Ride of the Year-2014

Sat-Sunday: December 27-28

Meeting Point: Art of Living International Center. Time: 5am
https://goo.gl/maps/rHTgo

Day1: Ride to Bilikal Betta- SightSeeing- Breakfast-
Shivanasamudra- Lunch- Ride to MM Hills(or BR Hills) and Halt

1.Art of Living to Bilikal Betta = 70 Kms

https://goo.gl/maps/1M8Ac

2.Bilikal Betta-Shivanasamudra= 80 Kms

https://goo.gl/maps/EDYsk

Shivanasamudra-MM Hills= 90kms

Shivanasamudra-BR Hills= 60 kms

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Day 2: Temple Visit at BR(or MM) Hills - Breakfast- Ride to MM Hills(or BR)- Sightseeing- Lunch- Ride Back to Bangalore. 

3. MM Hills-BR Hills = 112 Kms

https://goo.gl/maps/rL9FH

4. BR Hills-Bangalore = 185 Kms

https://goo.gl/maps/g9txJ

Accomodation at BR Hills

http://rajathadrihillvilla.in/index.html

Cost: 500-1K per head

Camp Fire/Safari- extra Rs.500

Phone : +91 90368 09218 , +91 97408 20508

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Accomodation at MM Hills

Guru Darshini Ph:0822-5272108 

Shiva Darshini Ph:0822-5272139

Mahadeshwara Guest House Ph:0822-5272124

Name / Place Telephone No. Sri Male Mahadeshwara Hills 08225 - 272270, 232128, 272124, 272335 Temple's Administrative Office ROOM RESERVATION 272129 Information Centre 272271 FAX 08225 - 272123 Temple 272121 Dasoha Bhavan 272109 Executive Officer's Residence 272122 Guru Bhavan 272129 Puduvattu Branch 272126 Salur Mutt 272138 Acomodations Guru Darshini 272108 Shiva Darshini 272139 Kuteeras................................ Section 272131 Sankamma Nilaya 272152 Mahadeshwara Guest House 272124 Mahadeshwara Kalyanamantap, Kollegal 252968                             Other Offices Post Office 272133 Primary Health Center 272264 / 272200 Telecom Enquiries 272198/272199 Forest - Assistant Conservator - Res 272142 Police 272141 Task Force

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Wayanad

Routes:

Route1: Bangalore - Mysore - Gundlupet - Sultan Bathery -Wayanad

Route2: Bangalore- Mysore - Hunsur - Nagarhole - Kutta - Kattikulam- Mananthavady- Wayanad

Bangalore- Mysore- HDKote- Nagarhole- Bavali-Kaatikulam- Mananthavady



Stay at Kalpetta/Meppadi

Tourist Attractions
1. Edakkal Caves
2. Kuruva island
3. Banasura Sagara dam
4. Pookot Lake
5. Lakkidi View Point
6. Sentinal Rock waterfalls
7. SoochiPara Water falls
8. Karapuzha Dam
9. Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary timing 7-9 am and 3-5 pm


http://www.lifeisoutside.com/blog/bangalore-to-wayanad-road-trip/
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fleming.joseph/3/1330222535/tpod.html

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Go Goa Gone..!!!

This was our 1st trip to Goa and doing it on our Bikes was Special indeed. As usual the plan was proposed long back on gTalk on a boring day at office ;)

A destination such as Goa has to be visited with a bunch of friends. Sadly, our college mates backed out but we were still hell bent on doing the trip as the time was 'Perfect' and the excitement of doing a Ride close to 600Kms (one way) bettering our previous best of 530Kms to Munnar, kept our interest alive.

