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