[vredesbyrd]

What if there was another Goa? You know, like one without the partying, the scams and the squid bikers? Maybe fewer tourists
Aye, that would be great, wouldn't it? But sounds too good to be true
Well, I know just the right place!

And so began Manipal 2.0 - September 2022

There has been Manipal 1.0 - December 2021, I will add a few nice photos from it here and there but let's just say, 2.0 is the meat here
Manipal (or Manipal, Udupi and Mangalore as a whole) has been a joy since 2019. I did my MBA here from TAPMI but most of my travels from second year were deterred by the fact that my Superb broke it's timing chain and the engine was grenaded
The rebuild took six months and then I had to move out to Bangalore (cannot believe a city like that can exist in such a beautiful state - no offence to residents, except the landlords, BESCOM and majority of the road users)
Anyway, enough of bickering. We're here for the trip, right?

So, as I was saying, never really got to do any proper driving around Manipal, let alone be independent. Add to it the draconian 6am - 11:30pm rule of all institutions there
Manipal 1.0 was totally lackluster but the good thing I got out of it were some nice photos and 5 days with an XUV500. So I thought, why not a solo trip. Just myself, the mHawk and the hot and humid September winds
And guess what, no timing restrictions!

There was a small update on the hardware front and I really wanted to test the new Hero 10 on field. What better excuse?



Tickets and hotel booked, paid full amount to the rental agency and 24th of September it is!





Before, I knew it, BANG! Reached IXE! Right outside the airport. ODO checked, DI done and keys handed over!



The drive from Mangalore to Manipal (about 60km) and it is a good piece of tarmac with a few broken bits. But it is boing.
I decided to take a detour and drive to Manipal via Hirebettu. If you see my route, you will understand why:



The pace was really mixed up. At times I was absolutely flying:

https://youtu.be/cRd7dFHQfoE

At times it was a casual sub 80 kph jaunt:

https://youtu.be/os4cJsramW0

Hotel parking lot (Green Park Suites):


Reached the hotel in about two hours, right before tea time:


Had a quick nap and decided to visit Chidananda Anna's humble but lovely establishment for tea, breakfast, groceries and other items. Pragathi General Store:


I've been a regular customer to him for about 1.5 years and he treats us students and alumnus fellows like family:


Ended the day with fantastic dinner at my all time favorite hangout spot:


Next on menu: Day 2, because this is when I start whipping out my D600

[vredesbyrd]

Day 2

Got up at around 6am as I had a good night's sleep before. I check google maps and see a flag at Uppoor-Heroor Dam. "What am I waiting for?" I thought.
After a quick breakfast of fried (burnt) mushroom momos, I set off: https://goo.gl/maps/9cSsB7UvvWbyjzct9


Decided to pick a slightly different route via the road that goes to my college.
Gave the video a 2005 games/need for speed most wanted/metalcore music video yellow piss filter look. This look makes me feel comfortable and nostalgic:

https://youtu.be/gWDKPohAxKw

There it is in all it's glory:


Another angle. Despite all the hue and cry, I find Apterras to be quite nice:


A wide angled shot with the phone:


Grassy grass:


Narrow bridge:


Looks like someone had a little trouble parking their boat - Sgt. "Psycho" Sykes, Crysis 2007:


Took one last photo and decided to head back to the hotel:


Check out the absolute clown of a bus driver at 05:25. Not everyone is as slow as I am and that saved me:

https://youtu.be/QQcuWD0QmTE

Well, onwards to the next day!

[vredesbyrd]

Day 3
Decided to venture out a little further today. The destination was Nakre Rock Hill: https://goo.gl/maps/QrVf1VGbcWaiRNMV7

Basically you take the Udupi-Hebri road and instead of going straight to Agumbe, you turn right at Alugelu towards Hiriydaka:


Did not carry the GoPro but enjoyed driving. Reached the base of the rock hill but was not very confident about it. It is very steep:


Decided to take a break, click some photos and as Jeremy Clarkson says, enjoyed a zesty drink (ice cold red bull can, the AC works really well):




Turned back and saw this fellow near some rocky and grassy terrain. Too shy:




Nature's call amidst nature:


Most of the day was still left, hence hopped to Hoode beach:


Ended the day with some nice scotch and minced lamb steak at Eye of the Tiger:


Next one is going to be a long one!

