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Monday 24 August 2015

8 Days 2187KM Ride Part-6 : Murudeshwar to BLR

Route : Murudeshwar - Shimoga - Chitradurga - Bangalore
Distance Covered : KM
Trip Dates : Aug 22 2015; 8:30 AM - 9:30 PM

Bike : Thunderbird 350
Riders : Me & Srikanth

Last day of the trip, feeling little tired and also 500+ KM travel ahead to challenge us. Got up at 7 AM and got ready for the temple. Temple building is so huge and mostly built with modern technology unlike granite carved. Shiva statue is behind the main temple. Main temple Gopuram is so huge (20 storied) that we were stunned by seeing two Lifts at one side and stair at other side to reach the top of the Gopuram to see the breath taking 123 feet Shiva statue with Beach background. Sad thing is 10/- ticket for the lift but we should not miss the view.Finished main temple darshan and then to Shiva statue temple which is just behind the main temple. 123 feet Shiva statue is stunning and cant move from it.

The Magnificent view:

OMG Shiva:

After temple visit, had breakfast in a beach view hotel which is next to temple and then back to hotel. At 10 AM finished checkout and started to BLR. Route between Murudeshwar and Shimoga also breathtaking view with lush green, milky waterfalls and ghat roads. Time has passed very quickly till Shimoga.

Waterfalls on the road side while going to Shimoga:

Srikanth wanted to experience the Lion safari, so stopped in Shimoga Zoo which was missed in first day. 40/- for Zoo entrance and then 70/- for Safari for each person. Safari is complete waste of money, with in 15 mins finished with few lions and tigers. Bangalore Zoo safari is so much better. Finished lunch inside Zoo and started to BLR at 2 PM without visiting the Zoo.

Roads are horrible between Shimoga & Chitradurga, complete single roads with lot of patches. Srikanth only riding completely from the morning as he is not able to sit on pillion seat. Reached Chitradurga at 5 PM after a long struggle. Wind power mills in Chitradurga are good to see. From Chitradurga on-words, got a great relief with NH-4. Had dinner at Adigas Hotel in the middle and slowly reached home by 10:00 PM after crossing the horrible Yeswanthpur traffic.

Finally the longest trip is finished with many beautiful memories, which will cherish in our life time.

Random pics:

Murudeshwar Temple entrance:

Murudeshwar Village from Gopuram top view:

Murudeshwar beach from Gopuram top view:

Beautiful chariot:

Nandi at the entrance:

Few close ups at the Temple surroundings:

Pic taken from beach hotel:

8 Days 2187KM Ride Part-5 : Gokarna, Murudeshwar

Route : Goa- Karwar - Gokarna - Murudeshwar
Distance Covered : KM
Trip Dates : Aug 21 2015; 6:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Bike : Thunderbird 350
Riders : Me & Srikanth

It's been 4 days in Goa, no time rained and always weather is so hot. Finally Time has come to leave the Goa and we packed all the stuff and ready to leave at 5 AM. WTF, its raining like anything outside, we waited for 1 Hr still raining. Finally at 6:30 AM rain stopped and within no time we jumped on to bikes. at 6:30 AM also it was pitch dark and traffic becoming more and more by the time we reached south Goa. Rain started again and continuously pouring, we didn't care and keep on moving. Nearly for 2 Hrs we were drenched in rain continuously. After Karwar on-words no rains and slowly our dresses started drying. Hot Tea and bread really gave us a lot of relief from the shivering weather. We did not plan to visit Gokarna initially, but decided on the way since we have lot of time for the day.

Some where before Gokarna:

Reached Gokarna around 11:30 AM and had a breakfast and then went to visit the famous Temple, but its closed at 12 PM. Visited the main beach next to the Temple and then went to OM beach. There is a hotel adjacent to bike parking, kept our luggage there for ~20/-, but food is worst in that hotel. After spending 2 Hrs in OM beach, ignored kudle beach and started to Murudeshwar.

OM Beach:

OM beach; Follow the foot steps:

With in 2 hrs reached to Murudeshwar, temple is very close to NH-17. Once we reach nearby the Temple, many agents behind us offering lodge by saying beach view etc... He showed us some lodge, which is little far and also price is more than the nearby lodges. We decided to find our own and selected very close lodge (Royal retreat lodge) for 700/- after a little bargain.

Quickly dumped all the luggage and stepped out with camera. Time is exactly 5 PM and correct lighting for photography. Captured different angles from temple outside, since we had non-veg in afternoon, decided to visit the temple next day morning. Beach is so peaceful with less tides, walked around for sometime and left at 7 PM. Had a sound sleep after bath & dinner.

