Hogenakkal - The place Cauvery divides Tamil Nadu & Karnataka !!!

Journey Date: Dec 21' 2008
 
After the successful trip to Shivanasamudra, we wanted to try place which should be little far away from Bangalore. This time, Ganesh Kumar was joining us from Coimbatore, and Suresh is a new addition to the gang. Suresh, is a friend of Sakthi & Ali, who is working in HCL for past 4+ years.

Myself, and Sakthi Ganesh has shortlisted two places, Yelagiri & Hogenakkal. Both the places are around some 140+ Kms from Bangalore. We are also not sure that we would be able to complete the trip in a day, as we had been to max Shivanasamudra in a day. Ganesh Kumar arrived Bangalore on Sat, Dec 20. We have not finalized the place yet. On Sunday, we have Ganesh to choose any one from the two, and the result was Hogenakkal. I am more interested towards Yelagiri, as it is a hillstation. But we wanted to stick to what we have chosen. So we set our pace towards Hogenakkal.

For a change, this time we started little early, @ 9.30 AM (;)) from Hulimavu Gate.  We 6 people started in 3 bikes, Myself, Sakthi, Ganesh, Ali, Raja and Suresh. The plan was to go via Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Dharmapuri -> Pennagaram -> Hogenakkal. To reach Hosur, we have taken the Anekal route to avoid Electronic City traffic.  We reached Hosur @ 10.15 AM, had breakfast at Meenakshi Bavan. Nice place to finish your breakfast ;). We again started from Hosur @ 10.45 AM, wanted to complete the trip at a single stretch. We are quick in crossing Krishnagiri (in 50 mins), and then Dharmapuri. After Dharmapuri, we got confused by the routes, as there are two. And by mistake we took the longest one. So we ended up in 160+ Kms to reach Hogenakkal @ 1.00 PM. But the entire road stretch was good.

The entry to Hogenakkal is not entertaining. Hygiene is a big question there. We parked our bikes in the parking lot to see the scenic view. Even though the area is not clean, but the view of Cauvery is promising. We are very excited to see the water falls and we have taken a crocile ride. The crocile ride is for some 2 hrs and it costs about Rs. 400. Do not overpay those guys. The crocile ride starts from one bank of the river towards the waterfalls in the river and then to a small landscape, which they call it as a island (?).  From that place, you can see both the Tamil Nadu & Karnataka borders in the either banks of the river.

We have taken a nice bath there, had few fish fries. It is advisable to buy your own oil & fish, ask them to cook it for you. That should be better than having it directly. We spent almost 4 hrs there and we started towards Bangalore @ 5.30 PM. This time we decided to take the route via Karnataka border, which the localities claimed as some 30 Kms less than the route we have taken earlier. The road in the Karnataka border is like hell. We can't even ride our bikes @ 10 Kmph. After some 10 kms in the rough patches, we were able to find some roads. After some 20 Kms, the road merged into TN border -> Royakottai. We stopped at Thenkanikottai for some snacks, ate everything in that snacks shop. The shop owner closed the shop, when we left the shop ;). Then we started towards Hosur and then to Bangalore.  Finally we are able reach Bangalore @ 8.00 PM.

This one being our first long trip everyone was exhausted. Ganesh Kumar has to return to Coimbatore on the same day. So we had to rush to Madivala for his bus.

Verdict: Hogenakkal - place you don't want to miss once.

Few Snaps

Complete snaps can be viewed here. Click here...

Shivanasamudra Falls - If you like water, this is a must see !!!

Journey Date: 14 Dec' 2008

After visiting the Chunchi Waterfalls, our attention turned towards the river areas around Bangalore. The next option to visit was Shivanasamudra Falls, Cauvery River. We four, myself, Sakthi, Ali & Raja, started in two bikes, Pulsar & Hunk, planned this trip for Sunday.

As usual we started on a Sunday from Sakthi's room in Bannerghatta Road around 11.30 AM. Shivanasamudra is around 120 Kms from Bangalore via Kanakapura. As we had been to Kanakapura last week, we are doing very good in the roads. The roads were very good till Kanakapura. After Kanakapura, the road becomes narrow and there so many patches along the entire stretch. We have to drive carefully as there were 'N' number of speed breakers in the entire stretch. We find very difficult to touch 60 Km/hr.

After some 2.5 hrs of drive with couple of tea breaks, we were managed to reach the falls around 2'o clock. I have to really tell this, all our folks were really astonished by the first view of the falls. We had been to so many water falls in Tamil Nadu. Almost in all the waterfalls, falls down from a hill. But this one, its falling from the plain, and forms a valley. This is the first one we had seen of this kind. We have to climb down around some 100 steps to reach the falls.

