Karnataka & Goa (Oct. 2006)

Pune to Pune..via Karnataka & Goa!

India, the land of miracles, the land of art and culture...You feel the same is true when you meet Karnataka!!

Trip Period: 13th Oct 2006 to 17th Oct 2006

Approx Distance: 2450 Kms
Motor-Bike: Bajaj Pulsar 150cc
Trip Route: 
Pune (Maharashtra) > Kolhapur > Chitradurg (Karnataka) > Shravanbelagola > Halebeedu > Sagar > Jog Falls > Gokarna Mahabaleshwar > Panjim (Goa) > Sawantwadi (Maharaashtra) > Amboli Waterfalls >  Kolhapur > Pune

Friend(s) in the trip: Shailesh Dhamale



Last many days, I was reading a lot about sculptures, temples while gathering data for dream project. Jadunagari. I spent more time in googelling on Halebidu. Temptation was started and was sure that it will drag me to Halebidu itself :-)

13th Oct 06: It's being so many days,I haven't took my bike out on highways. Just a thought stroked in the mind and in next an hour I was at Shailesh's house. Shailesh Dhamale, my class mate at IMCC where I completed my D.T.L. certification. Shailesh never went out of Pune and I was asking him about crossing the states..! He laughed and joined me. After gathering required things like first aid kit,engine oil, extra bulbs for bike, tool kits etc, we marched toward National Highway 4...I love this one for it's speed, width and destinations it carries..!

 

Around 10 am, we left Pune and my love, my bike, was running like a horse on NH 4. Shailesh was pretty thrilled about his first experience of madness which we were about to do. After a fast and furious day of running and just running, we crossed Maharashtra border in evening and entered in Karnataka. The way Karnataka welcomed us, we just shocked. A Travel bus met with an accident in front of us. Luckily no one injured badly, but that slowed down us.Shailesh was tired and feeling a sleep.

We were taking more breaks as the night passes. NH 4 was under construction (?) and was at it's worst. Speed was down at 40-50 kmph.. Bad and dusty road, heavy traffic, chilling cold compelled us to stop. Anna kutti - the chaiwala - became good friend of us and gave us a little space to sleep. I couldn't but Shailesh was enjoying sweet dreams of mosquitoes :-)

14 th Oct.06: Some how I managed woke up Shailu. Had a "Anna Kutti Special" tea (recipe: too much sugar and water, least milk and tea powder) and proceeded further. We found a nice Dhaba near Chitrakut. We fools found kind of heaven and got ourselves refreshed. I couldn't stop myself from having a sweet sleep after zakkas bath and punjabi food.

   

Karnataka is far different in culture as well as farming style than Maharashtra. While biking we were enjoying that beauty and new essence which I can not catch up in the words, village by village, we reached Chitrakut. We decided of not going to Bangalore, rather planned for Shravanabelgola. We left the NH 4 and took village roads. Amazing experience when drive on such tiny roads, farms and lakes on both the sides, new people, new dresses...every thing new! During our journey we kept meeting, talking people, trying to talk them and got really good friends too.
Best line learnt - "Tension togg bedi...Enjoy madi :-) "

  

After running for hundreds of KMs, we finally reached our first mile stone, Shravanbelgola in the evening! I decided to have good rest after 2 days and a night run.

15th Oct.06: Both of us tired and could manage to open the eyes around 9.30am..ohh..late! Got to nearby restaurant quickly for breakfast..but it was mood off!!'South Indian" food tastes best in South India but not every day and all time. Last 2 days we were just having Idali-Dosa-Uttapam etc and really wanted Roti :-)

  

Shravanabelagola - situated in Hassan district, is one of the most important Jain religious center. There are two hills,Chandragiri & Vindyagiri. The 57 feet monolithic statue of the Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali is located on the Vindyagiri.It is considered to be the world's largest monolithic stone statue and was erected by Chamundaraya, a general of King Gangaraya. "Shravanabelgola" is first in "Seven Wonders of India" (Survey by Times of India).

(Read more about Shravanabelagola)

  

  

Once you enter through beautifully carved main gate, you have to climb up Vindyagiri Hill via stairs. While going up, I saw a mother struggling to climb with her son in sunny and hot morning!Without asking her, I just picked up the boy on my shoulder and went up. Some how she came and gave an apple as a token of thanks :-) After a rest for while, we entered in main Darshana room and our eyes were unable to catch the scene in front of us. Mighty statue of Gomateshwara was shining under sun. We all were up to his thumb of legs in height. It was peaceful and joyful feeling which was calming the soul. We had darshana in traditional way and wondered entire place.
After a satisfaction of a bit and finishing our photo sessions (lol) we started to next journey.