Murudeshwar beach:

Murudeshwar gopuram and Shiva statue:

Shiva statue:

End of fishing day, pulling back the boats to shore:

yes, its beautiful:

three more just finished fishing:

Murudeshwar beach with beautiful background :

Murudeshwar temple Lodge, but too costly:

Shades of Gopuram:

Another view of Temple:

All boats have been rested:

Gopuram and boats:

Twilight beach view:

for Murdeswar Temple read part-6

8 Days 2187KM Ride Part-4 : Mollem(Dudh sagar route)

Route : Goa - Mollem - castle rock - Mollem - kulem - Mollem - Goa
Distance Covered : KM
Trip Dates : Aug 17 2015; 4:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Bike : Thunderbird 350
Riders : Me & Srikanth

Dispointed dushsagar ride, but enjoyed heavenly with many small waterfalls on the way.

Dudh sagar is one of the famous falls in India and also10 KM trekking makes the trip heavenly memorable. There is a small bike/jeep road which takes us to the long view point, but in rainy season which will be closed due to a many streams crosses that road, other way is only trekking on the train track. We reviewed many blogs on how/from where to trek. Castle rock railway station is the best start point for trekking in rainy season, so we have planned to reach the castle rock as early as possible in morning. After mollem, route goes through western ghats, in rainy season, we can see 10+ small water streams(falls) on the way. some are big enough to call as water falls some are very small. we stopped at multiple falls for photography. We enjoyed a lot with these small water falls than the Jog falls. We can touch them and play in water and also no worry of safety. Really enjoyed for short time, but as we are getting late, we don't spent long time.

Long exposure handheld shot:

Ghat road is not in a good condition and also heavy trucks in this road. Once we cross the Ghat road next is Karnataka state, so Police checking is compulsory for liquor. Castle rock is a small village in the deep forest of Karnataka. We reached station by 9 AM, but there is a notice board clearly says "Trekking is banned on train tracks" due to some accidents. To our bad, there is no train today (Tuesday) to-words falls. We don't have any option but try from Kulem station, which is other end of falls. We started to kulem, once again we enjoy all the water streams on ghat road. From Mollem to Kulem is 20 KM ride, at the beginning of the road, witnessed beautiful scenery. Took a 20 mins halt for photography.

Am I in heaven entrance:

After reaching Kulem, many agents will be after you for guiding the illegal trekking for 500/- to 700/- by managing the police. But don't believe them, we asked one of the agent directly, if really railway police stops us do you really bribe them and save us ? he said : "NO, we will escape". We can request and travel in Goods train and come back by goods train again. We requested many goods drivers, but they all said NO. Thought of going by Evening passenger train, but not dared to take risk. We spent some time in station, to see if we can get any clues, but no use. Finally we returned back to home, but I got satisfaction that I enjoyed more with those water streams, bit Srikanth puts lot of hopes and he disappointed a lot.

Another waterfall:

Another waterfall from long view:

above pic is zoomed, oh ho there are two:

Another small fall:

That's another:

oh that's other another :) :

Clouds and western ghat top view:

on the way to castle rock..oh something wrong in my head:

another turn but clear shot:

for Goa Local read Part-3

for Gokarna/murdeswar read part-5

8 Days 2187KM Ride Part-3 : Goa

Route : Sirsi - Karwar - Goa
Distance Covered : 270 KM
Trip Dates : Aug 17 2015; 3:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Bike : Thunderbird 350
Riders : Me & Srikanth

Goa...for the first time I am going to the one of the best tourist spot in India. We don't want to waste time by reaching late and struck in city traffic, so decided to start by 3 AM and reach before 8 AM. Started at 3:30 AM lazily after checkout process and going slowly in the pitch dark. Roads are very narrow with sharp curves and no street lights, became a nightmare to cross 60 speed. Still 120 KM to reach NH-17, which became very hard part of ride. Entire stretch is ruled by heavy trucks, all corners are with full of patches and overtaking those long trucks became a impossible. It took nearly 3 Hrs to ride 120 KM and finally reached NH-17.

We were thinking NH means surely a double road with 4 or 6 lane, but we are complete wrong. Till Goa, entire road is single road, overtaking is little difficult but road condition is good. Time is 6:30 AM yet no Sunrise, it seems late sunrise and late sunset in Goa. Till now I was riding the bull, so now its Srikanth turn and I am relaxing on saddle. From Karwar on-words, road became more scenic with beach views and lush green with misty hills. As we are getting closer to south Goa, roads became very narrow and we see residential building very next to the NH-17. As we going deeper into city, traffic getting worse and I took the handle. One or two places we went wrong routes due to the false maps and wasted 10 to 15 mins. Finally at 9:30 AM, reached the Cocos resort near Vagator Beach.