Thankfully few other guys showed interest and we stuck to the Plan. So finally we were 6 guys with 5 Bikes:

Vinay (ZMR)
Nithesh (200NS)
Nikhil (Avenger)
Tribhuwan (Karizma R) & Niraj Kumar
Shashidhar (RE 350)

Round Trip: Close to 1400Kms, 5 Days: October 1-5

Planning Thread: http://trailblazervinu.blogspot.in/2014/09/bike-trip-to-goa.html

Day1:

Meeting Point was fixed as Yashwanthpur ORR Junction at 4:30AM

But for some reason, our friend Niraj who was to Ride the Karizma could not wake up early :) We called and called waiting at Yashwanthpur and then at Nelamangala Junction but to no avail. Clicked a few pics in the meantime ;) As we were unaware of Neeraj's place, our friends decided to park the Karizma at Nikhil's place and Tribhuwan rode as pillion on Nikhil's Bike. Being new to Bike Rides Tribhuwan could not risk Riding his Bike all the way to Goa. So it was a smart decision. Thanks to Nikhil.

We bid goodbye to Shashidhar who parted ways with us from Nelamangala Junction to join us later in Goa after a Coastal trip covering (Dharmsthala- Kukke -Karkala- Kollur). 

Me and Nithesh started off from Nelamangala NH4 Junction around 6:30 am and met Nikhil and Tribhuwan on NH4. Thus started our 1st day's Journey.

  

It was a smooth sail on the Highway.

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Go Goa Going :)

PROJECT GOA: Synopsis ;)

Duration: 5days, Oct 1-Oct 5

Oct 1: 425KMS

Blore-Hassan(10am)-BaleHonnur(Lunch)-Sringeri(Visit)-Agumbe(Sunset)-Kundapura (Halt-Hotel)

Oct 2: 280Kms

Kundapur- (Petrol )-Murudeshwar -Apsara Konda-Honnavar-Karwar-Palolem Beach-Cabo De Rama Fort-Cavelossim Beach-Colva (Halt in some Beach cottage in Palolem/buget hotel in Colva)

Oct 3: (max 100kms): Colva- Panjim(Full Tank Petrol)-Fort Aguada-Candolim Beach(WaterSports)-Calangute-Baga Beach (Food/Drink/Accomodation)-Mandrem Beach-Arambol Beach

*Halt in a Beach Shack/near Beach @ Calangute/Arambol /Mandrem

Oct 4: max 100kms

Option A- Start early, explore Beaches -Arambol/Ashwem/Morjim/Vagator/Anjuna, Other Places -Church/Temple/Bhagwan Mahaveer WildLife Sanctuary & Mollem National Park, Halt at Mollem.

Option B- Start early, Visit Dudhsagar Falls & Halt at Mollem.
Halt at Mollem to reduce the kms on return journey.

Oct 5: 532Kms

Mollem-Bangalore: Leave at 7am, reach Bangalore by evening 6pm, provided it doesn't rain heavily and there's no heavy traffic on Tumkur road 

Need to book our stays in advance(at least for Day 1, 2 & 4)

Literature Survey:

Pristine -Scenic/Best Beaches of Goa
Agonda, Cavelossim, Varca, Palolem - South
Mandrem, Baga, Candolim- North
Bogmalo Beach- Central

Ashwem Beach(can Take Bike to Beach)

Arambol(Hippies)
Calangute(Happening)

WaterSports @ Calangute(SunBeds if you buy drink), Baga, Candolim 

Get a deal- 4 sports for max Rs.1200

-Jet Ski, 
-Para Sailing( try before 10am for better rates @ Baga Beach, Candolim Beach, Calangute Beach, Sinquerim Beach, Vagator Beach, Majorda Beach & Anjuna Beach)
-Ring Ride
-Banana Ride
-Water Skiing

http://www.watersportsingoa.com/water-sports-in-south-goa/Prince-of-Sal-Discount-Package.htm

http://www.watersportsingoa.com/goa-water-sports-location/Location-Prince-of-Sal.htm

Food on Beaches: Baga(Britos), Candolim, Calangute

Wild Life Sanctuaries:

8:30am-5:30pm

1. Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary 
2. Mollem National Park near Panjim
2. Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary near Margoa.

