

Date: 12th – 14th February, 2010

Mode of Transport: Bus

Iruppu or Irpu Falls lies on the Karnataka side of Brahmagiri. According to legend, when Rama and Lakshmana were searching for Sita, they became thirsty. Lakshmana shot an arrow into the Brahmagiri from which the river sprang. The falls is also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls, derived from the name of the tributary of Cauvery which starts from these falls, the Lakshmana Tirtha River. The Rameshwara Temple is situated on the banks of the Lakshmana Tirtha River, en route to the Falls. This temple attracts a large number of pilgrims during the festival of Shivaratri.

Brahmagiri is a mountain range in the Western Ghats of South India, situated on the border between Wayanad district of Kerala state on the south and Kodagu district in Karnataka on the north. Brahmagiri Hill, at 1608 m height, is a scenic place with lot’s of Shola’s and lot of wildlife.

Route Information:

Irupu is situated at 48km from Virajpet and around 260km from Bangalore. One needs to take a bus to Gonikopal from Bangalore and from there catch a bus to the falls. Once after reaching there, you would find the Rameshwara Temple at the base of it. You need to take a walk for about 3 kms from the temple base to the falls. The best time would be during the monsoon season when the falls would be filled with water, but however during our visit on the 2nd week of February , water was still in abundant.

A forest trail leads from the Irupu falls leads to the Brahmagiri Peak in Southern Kodagu. You need to take permission from the Forest Officials for enduring the trek. Moreover the important thing is that you need to carry your own food in case you are planning to stay at the forest guest house at night. You need to feed yourselves as well as your guide. Water is in abundance and you can have pure mineral water from the streams. It is around 10 kms from the falls to Brahmagiri. It is quiet a pleasant walk through the valley except near the peak where the steep is somewhat more. You will find lots of elephant dungs and in case you are lucky could spot one also. We were able to spot one Sambhar and tiger footmarks, which was 2 days old.

RFO Srimangala Contact Details/Phone number:

a. Srinivas Naik (RFO) – 09481989970
b. Pramod (RFO Office Assistant) – 09448813835
c. Pavan (Forest Guide) – 09900328596

Travel Itinerary (3 days)

1.   23:32 hrs – Take a bus to Gonikoppalu from Mysore Satellite Bus stand
2.   04:45 hrs – Reach Gonikoppalu
3.   05:35 hrs – Catch First Bus to Srimangala
4.   06:15 hrs – Reach Srimangala
The RFO office opens at 08:30 hrs, so you need to kill time which means you can have breakfast etc.
5.   08:30 hrs – The RFO office opens
6.   08:50 hrs – Get all the necessary approvals
Entrance Fee to the Forest – Rs. 40/- per person, Trekking Fee – Rs 600/-
Night Halt – Rs 500/- for 1 person, Rs 100/- per extra, Guide Charge – Rs 300/-
7.   09:20 hrs – Catch bus to Irupu Falls
8.   09:45 hrs – Reached Irupu Falls Base, get hold of the forest guide
9.   10:00 hrs – Start of the trek to reach the Forest Rest House
10. 12:15 hrs – Reach the Forest Rest house
11. 13:05 hrs – Start towards Brahmagiri
12. 14:30 hrs – Reach the base of Brahmagiri
13. 14:50 hrs – Reach the summit
14. 15:15 hrs – Start descending from the peak
15. 16:48 hrs – Reach the rest house
You need to wash utensils, collect dry woods to prepare your food.
16. 18:30 hrs – Start cooking
17. 19:30 hrs – Dinner over
18. 20:45 hrs – Bed time
19. 06:30 hrs – Get up and shoot some morning photographs
20. 08:00 hrs – Start descending from the rest house
21. 09:05 hrs – Reach Irupu Falls
You can spend 40 mins in the falls
22. 10:05 hrs – Catch bus from Irupu to Gonikoppalu
23. 11:30 hrs – Reach Gonikoppalu/ Eat and Drink
24. 13.57 hrs – Catch KSRTC Airavat to Bangalore
25. 19:45 hrs – At Kempegowda Bus Stand (Majestic)

One liner:

1. Partha – Bhison Prokandu Hati !!
2. Puskar – Misti Khabe?

Courtesy:

a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmagiri_(hill)
b. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irupu_Falls

Participants:

1. Abul Hasim
2. Myself

Date: 24th Janurary, 2010

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

The Big Banyan tree located in the village of Ramohalli, around 28 kilometers from the city. It was a single plant covering around 3 acres, but the main root cease to exist now. Locals say that it is at least 400 years old.

The Manchanabele Dam is further down another 9 kms from the place. The dam is built in the catchment area where the rivers Arkavathy and Kumudvathy meet. The place is all surrounded by rocky hills. You can have a leisurely walk on the cris-cross country road. You can have a dip in the waters also, which seems tempting.

Route Information:

Take the Bangalore Mysore highway. After Kengeri take the right after Rajarajeshwari Dental College and Hospital. You will come across the railway crossing. Follow the raod which will lead to the place. There is a direct bus also from K R Market, 227.

