Z Point+Hebbe Falls+Mullayana Giri + Belavadi - 09-07-2011 to 10-07-2011

Z point was feeling very low.  I had promised to summit last year,  when I missed my trekking guru Rohit's call.  

When I saw the misty snap of Z-point, was just speech less, and i cursed myself enough times so that, 

Z point itself came in the dream, and tapped my shoulder and said, 

"don't worry Sri, always there is next chance....."

"typically NO means next opportunity, so do not worry, 

i will get decked myself when you summit me"

Z point

True to its words, when we reached in the wee hours of a beautiful mist fillled saturday morning on 9th July 2011, just it had brushed its teeth, and washed its face, and gave a beautiful hug with a cool breeze.

Yashdeep, Sunil, and myself were chasing the cool breeze, followed by new entrant to our gang Arvind.  The upward climb was very pleasant, no rest nor tiring.  The breathtaking scenic beauty just evaporated all our tiredness. In no time, we were there on the cliff, taking snaps with the mother nature.  

When we started from Kemmannu Gundi entrance, the team got split in two, the other team with Sandeep, Prashanth, Latesh visited Raj-Bhavan, and the rose garden, when we crosssed each other, they left to Z-point, and we left to Raj-Bhavan to explore, promising each other to meet for the break fast.

The Crazy drive to Hebbe Falls

The automobile giants would have committed suicide by looking at the vehicle condition, but still had enough power to zip on the treacherous path leading to Hebbe.  I just thanked the owners of the estate, and as usual our government apathy towards making it a promising tourist spot, because this is the only falls i visited in my life which is neatly maintained by everyone.  No unnecessary trash.  

The falls just takes your breath away.  Beautiful, Spectacular, marvelous...oh no!!!!..my key board is crying, it doesn't have any letter to get arranged itself to praise the beauty of the falls.  

Frost free route :-)

After a brief breathtaking cold bath, we started journey towards Chikkamagalur. The way from Hebbe Falls to Kemmannu gundi just takes your eye lid out, it refuses to close even for a brief moment.   This is one of the most memorable trip for "Many" reasons.

Majestic Hebbe Falls!!!!!!!!

We stayed back in chikkamagalur in a lodge accommodating all the seven guys.  

New Town Canteen and the forest life in Muthodi

Our great poets said, you should see Jog falls in a life time, the same way people who visited Chikkamagalur says, if you dont eat Butter Masala Dosa in New Town Canteen, your life is a waste.  So we decided not to waste our life, we ventured in to it, and we had nice two rounds of Dosa, and came back in the noon for one more round.  

Sandeep said, he will leave eating Dosa atleast for a month to keep the taste in the taste bud as it is!!!!!! (Am sure he will reply to this, and says am fed up with dosa").  Such was the power of New Town Canteen.  A personnel who is serving from the last 21st years of service in this hotel for taste buds said the quality was unaltered even after 51 years from inception. 

Upway to Mullayanagiri

Due to rainy season, the safari in the muthodi forest was banned, but  the forest personnel Mr. Lokeshappa took us to a virtual safari in a demo room.  His narration was very good, and pleasing.

He said, continue the journey from Muthodi to Mullayana Giri, you will get goose bumps.  

He was just right on.  The winding roads, the unfolded mountains with green carpet, you cant expect anything less nor more.  It was the right season to get engrossed with the nature.  

The team Prashanth, Arvind, Sunil, Sandeep, Yashdeep, Latesh, Srikanth & Tavera 

Mullayana Giri

The Sunil's driving skills was just amazing, when we are taking turn in every hairpin curve, we used to pray god, but he was effortlessly talking, and driving us to safety.  Amazing skills indeed. 

Mullayanagiri was just amazing, we were proud to be top of highest point in Karnataka.  The caves, the breeze, the mist, the fog was just excellent.  Whole mountain ranges were decked fresh from the "mist"erious bath.  

Belavadi Temple - Hoysala Architecture

Since the rain started, we abandoned the idea of Baba Budan Giri, instead we decided to head to Belavadi - A small hamlet near Chikkamagalur, famous for Udbava Ganesha Temple, and a temple in Hoysala style of architecture. 

Hoysala Architecture in Belavadi

All of us returned to Bangalore in the mid night of sunday with fat stomach after eating dinner in Kamath hotel, and with full memory in the Camera and the eyes with satisfaction.

With the priest!