[vredesbyrd]

Day 4

This was busiest day so far. Involved a 3 km trek and lots of driving and I did carry the GoPro
The destination was Kavaledurga Fort: https://goo.gl/maps/yZvnXscjkopBsMi48
It was a relatively long drive but was very enjoyable because of many interesting roads and Agumbe ghat

Met an XL6 and a Baleno. These guys were moving fast and precise. I decided to join them and make a convoy. We had a great run till I decided to take a break

Convoy Part 1:

https://youtu.be/Db6vBDAKOew

Convoy Part 2:

https://youtu.be/_sF4GzTVFa0

Convoy Part 3:

https://youtu.be/AV2YxwBDXBI

Maxed out graphics:

https://youtu.be/339sTVTkuCQ

Finally, the Agumbe hill climb:

https://youtu.be/SpIHa1Bix1g

This stretch is particularly lovely during winter mornings:

https://youtu.be/SuLuNYcuJuY

The route was beyond phenomenal:


Solitary tree:


Mani reservoir:


Man and the Machine taking a break:


Marketing picture:


Water reflections turning into a nebula:


Underwater world:


Managed to reach Kavaledurga Fort and was greeted by a rather cheerful group:


Big boy:


So it begins:


He seems to know the trail well:


Way up:


Pearls in the dark:


The fort itself:


View from the top:


Content with biscuits:


Happy face:


Relaxation:


This was a very taxing but satisfying day and probably the best one in the entire trip.
Went back to the hotel and retired for the rest of the day:


The next day would mostly be dedicated to some relaxing mHawk therapy

[vredesbyrd]

Day 5

This day would be all about casual driving and visiting another dam. It would be Holebagilu - Ninjoorbettu dam: https://goo.gl/maps/Z8umuv3A9azxvWob7

Getting to the dam was not much of a challenge despite having complete dirt tracks on the end.
From this:


To this:


And finally this:


Finally, reached the dam but there wasn't much to see at all
The dam itself:


The unofficial parking for the dam:


Apparently getting here was the more fun part. I drove slowly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY5lj7Htl0U

Shuffled around 20-30 km here and there and then came across this:


And this cinematic shot of a random truck:


Was just milling about in the area till it was nice, warm and crispy:

https://youtu.be/-3n3InqMXV8

Went back to the hotel and had a fulfilling meal:


Caramel Custard. Why have one when you can have two?


This was pretty much the end of Day 5

[vredesbyrd]

Day 6

This was the last day and the rest day. Did nothing all day. Didn't set foot outside.
So, to compensate for that, here are some pictures from Manipal 1.0 (2021 December):

Kaup Lighthouse:


A man walkin' while he talkin':


Water waves:


Trying to get the shot:


Eureka moment:


The reason I don't go Malpe beach pe:


Kundadri viewpoint:


Sunset:


Last light:


And last but not the least, the machine that made it all possible:


More on the XUV500 in the next post (and I promise it will be the last )

[vredesbyrd]

Mahindra XUV500

In 2016, I had learnt to drive
In 2018, bought my first car and since then, all I had ever driven properly were sedans. 2018-2021 Superb and 2021-Present Vento
To add, these were great sedans and were fun to drive. I had very little experience with SUVs and such

Drivetrain
The 2.2 mHawk is a gem of a motor. Agreed, it does sound a bit industrial in the 500 and the rectangle Scorpio, but I think Mahindra has taken care of it the BS6 guise
Now it sounds meaty. Acoustics aside, for each of the 14 days, it kept pulling like a locomotive. Not a single dull moment. Far and few incidents where the lack of power was felt
The transmission is flawless and it is always in the correct gear. Shifts are hard to detect when driving normally. Put your foot down and it easily drops one or two cogs to really get you going
Not a single instance where I felt I was in the wrong gear. If I were nitpicking, then it is that the 6th needs way too much speed to be selected either in D or M