Further down from that place, you will find a circle. Take the left towards ISRO centre. You could find the huge antennas on the left. Move further down on the same road you will have a full view of the lake from the hill top (road) itself. It is almost 9 kilometers from the Big Banyan tree.

Images: http://ophiophagus.assamonnet.org/album/BBT_Manchanabele_Dam

Participants:

1. Ashok Rao
2. Prem Chandra Gautam
3. H. S. Venkatramana
4. Abul Hasim
5. Myself

Date: 16th Janurary, 2010

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Devanahalli Fort is located 35 kilometers north of Bangalore city, at Devanahalli in the State of Karnataka, India. It was originally built in 1501 by Mallabairegowda and later on passed on to Nanjarajaiah, Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan. The birth place of Tipu Sultan is also located near the fort.

Route Information:

The fort is spread over an area of 20 acres. The roughly oval east oriented fortification veneered with dressed masonry has as many as 12 semi-circular bastions at regular intervals. A spacious battlement is provided towards the inner side of the fortification. The fort has entrances decorated with cut plasterwork at the east and west. The entrance is quite small. The bastions are provided with gun points built with lime and brick. The best part of the fort was that it consisted of 3 layers making in invincible for it to break, and hence I assume that the fort walls are still intact.

Jain Temple:

The Jain Temple is around 3 kms from the fort. You can take the left road from the Devanahalli bus stand. While traveling, you will find the temple on your right.

Sai Temple:

Further towards Chikbalapur, some where around 5 kms from the Jain Temple is the Sai temple towards your right. You will find the meditation centre also there.

Images: http://ophiophagus.assamonnet.org/album/Fort_Devanahalli

Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devanahalli_Fort

Participants:

1. Anil Naik
2. Shrikant Gaikwad
3. Abul Hasim
4. Myself

Date: 25th Dec 2009

Mode of Transport: Bus, Train

Karwar is the administrative headquarters of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, India. It is a seaside town situated on the banks of the Kali river which is on the west coast of the Indian peninsula. The town lies about 15 kilometres south of the Karnataka-Goa border and 519 km north-west of Bangalore.

Goa is India’s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located on the west coast of India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.

Day 1:
A day at Karwar:

Karwar city was a small one. You could walk across the whole city on foot. The railway station is just 7 km from the main city Bus station. Road’s are clean and the best part was that, there were no traffic signals, Woh!

Rabindra Nath Tagore Beach, which lies on the by-pass to Goa, seems a lonely beach during the afternoon hours as we experienced. But as the sun was going down the horizon, crowds gather up to see the sunset. It was a great experience. The strong hitting of the waves against our body was a great feeling.

Day 2:
A day at Goa:

Beaches, Beaches and Beaches with bikini clad firangi’s, and Indian trying to match them.

Day 3:
A day at Devbagh beach resort, Karwar:

Devbagh resort is one of the few resorts from the forest departments of Karnataka. Actually it is just a few kilometers from Karwar city. You can either take a boat ride or a bus from Karwar itself. In case you are taking the boat ride you can see the Kali river meeting the Arabian sea. You can have a full/half day at the resort. Cottages/Tents are also available therein. You need to book the tickets in advance. The beach is some sort of a private beach wherein you are all on yourself. Water is crystal clear. You can actually find lot of small crabs all along the beach, though they are not at all dangerous. We had enjoyed very much. It is better not to venture out in the sea during the high tide.

After the visit from the resort, Shrikant and myself went to the INS Chappal, an Indian Navy Ship which is currently a museum at Karwar. We were able to see the machinery that runs an warship along with the ammunitions that it had carried while it was in commission, torpedo’s, gun’s and launcher’s. Proud of Indian Navy.

Day 4:
A day at Goa:

Beaches, Beaches and Beaches with bikini clad firangi’s and Indians trying to match them.

The good thing that I found was that, the beaches are being in constant vigilance by the Goa Tourism Department. Rescuers are positioned in many places with flags marking the area where swimming is to be carried out or not. This is being runned by the government through an organization named “Shristhi”. The rescuers are being well equipped with water proof walkie-talkies in order to communicate with each other and first aid kits. The only thing that the rescuers complained about was, that Indians would drink and swim in deep sea(some does not know how to swim), and would never follow the instructions specified, We Indians!. It is through their relentless efforts/vigilances of the guards like Anil, Madhav et all, that has made it possible for the Goa-n beaches to be safe and thereby reducing the number of mishaps that had occurred in the past. I salute them for their effort/service.

One liner: We should have control (Anil).

Lodging/Food at Karwar:

1. Hotel Navaratna Deluxe
2. Hotel Amrut

Last but not the least, a good place to visit with friends, eat and drink.

Goa Images: http://ophiophagus.assamonnet.org/album/Goa
Karwar Images: http://ophiophagus.assamonnet.org/album/Karwar
Devbagh Beach: http://ophiophagus.assamonnet.org/album/Devbagh_Resort