Majarabad Fort -Belur - Halebid (22-23April)

This trip with a group, second time, was after a long time. Infact My first trip with a group was to kodaikanal around 6 years back in 2000. This time we had two of the fairer sex for company....which made the trip more of a "logistical problem" (of when to start, where to stay, saftey on the way etc..etc... and of course rants from my better half). Well to be fair to them, it wasn't their fault......They are not used to).
So the group included
Me and lekshmi - Bajaj Wind
Shyam & ullas - Enfield
Shibi and Liji - Hero Honda Passion.

The route planned was Bangalore-Hassan-Sakleshpur (NH 48) and then to ride among some ghat roads and visit few places around. As Liji was from nearby sakleshpur, she suggested the fort nearby which was built by Tipu Sultan and has two tunnels to Mysore and Srirangapatanam, now closed.

It all started with a hasty planning, and hence the proposed start of 3PM became 530PM.

So by the time we got out of traffic snarls bangalore it was 630 PM.....which meant we would be travelling by night.We reached Kunigal around 730 PM. The traffic Police was stopping all the twowheelers for checking at the main Junction. One of the constables stopped my bike and next momment (before we could Stop) he asked us to go( as we both had helmets on and did not seem at fault). So we continued and just after hundred meters a constable stopped us on the way and told us that the SI at the juction had messaged for a bike two people with helmets to be stopped( rare case to find both rider and pilion wearing helmets!!!). We were asked to wait at the Police station till the SI returned.None of them knew why we were stopped. One of them suggested that there are lot of accidents on the Highway and probably we have been picked up for overspeeding(our Max speed was around 65km/hr). Another asked if we were involved in a hit and run case. After a wait of half an hour we went to SI ( who was still at the junction "throwing his weight around"). The reason was that we did not stop at the Junction when ordered. But then we explained that we were asked to proceed which he was not ready to listen and asked us to show the constable( how in world are we going to remember the face of a constable!?).... But afterwards he relented and allowed us to proceed.

Next Stop was Hassan. We reached there around 10.30 PM and decided to halt for the day. Lekshmi was scared during the night ride. (It was here first time with me at night).

First timers could unsettled and tend get scared by night driving as the high beam light of trucks and modern cars can render you blind for a few seconds (which is enough for an accident).
Driving at night can also be pleasant( if you do not mind missing the roadside scenarios) except for the lights from oncoming vehicles (which adds to the strain on the eyes). There is less traffic. But it is not recommended on two wheelers on our normal high ways unless you are experienced and ready for some anxious momments.

The Next day morning we started for sakleshpur after breakfast and reached majarabad around 10 AM. Majarabad around 5 kms after Sakleshpur Town. At the Place there are a few teastalls and shops where trucks stop. There are no sign boards directing towards Majarabad Fort. You have to ask for directions. A kachha road which leads up from the NH 48 till half way from where there is steps to the fort. We found one Guide who explained to about the Fort. The fort was Built by Tipu Sultan and was partially destroyed by the british after his death. The fort evokes awe and admiration for Tipu Sultan and the Architects. Few snaps can be seen here. Lot of movies has been shot here and the Guide rattled out few names and song sequences which where shot there.The view from the fort are majestic. The Sakleshpur -Mangalore Railway line also can be seen. This place is worth a visit.

Our Next destination was Belur annd then Halebid. We took a short detour from the main highway on to a bumpy road. By the time we reached Belur it was 1 oclock. And then we went to halebid which was 16 kms. Belur and Halebid are two places to be visited in karnataka. They are the few remaining Symbols of the Hoysala empire and medieval kannada Architecture.

We took the Halebid - Channaraypatna - Bangalore route back.

Trek on the Sakleshpur - Mangalore Railway line

Although this is not a part of my "motorcycle Diaries", this was an experience walking along temporarily unused railway tracks .

This stretch of railway track is a part Bangalore - Hassan - Sakleshpur- Mangalore meterguage Railway Line. There are regular train services till Sakleshpur. It is the Terrain after Sakleshpur (the Western ghats) which makes the railway line a marvel and tribute to Engineers who built it. This place has been very popular among trekkers since the Meterguage track was decided to be converted to Broadguage track. The delay in conversion (about 15 years) without any train services made it a popular spot for trekkers.

