Nandi Hills

Another early morning bike trip to Nandi Hills. We started from around 4.30 AM and reached there by 6.30. Weather was clear, not much mist this time compared to last trip. But it was very windy and cold though. Uphill driving in Bullet is always a pleasurable experience, you never feel under powered.

Reaching Nandi hills I was surprised to see a long queue at the ticket counter. It has become a very common weekend destination for Bangaloreans now.

on the way to Nandi Hills

An old room made carving a big rock (left). We went inside it and it felt like a jail room. I liked this picture very much especially with reduced saturation.

Another similar one. The colourful flowers covering this old left behind also hides the mystery feeling.

Walking around the hills

View from top of the hills (left). New arrangements for visitors (right)

Nandi hills is getting maintained better now.

Noon walk

Everyday after lunch we go for a short walk outside our office. The picture shows the road with a clear blue sky after heavy rains on last few days in Bangalore. 

Hosur Railway station

Private buses are the first option for most of the people staying in Bangalore to travel to Kerala. For me too it was the same till a couple of months ago. But their arrogant and irresponsible behaviour and over charging on weekends and special days made me to prefer trains recently. 

The gareeb rath train runs on alternate days from Bangalore is a good option. The timing is convenient, train is neat and easy to get tickets too. 

The picture below shows Hosur railway station where the train stops and is a preferable stop for people from electronic city area.

Wayanad again

This time to attend one of my close friend's marriage. So it was a get-together of our friends and a wonderful trip as well. We started by around 7.00 AM on Friday morning and reached there by 3.00 PM with occasional pit stops in between. This time the weather, especially the sky, was clear unlike last time. So the photos came out good and colorful.

Our stay was in Coffee County resort, which was a pretty good one. However our taxi driver wasn't happy at all as the road to the resort wasn't in a good condition. There are 4 cottages and we were the only visitors that time, occupying two of them. The owner of the resort was a close friend of my friend who was with us, so we have got a very good reception there and the stay was really enjoyably.

Next day went for an exciting trekking to Chembra peak, which helped in burning out the calories we gained from the resort. The climb was very steep but we managed to complete the full 2.5km. The view from the top of peak was breathtaking. We had a guide and they were very strict about tourists throwing garages and plastic bottles. Overall that was a really nice experience. But again the road was very bad & taxi driver wasn't happy.

Attended the wedding (sort of) on Sunday and returned to Bangalore.

Chekkadi, the rice bowl of Wayanad

Sun set view from paddy fields in Chekkadi,Wayanad

Coffee County Resort

Top of Chembra Peak, Wayanad

Tea estate in Chembra , Wayanad

See the trip video, completely made (shot + edit) using an iPhone 4s.

Happy Onam

Sarah's first Onam

Trying Ona Sadya (Onam special Lunch)

Yercaud

Yercaud is a hill station at about 220km away from Bangalore. Since it was a long weekend this time I have decided to drive toYercaud. From Bangalore to Salem we can reach in less than 3Hrs and from there uphill starts. There are 20 clearly marked hair pins to negotiate before we reach Yercaud. The road was very good and traffic was less. We will be at about 5000 feet high from sea level at Yercaud. But the weather wasn't very cool, can't compare it with Ooty or Munnar.

The sky wasn't very clear, as can be seen from the pictures - the colour reproduction didn't come out good. Main attraction is the view of Salem city from the top of the hills.

Hair pin bends towards Yercaud

View from top of the hills in Yercaud

 

A village as seen from pagoda point and pepper trees all over in Yercaud.

 View of Salem city at night and the same view in the morning

 Riding back to Bangalore 

NH 47

On the way to Bangalore from my home town Pala, the sky was looking really beautiful as we were passing through NH 47. Anytime when I see a clear blue sky with white clouds I take photos with the sky occupied most of the frame and it comes out good. This time I didnt bother to take out my SLR but captured these using my mobile.

NH 47 near Salem

The high-way passes through Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but the road condition is pathetic in Kerala & on the other hand its very good in Tamil Nadu.

Wayanad Bike Trip

Finally at this peek of summer I did my longest bike trip - to Wayand from Bangalore, about 300+ KMs. There was a plan for a trip in car with my friends which got cancelled at the last minute so I thought why not go alone in Bike. This is my second visit, read about the first visit here. Friday around 10.30 I started from Bangalore, took occational stops and reached wayand by 6 in the evening. Stayed at my friend's place and returned on Sunday. The solo drive through Muthanga wildelife sanctuary in Bullet was unforgettable. The roads were excellent - clean and empty with frequent curves which made the bike ride really joyful. Bangalore-Mysoore highway ride was tiring as it was very hot.

Muthanga is known to people from Kerala more for the police firing incident happened in 2003. I took a stop for a cup of tea at Muthanga after crossing the Kerala border and asked the him about the incident. He told me it was the result of a political drama where one party encouraged the Adivasis to occupy reserved forest land and then the government had to forcefully remove them. Anyway that was a real bad chapter in the history of Muthanga.

Not much photos this time, everywhere it was dry and hot. The forest was better though. I was little scared to stop inside the forest, I saw many deers and a bear too. Hera are few photos.

Driving through Muthanga Forest, view from cockpit

Pulpally Forest

Muthanga Forest

Wayand Cricket Stadium

Concorde Manhattans

Took these pictures apartment - Concorde Manhattans - on a sunny day using my mobile.

Jigani

Jigani is a close-by village to Electrnoic City. Though I have been staying in EC for more than two years I've never been to this place. One fine evening I decided to explore this village roads in my Bullet. It was a good experience. Couple of kilometers from the busy Silicon Valley of India there is this beautiful village with plenty of trees and silk worm gardens. The roads were narrow and almost empty. I could see only few children walking from school and farmers carrying their stuff in two-wheelers.

Also found a Meenakshi Resort which seems to be a good option for next family outing.

 Jigani Trees

Calendar 2014

Photos for my Calendar 2014