Forts:

Aguada Fort (Best)
Chapora Fort near Vagator Beach(Dil Chahta Hai)
Sinquerim Fort: overlooking the beach

List of Beach Shacks:
Palolem in South, Baga/Calangute in North

http://www.happytrips.com/goa/travel-guide/the-best-beach-shacks-in-goa/gs23977433.cms

List of Budget Hotels

http://www.happytrips.com/goa/travel-guide/budget-stays-in-goa/gs34863900.cms

Budget Cottage near Beach

http://www.beachhutbooking.com/index.php/en/component/hotelguide/hotel/hotel/38-pritam-cottages

http://www.beachhutbooking.com/index.php/en/component/hotelguide/hotel/hotel/59-agonda-paradise

Beaches in South Goa:

1.) Agonda Beach: Quiet, uncrowded. Relaxing 43kms from Margao
2.) Benaulim Beach: south of Colva Beach, 8kms from Margao (Water Sports)
3.) Colva Beach: Indian tourists, busy in October. plenty of budget hotels, beach shacks, food stalls, and small restaurants and bars. 8 kms from Margao and 40 kms from Panaji.
4.) Palolem Beach: Picturesque, a semi-circle shaped beach with shady palm trees and soft sand. Temporary, coco huts. 43kms from Margao
5.) Patnem Beach: stay on the Beach. 45 kms from Margao
6.) Varca, Cavelossim, Morbor: pristine, clean and white Sand, 8 kms from Margao

Beaches in North Goa:

1.) Anjuna Beach: 8kms from Mapusa, 18kms from Panaji (old hippies)
2.) Arambol Beach: 32kms form Mapusa, 50kms from Panaji (new hippies)
3.) Calangute & Baga Beach: busiest & commercial (foreigners)
Baga Beach starts where Calangute ends. (Watersports) 16kms from Panaji, 9 from Mapusa
4.) Candolum & Sinquerim Beach: 10 kms from Mapusa, 13 kms from Panaji. 
5.) Mandrem, Morjim, Ashwem: Hippy and Trendy. 15 kms frm Mapusa (Russians), Turtle
6.) Vagator: for Parties, 9 kms from Mapusa and 22 kms from Panaji. Inland accomodations

Other Attractions:

1. Boat Ride on River Mandovi 
2. Arvalem, Lamgau, Rivona Caves 
3. Churches: Se Cathedral, Chapel Of St. Francis Xavier
4. Naval Aviation Museum

etc etc etc

The Preparation Begins:

1. Shell Ultra 4T FS 10w40 Engine Oil- Rs. 827

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Planning a Hill Station Trip - Ooty & Munnar this Time & Yes On BIKES!! ;)

Often, When i'm Bored/stressed/Free i like to dig up blogs to read about travelogues on places & journeys that interest me. One- I find that interesting. Two- helps me plan my trip to similar destinations. This way i've planned so many trips with my friends till date & most of these plans ve even got successfully executed. :) On the other hand, ve also been part of some trips that happened on the go, no prior plans.. just some instant decisions.

Planned & Unplanned Trips have their own advantages/disadvantages. Neverthless planning gives you some clarity and assures you have all the necessary information & to be used when needed, n then going by your instinct always assures you end up having a gr8 time :p

Now that touring/Biking has become a Passionate hobby, its time to head out to some nice destination for a Long Ride. By long ride, i mean quite long somethin  > 350 kms one way. Our numerous Short n Long Rides ve now given us the Confidence to Ride Safe & Ride Long. Thanks to some fellow riders, and a group called Bangalore Bikers, Our Passion got some much needed Inspiration & we decided to invest on some Basic Safety/Riding Gear (Helmet, Shoes, Gloves, Riding Jacket, Knee Gaurds, Saddle bags etc). P.S: If you are serious about Touring on Bikes, make sure you get all these sooner than later.

March 31st being a Holiday, and a Monday, we thought, if we take leave on Friday (March 28), we'll get FOUR Consecutive days. "WoW!! SupeR. Perfect for a Trip!"