There is lot of Articles written on this on the net.(1, 2, 3, 4)

Although Now(April 2006) the trail Train Services is said to have started.....those who have missed walking and those who cannot trek can now savour the views and the route through which the trains now will pass.

Update on my motorcycle trips.

Travelling as a leisure(maybe also as a Vocation but not yet) occured to me after reading the articles of Hugh and Colleen Gantzer which used to appear in every Sunday Magazine of The Hindu ( Their articles still appear infrequently in the dailies). Now there are real Professional Travellogues, Guides,.....you name it. Although during the school/college days only travel was to my Fathers work place(through different routes from Kerala to Tamilnad and back) and then the usual tours from the College/School.

1998 - My first travel "for the sake of it" was on a motorcycle with my brother Unni from Dindigul to Trichur and back on my Motorcycle (Hero Honda Splendor) . The potholes and muddy fairweather paving on National Highway is what lingers in my memmory in an otherwise unspectacular but satisfying trip.

Next was to Kodaikanal from Gandhigram (near Dindigul), around 120 kms with 8 of us friends. This was a wonderful trip with lot camaraderie, mishaps and bonhomie. We had started in the early morning and some of the villagers had spread some sort of harvested reeds on the road to dry the dew. One of the Bike slipped and had a bent fork. We managed get some repair done to make it travel worthy.

For another three years the motorcycle trips never happened but was rekindled at IISc when i happened to travel with my cousins to Kemmanangundi,Sringeri, Mullayangiri, Bababudangiri, Belur and Halebid in a car.

Then I met Suresh on his bike who had just bought a bike and was looking for a companion. We had some of the best times together on the motorbike and othewise became a close friend of mine in a year. His travellogues can be found here.

Since i had left my motorcycle back home, Suresh's bike now was our vehicle. Our travels have been written by Suresh( who also had a separate biking group at the institute). I intend to write soe detail travellogues in later blogs

• First trip was to Chickmagalur-Kemmanangundi-Belur-Halebid
• Second Trip to Chitradurga-Davangere
• Then madikeri-Thalacauvery - Mangalore - Udupi

On our initial travels, the idea was head out along the roads from bangalore and then find some places worthwhile to visit. So the interest was first biking and then seeing places.weekends were made use during these initial trips and hence the distance was also restricted with regards to the time needed to come back.

• Ananthpur-Puttaparthi
• Mysore-Gundulpet-Moolehole-Gopalswamibetta-Wayanad.

There was lot of short trips together in between but the wayanad trip was ours last together. After which on an new years eve he found his destiny (He rode to death on 31st december,2003) .

By this time I had bought my own motorcyle(Wind125) and had already travelled to my father's work place at Dindigul( 434kms) with another friend of mine. I got married in between and it took some time for lekshmi to come around.

It was some time i started to travel after Suresh Passed away.

It started with a trip to

• Chennai
• Tirupati
• Again to Mysore-Bandipur-Wayanad with Lekshmi
• A trip to Somewhere in the direction of coimbatore ended at Satymangalam with my friend hitting a lady on the road .
• Hognekkal with my friend mahesh.
• Bellary-Hampi-Tungabhadra reservoir.
• Shravanabelagola with lekshmi(2006)

latest

• Thiruvannamalai-gingee-pondicherry-mammallapuram-vandalur zoo (18 and 19th of March 2006)

My Travelogues

This is the best topic on which i have some authentic experiences. One of my late friend who was my companion initially has written a few about our travels which i have posted at my website .Since then I have mostly travelled solitarily except a couple of occasions with my wife. She has been more than a support given my maverick ways and taking off for sudden expeditions.

Travelling in a motorcycle has its own pros and cons:

Pros:
If you have a comfortable motorcycle and passion to travel and ride a motorcycle.

1) Time utility...no need to wait for buses trains....you feel like taking off and Off you go!!!
2) Better manouverability in towns, cities and on road blocks.
3) A convenient option to move around in Tourist spots.
4) Better Mileage.!!


Cons:
1) Comfort......could be severe on your back and bottoms. Journey breaks and Stretching your body will help.
2) slower transit along highways.
3) Mostly suitable for fairweather conditions....even otherwise who would like to travel for leisure in bad weather.