22nd February 2009, 15:42
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| BHPian  | 3901 KM - South India trip. Hi, I am Manish, posting from rudrah's account. Thanks Rudrah for giving me access to account use. Pretty long time I was discussing with my family to go on to the long trip. And really meant it a LONG one. One day my friend in office shown me the route that can be done in the two weeks time in South india. So the route was to take the NH4 upto Bangalore and see Mysore, Ooty, Kodai, Coimbatore, Munnar, alleppy, Cochin and back via NH-17. That was the time I decided to see if I could do that. Discussed and had lots of back and forths with parents that it can be done. Finally all of them agreed. I discussed the route on team BHP and got help from you guys. So the route that got finalised was Panvel - Bangalore - Mysore - Mudumalai - Madurai - Rameshwaram - Munnar - Alappuzha. and back via - NH-17. All in the 10 days (17 Jan - 26 Jan) was the plan. But I decided to give myself a little room for something uncertain if happened.And decided to leave on 16 Jan. Day 1 7:15 AM, we started from Home in New Panvel. Fueled the car at our regular HP pump at 7:30AM. Sun rise at Panvel exit..  Reading at Express way bridge ..  We head south to Pune and reached Hinjwadi 8:50 AM. Refueled at Khed Shivapur BP company outlet. And reached Satara 10:55 AM. Finally reached Kolhapur (344km) at 12:35 PM. Overall 25 min break in between. This was the first time I did to Kolhapur in 5 hours. We went to my aunty at Kolhapur. Spent around 3 hours there, I took the sleep  . We went to Renuka mandir in Kolhapur. We left Kolhapur at 4 PM. Renuka Mandir at Kolhapur.  I decided to go to out Kuldevi in Saundatti. And we reached there late 7:30. We went via Gokak, the road condition was much better than what it was a year back. We had the darshan and came out by 9 PM. Road to Dharwad was worst patch in my entire journey (36 KM took 1.5 hours) Took the dinner in Dharwad. And searched the hotel but couldnt find one empty. So decided to go to Hubali. reached 12:30 AM. 599 KM. Stayed at Channama circle, one of the lodge. The lodge was clean and affordable. Dont recollect its name. Day 2 Next day morning Channamma circle, Hubli.  Next day morning left Hubali at 7 AM. Refueled at Ranebennur. Reached Chitradurg 11:50 AM. Did some photography of the windmills. At 1:50 PM we reached Tumkur.  Windmills at Chitradurg..   Finally reached Eskon temple by 3:00 PM. Got the some traffic spots on the way. We took lunch at a nice hotel in close proximity to Eskon temple. Then head towards the temple. Its huge. The monuments and idols created are extremely eyecandy. During night hired an auto to see the Bangalore city, who showed us Vidhan Saudha, Brigade road, Vishweshwarayya College, museum building. We stayed at Hotel Geo. (431 KM) Night at Vidhan Saudha   Brigade road.  Contd... Last edited by rudrah : 22nd February 2009 at 15:45. |
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22nd February 2009, 16:01
| #2 |
| Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 4,106
Thanked: 537 Times
| Manish, That is one looong journey you had! Seems like these long journeys are thing in favor this season. And, FYI, I think it is ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and not ESKON. And what is your ride? Seems like a old gen zen, looking at the speedo. Is it? Last edited by HappyWheels : 22nd February 2009 at 16:07. |
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22nd February 2009, 17:02
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| BHPian | Next day we had a plan to visit Shiva temple. So went there. At the building entrance my car kissed the pedestrial road and got a dent. (No, that cannt happen!) It was a mood off! But then called up the my regular garage in Panvel, he said not to worry about it and bring it when I am back. Seen the temple. The Shiva idol is huge. It was mesmerising to see such a great structure.   What an idol!  There is a cave like structure made in which you see 12 jyotirlingam man-made.  Photo from a distance..  Vidhan Saudha in morning ..   Contd... |
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22nd February 2009, 17:21
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| BHPian | Then we head towards Mysore at 10 AM. On the way, halt at Kamat Lokruchi after Raman Nagar. Then went to Shrirangapatanam (Tipu Dariya Mahal and Tipu's Kabar). Spotted a nice girl running across.  Honeybee hives.  Tipu Mahal  We at Tipu's Kabar entrance.  The back side of it.  And reached Mysore at 3:30 PM. Then realised need to hurry to see the Mysore palace otherwise the ticket selling is closed. So went to Mysore palace. Saw the palace and came back to Hotel Siddhartha. After that we went to Vrindavan Garden. The dancing fountains were really great.      Again the road to Garden and back had really bad patch of road. The Policemen in Karnataka are really helpful and guide you to right direction. In case you feel like you are heading in wrong direction, ask the Policeman. In the night the food was not that great. Came to hotel and slept. (178 KM). Contd... |
