Manchanbele Revisited

Went to Manchanbele Dam/Reservoir today. Later realized Big Banyan tree is also on the way and explored that too. I have been to these places before during IISc Populaire Savandurga 100. But at that time everything was in hurry as we have to complete the trip within specific deadline.

Today's experience : Both are great places. I loved the Big Banyan Tree, some people like trees, some like Animals, I am a tree guy so that was obvious. It was perfectly cool (natural AC) under the tree, I even took a nap after having my Lunch, that was great :-) But it wasn't easy, there are many monkeys around, they snatch stuff, particularly if they have weak opponent. They were planning to target my backpack when I was in sleep, but I woke up once I hear their movement nearby.

Ride Report - around 100km, approx 8 hrs. Started aroung 6:45 AM came back around 3.00 pm. I have some really nice videos but don't have patience to upload them on youtube and put the link :-) will do that some other time.

Manchanbele Dam, I met some other bikers there

Big Banyan Tree

Kanakapura Trip [Cycle Diaries]

This time we went towards Kanakapura its approx 55 km from Jayadeva flyover, Bangalore. Throughout, the road was very good. Its a fun ride while going, down slope most of the time and early morning cool temperature. The surroundings are beautiful. Many ponds and greenery all around. One of the best part of cycling in southern India is you get tender coconuts everywhere, really great refreshment. Overall we covered more than 100 kms. While coming back it was bit exhaustive due to sun light and long upward slopes. The trip duration was approx 7.5 hours including all the refreshment breaks.

 Paddy fields n coconut trees

 Abhi n Me

Officially we reached Kanakapura

Varma n Me

Cycle Diaries

Rest of the pics

I think Bangalore is just awesome place for cycling and I try to utilize any opportunity I get. Asked Rags (one of my roommate) if he is interested ? He said yes then I planned, didn't disclose the distance though :-).  We started for the shri Ravishankar Ashram in Kanakpura road, around 25 kms from our place. I had visited the place earlier and had liked some locations on hill top.

Google maps helped us to figure out the route, but there were quite a few. While going we choose to go via Koramangala -> Bannerghatta road -> NICE road -> kanakpura road. NICE road was really nice :-), It was just awesome for cycling. The slope was also helping us, you hardly need to use paddles.  We later came to know that bicycles are not allowed on that road :-).

Reached Ashram, there was a shuttle showing various places at Ashram. The Sumeru and Viskalakshi Mantapas are really nice places. Had lunch there (they serve free lunch to everyone) and after resting under the shade of the green trees for about an hour started our back journey.

In our back journey we choose different route, kanakpura road -> Banashankari -> koramangala. The road was in very bad shape due to rains and the Namma Metro construction work. And to add there was no mud-guard on the back tyre of my cycle so I was getting a constant spray of mud on my back. We reached our home around 5.00 PM after travelling more than 50 Kms........ huuuufffff quite a distance.

Not to mention the Bangalore's weather was very supportive :-)

Hiriyur Dam

We went to Hiriyur (place around 150 km from Bangalore) to attend one of my friend's marriage. First time attended a Muslim marriage. The marriage was organised in a mosque, and before the marriage there was preaching session. It was very different experience, never entered a mosque before. We also joined the preaching session for some time. It was basically simple urdu so we were able to understand that. After the preaching session ended, the procedure for the marriage started, and it took around 10 minutes to be done with the marriage formalities, so it was pretty fast.

As we had plenty of spare time, we went to the Hiriyur Dam nearby. I didn't know that Hiriyur is the oldest Dam of karnatka. Check out my flickr link for more updates about the place.

The Nandi Hills Trip

For the bikers Nandi Hills is a good place to start with. Its around 70 km from Bangalore and people visit this place mainly to enjoy the Sunrise. You must reach there pretty early in the morning around 5AM. We  hardly slept during the night and started our trip around 3 AM. It takes decent time to group all the friends before leaving. Our meeting point was Mekhri Circle and we started from there around 3.30 AM. It takes 1 to 1.5 hour to reach there and all of us were there by 5.00 AM. Unfortunately the police man there didn't allow  us to get into the hills before 6.00 AM as it was dark and cloudy. But after that what we experienced was just awesome. We couldn't see the sun till 9 AM as it was very cloudy but being among the dense clouds for the whole time was a very different experience. While returning we had the breakfast at CTR Malleshwaram and their Benne Masala Dosa was very nice. Overall the journey towards nandi hills was more enjoyable, no traffic, highway and cool climate, you drive most of the time above 80-90 kmph. While coming back it was bit hot and irritating due to traffic.

Caution 

- Keep your driving license and bike papers with you, there was a police man in the way otherwise you may have to manage with some money (around 100 bucks I guess).

-  Be careful at highway signals as the vehicles used to be at very high speed.

We have to reach there @top of that mountain

Varma with his Thunderbird

Our friends are there at all places

I really wondered that day that whether nature also likes Make Up. It was like winds are putting lots of powder on face of the hill.

clouds all over

Tipu Sultan used to come here to have a bath. Man this far to have a bath :-)

Walking into the clouds.

It was great fun to drive on these roads.

Liked this view from top of the Hill.

Time to have a group pic.

The cool breeze at this place was fundoo !

Ummmy Benne Masala Dosa !!