Trip to Amboli : A Heaven on The Earth

I had planned to tour Badami, Pattadakkal and Aihole circuit on my Onam vacation but it was dropped due to Kalasa Banduri water dispute, while searching alternative trip my oldest dream comes true, yes it's a Trip to a Heaven on Earth, the Great Amboli Ghat.

DAY ONE 27/08/2015

As per the plan I left home at sharp 0500hrs and picked Karthik from Kasaragod and my brother and cousin joined us at Mangalore around 0730hrs and headed towards Karwar on NH17, well tarmacked road is breeze to ride but it was raining intermittently it took limit on speed. 

 Road passes between See and River at Maravanthe

On the way at Mulki finished breakfast and took a small break at Maravanthe Beach and around 1130 reached Murdeshwara.

Murudeshwara 

I had visited many times to this place so I am not explaining much you can fine more article and images here (Motorcycle expedition to Jog falls, & Trip to Goa Part - 1).

After spending 2 hours at there took lunch at Kamath Hotel and headed towards Karwar which was our next destination.

Around 17hrs reached Karwar after dumping luggage at Anmol Lodge near Main road went Beach, It was very cloudy so couldn't catch Sunset sean.

 Karwar Beach

 Boats

 Karthik

 Brother and Cousins family

Sunset

After finishing dinner went back to room. Next day we have to reach Heaven on earth via Panaji and Sawantwadi.

DAY TWO 28/08/2015

At sharp 0530hrs headed towards Goa, it was drizzling out side so drive cautiously once reached around Goa border day light started, once reached Goa state started enjoying lush green scenery on  both side of the road, one very interesting thing I found on road side is waste management, all wastes are packed and kept at separate iron cage at out side the village.

 Panjim View

 My Green Bull parked near Rent a bike

Around 0930hrs reached Panaji and parked our vehicles near Casino side and took finished our breakfast at Udupi Restorent and walked around river side and took few photos and spend one and half hours leisurely and headed towards Sawantwadi which was our next destination. You can find more details and  pictures of Goa here. (Trip to Goa Part - 1).

Around 13hrs reached Sawantwadi on the way just stopped at Sath Jambhali Devastan. At Sawantwadi visited Palace and finished lunch at a restaurant and headed towards Amboli. This is my second trip to Sawantwadi so I am not covering much details here you can find it here. (Trip to Goa Part - 2).

While taking lunch find one interesting thing in their menu, Ordinary Thali contains Chapati apart from rice and subzees, and special food contains one sweet optional according to the sweet Thali rate varies, they opt Sweets like Shrikhand, Gulab Jamoon etc, and one more Thali name Amboli Thali' attracted me. While asking they told it was like a poori made out of Rice powder and one of the Maharashrian food so placed order for it. yes It's tasty and just like our South Indian Dosa.

Amboli Thali also contains Sola Kadi made out of Kokkum

Around 1400hrs left Sawantwadi and headed towards Amboli Via Sawantwadi Rd. (State Highway) It's just just 30km distance but took more then two and half hour to reach Amboli, because spectacular sceanry on ghat section and lot of water bodies on road side hardly resist to move, such a wonderful nature I have never seen.

 Amboli Ghat section starts

 Superb tarmacked ghat section

 Water falls

 Some more falls...

 Alto passing through water fall

 Steps to the fall

 Long trailer on Ghat section

 My Green bull in front of the spectacular falls

 Great Amboli Water fall

  Some more pictures

Around 1630hrs reached Amboli town, visibility was very less due to mist. It's tough to view the road sign and welcome board of Amboli.

 Land sliding are common in monsoon

 Welcome to Amboli Sign board

Sun set point

After crossing police check post of the Amboli town, enquired locals about a good lodges near, local people are very friendly and gives right direction it helped us to get a  decent lodge like Green Palace.

After freshen took little rest and went back to the Sunset point. Rain was completely stopped, but due to mist unable to view the sunset point, but once wind moves the clouds superb scenery unveils.