Once we reach the falls, everything is FUN. We explored the unexplored part of the falls, did some trekking, enjoyed to the core. Shivanasamudra balances our so far weekend experiences. After having bath, we had little snacks near the waterfalls. After spending around 2 hrs there, we started driving towards Bangalore. We stopped in Kanakapura for tea. Nowadays, the tea shop in Kanakapura had become one of our mandatory stop point. After the hot tea, we started riding and reached Bangalore around 7 PM.

After all, We felt being to a very good place - Really !!


Few Snaps:
First view of Shivanasamudra:

Sakthi & Ali in one of the unexplored falls side:

Complete snaps can be viewed here


Route Taken: Hulimavu Gate -> Nice Road -> Kanakapura Road -> Shivanasamudra -> Kanakapura Road -> Nice Road -> Hulimavu Gate

PS: கணேஷ் குமார்-க்கு ஆணி புடுங்க வேண்டிய வேலை இருந்ததால் அவரால் இந்த முறை எங்களுடன் வர இயலவில்லை... :)

Chunchi Falls, Mekedatu & Sangam - Nice place to visit once :)

Journey Date: 06 Dec' 2008

After our trip to Kolar, all our friends wanted to visit some places where we can really enjoy ourselves. No one from our gang was happy about Kolar trip, so this time we want to go to a place, where we can do some trekking/sport activity. Sakthi, came up with a spot named, Chunchi Falls in Mekedatu. Except Sakthi none of the other friends know about that place. I googled, and found that its near Bheemeswari. I had been to Bheemeswari last week only, so I was sure that this trip is going to be a nice one.

All our trips were planned only on sundays, since Sakthi & Ali were having work on saturdays as well. On sunday, myself, Sakthi, Ali & Raja started the trip with 2 bikes, Hunk & Pulsar. Mekedatu is approximately 90 kms from Bangalore (Bangalore -> Kanakapura -> Mekadatu -> Sangamam). Kanakapura is about 60 kms from Bangalore. The road is very good till Kanakapura. We reached Kanakapura within an hour. After that there are some patches here and there in the road till Mekadatu. We reached Mekadatu in another 45 mins.

Once we reach there, it was a shocking view for us. We expected a lots & lots of water there, but there was nothing. It seems they have closed the dam, so there is only a little water flowing in. We started looking for the falls. We did some trekking in the rocks and we were able to see the Chunchi falls finally. Since the water flow is very less, we decided to take bath there.  We had a very nice time there. But I will recommend people to take bath there, since it is very risky.

After spending some 2 hrs, we decided to leave to Bangalore. One local told us about Sangam. Since its hardly 4 kms from Chunchi falls, we decided to go there too. Sangam is a confluence of 3 rivers: Cauvery, Akravathi and another river (which I don't see there now).  Its a  river bank, you take bath in river, enjoy the water, etc. You need to pay for the parking tickets. Since we are from Tirunelveli, a place with a non-perennial river, Tamirabarani runs, we find this very odd. Anyways, we enjoyed it to the most.

After some couple of hours, we started towards Bangalore. We had some snacks & tea in Kanakapura, and reached Bangalore at 7.00 PM, same day.

Mekadatu is a nice place for day hangout around Bangalore. I would strongly suggest this place to visit it once.

Some snaps...
Majestic view from the rocks of Chunchi Falls

Rocks... Rocks... Everywhere!!!

Chunchi Falls ;)

Sangam

Sakthi Ganesh, in Sangam

 ஆயிரம் தான் சொன்னாலும், கர்நாடகா கர்நாடகா தான். ஆத்துல குளிப்பதற்கும் காசு வாங்குற பசங்க.. Chanceless !!! 

Kolar - Trip to Divine (City of Gold)

Journey Date: 30 Nov' 2008

After our trip to Nandhi hills, everyone was busy in their office work. After a couple a weeks, again we got a chance to gather again. Sakthi called me up on Friday night, and he was telling about Kolar. It seems, one of his friend had visited that place recently and he was giving good reviews about the place. He mentioned about the Gold fields and Kotilingeshwara temple (Believe it or not, this temple has 1 crore Shiva lingas). So we have decided to visit the place coming Sunday. I have asked Sakthi to prepare the route map and we are all set to go on Sunday.

On Sunday, we, Myself, Sakthi Ganesh, Mohammad Ali and Raja, started from Bangalore at 10.30 Am. Kolar district is about 68 Kms from Bangalore. It is in the Chennai - Bangalore National Highway (NH-4), well known as Old Madras road. Along the way, you can see lots of buses fleeing to KGF (Kolar Gold Factory). The road condition is good along the entire way. We had reached the Kotilingeshwara temple at around 12.00 Pm.

