13th October 2008, 21:07
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| Senior - BHPian  | Yercaud meet missed; Consolation prize- Drive to Jarkalmadagu dam The Yercaud trip did not happen inspite of trying to rush up work and try and make ourselves free. So, it was a very disappointed me that was woken up by Patchyboy on saturday morning asking if I am in. Even after work on Saturday, I was contemplating driving off at night and land up in the middle of the party at Yercaud, but again my wife had brought home work and told me that even Sunday was a working day for her. Sunday morning, woke up and my wife got busy in front of the computer telling me not to disturb her for a few hours at least. I went out and washed the Accent having nothing better to do. Around 10 am my brother (member Vaseem on the forum) calls me and asks if I've heard of Kalawara Betta, I told him that I'd heard of it and it was somewhere near Chickaballapur. He then asked me why don't we drive out to that place for a photo shoot, I was game. My brother and family arrived by lunchtime and the initial idea of packing lunch was forgotten and we all sat down to a Sunday meal. I walked out with my brother to show him the Accent which he had not yet seen (as in TBHP 'seen') inspite of being present at the meet where the GQ trip was discussed. On his next visit home, we had gone off to Vellore to see the Golden Temple, so we stood outside comparing the two black cars. Eye to Eye  Accent with the Optra Lurking in the background  The SX4  Meanwhile his kids were eager to set off and bulldozed their aunt (my wife) into agreeing to join us on the drive. Kids have an amazing power of persuasion, my wife had refused point blank when I asked her if she would accompany us when the plan was made. So, 3.30 pm saw us starting off in the two cars with cameras and tripods. The Start  The moment we turned into the new airport road it started raining and I was cursing the weather for not permitting a photo shoot with clean cars. Luckily the rain stopped just after a few kilometers into our trip. Being Saturday afternoon, the airport traffic was mild and I captured the SX4 on the highway. Highway Cruiser  The Accent on the Hghway  Soon we were crossing the Nandi Hills turning and stopped by next to a small lake for an initial capture of the cars. The Mini Convoy   We set off again and on reaching the Nandi Temple arch we turned left from the highway and drove the 3 odd kilometres till the temple, the route to Kalawara Betta also known as Skandagiri, is the road which goes towards Chickaballapur from the Nandi Temple, so on reaching the temple we have to turn right along its compound and another right after the first corner. A few kilometres down this road we come to Muddenahalli, which is the birthplace of Sir M Vishweshwariah. At this village we asked for direction and turned left. SX4 @ Muddenahalli  Just about a kilometer down this road we reach the foothils of Skandagiri, since none of us were in a mood to trek, we decided to continue ahead to a small dam in a place called Jarkalmadagu. This was an unheard of place and my sis in law had googled out the dam location.We again stopped to ask for directions and saw a nice pond with some kids swimming, they wanted me to click their snaps and I obliged, some of them were in their b'day suits and on showing the snaps they were thrilled, I teased them saying that the snaps would appear in the newspaper the next day they were like " saar, we will fall at your feet, but pls don't publish our snaps in the newspaper", they were a very lively bunch though, chatted with them for some more time and clicked some snaps and then it was time to move on. View of Skandagiri  The swimmers  The Cars  Another view of the hill  ....will continue.  |
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13th October 2008, 21:11
| #2 |
| Senior - BHPian  | Wow, so you had fun. Man, the black beauties are so attractive. How do you maintain it? Wash it every other hour |
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13th October 2008, 21:49
| #3 |
| Senior - BHPian | A kilometere or so ahead from the Skandagiri foothills we turned right into a mud road which was almost like an off roading trail. But just around a corner we came across a beautiful spot and we decided to halt there for the car photoshoot. Now some pics of the micro shoot. The Black Beauties  Accent  SX4  Picture perfect  Yours truly   Boot camp?? Oh no!! Just some Tbhpians!!  After this picturesque spot, we half heartedly moved on to find the elusive dam amidst nice scenery  Everyone we asked about the dam had to say that it was about 6 kms ahead, we had travelled about 4 kms and it was till 6 kms ahead. After many twists and turns and drive through villages with kids gawking we suddenly were on good winding roads with a large waterbody visible ahead. The entire stretch was very scenic but we did not stop for photographs as the light was fading fast and we wanted to check out the dam before it got dark. Finally we reached the place and it was one of the smallest dams I had seen.The saving grace was that it was full and the water was actually flowing over the wall. There was a filteration plant on one side and we climbed up the dam walls to take some snaps. Jarkalmadagu Dam  Vaseem Clicking away  Another view of the dam  The filteration plant  The Reservoir  View from the top  Strange looking building  Once the clicking was done it was twilight and we were not sure of the way we had come, so enquired with a farmer nearby and he told us that Chickaballapur was about 9 kms ahead and the road was good. So we decided to go back via Chickaballapur and the 9 kms actually turned out to be about 20 kms. The final Picture @ Twilight  We reached Chickaballapur around 7 pm and the fuel in the Accent was very low, also our tummies too were growling and stopped at a wayside bajji shop and had bought some amazing bajjis. Refuelled at Chickaballapur and decided to head home. We stopped enroute at a dhaba for dinner and were home by 9 pm. Route to Jarkalmadagu Dam: Yelahanka- Devanahalli byepass- Nandi Hills Cross- Nandi Temple Arch- Nandi Temple- Muddenahalli- Skandagiri- Jarkalmadagu Alternate route: Yelahanka - Devanahalli Byepass - Nandi Hills Cross - Chickaballapur - Take Chickaballapur to Gowribidanur road - travel about 15 kms and then turn left, Jarkalmadagu dam is about 4 kms from here. Total distance from Yelahanka is approximately 50 kms one way. Regards, Hari. |
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13th October 2008, 22:09
| #4 |
| BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras
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13th October 2008, 22:27
| #5 |
| BHPian  Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore
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14th October 2008, 09:27
| #6 |
| Senior - BHPian  | |
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14th October 2008, 09:46
| #7 |
| Senior - BHPian | |
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14th October 2008, 10:41
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| Distinguished - BHPian   | |
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14th October 2008, 11:34
| #9 |
| BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 361
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14th October 2008, 13:22
| #10 |
| Senior - BHPian  | Hari excellent pics and no compliments for the travelogue  , it was too short of a journey to be called one. Loved the pic of the accent and the SX-4 parked side by side. Good on you mate !! |
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14th October 2008, 17:25
| #11 |
| Senior - BHPian  Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore
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