Here is an example of how relaxed and competent it is on a highway:

https://youtu.be/sRQ5UkoP4dU

This drivetrain is one of the reasons that may influence my next purchase

Platform and Handling

Yes, not a sedan, not a hatch but it is quite decent in my books
Far and few mid-corner corrections were needed during sharp turns and absolutely fine during long sweeping turns
Long highway turns at triple digits speeds - first time, you will feel like you are going to die. The next time you do it, you feel fine
What makes it even more effortless is the light steering. My Vento's steering feels nearly twice as heavy

Suspension is a bit crashy but gets the job done. Minor bumps and undulations are delt with sufficiently
The difference between a sedan and this is that yes, you have to slow down at many places but at least you don't leave behind bits of your oil pan
This area has a good mix of fantastic tarmac and absolute garbage. If a manufacturer wants to test a new vehicle, they should bring it here

Bottom line: It may just be FWD but it made me realise how important ground clearance is in our country
There have been many times and situations during this trip that a pothole or a crater has caught me mid-corner
Would have been game over for anything less than 180mm, but this just drove over those

Driving without worrying about road conditions made me feel great and quite stress-free
No wonder 4WD or not, vehicles with good ground clearance are flying off the shelves

Stay tuned, Manipal 3.0 will happen in April (provided the boys don't mess up)

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[TheHelix0202]

Brilliant pictures, of course, a better alternative to Goa in any regards would be welcome!

[JoshMachine]

Lovely travelogue, many thanks for sharing

Of late, our forum is being inundated with some inspirational long solo drives and your TL goes right up there!

Like the compositions of your photographs, some are quite poignant. Am sure that lighthouse Eureka moment must have took some waiting from you to actually make it come out that way!
Also, love some of the songs that were playing in the background, but also could hear the outside vehicles when they were passing by with a huge whooshing sound. Do you generally keep the windows open on such drives? Does that not bother you?

And where did you have the Hero10 cam placed while driving

[rGT]

Beautiful travelogue. A road trip down south is a wish that I'd like to tick off my bucket list sometime in the future.

[vredesbyrd]

Originally Posted by TheHelix0202

Brilliant pictures, of course, a better alternative to Goa in any regards would be welcome!

Aye! Hit me up the next time you want to head that way!

Originally Posted by JoshMachine

Lovely travelogue, many thanks for sharing
Of late, our forum is being inundated with some inspirational long solo drives and your TL goes right up there!
Like the compositions of your photographs, some are quite poignant. Am sure that lighthouse Eureka moment must have took some waiting from you to actually make it come out that way!

Thank you!

Yes, the lighthouse did involve some waiting and tolerating some heckling locals who wanted their photos clicked. It was originally dad's idea to track the sun vs the lightouse

Also, love some of the songs that were playing in the background, but also could hear the outside vehicles when they were passing by with a huge whooshing sound. Do you generally keep the windows open on such drives? Does that not bother you?

I'd roll windows down as long as the weather permits and the wind is top class when moving between 60-100 kph. Also, the AC was on in manual mode.
In cityscape with traffic, I always keep them closed. You never know who's going to attack.

And where did you have the Hero10 cam placed while driving

On my head using a head strap mount while the charging cable was routed from behind the headrest. But recently got a headrest rod mount, should make things more comfortable.

Originally Posted by rGT

Beautiful travelogue. A road trip down south is a wish that I'd like to tick off my bucket list sometime in the future.

Thank you! You should!

You can drive yourself if time permits or else there are decent rental options down there.

[Cliff9091]

lovely pictures, shows coastal Karnataka in all her glory. As a a MAHE student myself, you've given me a bucket list of Sunday drives with my friends I aim on completing in a few weekends.

Cheers
Cliff

[nyt2090]

Awesome pictures, driving on coastal areas is a different feel, A Konkan coast trip is in my list.
Cheers

[megazoid]

Fantastic read and pictures. The XUV is a very good and fast car and the driving bits were special. Some lovely roads indeed that side.