[laluks]

Originally Posted by venkatt1800

I spent a day at Palolem in Jan 2010, but missed out on the boat ride to the Butterfly beach in the nearby isle. Your pics and video of the ride made up for that, Lalu. Thanks for introducing Agonda Beach, whcih looks a real nice getaway for people like me who prefer some peaceful sun bathing. Hope it is hidden from the crowds for a long time.

Agonda, even around New Year was devoid of the mad crowds and was peaceful. I would like to go back there and get one of those huts and spend a few days!

[a_myth]

Couldn't resist adding some of the recent photographs of the Tamdi Surla Temple (Mahadeva Temple) after going through the post of laluks. Its a great place in the monsoon, a must visit for anyone coming to Goa during this time.

[laluks]

Thanks a_myth for the photos of Tamdi Surla Temple.
Rains do add a bit of charm every where

[dhanushmenon]

Wow!!!
Amazing write up as usual, and fantastic snaps (that too is usual.) Especially, the snaps of Amboli.

Photography comes quite naturally to you. Ain't it?

I really do envy you sir.
Is there a place in India which is still in your travel wish list?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Wow!!!
Amazing write up as usual, and fantastic snaps (that too is usual.) Especially, the snaps of Amboli.

Photography comes quite naturally to you. Ain't it?

I really do envy you sir.
Is there a place in India which is still in your travel wish list?

Thanks Dhanush. Was away to Wayanad for a Team outing.
There are many places Dhanush, many in my wish list. All in good time I guess

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by laluks

Thanks Dhanush. Was away to Wayanad for a Team outing.
There are many places Dhanush, many in my wish list. All in good time I guess

Yeah. I saw your facebook update of Wayanad.
So shall we soon expect a travelogue of Wayanad with your trademark photography?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Yeah. I saw your facebook update of Wayanad.
So shall we soon expect a travelogue of Wayanad with your trademark photography?

Time is the major concern these days. Into many many hobbies nowadays, and my plants takes away most of my time!

[laluks]

Its been a very long break for me from the drives since my last trip to Wayanad in January. Officially I was pretty tight for a trip, my plants kept me busy and on top of it all home renovation with the ever elusive labourers gave me nightmares.

Once I got some respite, I was itching for a drive. Then on a chat with HVK I heard about his yearly monsoon drive coming up. I inferred the location to be Goa, and I decided to just get my Civvy and do a drive. My plan was to do my drives and meet HVK and other common friends over dinner at the resort.

So I made a plan for a drive to Goa in July. Since the monsoons were in full swing I wanted to check out some waterfalls as well. In my previous trips to Goa, I always wanted to get into Dandeli and do some drives to check the place. So Dandeli area was a fixed item in the itinerary.

Two of my colleagues wanted to join me in the adventurous drive, and BHPian DDrive from Chennai decided to join me too.

The plan was set.

Visit Magod and Sathodi falls, Visit Synteri rocks and Sykes point and take route via Supa Dam to Mollem and stay at Dudh Sagar Resort to coincide with HVK and team's arrival on day 1. Chill out at Goa on day 2. Take either Chorla ghat or Tillari ghat to come back to Bangalore on Day 3. A very simple plan of about 1500 Kilometres.

We had some time delay on day 1 due to the heavy rains. We were stuck for over three hours due to a tree falling down bringing along with it some couple of electric posts with live wires. So we had to skip syntheri rocks and sykes point on day 1.

The Plan

Day 1 : 11th July 2014 : Bangalore - Hubli - Yellapur - Magod Falls - Sathodi Falls - Supa Dam - Mollem (`800 kms)
Day 2 : 12th July 2014 : Mollem - Old Goa - Panjim - Candolim - Aguada - Candolim - Calangute - Baga - Candolim (`100kms)
Day 3 : 13th July 2014 : Candolim - Tillari ghats - Belgaum - Bangalore (`700kms)

Total of 1620KMs. Civvy had a good time after a long while, blazing the highways.

[laluks]

Day 0: 10th July 2014 :

I got a message from DDrive in the afternoon that he would be taking Lalbagh Express from Chennai to Bangalore. I figured out that it'd arrive at Bangalore Central by around 22:00 hours. We were planning to start from Hosur Road, so giving time for DDrive to arrive to the Rendezvous and dinner, I thought a midnight start would be ideal. So messaged him the details back.

