bike rides from bangalore: bangalore to gokarna

Rider

Mahesh - Versys 650

Well, the plan started with the coming of Dussehra holidays, somehow got hold of 4 days for a ride.. Plus, the new Versys 650 was egging to go on a long ride.. to stretch its legs, so to say..

So discussed with friends and planned for Bangalore - Chikmagalur - Gokarna - Mangalore - Bangalore. Unfortunately 2 friends had to drop off and I decided to go ahead with planned trip solo... It ended as a memorable trip!

The overall trip plan was

Day 01: October, 13, 2018 - Bangalore to Chikmagalur
Day 02: October, 14, 2018 - Chikmagalur to Gokarna
Day 03: October, 15, 2018 - Gokarna to Mangalore
Day 04: October, 16, 2018 - Mangalore to Bangalore

This blog is more of a photo blog.. For more details, please reach out to me...

Day 01: October, 13, 2018

Today's destination was Chikmagalur. Plan was to cover Kemmengundi Peak, Mullayangiri Peak and Baba Budangiri before heading to homestay near Chikmagalur.

Very nice roads with less to no traffic.. single lane though, after deviation from Yadiyur

Used Dirtsack Frogman saddle bags for first time, loved it.. :)

Arecanut trees on route to Lingadahalli..

Lot of small streams on route

Versys enjoying the scenery

Just the two of us.. :)

View from RajBhavan on top of Kemmengundi.. There were lot of trekkers on top of that hill..

Got a quick check by my fellow forest mechanix.. All ok!

On route to Mullayangiri.. The roads were narrow and one mistake would slid you down the valley..

No.. No way I am not climbing that on foot.. Some other day.. !

View from Mullayangiri

The last 4-5kms to Kemmengundi and Mullayangiri peaks were very bad.. No roads, just gravel and loose rocks.. The climb up was slow and climb down was treacherous.. Taking up lot of time.. By the time I finished Mullayangiri, it was 4pm and the homestay was still 1.5 hrs away.. So, dropped Baba Budangiri and headed to homestay and reached around 6pm after missing the route few times..

Day 02: October, 14, 2018
Today's plan included one of my main target destinations, Jog Falls.. This year the monsoon has been bountiful in catchment areas of Sharavathi River and during the end of monsoon, the gates were opened after many years..
The Jog Falls was alive again and with all its might looked fantabulous as per videos updates from my friends..

So, I was hoping for similar view but gates were closed and the falls had whimpered out.. Still nevertheless the first sight was fulfilling with hopes of seeing it again in full flow later..

Day 02 started with misty bath for the bike.. nice and clean

On Jog Falls bridge

Jog Falls

You can see rainbow on the waterfall.. my first time :)

Day 03: October, 15, 2018

Third day included my other target destination, Yana Rocks.. I was astonished by looking at photos of these rocks and was spellbound by the actual sight.. The rocks are deep inside the forest, adding to his mystery, and the color and size of them was frightening.. The ride from Gokarna to Yana was through forests and roads were almost empty all the way..
There are two, Mohini Shikara (90m) and Bairaveshwara Shikara (120m).. Bairaveshwara Shikara has a temple at its base, which is regularly used by villagers closeby, and a cave inside it... The cave has to be entered bare feet and houses lot of bats.. I was quite scared to go in alone and I skipped the cave.. Somehow the whole place was eerie to me with the black color of the rocks adding to the effect..

From Yana, headed to Murdeshwar, Maravanthe beach and ended up in Mangalore

Mohini Shikara, 90m

Bairaveshwara Shikara, 120m

Bairaveshwara Shikara, closeup

Mohini Shikara, looking at me..

Mohini closeup

Mohini, again

Mohini, goodbye shot.. !

Shiva

Beautiful

Maravanthe beach

Risky sea with deep beaches

Day 04: October, 16, 2018

My last day was planned as per a friend's suggestion to take the Kudremukh - Kalasa - Mudigere route back to Bangalore.. And boy oh boy, am I glad for his suggestion... Kudremukh is the most beautiful national parks I have been to so far.. The morning sun rays filtering through the trees and beautiful ferns and flowers along the roads made the whole ride very pleasant..

Another highlight was the route via Kalasa, Mudigere, Sakleshpur.. This is completely through coffee plantations.. With no traffic, was perfect to lean through the zig zag roads.. kms and kms of it..

Day 04 turned out to be a pleasant surprise, since I did not expect such scenic routes..

Reached home by 4pm after blasting from Hassan in no time on the Versys!