March 28 (Fri), 29 (Sat), 30 (Sun), 31 (Mon). 'Four days are more than enuh man.. :p'

So..
Our initial plan was to ride to "GOA", through Hubli (where a friend of ours would join us or rather be forced to join :)

But, owing to weather & leave constraints, we had to postpone this plan.(read ruled out). When it comes to planning for a Trip, for me, its either 'Now' or 'I dont care when. Will see later.' After all, Things happen only when they are meant to happen, rite.. ;)

So as an Excuse, we thought if at all we go to Goa it should be with our Group of Friends or else "What's the use of going so far?? that too on Bikes.. alwa..?!"

But, we want a trip. we want to Ride. Staying in blore on the last weekend of March is not an option at all ;p

Few other places on the list were: MM Hills, Kolli Hills, BR Hills, Pondicherry (East Coast), Karwar (West Coast), Dharmasthala, Kukke Subramanya, Kodachadri (western ghats), Waynad, Valparai-Munnar, Ladakh, Kashmir-Kanyakumari :p etc.


Touring in India has lots to offer: Scenic Hill Stations, Beaches, Lakes, Waterfalls, ButterSmooth Roads, Awesome Weather, Tasty Food, Adventure Sports etc.


(having covered places like Dandeli, Mangalore-Udupi, Dharamasthala, Kateel, Badami-Aihole-Pattadkal, Sirsi-Yana- Gokarna-Murudeshwara, Kukke, Coorg, Yercaud, Ooty, Chick'magalur, Waynad, Mysore & some local places like Nandi Hills, Madhugiri, Ramadevara Betta, RevanaSiddeshwara, Devarayanadurga, SiddaraBetta, Siddagange, Shivagange, Savandurga, Skandagiri etc..)

we thought, how about a Hill Station Ride to Ooty-Waynad-Munnar?

would be a good option for 3 Reasons:
1. It would be our 1st Time to Munnar & its far. around 500 kms one way. ideal for us :p
2. Being a Hill Station, it'll be cooler compared to some coastal areas (GOA/Pondi)
3. Biking in hill Stations is always fun. (we had thoroughly enjoyed Coorg & Yercaud on previous bike trips)

But then.... "its quite far rite, Ooty-Waynad-Munnar is not like Blore-Goa where you'll get to drive fast on smooth tarmac (NH) most of the time & our longest so far is only: 250kms a day. might get difficult for us & our bikes :("
"in that Case, lets skip Munnar & do Ooty-Waynad instead. Been ther Before. Nice hill Stations, ood roads. Easily doable in 4 days.."

"Ok. So Ooty & Waynad for now. Next Goa, then Kolli hills, MM Hills, BR Hills, next Pondicherry, then Kashmir, Kanyakumari :p"

But then, while browsing BangaloreBikers.com, we read some travelogues of Bike trips to "Valparai-Munnar" from Bangalore. Those threads bowled us Over. Great trips by a gr8 Group of Bikers. Read some more, just felt - 'This place is MAST'. The pics we saw were Awesome, Mindblowing, Mesmerising etc etc.

"You know what??  Munnar!! Munnar!! Munnar!! Munnar!!
Its Jus Super :)"


"Ok then, lets skip Wayanad & do Ooty-Munnar?!"
Blore-Ooty: 260kms, Ooty-Munnar: 260kms, Munnar-Blore: 465Kms Perfect!!
"Fine. lets do it then."


So what do we do?-
Lets buy some Riding Gear.
Lets plan..
Lets Ride!!

Got a Spartan Helios Jacket just before the BB March Welcome Ride to Kendatii Lake, Kolar

after much hesitation, put up a post on BangaloreBikers.com
http://bangalorebikers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2757

Got some valuable inputs as expected :) n the plan became more clear. Its going to be just Ooty-Munnar in 4 days. No Valparai / Kodaikanal. Lets ve a relaxed trip & enjoy the Ride.