  

After such amazing experience, we marched toward our next destinations. Karnataka is full of history and religious monuments. In my top 5 states, I gave 3rd rank to Karnataka after Uttaranchal and Rajasthan. I just love it...Hampi, Paddakkal,Badami, Shravanabelgola,Vijapur,Ahihole,Halebid,Bellari,Tanjavar... such huge list of amazing places..many of them are recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Our next target was Halebid (locally called as Halebidu).

HALEBIDU: During our breaks for lunch and tea, I was reading more and more about further destinations and was getting more and more exited to see the real world. I am stone art lover..Sculptures talk with me..tell me the stories of their birth and sustaining till date.
We reached Halebid around 2pm. Nice time to visit (not in summers). Parked biked and kept our belongings with one of the local vendor..don't know why we trusted him. After having a glass full of Tea (that's the they serve here), we entered in the monument post payment of nominal fees. I was stunned, amazed and very very delighted to see a piece of star on earth..in mid afternoon. It was a black gold piece which was shining proudly from ages. "Wow!" we both gave high five to each other and I just jumped with a joy. Efforts we took, nights we ran ...all was worth!!

(Read More about Halebidu)

  

 

  

Halebidu (which was previously called Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra) was the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. It is home to one of the best examples of Hoysala architecture in the ornate Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples. Halebidu literally means ruined city. This name is given because this city was ruined two times by Bahmani Sultanate.
Kedareshwara and Hoyasaleshwara deities are still worshipped delightfully. Temple fully sculptured like a Jewell. Kamasutra, Ramayana, Mahabharata stories are told by the stones without words! Hindu Gods and Goddess are carved in various forms. Brahma, Vishu- avatars, Shiva, Durga, Kali, Parvati and Ganesha..these are the gods which are main theme of the design. Gandharvas and Apsaras are putting more beauty and pranaya (love) in the stone.

    

  

Though Halebidu was a thrilling and delightful experience but we had to leave. Bikers never stop..they keep running! From Halebid, we reached to Bellari. Bellari was my main target of the day but we were late. Temple was closed and we were short of a day to stay there. Felt very bad..no issue..! Moved on further. Next destination was moving towards Goa border and return home at earliest. It was 9 pm but couldn't had halt. Whole we were running on the dark village roads. No sign boards, no junctions. Rarely we were able to see any village or hotels. Hilly road was bit tough but Pulsar made it easy with it's bright head lights and powerful pickup. Dark night, two friends, a bike and old songs..wow..cool and calm life at the speed of 90 km/h :-)
Some how found a shelter in the form of small bus-stop near to a small village at around 4 am in the morning and we just slept without even thinking about safety, hygiene etc etc....

  

16th Oct 06: Eyes opened with a bright morning.From last 2 days, we were observing that all the villages/cities are well decorated. There was something due to which every school, public place, public vehicles were decorated. But we were unable to find out the reason as every thing was written in Kannada, local language.
It was "Karnataka Day". We saw a rally by school children. It was colorful and cultural. We became part of the same, danced...I even played their local instrument.

 

After crossing various districts like Hassan, Sagar, we entered Shimoga district. The place became world famous for its amazing nature and Jog Falls.

Jog Falls: Jog Falls created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 meters (829 ft) is the highest plunge waterfall in India Located in Shimoga District of Karnataka state, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction. It is also called by alternative names of Gerusoppe falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi.

(Read more about Jog Falls)

  

  

Apart from nature's beauty, best thing about Jog Falls is a canteen situated near the falls. Wow.. nice taste and good hygine! We spent more time in laying relax in front of the falls after heavy food.

Shailesh was amazed on our way ahead. Jog falls situated in the mid of a forest. I was recalling my journey through Bandipur forest. Amazing. Dears, peacocks, monkeys and many more..every one roaming free. Shailesh never had chance to see such scene except in the zoo.

Our journey was now more relaxed. We keept meeting and talking to people, stooping by sceneric places..

 

Since we spent entire day in lazy manner, we were late for our next destination. Around 8 pm, we reached Gokarna. Though the place was never on our plan, we just took left turn on NH 17 when we saw a sign board.

Gokarna Mahableshwar:

The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna is a Hindu temple located in Gokarna, a Hindu religious pilgrimage centre in Uttara Kannada district in the Indian state of Karnataka. A Pranalinga (Pranalinga is defined as “the reality of God which can be apprehended by the mind.”) also known as Atmalinga or Shiva Linga is deified in the temple, which is facing the city beach of the Arabian Sea in Gokarna. The Shiva Linga has a hoary legend. It is said to bestow immense blessings to devotees who even glimpse it. The temple is considered as pious as the Shiva temple at Varanasi or Kashi in North India on the banks of the Ganges River and hence is known as the Dakshin Kasi (South Kasi).

