Around Yellapura

Started off from Sirsi hotel towards Yellapura. Rains were continuous making my drive little slow. I had planned to visit Emme Shirle falls, Kenchanagadde falls & KuLi magod falls for the day.

I reached Arbail and enquired about Emme Shirle, to my surprise i could not get any lead. They pointed to another waterfalls which was visible and told this is Vajra and could be visited.
I requested one of the villager to show me route and he agreed to come along.

2 stage waterfall as seen from the highway.

Just 0.5km from the highway, we touched a stream. As stream was running high level, i had to stop my bike ride.

We walked about 20min and we were at the base of the falls.

I got beautiful view of the falls and enjoyed it. I realised later that there is further trail leading to the top portion of the fall.

I thanked the villager and headed back to Yellapura.

I stopped at Shirle falls point, to have a quick photo shoot. But the person told some trees have fallen due to heavy rain and was not allowing.

I soon reached Yellapura and hit the Sathoddi road. It was almost 1pm and i checked about Kenchanagadde and understood it is very interior and i may not be able to make it.

So, changed my plan and drove towards Magod falls. KuLi Magod falls is near Jenukal gudda view point. Here again i could get one of the villager who agreed to accompany me to the fall.
Rain was continuous and village road to KuLi magod was very muddy & slippery.

We crossed the last Siddi house and walked down along the stream. This stream touches the falls just in front of it.

Due to heavy water droplets, one of my camera did`nt start. Crossed the flowing stream to find good view of the falls.

With all the difficulties, i could get the best views, videos of this fall.
Thanked the villager and drove towards Jenukallu view point.

View of valley from Jenukallu gudda view point.

With quick photo clicks, i went to Magod falls.

Wow ! what a sight.
Bedti river was in fullest flow and gushing into 650ft at this place covering the valley with mist.

I had to wait for a while to get clear images of the valley.

Another view of Magod falls.

Walking along the path, opposite hill Kallare falls caught my attention.

Another closer view of Kallare falls























It was 5:45pm and still i was waiting for the mist to clear at one of the view point. I had to return back to Sirsi to catch my bus. Thanking mother nature, i headed back and reached Sirsi. Had light food and boarded bus to Mysore.

My 3 day bike trip ended, all along rainy ghats, muddy village routes and capturing beautiful waterfalls was an amazing experience.

Hope to see some more waterfalls.

Drive along Bhatkal - Kargal route

My day started from Honnavara. Early morning view at Sharavathi bridge was beautiful.

Another day for fisherman

Piece of land separating river from sea.

Pit stop at Apsarakonda

Took deviation from Bhatkal to Jog road. Few kilometers from Bhatkal, village K-gadde presents you a small waterfall.
5min walk from the school will lead to a beautiful spot.
Sad that the place was very much polluted by plastics, bottles etc.

Side view of K-gadde falls

Road side Chennekal falls was in full glory due to heavy rains.


















Just few kilometers from that another road side Chandemane falls was of good sight.

I proceeded to Bhimeshwara, an ancient temple next to beautiful falls.
I met Priest there who can arrange lunch/dinner on prior request. I had a very nice lunch there and continued my journey.

  Turtle shell like rock formation caught my attention.

I took deviation towards Dabbe falls. I parked my bike at the stream as i could not cross it. Walked to the village.

Villagers were busy with their work.

I had to disturb them to get guidance to the path leading to waterfall.
He was very courteous enough to stop his work and come along with me for some distance.

I was first shocked to see the trail going 90 deg down with slippery rocks. After descending about 30min with that risky effort, the view of Dabbe falls was spectacular.

Continuous rain had made this stream in full flow.

With great memories and my camera filled with photos, i turned back.

My day was tiring and totally drenched. Rain was continuous almost all my route. I took road towards Kargal, and reached Sirsi in the night.

Day-2 of Monsoon biking was filled with good memories.

Day around Jog falls

I had thought of spending some time around Jog falls to capture beautiful images of other waterfalls. Started off from Siddapura and stopped at Tumbragoda village. This is a stone quarry turned into small waterfalls of about 40 feet and can be seen only during monsoon. 

At Husur village, there is a reservoir and small picnic place.

Just before Jog bridge, on road side, Mavinagundi falls can be seen.

Opposite to Jog

View of the valley and Mahatma Gandhi power station

 Another fall

 Mist had covered the jog valley. People had to wait to see jog falls. I started my journey towards Honnavar. Had a pit stop at Sharavathy view point. 

