Hogenekal Falls

 

 

Hogenekal Falls : 14-1-2012:

Hogenekal Falls or smoky mountains is situated some 190 kms from Mysore. The route: Mysore-T Narsipura-Moogooru-Kollegal on NH 212. This stretch is in a good condition. After Kollegal, roads become bad as you pass through Hannur, Kowdahalli till Male Mahadeswara Betta on SH 79. After Male Mahadeswara Betta, the Ghat section is in a bad shape due to some pipe work going on. However, once the ghat ends, roads are good again, but bit narrow. So, around 60 % of the 190 kms is in bad condition. It took me 5.5 hours of driving to cover these 190 kms which included photo sessions and food breaks. The Ghats are very scenic and one can see layers of mountains one after the other.

After reaching the falls, I took a small boat (coracles). It took about an hour (minimum time) to go to the falls and come back. If you want to spend some time bathing and seating there, then add another hour to it. It was good fun altogether in the coracle. After coming back I tasted the fish fry at the river bank. The fish fry is very good at the Hogenekal falls. After the stomach Gods were appeased, it was time to move back to Mysore. While returning back, I had a lucky save in the Ghats. After I had crossed one section, there was a dynamite blast. Thank God. Driving back in the evening was a chore with pesky insects (attracted by the headlight) and high beam of oncoming vehicles blinding your vision. But, still, this route does not have very heavy traffic. Finally I reached the cozy confines of my room for a good sleep.

Notes:

• To and Fro from Mysore: 380 kms.


• There is a Rs 10 Entry and Exit Fee at Male Mahadeswara Betta.

Mysore-Goa Trip:

Mysore-Goa Trip:

1700 kms, 6 days, 1 man, 1bike, Mysore –Jog falls-Murudeswar-Gokarna- Goa-Sindhudurg-Karwar-Haveri-Mysore. Mountains, beaches, Ghats, Good roads, bad roads and no roads.

Leave approved finally for Diwali vacations at the last moment. But, with airfares hovering in the sky, the 1500 km trip one way to my hometown seemed out of reach. The mind did further simulations and finally Goa as the destination was freezed. The travel mode as usual was my bike.

Left Mysore on the morning of 23^rd Oct, 2011. I had breakfast at Arasikere, after crossing Channarayapatna. After Arasikere, I followed NH 206 till Honavar. The Mysore to Jog Falls stretch is in good condition. Then I had a short stop and photo session at Jog falls. I did not go down to the bottom of the falls considering the 3 hour trek. After that it was bad roads flanked by scenic Ghats on both sides. After Honavar, roads turned from bad to worse. Monsoon, Volvos and heavy trucks have totally damaged this stretch. Then I went to Murudeshwar, which houses a giant statute of Lord Shiva right on the beach. After that I moved towards Goa. But bad roads and fatigued body forced me to halt at Gokarna at Om beach.

Then I explored Om beach and the numerous temples in Gokarna in the morning. The Gokarna to Goa stretch is in good condition, but the roads are bit narrow. I reached Goa in the evening to encounter massive traffic jams. Finally, I reached my cousin’s place at 8 PM. The next day, it was sightseeing in Goa itself-Miramar beach, Bambolim Beach, Dona Paula, Bagha, Calangute. Beware of bridges in Goa. They have a 30km/hr speed limit and there will police interceptors at the end of the bridge to collect the customary fine. On 26^th Oct, we went to Sindhudurg (water fort). It’s a strategic fort off the Malwan coast. The fort contains the hand and foot imprint of King Shivaji. One has to go by boat to the fort.

The next day I was on my way back to Mysore. To avoid bad roads, I decided to take a different route. After Karwar, I took NH63 towards Hubli. Just before Hubli, at Yellapur, I took a short cut towards NH48. The Yellapur- Gunjawati-Mugod-Bankapur stetch is a total of 70 km out of which 20 km is bad. The road is a single lane road passing through dense jungle on both sides. After Bankapur, it’s a 4 lane touring bliss (NH 48). Then I halted for the night at Haveri. The next day took another shortcut, to reach Shimoga. But, this time it backfired. The Rannebennur-Tuminkatti-Honnali route is in a really bad shape. After Shimoga, it was back to good roads. Finally I reached Mysore at 7 pm on 28^th Oct, 2011. All in all a massive trip with a different kind of riding experience.

Mysore – Panjim = 700 kms (via Shimoga)

Panjim-- Sindhudurg = 110 kms

Mysore –Gokarna = 520 kms (Via Shimoga)