Confirmed Riders, as usual:
1. Vinay @vins (zmr)
2. Nithesh @nitheshnairy (200ns)

A Rough Plan/Itenary
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March 28: leave blore by 5am, reach Ooty by 12 or 1pm.
Check-in to some Hotel in Ooty. Rest, evening Sight Seeing- Rose Garden, Pykara Lake, Halt

March 29- Early Morning Ride to Doddabetta Peak, 
Other Places of Interest:  Avalanche, Emerald  Lake, Kodanad View Point, Tea Factory
(Dolphin's Nose, Lamb's Rock, Sim's Park) These are all near Coonoor.
Leave Ooty by 12pm, Ride to Munnar. Reach by 7pm. Halt

March 30- Early Morning Ride to Top Station ( Eco point- Mattupatti Dam- Kundala lake- Top Station )
visit some falls- Cheeyappara Waterfalls or Nayamakad Waterfalls, Eravikulam National Park

March 31- leave Munnar by 8am, reach Blore by 7pm
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ROUTES

Blore-Ooty
1.  Bangalore --> Ramnagara --> Mandya --> SriRangapattna --> Mysore --> Nanjangud --> Gundlupet --> Bandipur--> Masinagudi -- Ooty ( Approx 265 Kms)
10 kms after crossing Srirangapatna town (and around 5 kms before Mysore town), you will see a cross roads, where you will find both left and right going to Ooty (straight goes to Mysore). If you take the right turn, the bypass will last 26 kms, and lead you to teh Mysore-Ooty road, 6 kms after Mysore city and 16 kms after Nanjangud town. Signages are good at both ends. The bypass is a good road.
as of now, for me, Ooty ~ 36 hair pin Bends :p
So eagerly waiting for that stretch. Quite excited cos its my 1st time to Ooty by Bike.
Gotta Drive Safe.
 
Ooty-Munnar:

2. Ooty -> Kotagiri -> Mettupalayam -> Avinashi -> Palladam -> Udumalaipettai -> Chinnar -> Marayoor -> Munnar.

Aliter: Ooty - Kotagiri- Mettupalayam - Coimbatore - Pollachi - Udumalpet - Chinnar - Munnar.

Ooty- Coonoor - Mettupalayam better avoided (on acc. of traffic n road conditions)
same applies for the route thru Coimbatore


Munnar - Blore:

3. Divided into 3 parts: a, b, c


a) Munnar -> Marayoor -> Udumalaipettai

b) 4 Options to reach Thoppur from Udumalaipettai

1. Udumalaipettai->Dharapuram->Kangeyam->Perundurai->Bhavani->
Mettur->Thoppur

2. Udumalaipettai -> Palladam-> Avinashi-> Perundurai -> Bhavani -> Mettur-> Thoppur
  
3. Udumalaipettai -> Palladam-> Tiruppur-> Perundurai -> Bhavani -> Mettur -> Thoppur 

4. Udumalaipettai -> Palladam-> Avinashi-> Perundurai -> Bhavani -> Salem-> Thoppur

c) Thoppur -> Dharamapuri -> Krishnagiri -> Hosur -> Bangalore
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Ooty
where to stay: TTDC, KSTDC
http://www.karnatakaholidays.net/
www.ttdconline.com

Ooty-Doddabetta Highway: Hotel Highland
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Munnar town you can try Munnar INN (04865230736) and also the newly built C7(232124) has very good rooms.
Green Valley Views and S N Tourist Homes



http://www.chandanaresorts.com/munnar_tourist_places.html

http://munnar.in/php/places.php

http://munnar.in/php/waterfalls.php

http://www.keralatourpedia.com/munnar-waterfalls/ 

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Ooty Map

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Munnar Map

 
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Some links:

http://www.bcmtouring.com/forum/road-status-f90/bangalore-munnar-best-route-route-update-t50577/
http://travelkurkure.blogspot.in/2012/01/bangalore-to-munnar-moonar.html
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/38778-bangalore-ooty-munnar-route-other-information.html 
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/29620-weekend-travelogue-ooty-mysore.html
http://ooty-all-about-ooty.blogspot.in/2008/06/how-to-reach-ooty-ooty-route.html
 
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