GOA local on Aug-17th, 19th and 20th details covered in below.
Aug-18th Dudhsagar ride covered in Part-4.

Aug-17th: Anjuna beach - Vagator beach - Chapora port- Candolim beach - Baga beach

Check-in process went smoothly and relaxed for some time after a hot shower. After 1 Hr of rest, we decided to roam nearby beaches and finish brunch. First we went to Anjuna beach, which is just 10 mins ride (5 KM). We got stunned because we thought Goa would be like :

Full of desi/foreign tourists

Clear blue water

coconut trees on beach side..etc...

mostly cloudy with short rains

but due to Off-season, nothing happening. Anjuna beach is definitely one of the famous beach but nothing to see and enjoy. with in 10 mins we reached Vagator beach. Here also same situation, water is so dirty. Anyhow No swimming allowed due to rainy season(waives are too high). At least to entertain us, there is some Hindi film bikini scene shooting happening. we spent some time there and returned back to resort after having brunch.

Chapora port also 5 mins ride from resort, planned to go for sunset. Its really best scenic with background trees and beach, (nothing there to see in the port only ruin walls). sunset is still a long wait at 6 PM also, so we decided to go to Candolim beach. Trekking up and down is little hard, best time to go is early morning or evening when no Sun.

Chapora port ruins in background:

After reaching Candolim beach, now we felt little Goa beach effect. Water is mostly clean, full rush with tourists, shacks and short length dresses... That's what called as Goa. Enjoyed the atmosphere around 1 Hr and moved to famous Baga beach. Now I see, more clubs, resorts...on the way..the real Goa culture. Stayed in Baga till 9 PM and left for resort, had dinner on the way.

Aug-19th: Aguada port - Churches in old goa - Dona paula beach

Aguada port is beautifully covered with green gross, one of the most tourist attraction spot and many good locations for photography also. Next to the port Helipad is there, we did not go there, but heard worth a visit while helicopter landing. Morning 9 AM also we were sweating too much, not a good time to visit under SUN. After Aguada port, straight away reached old Goa churches at 11 AM.

Aguada port light house:

As long as we are inside the church, its cool; but outside weather is too hot. We spent lot of time to cover the 3 churches till 2 PM. Churches are really master class built, paintings, wide halls and designs are well taken care from centuries.

Beautiful paintings on church walls:

Afternoon visited Dona paula, its different compared to all other beaches, its having sand beach as well view point. Most people go to view point, near by "water scooter" games also available. We can sit and enjoy the sea from top view. Must visit this in the evening time.

Dona paula from view point:

Aug-20th: carabzalem beach - Miramar beach - chorao island - baga beach

We planned to go for Island boat ride, we inquired many boating counters, but no positive response due to off-season. Only the boating trip happening is just a boat ride on the Mandovi river for 1 Hr which cost around 300/-. All the boating counters are on the bank of Mandovi river from Miramar beach to main Bridge. Nearby the main bridge Govt boating also available. In season time, we must book in advance.

Mandovi river casino ship and local trip boats:

While checking for boating counters, we covered carabzalem beach and Miramar beach. carabzalem beach is mainly for fishing and fish stalls, good thing is we can take our bike inside the water and have fun (Hope no police stops us if we are in safe distance). Other than that we can't stay for long, its full of fish smell. Next is Miramar beach, one of the good beach with full rush. There is a park/garden at the entrance of beach, which is another attraction of it and best part is we can sit under tree shades next to the bank.

Since No island boating, decided to go to Chorao island for Dr.Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Free ferry service available to the people at different places on Mandovi river. Cars also allowed to use the ferry service, because only one bridge on Mandovi river to commute between Panjim and south goa.

Ferry service on Mandovi river:

We crossed the River with ferry service and reached Bird Sanctuary, but folks in counter said currently no birds to visit and they suggested us to visit the peddle boating in a lake (11 Km away). we thought of give a try as we don't have anything else to do. After a long ride in the narrow roads inside the island, we found it closed. Nothing happening today and we though of going back and take rest. when we checked for return route, we stunned because we are close to Resort if we go in opposite route than which we came through. thank god, we escaped all the traffic and reached resort early after a heavy Lunch on the way.

Evening full time spent in Baga beach. Earlier we came through Tito's road and never walked to the other end of the beach, but today luckily we came through other end and enjoyed the view of Baga River merging with Sea. As today is the last day in Goa, we spent more time in beach atmosphere till 9 PM and left for the day.

Baga River joining with sea: