Ride to Karkala – Agumbe – Sringeri

September 7, 2012, Friday 9:00pm

Two days off, have to explore some places, Blackie and Angel with me… Where to go?? :-/ Refreshing the old notes of places to be visited near Mangalore, shall go Agumbe and visit ARRS(Agumbe Rainforest Research Station)? Yes, go Agumbe! Have to contact ARRS tomorrow.

September 8, 2012, Saturday 11am

Calling ARRS.. connected to Ajay. He has informed that need prior permission needed to get accomodation there! As a solution he gave the no. of Sudhi, who is running a lodge there. Called him, but all rooms are full for the day!
Decided to go, don’t know where to stay for the night. Whatever, will face at that time.

1:15pm

Started the journey on Blackie with Angel, had noted down some places at Karkala and Agumbe.

2:45pm

47km ride and reached Karkala.
First target is the Kere Basadi, which is a Jain temple, in the middle of Anekere Lake. The road made through the lake takes us to the temple. Its not maintained well, may be none have lighted the lamp here recently!

Have three more in the list to be visited here. Its drizzling, went to a small shop and got directions to the three places. They have suggested to go to the Gomateshwara temple followed by Chaturmukha Basadi and St. Lawrance Shrine.
Head towards Gomateshwara, its just 1km from Kere Basadi. Its built on a huge rock and steps have been made by carving it nicely.

Chaturmukha Basadi is seen from half the way of Gomateshwara. Reached the top, I feel the lack of excercise 😉

The 42feet high Gomateshwara statue is built in 14th century. It was installed on 13th February, 1432. There is a small temple tank too.

After few clicks, I moved to Chaturmukha Basadi; which is half kilometer away from Gomateshwara.

The Chaturmukha Basadi is built in the form of a four faced hall, with a supercilious doorway and pillared entrance on each of its four sides. The flat roof is constructed with very big granite slabs. Alike Kere Basadi, this also closed. But comparitively it looks better.

 

The St. Lawrance Shrine/Attur Church is a Catholic church which was built in the 18th century by Christians who fled Portuguese rule in India.

It is almost 6km away on the way to Agumbe. It is famous for prayer and miracles happened for the physically challenged people.

The Miraculous pond, Pushkarani was renovated in modern Indian architectural style with the facility for pilgrims to descend into the pond.
I can see the offerings in the water, including many coins and few currencies.

4:30pm

Called Ajay(ARRS) and told him that I didn’t get an accomodation. He asked to call Sudhi again and ask about Dodda Mane. I did so, Sudhi informed that there is a vacant room and I can stay. 😉 Hooray stay is done, 50km+ ride and not sure about the ghat road! Anyway have to reach before the sun sets!

5:40pm

Reached the bottom of Agumbe Ghat section, I could see the ghat is covered by mist(we consider it as clouds 😉 )

The CAUTION display boards started showing. The ghat road is 11km in length having 16 hair pin(HP) bends, in the ratio 1:1(Right Turn : Left Turn). Its ma first ride through a ghat road. The road is busy with private and taxi vehicles. The road condition is OK for me.

6:05pm

I think its the 15th HP, tower extended and people are taking pics there! Crossed the 16th HP and stopped the bike near the tower. Could see the sun set nicely but it is totaly misty. Had a churumuri(is a Mysore street snack prepared with puffed rice, grated carrot, roasted peanuts, shredded onion, lemon juice and green chilli peppers sold in cones of old newspaper). Its totally misty, have to cross the ghat section asap.

6:20pm

Light is ON, but no use. Feel the lack of fog lamps. The HP bends are done. Reached Forest checkpost. The police man collected the details and asked for the vehicle documents. After few minutes of teasing got permission to continue the journey.

6:30pm

At Agumbe now. Called Sudhi and got accomodation at his lodge, Mallya Residency which is a small one. Came to know that the pillar seen at ghat is the sunset point at Agumbe.

Luck or bad luck, throughout the way, I didn’t get rain but its raining now. Refreshed and had dinner from a smallnear by hotel. Bad luck about seeing waterfalls inside the forest due to the naxalite encounter happening here and Subrahmanya. Police won’t give permission to enter the forest. Lets see tomorrow.. Anyway no hope of seeing the waterfalls!

8:30pm

Under the blanket and sleep with clouds 🙂

Sept 9, 2012, Sunday 7:20am

Good Morning 🙂 Though had kept the alarm at 7, Lazy to get up or its nice to sleep; snoozed it for another 20mins.

Got ready for the day. No plans other than visiting ARRS. Head to ARRS after the break fast. Its 1.5km away from the Agumbe bus station inside the forest.

8:45am

The way to ARRS is surrounded by greenery and cattle are eating grass calmly. The greenery in mist looks awesome. Stopped blackie and clicked few.

11:00am

Two hours @ ARRS and discussed/talked few things with Ajay. He asked me what kinda help I can provide for ARRS? Also told that there is a S/W Engineer from Udupi coming most of the weekends for helping them. I gave a promise that, I could help them in future, may not be soon. He has suggested to visit Kundadri which Sudhi also suggested, another hill point 18km away from Agumbe. If its not misty I should be able too have a good view there.

11:15am

Vacated the room and head towards Kundadri. Sudhi’s father gave me the direction. Have to turn right after 9km and go straight for another 9km. Half the way a policeman stopped me to give a drop as he is going to Kundadri for duty. 😉

Had a nice view of Paddy field and a part of Kundadri hill on the way.

Dropped him at the Kundadri Entrance and continued to the hill top.

4km narrow(4m) road, 16 HP bends. Its totally misty, rain and wind. There is only an old Jain temple at the top. It is closed, the police man had told that there sould be a Bhattar(Pujari); but couldn’t find him. The other sides of the hill is steep and rocky. Due to the heavy mist don’t wanna try capturing or go to the rocky area. The rain and wind are not allowing me to take the pics. Raindrops falling on the lens.. I cleaned the lens and somehow took some pics. A tank is found here also. I could see a group of teenagers came for boozing and smoking here!!! WTH!!!

12:30pm

Head towards Sringeri. 36km to go, If I could reach by 2.00 I may get the Anna Prasada(food) ;).

1:45pm

Reached Sringeri. Renovation is going on in the Sringeri Muth premises. First aim is the Prasada Hall ;). A huge hall, but not even half of it is full. Many brahmins are serving the prasada. Simple but awesome, had it and moving to the Muth. Though Photography is prohibitted in the Muth Primises, none care about it; me too 😀

Captured the Muth and moved to the parking place. They allow people to go to the Ashrama in the noon. Allows only after 5pm, so I can’t visit the Ashrama. Its okie, can come some other time and moved to the parking place.

3:00pm

Mangalore is 103km away. I had noted some places nearby Sringeri last year in google docs. But time is less, lemme reach there back by eve itself.
After 1km ride, saw a sign board “Srimane Falls – 13km”! Hooray, head towards it…

3:30pm

Srimane falls is a small one, but nice. The entry fee is 5/person. They have constructed a view point and the path was concreted. A group of dentists who are recently posted in a nearby hospital have come and asked ma help to take the group photo.

4:00pm

After few clicks, head towards Manglore, 115km to go.
The ride through Kudemukh National Park is nice. The recently tarred road is narrow and little risky for the bike riders.
Reached back safely by 7 🙂

Note:

Total Distance      : 299km
Road Condition   : 90% Good
Total Time             : 30Hours
Sleep/Rest            : 12Hours

Couldn’t visit some places due to the lack of better planning… 🙁