 Descending down the ghat, on the opposite mountain there is waterfall which captured my attention.

 B K waterfalls - Upper stage

When the ghat road ends, there is bridge. There was no board or indication of this falls. I walked along the trail leading towards that hill. One the way there are many small stages of water falling from about 20ft. 

After walking about 20min, 5 min along the stream, i was in front of this mystical beauty (B K falls).
Heavy downpoar had made the fall more beautiful.
I checked the way if i could climb top and see the upper part, but it started raining.
Clicking many photos taking videos, i returned back to main road.

B K falls lower portion

I came down to Gerusoppa village and enquired about M M falls, but they were not able to recognise.
They pointed that there is another falls which was earlier stone quarry during dam building time.
Getting directions i went in search of the path. Walked for about half an hour and to my bad luck i had taken wrong turn.
I could get a beautiful snap of this stream running in full flow.

 Came back to the same shop, requested the shop keeper and he agreed to come along.

About 0.75km from temple, there is deviation, old road (used for timber transport) which is the way.
It looked like people had not been along this path and many trails were totally covered by bushes.
With his direction sense and cleaning up the path, we walked about 40min and saw this serene beauty.

Old stone quarry had turned into beautiful wonderland.

It is very easy to stand below the water and play.

Rain was on-off i returned back to the shop.

I hope to find pointers to M M falls and would make it someday.

It was evening when i reached the shop. Thanked him and i continued my drive towards Honnavara.

It was very good memorable drive along this road.

Dam trip

Southwest monsoon from June to September is a gift to Karnataka. Western ghats play an important role to maintain the rain clouds. Rainfall in Kaveri basin is good in the year 2018 compared to many years. Dams were filled during early July itself.

Had chance to visit some of these filled reservoirs. People were flocking to see & capture these amazing moments.

Harangi dam

 Chiklihole dam

Chiklihole dam

Gorur dam

Hemavathi water cascading through dam gate and rushing to touch KRS

Krishnarajasagara

Kabini

Nugu dam

Taraka dam

Waterfalls around KaLasa-Kudremukha

We planned a trip to capture best views of waterfalls.

Road side falls.
Balur to Kelagur road

After reaching Kalasa, we had breakfast, packed for lunch and started our drive towards Elaneer.

We parked our car 1km before Elaneer as the road was very narrow and we were not aware of directions.

After talking to few villagers, got to know the right path and soon we reached the village.

Mavinasasi falls view was amazing.

I had kept Taranga article which had come in year 2000 regarding Elaneer and to my surprise i met the same villager who was in the article. We exchanged talks regarding hydro electric stoppage and other topics.

Water cascading down

We climbed up to get the upper view of Elaneeru falls. Water splashing towards camera restricted me to click photos but somehow managed.

We thanked villager and returned back to Samse.

Photo session at Elaneeru falls

We drived towards Kudremukh, i came to know there is restriction by forest department. Like earlier we are not allowed to park vehicles, go around and time restriction has been put between two forest gates.

Kadambi falls was gorgeous due to heavy rains.

Another view of Kadambi falls

Another road side waterfalls

 Entry to Hanumangundi falls is restricted now. Just for the sake of documentation, i have attached picture taken during good old days of my roll camera time.

Old picture of Hanumangundi

Clouds were playing in the valley with rains on-off. It was evening and we returned back to Kalasa for our night halt.

Had dinner at Suprabha hotel and rested.

Next day trip was towards Abbigudige. Hired a jeep and soon started our day.
Bhadra river levels were high due to continuous rains.  At the village and near this stream, we met one villager and were asking route to Abbigudige.

Seeing our interest, he told there is another taller waterfall but it would be tough to make as it was raining.

We convinced him to take us to that place.
My wife & children agreed to stay back at the village. I followed the villager through dense forest, walked in heavy rains, managed many leech bites and in about 20min, we reached the stream. Another 10min along the slippery stream, we were there to enjoy the most serene beauty of the waterfalls. When asked, villager said there is no name to this falls.

This remotest place, unpolluted falls is about 100-120ft height. View was really amazing.

Thanked the villager many times, as he had volunteered to such a beautiful place.

Soon we were back to the village and went towards Abbigudige.

Abbigudige is a small waterfall lying inside private estate and is a perfect place to play.
We took permission of the owner and walked in to the estate.
We took many pictures, my 3 year old daughter enjoyed playing in the waters and finally started our journey back.

Another view of Abbigudige