Weekend day trip to Mallali Falls and Bisle Ghats
Based on a suggestion from DBHPian procrj, we planned a day trip to Mallali Falls and Bisle Ghats. The plan was to start early, take a short break for breakfast and carry lunch along so that we can have it any time and anywhere!
Started from the LBS Nagar at 6:15AM and reached Kamat, Kunigal by 8:15AM, via E-city Nice road.
After breakfast, we resumed the trip towards Mallali. First stop was near Gorur dam backwaters! Couldn’t help stopping and clicking few pictures. While others were busy clicking and getting clicked, I captured the blinking Coyote!
And some lush green fields
Mallali Falls
Reached Mallali Falls by 12:15PM and found a lot of cars parked on the narrow approach road. The approach to Mallali falls is a steep incline. Due to a narrow road and cars parked on either side, there was a jam between the cars coming down the slope and some of us going up to park. With 5 on board, the handbrake was insufficient to hold back the car on the slope and the car would start rolling back. This was the first time I had to give some throttle while releasing the clutch in first gear, to keep the car in turbo zone (~1500 rpm). After struggling for few mins to find a proper parking spot, we trekked down to the waterfall.
It was beyond 2PM when all of us returned back to the car. Since it was hot and we were tired by the hike from the waterfall, I suggested we cool down, drive for some distance and find a nice spot to have our lunch. Since the next destination was Bisle Ghat View point, we started in that direction. After 30 mins, we found THE perfect spot for a picnic.
Parked by the side, took out the plastic mat and spread on the soft grass. Served ourselves lunch and enjoyed the jungle view by the side.
Bisle Ghat View Point
Next was Bisle ghat view point. Again few cars and a big bunch of bikers had visited the spot. While walking to the view point, I found a small trail going down to few rocks where we could stand alone and had a great view of the mountain range.
It was 4:15PM by time we wrapped up from the spot. On our way to the view point, we had seen a sign board about Patla Betta cutting off the road. While returning, we thought of giving it a shot to this view point. Unknown to us, we didn’t have high expectations.
Patla Betta View Point
Reached the point where a broken mud trail was leading up away from the road. We asked the lone person there and he said that cars can’t go up that road as it is bad. He was right and I learnt it the hard way.
It was a mud road with rocks/stones of all sizes jutting out randomly. The 4*4s had travelled and smoothen it wherever possible. After barely 300 m. there was an incline and a hairpin turn. Due to rains, the road was partially washed exposing the rocks while the top layer was slippery red mud. After a recce, I thought I will be able to drive up if I stick to one corner. Chose the outer one as the gradient would be gradual and will also give me more space to turn. Since there were rocks jutting out, I started at crawling speed with bare minimum throttle. Slowly as the gradient increased, I felt the need for more throttle until right before the turn, the front wheels lost traction and started spinning.
Due to the wet red mud and smooth stones, Coyote didn’t get any traction. Due to uneven ground, the weight distribution on the tyres was uneven too. Even here the gradient was such that the handbrakes were not able to hold the car from rolling back. If I kept the RPM near idle and try to start, the car would get bogged down and stall. If I give some throttle to get into the turbo zone and then launch, loads of torque and no traction resulted in wheel spins and sliding. I backed up a couple times and tried to restart but the result was same. No forward movement due to no traction. That day I realized these HT tyres are useless.
Uneven ground and the rocks jutting out
There was still another way. I could back down for some distance and then restart with some momentum which could help me sail through this patch. But I was driving a cross-over, with HT tyres, in a remote area, on a road with slippery mud and jutting rocks, with my family and barely anyone else to help
. That was enough adventure for Coyote for the day. Reversed down and parked by the side, we decided to continue on foot for the remaining 2-3 kms.
It was a long tiring trek but in the end, it was worth all the pain and struggle! Climb to the top and you can view the whole Mallali falls on one side and the Bisle ghat on the other side!
Trugged back to the car by 5:40PM and started the return trip.Again after a 30 min drive to cool us down, we stopped for some tea and snacks which we had carried from home.
Parked beside the same lush green fields
My wife exclaimed that bald tree behind reminded her of a miniature Whomping Willows
All this while Coyote had managed to get dual tone alloys, only on the front though
Finally started by 6:15PM, had dinner at Empire Kunigal, and reached Nelamangala toll by 10:30PM. Took the NICE road and were home by 11:40PM.
Distance: 640 kms
Trip time: 18 hrs.
Driving time: 11:40 hrs.
Odo stands at
11860 kms.
FE: 15 kmpl
Driving experience
This was my first experience driving a turbo diesel on a ghat road and I could find some difference vs. my previous experience with petrol cars.
- For hair pin bends with moderate slope, the car was relaxed in 3rd gear.
- for the ones with steep slope, downshift to 2nd before the turn and you are good to go.
- While moving from standstill on a steep incline, just releasing the clutch in 1st gear is not enough and engine feels bogged down. Keep the RPMs around +/- 1500 rpm and it starts moving fine.
- It was a joy driving this car around the corners and I felt confident keeping speeds
- The 33 Psi tyre pressure all around gives the perfect balance between ride and handling