Banvasi Trip..

Long back I had planned to travel over  Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka, to complete this circuit minimum three days required and it’s impossible to get three days leave, so I split it into two circuits and planned to cover Banavasi side. While searching shortest route for Banavasi found Bhatkal – Kargal route and return route via Kumta.

 My Blackbird

Day One

Started from Kasaragod at 1300hrs and reached Udupi by 1600hrs, left Udupi at 1730hrs and reached Heranjalu where my sister’s lives at 1900hrs, and took rest.

 Day Two

Next day morning wakeup call ringed sharp at 0400Hrs, after taking hot bath and cup of tea at sharp five left the house and continued the journey towards Jog.  When we reached near Khambadakone Railway level crossing gate was closed for Konkan railways RORO train again 10minutes waiting to open it. From Khambadaone took right turn on NH66 and headed towards north direction, after crossing just 6KM reached Byndoor refueled my B’bird and asked direction for Jog falls, the boy who has fuelled us  confusion about the route and asked someone who was sleeping inside the bus , a strange  bodiless voice directed us it was better to go via Bhatakal.  

 Sharavati Valley Wildlife sanctuary 

After ascending and descending steep winding hill road reached Bhatkal it was sharp 0620Hrs, road condition was good but from the opposite side K.S.R.T.C  Iravata’s are coming with their High beam on,  so it was difficult to exceed 55Kmph on this route. When we asked for a direction with a pedestrian first he asked us “Malayaliyaano ?” (Are you Malayali?) Then observed B’bird’s Karnataka registration and start to give direction in tutti putti Hindi….

 Cross country section

From Bhatkal took right turn at Shamsuddin Circle on SH50, it directly connected to Kargal through Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Here we asked direction at auto stand the driver look at us for a moment and told going by motorcycle no? Ok you can go by this route. no problem proceed. That moment we didn’t understand why does he told like that but later got the reason

First 10KM is plain road their after curvy road starts to descending, road condition was good easy to maintain study speed of 55 to 60 kmph, but as soon as signboard of Sharavathi Valley Wildlife sanctuary appears road narrows and thereafter tarmac condition was also goes  poorer. There was no traffic at all, only few Maruti Omni’s playing service between the villages. After crossing one of the forest check post the real Wildlife sanctuary starts, road condition was goes worst in some places but the Green Nature helps us to boost our energy.

 After crossing around 40Km P.W.D constructing concrete road so road was fully closed a narrow dusty path was built on the side of the road we approached that, the dust covered with such a thickness that if we put our leg down then our whole shoes goes inside the dust.. While traveling this 2.5km long cross country road we got the answer for  Auto Driver’s question. 

Banana Field

 Jaggery plant in a village

Well,  after crossing this cross country  mud circuit well tarmac road started and it continues till Kargal. Our planning was to reach kargal by 0830Hrs but reached at 0845Hrs. On the dam junction we met two Hindu priest coming from the Dam area they told us entry inside Dam was restricted but you can go near the dam…

 Dam

So took some snaps from outside and reached Jog falls at 0915Hrs. Our first preference is Stomach, so after eating couple of Idli and vad start to clicking the Water Falls photos, the water level was too low.

Karagal

Water Canal at Jog

Our next destination was Chandragutti via Siddapura. At Mavinagundi junction, we took Sagar route as soon as passing 1KM we had doubt about the route, 

 Jog Falls

so stopped at road side to check the route map, that time one motorcycle was passing on the same direction we asked the riders help he informed us we are approaching wrong direction and told us in typical Sagara Kannad.. “Nan Hinde Banni Devru” (Follow me.. God….) and show the road. After crossing 4 to 5 Kms showed a bypass route and told us it joins SH50 at Haligeri take right from that junction.

Tried & Tested

At around 1115Hrs reached Chandragutti via Siddaupura. Siddapura is a small town and road divides the into two directions one is SH90 which is goes directly to Sirsi and another towards Chandragutti  total distance between Jog falls to Chandragutti was 40Km. Road was well paved and it was easy to cruise study speed of 70Kmph. The main traffic on this route are Bullock cart and Tractor –Trailers. 

Mavinagundi Bridge

Chandragutti is located at Soraba Taluque of Shimoga District which is famous for for Godess Renukamba temple built between the rocky mountain beds. It’s really amazing. After clicking some photographs of temple and temple surroundings at 1200Hrs headed towards Banavasi.

 When we enquired about route local people gave us two options first one is short distance only 16KM but some unpaved road through paddy fields and second one which goes via a small village called Hareeshi but this route was well paved. We tried the first one not too bad… reached Banavasi at Sharp at 1300Hrs.

 Chandragutti Temple

 

 Temple built on Rock bed

 Inside the temple

Temple car at Chandragutti

Chandragutti Surrounding

Waiting... with anticipation

Banavasi located at Uttara Kannada district, ancient Madhukeshwara temple was built by Kadambas. Excellent architecture attracts the tourists, the Idol of huge Nandi (Bull) built in front of the Matapam in different style it’s face is turned little towards the right side and one eye sight directly looks at the Madukeshwara idol and another at Parvathi.  

 

 Mud road to Banavasi

 Green Paddy fields on the way to Banavasi

 Videography prohibited inside the temple. Here we met one Lady guide named Ms. Naik, who was appointed by Govt. she is explained lot of things and had a good knowledge about Uttara Kanada.  After taking lunch at Temple around 1345Hrs left the place and headed towards famous Marikamba temple which is located at Sirsi Just 24Kms from Banavasi.

 Lamp post

Bull

 Sirsi Marikamba temple

After visiting Marikamba temple left Sirsi at 1445Hrsour next destination was Udupi via Kumta, Honnavar, Kundapur, at Kumta took half an hour break for tea and reached Udupi by 2100Hrs. While crossing village called Makki one Electra rider found flashing his headlight on my rear view mirror he want to know the price of my Glass wool Goldie silencer and took suppliers number from me.

View from Devimane Ghat section

Temple at Devimane Ghat section

 Tile factory near Kumta

Energy drink (Note the size of the glass)

Causeway Bridge at Kumta

Vegetable field at Kumta

Day Three

Left Udupi at 0445Hrs and reached Mangalore at 0620hrs took breakfast at my brother’s house and reached Kasaragod by 0820hrs. Total distance covered 720Kms. Fuel consumed 15 Ltrs.