[nandita_bayan21]

It’s been a while that I have written a travelogue. So here it is – about our quick bike ride to BR Hills and Shivasamudram Falls last Sunday. I know there is nothing new about this trip, as many of you might have visited these places already; however, I am trying to put in my experience. We were a total of 3 folks – Atul (atul.ktm – TeamBHPian), his collegue, Arun Prasad and last but not the least – me. Bikes used - KTM 200 and Pulsar 200 NS.

We started our journey from BTM at around 6am in the morning, bike ODO read 15734kms. Met AP in the BTM Udupi Garden Signal and proceeded towards Kanakpura Road, NH 209. A quick stop in a Shell Petrol bunk to fill in petrol around 6:20am in the Kanakpura Road. After cruising through some kilometers we reached Kanakpura town and decided to have a quick stop for tea. We stopped by a small restaurant and ordered 3 teas and a masala dosa. After resting for some 25-30 mins and taking couple of bike and group snaps we started our journey again around 7:30am towards BR Hills. By this time, 55kms was covered.






The journey ahead was not very eventful; however we enjoyed the good road conditions, misty weather and scenic beauty around us. Greenery, crop fields and nature – all seemed so perfect. After a while, we had to let go NH 209 and enter SH 33, which was relatively in good road conditions, and SH 84, this was a pathetic 12-15kms ride with very bad road conditions making riding a bit difficult. Somehow we went pass these bad roads and entered NH 212, traveled for some 18kms and entered NH 209 again. By the time it was 10am and we did a stop somewhere in a small town in Yelandur for breakfast. We found a place where they were serving hot kerala parathas, chicken curry and omletes – hogged till our hearts content. Owner of the restaurant asked “ from Mysore?” we said no “Bangalore” – and you should have seen the bright smile in his face. With all our biking gears, bikes, helmets – people thought we were in some mission 10:45am – we hit the roads and traveled forward on NH 209.













We reached the top of BR Hills by 11:45am. Ride up was easy, no HPB – amidst forest and greenery. Though there was nothing much at the hill-top apart from a temple, the view from the top was breath-taking. Green and layers of Nilgiri hills all across. Being a Sunday, the place was crowded and hot. We didn’t go up the temple, enjoyed the view and after a stay of 45 mins we decided to descend down. On our way back we saw a river dam, did a quick stop of 10 mins, clicked some pics and headed towards Shivasamudram falls.







2:30pm and we reached super crowded Shivasamudram falls. Decent water flow down the falls and since it was season time – they did allow us down towards the foot the falls. We went down, grabbed a coracle boat and went for a watery ride towards the falls – a super experience every-time I go to Shivasamudram. After a 10mins ride, we were brought back and this cost us Rs100 per person – robbery! We headed up and grabbed some bites – ice cream candies and bhel puri.













At around 4pm we decided to head back home. This time come we are going to take NH209 all the way back home. Once again, an un-eventful ride until we reached Kanakpura town at 5:30pm and stopped for some food - paneer manchurian, mushroom manchurian, plain dosa, masala dosa and tea. We started after a 45mins break and headed home.

7:45pm and we were home. Bike ODO read – 16123kms – a total of 389 kms travelled. Tired and exhausted we retired for the day. Though not one a very great trip of ours, I think it is ok once in a while to go amidst nature and relax.
Hope you liked the travelogue. Until next one – drive safe, be safe.

[Aditya]

Nice little travelogue Nandita. I liked the pictures, particularly those of Shivasamudram Falls. I guess coracle rides are expensive at all crowded tourist spots.

[nandita_bayan21]

Originally Posted by Aditya

Nice little travelogue Nandita. I liked the pictures, particularly those of Shivasamudram Falls. I guess coracle rides are expensive at all crowded tourist spots.

Yeah! And they won't bargain either...as if not me someone else will pay him and get the ride. We paid 300 bucks for 3 people for a 10 mins ride.

[atul.ktm]

Nice TL yet again..the ride was boring at times but overall a good trip!!