Archive forItinerant

Visit to Karwar and Goa

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

Comments (8)

Ride to TK Falls

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. Myself

Date: 22nd November, 2009

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Thottikallu falls is more popularly known as TK falls. The falls is on the Bangalore – Kanakpura road, hosting a a small shrine just beside it. The best time to visit is after the monsoon rains. We were lucky to find the falls in full flow. The falls can be reached via the Banerghatta road also.

Route Information:

The falls is around 45 kms from Mekhri Circle.Get on the Bangalore – Kanakpura highway. Drive on the road till you reach `Art of Living`. After you cross the centre, you will reach Thottikallu cross which is around 3.5 kms from there. Take a left from there. Drive all along the way till you reach a reach a rehabilitation centre for psychiatric disorder by the name `Adrutha`. Opposite you will find a road. Take a left therein. After around 1 km take the first right. Ask the locals in this area as you might miss this. The road is in bad condition, but work is going on. Follow the road which will lead you to the falls. The falls is around 5 kms from the Thottikallu cross.

Approach road to the falls

TK Falls

Temple on the base of the falls

Comments (1)

Ride to Hesaragatta Lake

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. Myself

Date: 1st November, 2009

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Hesaraghatta Lake is a man-made reservoir located 18 km to the northeast of Bangalore. It is a fresh water lake created in the year 1894 across the Arkavathy River to meet the drinking water needs of the Bangalore city.

Route Information:

The lake is around 27 kms from the main Bangalore city located besides the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research. Ride via NH4 till you reach Vidyanagar. Take a right towards Hasaraghatta main road. Drive the road till you reach an arch stating “Indian Institute of Horticultural Research” on the right. Move further on that institute road towards the Central Bank. Just 200 meters from there, you find the lake on your left. Road condition is very good all throughout.

The other way is to go via Jalahalli -> Doda Byalakere -> Hasaraghatta main road. Road condition is not good.

Hesaraghatta tower

Hesaraghatta lake

Hesaraghatta birds

Comments (1)

Visit to Gokarna and Murudeshwar

Participants:

1. Purushottom Suryarao and Family
2. Shrikant Gaikwad
3. Myself

Date: 1st October, 2009

Mode of Transport: Bus

Images:- http://ophiophagus.assamonnet.org/album/Gokarna

Comments

Ride to Chunchi Falls

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. Myself

Date: 28th September, 2009

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Chunchi falls is created by the river Arkavati and has rocks all along with path. Due to constant water flow, the rocks have shaped to different shapes. It provides a wonderful view for the nature lover and have lots from artistic view point.

Route Information:

Chunchi falls is located in Kanakpura Taluk in Bangalore District. There are two ways of reaching to there. One is via Santhanur. One needs to take the road to Sathanur Junction via Kanakpura. Take a the road on the left towards Mekedatu. One needs to travel some 18 kms to reach one the same road. One will find a marking saying Chunchi Falls to be 6 kms. Take the road on the left as marked. The other option is take the left after one reaches Kanakpura. You will find some sort of small circle (a small statue is there in the middle of the road). The right hand side of the road takes to Santhanur while the left hand goes to Sangam/Mekedatu. Take this road which will later get linked to the road towards Mekedatu as mentioned above. The road does not have any markings, so it better to ask the locals. They are quiet helpful in this regard. The place is around 95kms from Bangalore (Mekhri Circle).

Arkavati River making it's way through rocks

Chunchi Falls

Arkavati River making the way

Comments (4)

Visit to Bull Temple

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. Myself

Date: 27th September, 2009

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Bull Temple is positioned at the southern end of Bull Temple Road in Bangalore. The temple is located in Basavangudi. The special attraction of the temple is a huge structure of bull made out of a single piece of stone. The temple is said to have been built by Kempe Gowda in 1537 A.D. A statue of Shiva is also there just behind the bull. The structure has a height of about 4 meters and a length of about 6 meters.

Route Information:

The temple is located at Basavangudi, Bangalore and is at the southern end of the Bull Temple Road. The best way to find the route is to do a search of http://maps.google.com and enter the keywords as Bull Temple, Bangalore. It is about 20 kms from Mekri Circle.