(Read more about Gokarna Mahableshwar)

 

 

We rushed to main shiva temple as it was about to close for darshana. I think God Shiva was waiting for us :-)) No one except the pujari was in main temple. We served our prayer, sat for a while and chanted the holy word "Om Namah Shivay" with closed eyes. Simply divine, peaceful moments.

We roamed around the tiny town, had darshana of 'Maha-Ganapati' (one of the most famous ganesha). Maha-Ganpati is a standing idol of god Ganesha. Our favorite Ganapati bappa was looking pakka south-indian in white lungi but surely cute :-)

When we returned to our bike after having food, we had bit of disappointment. Tyre-punctured.. Initially we thought of having halt in Gokarna but the same changed. We found a mechanic. All this ate up couple of hours. But we still determined about our way back home.

Around 12.30 in the night, we crossed Karnataka border and entered in Goa. Unfortunately, we experienced worst experience of Karnataka when we were about to say Bye to the state. State border check post between Karnataka-Goa is really pathetic in the terms of the system and people managing the same. Everyone, by default, who was crossing the border was paying bribe to security out there. We were on motor-bike with all documents, but still they held us for an hour arrogantly. I fought with them but had to loose my deodorants and couple of things in our bags.. Can you imagine? They took our things to let us leave Karnataka :-( 
Though the border sign-board was saying 'Thank You - Visit Again', I will never visit Karnataka through that entry point. 

Thanks Karnataka - You are amazing, your people are nice! Thanks for unforgettable moments..!  

17th Oct 06:

Goa: And..here it was..! Go..Go..Goa!! Paradise! Yes..the advertisement board which welcomed us was perfect match to the fun Goa carries :-)
The day had been so long till now. We kept going on. Finally, around 4 am in the morning, we reached Panjim. The capital city was sleeping quietly. And it gave us one crazy moment to remember:
"On main road of Panjim, we saw a tiny bus-stand, nicely covered and clean! Poor tired Santosh & Shailesh found a perfect place to relax. Thought we will have a sleep for an hour and then can continue. We did!
Around 7.30 am, my eyes opened, the scene I saw was just crazy. That bus-stand was over crowded, the quite road was running heavy with traffic and we two crazy guys were sleeping like heaven. Our bike was in front of the stand and was causing lot of troubles. I was silent and shocked for a while, I kicked Shailya. We just smiled at each other first and then at people watching us like anything. The way we sat and ran our bike..ohhh! We were laughing for hours :-) " 

Mae De Deus Church, Saligao (Goa)

Actually, we hadn't spent much time at any spot unless we stopped for food and break. Our target was to reach Pune by tonight.

Goa, definitely one the best place to enjoy, to relax and to rejuvenate! It was a peaceful experience to visit a famous church in the morning time. 'Mae De Deus Church in Saligao village.

(Read more about 'Mae De Deus Church, Saligao)

It was cool time at beach, enjoying drinks (ooops..only soft drinks)!

We crossed entire Goa state in vertical way withing 7 hours. B..Bye..Goa!!

  

Now we had to cross Sahyadri mountain range on our way back.
In the afternoon, we had nice Rajsthani lunch at Sawantwadi at the same place where I and Sumedh had stay during our Goa Trip. Sawantwadi is nice old town with beautiful lake in the middle of mail marketplace. Unique thing about this town is 'Wooden Toys'. You will see lot many toy shops with colorful wooden made toys...wooden car, wooden doll and lot more..! We bought couple of them.  

Satisfied stomachs, sleepless night drive and sunny afternoon in Konkan compelled us to have a well deserved sleep in the nature's bed. Shailesh was slept almost for 2 hours. Wow..now we felt re-energized. Atmosphere of those western ghats was word-less. Cool climate and scenic greenery. We were happy!!

Amboli: Unplanned, we reached one of the most natural hill station in western ghats-Amboli. It's best for it's simplicity and god gift of beauty. 

( Read more about Amboli )

So sad that we couldn't spent more time in Amboli as sunset was approaching. One will definitely like to get out of ghat region and jungles before it goes dark. Still we managed to roam around the town and various must watch spots. We ate lot of local fruits available in town market.  

    

Finally, we entered home state around 7 pm. It's always nice to get back to home. Maharashtra welcomed us warmly! Now it was ll about having breaks and running the bike! I couldn't stop myself from taking a nap on one of the dhaba. My bike always played role of perfect bed during my mad trips. 

 

We reached safely, happily with lot of memories, smiles and snaps too :-)