Bannerghatta Forest Loop Ride

This is just a half day bicycle ride and passes through Bannerghatta national park, once after taking the diversion from Kanakapura road the traffic is virtually nil. Its overall a peaceful and somewhat challenging ride (only if you set any time barrier to reach the destination).

Below is the GPX trace captured using my Garmin device, visualized using everytrail.com. Batteries on my GPS drained at the last moment when I reached Bannerghatta road, near the Zoo, so its missing the trail which is just in the city, so no need to worry anyway! Bottom picture shows the elevation profile plotted by Garmin, that looks somewhat different from the everytrial.com  version..

Elevation profile from Garmin Vista Hcx

                                               

Nandhi Hills and Bigbanyan Tree Ride

I am just documenting some of the cycle trip experiences here, let someone interested can use these in future..

Mr.Rao (GoGreen Initiator) organized a long bicycle trip after too many boring city rides. Plan is to reach Nandhi hills and comeback on the same day. We were around 70, started from Cubbon park in the early morning, and decided to take MG Road->New Airport route. Traffic was way less then expected, and the wind is neither favoring nor disturbing our ride. Reached Nandhi base around 10.30AM. Three of us myself, Praveen(the Bournvita Kid), started climbing top after having breakfast at some hotel in the downhill. Had few breaks in the middle, I never thought I would make it to the top..but together we achieved. It was really a difficult ride, this is the first day I shifted down my front gear :-) we maintained an average speed of 20Kms/Hr. Climbing down was smooth as butter, more precisely its like Rajinikanth fighting with a poor villion, so easy!! Then started the real struggle, we were already exhausted, headwinds were so heavy, many thought of jumping to an oncoming bus or an auto .. lunch was around 3PM at Bagini, on the way there was a downpour .. Really speaking physical part me had given up on that day, but the mental strength played a vital role and carried me back home..total odo reading is around 130Kms. some photos here ..

All set ready to trip, at Cubbon Park

Middle of climbing Nandhi

Wow, we are on top!!

Lets go home!!

Group of 40 people rode to Big-Banyan tree, it was a nice break from the city life.

Rao was so happy about the pump, and taking photos just to show other GGI members.

Thattae Idlis, smile comes when the tummy is full !!

Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta Trek

Guess I was on a long break, after marriage didn't go for any treks at all. Wife's not home, these guys desperately needed a trek and Param is pushing me to make one ... looks like his Adrenalin levels have gone up after his everyday jogging or just because he might wanted a break from his baby sitting, Juan too :-), and a fresh soul from our team Rohit, poor guy he agreed or believed to whatever we said :-), he kind of replaced our scape goat Vikram in this trek ... he he.

We started off from Bangalore around 5.40 AM from my house at JP Nagar, on the way had a break for tea (and jet fuel too!!!). Reached Harohalli which is actually a second big town towards Kanakapura from Bangalore, around ~30 Kms away from Banashankari junction. At Harohalli took a left and reached Maralavadi village, might be another 10/12Km away. We reached the bus stand and there are some hotels, hot idly is ready by 6.40 AM. After pushing some of the tasty idlies, we took a path towards the village near the hillock, which is another 4Kms away from this place. Just we needed to ask for the route when there is a canal, at where we had to take the road towards left. Another 4Kms took us to a small village (really still its a very village), Param was so worried about someone taking away his car tyres, and leaving a bull operated Maruti swift car :-). We parked near the village temple, where it seemed very safe, and asked house owner nearby to have a look on it. They warned us of parking it near the base of the trek route, which really was very correct.





We took a left after the village and walked in the mud road(pic above) for about a Km and not sure where to take a right, to reach the base of the hillock. Confused and standing, we saw two school kids coming on our way and agreed to guide us to top, ofcourse for a fee. From our experience we learnt that guide is unnecessary if you able to spot the start of the trek point. On the mud road we did see a small temple, a structure barely with four walls which is actually the mark of the trek base. From there we did take a right towards the hillock. Had frequent rests along our way, to accommodate our new comer Rohith. After 2+ hours we reached top, where there is a small temple on a big boulder of rock, there he is, our Lord Rangaswamy waits to offer you his blessings, not just it .. prasadams too :-) Explored the top, and found the view on the other side of the temple is great. Temperature in top is not much cooler but the wind does carry some moisture so we felt good. Descend took us little more then an hour. Totally it was a good trek, that too its almost off season.



After sometime we headed to Mekedatu, hoped to have a nice river bath and to empty our jet fuels. This is the first time I am going to Mekedatu in a car, Param drove nicely..could see Rohit sleeping all the way :-) I made some friends at my last trip to Mekedatu, they remember my great walk from Kanakapura to here, and asked when will I come next. River full of chicken/mutton pieces and mono/poly saturated oils to add spice to that, lots of Johnnie walkers Old Monks poured in along with labels... wow what a heavenly place in earth to take a holy bath ... Please never visit this place on any holidays. We were able to find a decent place still and had a nice bath. Totally the trip was good and too refreshing, looking forward to more such nice trips with some company :-)