Actually none of the guys from our gang have the habbit of visiting any temples. But still we want to explore the temple because of the fact of 1 crore lingas. The temple is worth visiting once. But if you belong to a place like Tirunelveli, Chidambaram, etc, this place will not amuse you a lot. The Shiva lingas are built of cement here, whereas in Tamil Nadu they are of Stones which impresses a lot. There is one big Shiva linga and Nandhi, which can be spotted easily before 10 kms. When we went there was a reason crowd in the place and the parking area is large, which was a big relief to people who commute in their own vehicles.

After visiting the temple, we were planning to visit KGF. Because of other commitments in Bangalore, we started from there at 2.00 Pm. We had our lunch in a resort on the way back to Bangalore. Then we reached Bangalore at 4.30 Pm.

Few Snaps of Kolar

NH - 4, on the way to Kolar

Inside Kotilingeshwara Temple

Ali, Baskar, and Sakthi

Sakthi, Baskar, Ali and Raja

First Journey - Nandhi Hills

Journey Date: 09 Nov '2008

After bringing Hunk to our friends family, we decided to check the performance. Since this being our first drive we don't want to take much risks, so we decided to go for a small ride to one of the famous gateways near Bangalore, Nandhi Hills. We, group of four guys decided to go for this ride, myself, Sakthi, Mohammad Ali and Thanimalai Raja.

Nandhi Hills, is about 65 kms from Bangalore, towards the Bangalore's New Airport 'Devanahalli'. We started at around 12.30 PM from Hulimavu gate, and reached Nandhi hills around 1.45 PM. Drive carefully during uphill, since some of the curves are steep and the road is not that great.

There was a Karnataka's Govt Restaurant, we had our lunch there. It wasn't that great, so prepare take your own food while driving there.

Then started our sight seeing. You can't expect a lot in Nandhi hills, but this place is a decent place for a weekend gateway. The views from the hill is amazing. You can see the roads, which you have droven to reach there. If you are interested, you can do a little treking. It won't be a big own. Nandhi hills is all about a fort which was built by Tippu Sultan.

You can look for the following in Nandhi Hills:

• Nandhi temple - This is not maintained well.
• Source of River - Palar. When we went there was no water, so we are not able to see that.

Few Photosnaps...

1: Sakthi Ganesh, Baskar Mookkan, Mohammad Ali and Raja

2: A View from Top

3: Nandhi Temple

4: Sakthi and Me

5: Ali and Raja

Journey Begins - இனிய ஆரம்பம்!!!

All these stories started on one fine day.

The day, I came to Bangalore. I came to Bangalore in May 2008 to join Oracle. I have several college mates in Bangalore, but I was much attracted towards my school friend, Sakthi Ganesh. During our childhood, we used to share lots and lots of stories :). After I came here, we usually spend the weekends in his room, playing some badmitton. Sakthi's friend Mohammad Ali has also became a friend to me by this time.

We both don't have any vehicle to roam around. By July 2008, Sakthi bought a Pulsar 150cc, the devil from Bajaj. After that, it ease our weekend a little bit. But still 3 in 1 is not feasible.

By November 2008, I bought a Hero Honda Hunk, really a Muscle in Motion. Then the rest is our journey.

Now a quick introduction about our gang:
1. Myself, Baskar Mookkan, Techie from Oracle. Nobody will believe if I say I am a very good guy. So I am not going to tell that ;). Owns: Hunk
2. Sakthi Ganesh, my school friend, my best friend too. The funniest part is, my father and his father are also school friends :). We came to know that very late. Its a rare combination na. A very good guy in terms of helping people. Currently working as System Admin in CTS. The only guy in our gang who speaks Kannada, Telugu and Hindi well. Now he is in Chennai, but still our journey continues. Owns: Karizma
3. Mohammad Ali, a good friend of mine, our Terrorist. He is responsible for all onion bomb blasts in Tiruneveli district. Police is searching for him there ;). Now he is working in Wipro as System Admin. Owns: Pulsar
4. Ganesh Kumar, my best buddy. When I list for my best buddies name, his name will be in the top. I know this guy from 1996, we haven't fought each other not even once. No misunderstanding could come between us. My thickest friend. But when comes to journey part, we will be there in important ones. He is in Chennai now, doing Ph.D. See we have a doctor in our team.
5. Keerthi, a good friend. Currently working as System Admin with Wipro. He owns a Bajaj Discover, always trying hard to catch up the Pulsar and Hunk. This guy joined the gang recently. Owns: Discover
6. Suresh, a good friend for Sakthi and Ali. He is the Manmadhan in our gang. Wherever he goes, his flirting will contine :). Flirting as System Admin in HCL. Oops.. Working!!! Also known as 'Thendil' of our group.  Owns: Shine
7. Thanimalai Raja, cousin of Sakthi. Currently working as QA Engr in Hosur. He was part for tours earlier. After his recent travels, he is not able to make for the weekend plans. Owns: Discover