Here comes calendar for March 2008.
Background photo: Captured near Mallalli Falls near Somawarpet.
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Labels: Calendar
It's been a long while since I rode out of town on a long ride. It's time to hit the road. Last time it was a two day ride to Madikeri.
Now I'm heading west, towards Mangalore. I've four days in hand and a wedding to attend on Sunday. The plan is wide open. As of now probably it's going to be riding around Udupi, Mangalore & if possible Kasaragod. And looks like I'll be taking the same route which we took while riding to Goa 15 months ago.
Also on the agenda is to meet couple of bloggers and one of them is a travel blogger.
Previous bike rides:
Photos from my recent visit to Sringeri, Goddess Sharada's abode. Nothing much to say from my side, enjoy the photos :)
More details about Sringeri & it's history -
Labels: Chikkamagalur, Karnataka, Pilgrimage, Travel, Western ghats
Just back from Sharavathi valley after a two day adventerous exploratory trek, from Kanoor to Nagavalli. Though Kanoor - Doctor mane (Doctor's house) - Kanoor Kote (Kanoor Fort) is a known explored trek path, we kept Kanoor as starting point and end point Nagavalli via Doctor's house & decided to explore a new route with the help of Ganapati of Sharavathi Adventure Trails.
If you ask me which was the best moment of the trek, it's very difficult to pick one from the below list -
- Traveling in a luggage carrier for 10+ KMs after a bus journey of 10 hours
- Getting scratched by thorns as we trek. And you look ahead to find no path, all you can see is thorny bushes
- You reach stream after 4 hours of trek or rather say exploration, and jump into it immedeatly
- Lunch is ready & served, you are hungry, but you can't eat because it's steaming hot :)
- Everyone volunteers to help for preparing dinner. Menu: Chapathis, Rice, Sambar & Moong dal Kheer (hesaru bELe paayasa)
- No lights around and you have moonlight dinner
- After a sumptuous dinner, you go on a night trek for a KM
- And to top it all, journey of 40KMs sitting/lying down on the bus top
- You duck/bend every time when someone shouts to avoid tree branches & electric wires
Labels: Adventure, Karnataka, Trek, Weekend Getaway, Western ghats
Virupapura: A tale from Ramayana
3 Comments Published by Prashanth M on February 06, 2008 at 5:58 PM.
Virupapura, one of the few places that I have visited countless number of times, is a tiny village which has a story linked to Ramayana. Situated around 75 KMs from Bangalore and a stone's throw way from my native, the place gets the name from Rama. Previously known as Virupakshapura and along with the time, name got changed to Virupapura.
Main reason for me to visit this place repeatedly is the small hillock to the north east of the village & the panoramic view it offers from the top. My usual routine used to be - climb up the hill which doesn't take more than 15-20 minutes, reach the lone stone mantapa, sit & ponder for hours.
Link to Ramayana – As per the local stories, when Ravana kidnapped Sita, Rama & Lakshamana in search of her reached this place. And Rama built a temple of Lord Shiva (called as Siddarameshwara temple by villagers) here on the hillock. And there are plenty Custard Apple trees (Sitaphala or Sita’s fruit).
I visited the place after a long gap of 8-9 years. And I could see lot of changes. One main change that bothered me was stone-quarrying. Almost 25-30% of the hillock is missing when compared to old days. Take another 3-4 years, that good old small hillock which inspired me into treks and hikes will disappear forever. It’s hard to digest but that’s the sad truth.
How to reach there -
B'lore - Nelamangala - NH48 - Marur handpost - turn left - Kudur - Sugganahalli - turn left - Virupapura
Or B'lore - Nelamangala - NH48 - Tippasandra handpost - Sankigatta - Mayasandra (my native village :) - Virupapura.
Distnace approx 75 to 80 KMs
Update: Republished as photos were missing :)
Update 2: added route details
Labels: Karnataka, One day outing, Travel, Trek
January had been a dull month. Both on travel side and also writing my old travel tales. Hope things will change, and I get to travel.
Here is calendar for the month of Feb'08. Background photo: Captured at Manchanabele dam.
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Labels: Calendar
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