By evening one of the colleagues who was supposed to join me in the informed me that Lalbagh Express will stop at Krishnarajapuram. So that set me thinking to ask DDrive to get down there and we can all use the extra time gained to do a dinner together to catch up. So messaged that details to DDrive.

I was ready by 19:00 hours, had a light dinner together with my PPGs and delegated the work of watering all our plants to them.

I then went and quickly checked Civvy and got my bags in the boot.

Civvy waiting for the drive, over a lakh clocked already


It was drizzling which added to the joy of driving


It was 22 degrees


By this time I got another message from DDrive, that he is expected to reach in another few minutes. I sent him the location details a few kilometers from the station where we will meet up.

I picked up Ddrive by 21:30 and we started our drive to pick the next member. We then had dinner together at MastKalandar. I wanted to delay the start, since we would reach Hubli very early, I also wanted to start the drive so that DDrive need not wait somewhere till midnight. So the plan was to have a leisurely dinner and delay as much as possible.

By 23:00 hours we picked up the next member and headed on to NICE Road. We exited NICE at Tumkur and continued on. How much ever I tried, we were doing very good averages on the NH and hence decided to make another halt at 02:00 at a restaurant. We decided to get us some hot tea and some egg burji

The team having egg burji at 02:00


Egg burji was quite spicy


Around 03:00 we decided to start our drive again


This fellow seemed like he wanted to hop along!


We refuelled in between and continued our drive to reach Yellapur exit on the Hubli Dharward road by 06:00 as per the plan.

Continued...

[laluks]

Day 1: 11th July 2014

By 06:00 we exited on to the small state roads to Yellapur. We saw some open landscape and decided to stop for a while to stretch our legs. This was for sure by all means my slowest ever drive to Hubli

Look as far as you can see


It was pretty chill that morning!


Body language says so


I took some clicks of Civvy, after the safe night drive


I never stop falling in love with Civvy's design


After the needed break we continued on towards Yellapur.

Continued...

[laluks]

Day 1: 11th July 2014


We reached the fork where we have to take a deviation to Magod Falls


Magod falls is another 15KMs away


Devbagh Island and Beach is already done and dusted so not this time!


The roads to Magod falls was interesting


We stopped by to take some pictures




The road was patchy but overall good


Checking out how tall the tree is!!


DDrive up to some serious clicks


Curvy Roads




We reached Magod Falls entrance by 08:00AM


Parked Civvy and went to the falls, there were no one to give us tickets, but the entry was open.


Continued...

[laluks]

Day 1: 11th July 2014

Guys were quite happy!


It was quite chill


Through the mist we saw the water fall


Indeed a beautiful waterfall


We decided to explore the surroundings


We were on the edge of a rocky cliff


There was a walk way built along the edge


We walked on


There were steps


We reached another viewpoint, mist played spoil sport


Information about the river which flows below


There was a gazebo at the end


It was fun walking in the cold and drizzle




He decided to get himself a picture


Continued...

[laluks]

Day 1: 11th July 2014

We traced our steps back


It was quite a beautiful feeling


We walked on












DDrive enjoying the falls




Colourful Building!!


So was the window



After a beautiful visit to Magod falls we reached Yellapur back by 09:00AM.

We decided to have breakfast at Yellapur


The team


Civvy


Continued...

[laluks]

Day 1: 11th July 2014

After a heavy breakfast, we drove down to Sathodi water falls. Sathodi falls was about 19 KMs from Yellapur and the last 6KMs is dirt road. We tremendously enjoyed the drive, which inspired us to take some videos!!

The drive gave us some beautiful views of Kali River

We stopped by Kali River


The place was so calm


Kali River






There were steps to get down to the river


The river looked deep from the banks, so we did not venture into the river


Beautiful Kali River


Civvy, The dirt road and Kali River


Few more pictures of Civvy, I am crazy








Here is the video of our drive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQAL...Q1oTUmetrJyhOA

The video was taken handheld in the car, and all the jumping around is quite visible . To the end of the video you can see the waterfalls!

Continued...

[laluks]

Day 1: 11th July 2014

Finally we reached the entrance of the falls by 10:45






Our man is well trained, every morning he brushes his teeth, now the world knows too




Civvy parked and secured we move on to the falls.


There was a watch tower too


The walk way to the falls










Continued...