 View from Sunset Point

 Wind unveils the Mighty mountains

 Water falls

Posing at Sunset Point

After that took mouth watering food at Hotel Valley view just near to the View point and went early to bed. Hotel Green palace people also providing Veg and Non Veg foods on prior order. And hot water facility available at morning 0730hrs.

DAY THREE 29/08/2015

Wake up at the early morning to see the morning view, It's very misty out side, visibility is less then 50 meters. We had plenty of time so no hurry in our schedule.

 Morning Misty view from the Hotel Corridor

Huge tree in front of the Hotel

Around 0800hrs everybody was ready to explore the surroundings of Amboli, we always first preference is our stomach so directly went to Hotel Valley view and tasted hot Batata Vada, Onior Rava Masala Dosa along with hot Masala Chai.

Mouth watering Hot Batata Vada

Our Next destination was Mahadevgadh Point, It's just 4kms from the town, when we reached there nobody was there a narrow road goes between the forest ends at a Parking, from there on has to take few steps to reach view point.

Winding roads go through dense forest

Parking Area

 Mist covered mountains

 Second View Point

 Note the small Pond on the Hill

 

 Multi colored Grass

 Once wind blows the mist clear pictures look like this

 

 

  

I have never seen such a beautiful mind blowing view, really fantastic. After spending one hour left the place, next destination was Hiranyakeshi Temple just 5kms from the Amboli Town.

 Morning View of Amboli

 Vegetable merchant at Amboli

Tourist traveling on three wheeler

From Amboli one has to travel 2kms on main road towards Belgavi and take diversion to right hand side and then has to travel  3km on narrow road which ends at a big parking area.

Parking area at Hiranyakeshi Temple

 Belagavi Road

 Green vegetation on both side of the road

Buffaloes

Near the parking a little bridge was built after crossing that one has to travel few meters to reach the temple.

Hiranyakeshi Temple

The Hiranyakeshi River is left bank tributary of River Ghata prabha originating in the western Ghats,

Hiranyakeshi temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati, in Sanskrit Hiranyakeshi means Öne with golden hair".

 Bridge

Water flowing under the bridge

River Originates from here

 Idols inside the cave

 Small tank built in front of the temple

 Temple Sorroudnings

After visiting temple we went back to the  lodge and vacated and headed towards Belagavi as per our plan by evening we have to reach Sirsi, via Dharwad.

As soon as reached outskirt of Amboli another destination forced to stop us, it was  the deadly deep  water fall and a small temple also built at road side.

 Nagartas Water falls

 Temple

An Old man blessing us

 School children on the way

 Rise and Sugarcane fields

 Typical Village lady

 Bullock carts

Shivasena flag

Delicious Belagavi lunch

At Belagavi took a lunch in small hotel it's typical local type food but very delicious they also provided Sola kadi and explained the recipe of that.  

 Ganesh Idols kept at Belagavi Hotel

 Somp Herb Plant at Hotel

 Again My Bull posing

From Belagavi took Dharwad root NH4 headed and traveled till Hubli and diverted to state Highway.

  Superb road

 

 Dharwad High court bench

 Long straight Highway

 Fruits vendors

 Statues on the way

 Sheep herd

 Typical Village style on State Highway

Way to bird sanctuary

 At around 2000hrs reached Sirsi and first visited Shri Marikamba temple after that took dinner and took lodge at Yellapur Road.

 Shree Marikamba temple 

DAY FOUR 30/08/2015

Nothing special as usual it was return journey left Sirsi at 0530hrs and reached Kumta around 0730hrs, took breakfast and headed towards Mangalore, on the way just visited Idugunji temple and took lunch at Udupi and reached home by evening 1630hrs. Sirsi to Manglore I have already covered in my Banavasi  Trip. You can check it here.

Totally it was one of great trip total approximate kilometer covered 1300, but enjoyed a lot almost all terrain covered totally worth trip.