The lights at the top (High-Lights)

1. Z point is just marvelous, would want to visit again

2. The drive to Hebbe, and the neat falls just marvelous

3. The winding curvey Mullyanagiri

4. My energy recharging point Belavadi Ganesha Temple, and the 

    Hoysala temple
5. More snaps in the following link
https://picasaweb.google.com/srmanjun/KemmannuGundiZpointHebbeMullayanaGiriBelavadi

ಹಾಸನ-ಉದ್ಭವ ಗಣೇಶನ ಬೆಳವಾಡಿ - ಚಂಡಿಕಹೊಮದ ಕೌಶಿಕ - ೨೫-೨೬ ಜೂನ್ - ೨೦೧೧

ಜನನಿ ಜನ್ಮಭೂಮಿ ಸ್ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ಮಿಗಿಲು ಅಂತ ಹೇಳ್ತಾರೆ..ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಜನನಿ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಬರಿ ತಾಯಿ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ ತಾಯಿ-ತಂದೆ ಇಬ್ಬರು..ಅವರು ಜನಿಸಿದ ಸ್ಥಳ..ಅವರ ನೆಂಟರು-ಬಂಧು-ಬಳಗ...ಅವರ ಒಡನೆ ಒಡನಾಟ ಇವೆಲ್ಲ ವರ್ಣಿಸಲಸಾಧ್ಯ...

ಮದುವೆ.....ಅಮ್ಮನ ಸೋದರತ್ತೆಯ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಂಡಿಕ ಹೋಮ...ಎರಡು ಸಂಭ್ರಮಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಇದ್ದ ಅಂತರ ಕೇವಲ ಎಂಟು ಕಿ.ಮಿ. ಗಳು...

                                                                                                     ಕೈ-ಮರ 
ಗಣೇಶನ ದರ್ಶನ ಮಾಡಿ ನಿಷ್ಠೆಯಿಂದ ಇಷ್ಟ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಹೊರಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ದೇವಾಲಯ ಕೂಗಿ ಕರೆಯಿತು. ದೇವಾಲಯ ವಾಸ್ತು ಶಿಲ್ಪ...ಅಚ್ಚರಿ ಬರಿಸುತ್ತೆ..ಇದು ಸೇರಿ ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಸರತಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೀನೋ ಲೆಕ್ಕವಿಲ್ಲ...ಆದ್ರೆ ಪ್ರತಿಬಾರಿಯೂ ಹೊಸತನ ಮೂಡಿಸುತ್ತೆ..ಅಂತಹ ಸ್ಥಳ ಇದು.

ಬೂತಯ್ಯನ ಮಗು ಅಯ್ಯು..ಬಂಗಾರದ ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಚಿತ್ರೀಕರಿಸಿದ ಕಳಸಾಪುರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ನಿಂತಾಗ ಮಹನೀಯರು ಓಡಾಡಿದ ಜಾಗಗಳು, ಚಿತ್ರೀಕರಿಸಿದ ಸ್ಥಳಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಏನೋ ಒಂಥರಾ ಆನಂದಾ..ಮಹದಾನಂದ...

ದರುಶನ ಮತ್ತು ದಾರ್ಶನ ಮುಗಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಹಾಸನಕ್ಕೆ ಮಧುವೆಯ ಸಂಭ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲುಗೊಳ್ಳಲು ಬಂದೆವು.  ಬಂಧು-ಮಿತ್ರರು ಜಮಾಯಿಸಿದ್ದರು.  ಅವರ ನಡುವೆ ಉಭಯ-ಕುಶೋಲೋಪರಿ-ಸಾಂಪ್ರತ ಆದ ಮೇಲೆ...ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳು ಮೊದಲುಗೊಂಡವು....

ಕಟ್ಟೆ ಬಳಗ, ಸುವಾಸಿತ ಧೂಪ, ಗಲಿಬಿಲಿ ಮನಸನ್ನೇ ಶಾಂತಿಗೊಳಿಸುವ ವಾತಾವರಣ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಆಹ್ಲಾದಕರ...ನಗರದ ಕಲುಷಿತ ಮನಸಿಗೆ ಸರಿಯಾದ ಕಷಾಯ...

ವೇದಘೋಷ, ಮಂತ್ರಗಳ ತರಂಗಗಳು, ಯಜ್ಞಕುಂಡ ಒಂದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಕಂಡು ಮನಸನ್ನು ಸೂರೆಮಾಡಿದವು.  ಇನ್ನಾರು ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದ ಹುಮ್ಮಸನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಈ ಹೋಮ ಸಮಾರಂಭ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಶ್ಲಾಘನೀಯ.