The Bull inside the temple

Bull Temple

Comments

Ride to Shani and Bhoganandishwara Temple

Participants:

1. Purushottom Suryarao
2. Myself

Date: 26th September, 2009

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Bhoganandishwara Temple is perhaps the finest and the most ornate of the Dravidian temples. The whole temple consists of twin temples, Bhoganandishwara on the north while Arunachalaleshwara on the South. The temple was built by Ratnavali consort of the Bana King Bana Vidhyadhara at a record A.D.810.

Route Information:

Shani Temple: The temple is located at around 45 kms from Bangalore on NH7 towards Chikkaballapur. As you move towards the Chikkaballapur Taluk, you will find the temple on your right. The hotel Shanthi Sagar is located opposite to it besides a big banyan tree.

Shani Temple at Chikkaballapur

Bhoganandishwara Temple: Bhoganandishwara Temple is about 55 kms from Bangalore. Start towards Chikkaballapura on NH-7. After about 10 kms from the Airport crossing, turn towards left towards Nandi Hills. You will find a T junction (dead end), the left goes to Nandi Hills while the right goes towards Muddenahalli. Take the right here. After traveling almost 7 kms from there you will find the temple.

Shiva and Parvati at Bhoganandishwara Temple

Bhoganandishwara Temple

Water Storage inside Bhoganandishwara Temple

Comments (5)

Ride to Ghati Subrahmanya/MakaliDurg Fort

Participants:

1. K.Parthasarathy
2. Shrikant Gaikwad
3. Guru Prasad
4. Manivannan
5. Myself

Date: 6th September, 2009

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

The temple is dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya and Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. It is believed that the idol of Subrahmanya is self originated. The uniqueness of the temple is, Sri Subrahmanya is facing east and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is facing west in a single image. One can have darshan of Lord Narasimha through a mirror placed rear side. First time I went there, I was not able to make it out.

Route Information:

Ghati Subrahmanya – Ghati Subrahmanya is about 53 kms from Yelhanka, Bangalore. One needs to take the road towards Doddaballapur, and from Doddaballapur it is about 15kms. Just as you reach MakaliDurg railway station, take the road to the right. This will lead you to the temple.

Ghati Subrahmanya

GhatiSubrahmanya Snake Statue

MakaliDurg Fort – From the MakaliDurg Railway Station, to the base of the hill is exactly 2 kms. Walk on the railway track enjoying nature. On the left hand you will come across a temple of Lord Krishna. Cross the temple and take the road which will lead you to the fort. The climb to the top can be covered in 1 hr as informed by locals. In case you are more adventurous, climb straight towards the top. Be careful of snakes and thorny bushes.

MakaliDurg Railway Track

Train view from the top

View from the top

Comments (2)

Ride to Muthyala Maduvu (Pearl Valley)

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. Myself

Date: 2nd August, 2009

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Muthyala Maduvu which means Pearl Valley, is a picnic spot with a small waterfall. The attraction of the spot is the waterfalls which is formed by thin jets of water which gushes downs. The jets of water form a pond giving it the notion of pearls.

Route Information:

Pearl Valley is about 40 kms from Bangalore. It is in the periphery Bannerghatta National Park. One needs of take Bannerghatta Road and reach Bannerghatta National Park. Continue beyond and reach Anekal. Take a right turn at Anekal and after about 15 minutes drive you will reach the spot. At the top of the hill you can find a KSTDC hotel.

Approach road to Pearl Valley

Steps towards the valley

Stream flowing down the valley

Comments

Kaveri River Belt : Muthathi

Participants:

1. Shrikant Gaikwad
2. Myself

Date: 19th July, 2009

Mode of Transport: Bajaj Platina 125 cc

Muthathi is a small river town, in a rural district of Karnataka, wherein you will find the Kaveri river running shallow and wide. The town is on the edge of the biggest forest range in India, which spreads across three states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala. In case you are lucky enough, you could see wild animals on the way. The huge Masheer game fish is also said to be found here. One needs to take permission from the forest officials in case one is planning to do a trek/night camp in the forest range.

Route Information:

Muthathi is around 100kms from Bangalore rounding to around 2 hrs journey in bike. One needs to hit the Kanakpura road from Bangalore, and drive straight to Kanakpura. Once when you reach Kanakpura circle, take the road to the right to Sathanur. Turn left at Sathanur. The road straight away leads to Muthathi. The drive would be through the hills and wilderness of Kaveri wildlife sanctuary.

Approach road towards the place

Hills around Muthathi

Kaveri river flowing by the sides

Comments

Next entries » · « Previous entries