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22nd February 2009, 17:22
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| Senior - BHPian  | Quote:
 Nice pictures Manish and keep them coming and did you also visit the Bandipur on your way to Ooty. | |
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22nd February 2009, 17:25
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| BHPian | Quote:
Quote:
Last edited by rudrah : 22nd February 2009 at 17:28. | ||
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22nd February 2009, 17:42
| #7 |
| BHPian  Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: India
Posts: 144
Thanked: Once
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22nd February 2009, 17:45
| #8 | |
| Senior - BHPian | Quote:
oops Happywheels you got it right and myself  | |
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22nd February 2009, 18:01
| #9 | ||
| Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 4,106
Thanked: 537 Times
| Quote:
Ah, 2004 model Zen. Loved that and still love that design. Quote:
Love to say 'You fell for it' but, honestly, I also fell for it! I had to edit my post 2 times because of this vehicle confusion! | ||
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22nd February 2009, 19:24
| #10 |
| BHPian | Day 3 Hotel Sidhhartha was the place we stayed at Mysore. My parents and niece Kalyani.  Me, my wife, and Kalyani  Day was not a busy day so started to Chamundi Hills and Nandi. Really nice place to visit. On the way we took the snacks at a Restaurant. Spotted the milking cow sight.  Snacks that feed our stomach almost everywhere  My niece saw Giraffe. Wow, the boy told us that it is Zoo! And we all got charged and excited to see it. But went ahead to see the Chamundi hill as the zoo was not opened for public yet. The idol of Mahishasura, temple and the monkeys are the biggest attraction at that place.     Saw them busy...  Then went to Nandi which is 4 KM from there. On the way to Nandi...  My Zen Vxi  Nandi is monolithic structure (curved out of a single large stone)   And then we came back to Mysore to see Zoo. Contd.. Last edited by rudrah : 22nd February 2009 at 19:26. |
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22nd February 2009, 19:44
| #11 |
| BHPian | Entrance of Mysore Zoo   A warm welcome     White Peocock  White Bengal Tiger  Tiger sitting in open  One pic I needed to rotate but forgot ... I will post it again. |
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22nd February 2009, 20:05
| #12 |
| BHPian | I am speechless to tell you about them .. It is breath taking to see them at such a close distance.                 And the SWANs     |
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22nd February 2009, 20:18
| #13 |
| BHPian |  Zoo has approx. 3 km round and once you take that route, you will want to do it once again.. If I get to Mysore again, I will revisit. It is so nice to see the wild life in close proximity. Then we left to see the Mysore palace from outside and do some photography. |
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22nd February 2009, 20:30
| #14 |
| BHPian | After that we went to Mysore Palace again hired a guide for Rs. 150. He took me inside the gate and allowed to photograph from the outside. Showed the spots from where I can take the nice views.          |
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22nd February 2009, 22:21
| #15 |
| BHPian | And then we left the Mysore city. And went to Mudumalai. Reached Gundelpet at 1:30 PM and took the lunch there. And then went on to Mesinagudi at 4 PM. Drove slowly because 1) the road in Karnataka side is not that good and 2) the forest section. (174 KM). Road at Bandipur  Somebody busy snatching the food..  Wild Elephants right beside the road ... Dont honk!  Karnataka - TN Border  KA - Tamilnadu Border  Road at Mudumalai Forest   I parked my car and took a Jeep safari arranged from the Forest Hills resort. We took a tea and then went for the safari. We went to Elephant feeding camp.    We saw spotted deers, Elephants, wild pigs and beautiful peacocks. WOW! What a ride we had! I was more excited. I called up the same driver next day morning safari as well. Who agreed to come at a mere price of Rs. 700. Peacock flying at a 2 feet height from the road. It flew across the road. I never saw this any time before. But the photograph didnt came that clear..   In the night we met a French couple who was on their Indian expedition. We had a small camp fire. and then took the dinner. The food was great. Last edited by rudrah : 22nd February 2009 at 22:26. |
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