ಮಾರನೆದಿನ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಭಾನುವಾರ ಗಂಡಿಗೆ ಕಾಶಿದಾರಿ ತೋರಿಸಿ..ಕೌಶಿಕಕ್ಕೆ ಲಗ್ಗೆ ಹಾಕಿತು...ಇದು ಒಂದು ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯವಾದಿಗಳ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಗ್ರಾಮ...ಹಳ್ಳಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ಒಂದು ರೈಲು ದಾರಿ, ಮುಗಿಲು ಮುಟ್ಟುವ ಗಿಡ-ಮರಗಳು, ಕೆರೆ-ಕಟ್ಟೆ-ಭಾವಿಗಳು, ಸುಂದರವಾದ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಗಳು, ರುಚಿಕರ ಭೋಜನ ಎಲ್ಲವು ಮೇಳೈಸಿತ್ತು. 

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಸೋದರತ್ತೆ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ತಲುಪುವ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಚಂಡಿಕ ಹೋಮ ಶುರುವಾಗಿತ್ತು.  ದೂರದಿಂದಲೇ ಸಮಿತ್ತು, ಉತ್ತರಾಣಿ, ತುಪ್ಪ, ಬೆಲ್ಲ, ಮುಂತಾದ ಆರ್ಜ್ಯಗಳ ಸುವಾಸನೆ ಕೈ ಬೀಸಿ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತ ಇತ್ತು.  ಆಹಾ ಎಂತಹ ವಾತಾವರಣ!!!!!

ಈ ಸಮಾರಂಭ ನಡೆಸಿದ, ಆಹ್ವಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗು ಹೃದಯದಲ್ಲೇ ನಮನ ತೋರಿಸಿ ಒಳಗೆ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಇಟ್ಟೆವು..

ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ ಮಧ್ಯರಾತ್ರಿಯ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಹಾಸನ ಸೇರಿದಾಗ...ನಿದ್ರಾದೇವಿ ಬಾಚಿ ತಬ್ಬಿಕೊಂಡಳು..ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಎದ್ದು..ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳನೆಲ್ಲ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಇಷ್ಟ ದೇವತಾ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ - ಬೆಳವಾಡಿ ಗಣೇಶನ ದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕೆ ಮನಸು, ದೇಹ ಎರಡು ಸಿದ್ದವಾಯಿತು. ಪಯಣಿಗರು ಮುದ್ದಿನ ಮಡದಿ, ಮುದ್ದಿನ ಪಾಪ, ಹಾಗು ಮುದ್ದಿನ ಮಗು ಮತ್ತು ನಾನು.

ಬಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪಯಣ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ ಜಕಣಚಾರಿ ನೆನಪಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ನಿಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂದು ಕೂಗಿದಂತಾಯಿತು..

ಇಂಥಹ ಒಂದು ಸುಯೋಗ ಇನ್ನೊಮ್ಮೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಮಯಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾಯುತ್ತ ಇತ್ತು..ಅಮ್ಮನ ಸೋದರಮಾವನ ಮಗನ 

Biking to Nandi Hills early morning on 18th June 2011

The monotonous life almost came to a grinding halt.

Grinding Halt!!!!!!

All the good ideas are failing, and falling flat

Ideas falling flat!!!!!

Head and brain were like a top-less table.

Topless table!!!!

Started feeling like i was born in pre-indepence era....

Pre-independence era!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then the power filled lightening invite came from Sandeep about the early morning biking to Nandi Hills.

Opportunity, and lightening never strikes the same place twice

Just I ticked the right button..and Saturday morning by 4.30Hrs we are on the road towards Nandi Hills.  The Mother nature invited me with both the hands

The ride was excellent, cool breeze, no zooming past vehicles nor bumper to bumper traffic jam....

Our great ride to one of the historically significant Nandi hills were joined by new entrants to our group Prashanth Kishan, Suresh, and Shashidhar. We started off from Hebbal flyover by 5.00 Hrs in the morning.

Sandeep, Prashant, Shashidhar, and Suresh in order

It was unbelievable that near Bengaluru there exists a place close to any hills stations with Kodaikanal,or ooty or anyother hills stations.  Chilled weather, breezing wind, poor visibility up the curves of the Nandi hills was a a trail blazer still nature was awaiting to unleash the splendor of mother earth.

For close to two hours mother nature softly spoken to my heart with mute button on.  My heart slowly but effectively observed, galvanised the breathtaking live frames of the nature's nature.

The awesome windy Tippu Drop just blown away all the dust on the heart...while climbing down the hills..the heart, the body, and the mind was as light as smile of my best friend enjoying the ridel.

My best friend enjoying the nature!!!!

More photos in the following link :
https://picasaweb.google.com/srmanjun/BikingToNandiHillsInTheWeeHours18Jun2011


The finale

1. One more trouble free ride from my best friend (TVS Victor)
2. The foggy, impossible poor visibility made the trip the memorable one
3. The ride on close to hair pin curves just reminded the curves of !@#!@#$@#$@#
4. Start early in the morning...forget about the over hyped cloud bed..but misty, foggy nature will be just breathtaking
5. Don't waste money, and time for breakfast or lunch on top of the hill
6. Like any hill stations, the monkeys, and the mongers will bother you all the time

TCS - 10K Mara-Walkathon - 5th June 2011

The marathon was a fun event for me, trying to burn some extra calories to gain more, and also to relax on the weekends.


Sandeep & myself decided to jump in to Majja Run, and rightly we registered ourselves online. We were there in the brimming stadium well before 7AM on the Sunday morning.  

Entry point for the enthusiastic sprinters

Sandeep started using his third eye to capture the freezing moments, and got disconnected with me, after that we met near the Anil Kumble Circle, to lose him again in the mela.

The crowd. The crowd, and the crowd!!!!!!!!!

The event for Female athletes!!!!!

The professional in an unprofessional way!!!!!!!!!!

 Surprisingly, we enrolled for 5.7KM majja run, but we ended up running 10K open challenge, a nice experience altogether.  Next edition will run for 10K open challenge :-)

After that, my lone Mara-Walkathon started, surprisingly, i had enough companions on the way, check out the snaps below

The Spider Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!

Bond, The james bond in action!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tree man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where there is a woman, there is a (Sub)way!!!!

Cheering for the athletes - The king of monsters

When am in action, i can steam roll anyone - Avatar

Spent little time less than ten minutes to collect nourishments, and reached home by 11.00 Hrs.  It was an eventful weekend.

Biking to Bheemeswari + Camping + Cooking Beside Cauvery Waters - 21-05-2011

Sri's TVS Victor was standing alone near Muttatti Hanuman Temple for the whole night.

When it saw Sri in the morning, it was screaming with joy. Sri came in and just patted on the Victor, a tears or two started trickling down.

TVS Victor sincerely apologised Sri, for not supporting him till Bheemshwari due to flat tyre, but Sri was more generous in telling that it was his mistake of over using him (bike) without proper nourishment time to time.

Then Sri narrated the whole story from Mutatti on Saturday evening 6PM to next day 8AM.

We four of us, Sandeep, Rohit, and Ravi Kanth, new entrant to our club, joined us near Metro on Kanakapura Road. 

It was lul evening, as only four made it, than the promised 10 plus, but nevertheless Rohit inspired us, and we reached Mutatti by 18.00 Hrs on Saturday 21st May 2011.

Since my dependable bike conveyed  apologies, I hopped in to Rohit's "Sporting Red" Pulsar. We zoomed in to Bheemeshwari , after finding a suitable place, we decided to lit the camp fire, and collected sufficient fire wood to keep ourselves away from the wild life for the night.  

Rohit "The Bajji Cheff" started his mastery, rest of the gang joined him, in giving the helping hand, and also empty stomach,  to prepare the awesome bajji's for the night.  

After five rounds of Bajji's we had dinner (MTR read to eat).  We had put more wood in to fire, and with a promise from Rohit that, he will make sure the fire will burning through out the night. 

With peace in the heart, fear in the brain of any threat from the wild life, we three slept, and Rohit was checking the fire quite frequently, and at one time around midnight, started screaming  "fire is really beautiful, come let us take snaps", so all of us woke up again, witnessed fire and flames forming an awesome exhibition of art.

By around 1 o'clock in the early sunday morning, all of us slept, only to woke up for a scary scream from Sandeep alerting us due to the rain in the morning.  

There was a light drizzle, but soon it gave away.  The photo session was a nice. After satisfying ourselves with session, headed towards Mutatti.  On the way Deers, Wolfs, Jackle, Monkeys saw us visiting them on our ride. 

From Mutatti, I collected my bike, with a flat tyre till Sathanoor, a good 18Kms ride.  The flat tyre had been shown to the compounder, and with happy tears, The Victor saluted Me, and we both started again, reached bengaluru by 13.00 Hrs.

Me, Ravi, Rohit, Sandeep in order

More snaps in the following link

https://picasaweb.google.com/srmanjun/BikingToBheemeswariCampingCookingBesideCauveryWaters21052011#

The Highlights

1. Never say die attitude of my Victor, and the way it smiled at me
    when we reached our home.

2. The bajji specialist Rohit
3. The Art of fire & flame

4. Low cost trip, per head it was 200/-

5. Swiftly flowing Cauvery made us comfortable in the river bed

6. The Ride was an excellent experience to cherish for longtime.