Mullayanagiri..At Zero Visibility..

Vehicle: Ritz VDi

Route taken :Kundapura->Agumbe->Chikmagalur->Mullayanagiri->Kundapura

Total Kms:350Km

speed: 90-110kmph Avg
Top speed:130kmph

Mileage:20km/litr

Temple on hill top

This drive was planned long back as i had been to mullayanagiri with friends on College trip. My cousin wanted to take his new Ritz for a drive, so took his car than mine(zen). started early morning from kundapur, reached agumbe and checked in to Doddamane(big house). Kasturamma's warm welcome and kashaya was awesome,i stayed there 6 months back with friends.Staying at this place gives you a combo offer " Sunrise at Kundadri and suset at agumbe view point ".This house is famously known as Malgudi days house,Many episode's of shankaranna's malgudi days were shot here.

En route Agumbe 

Asked for route in agumbe, people advised to take balehonnur road to reach chikmagalur.This stretch gives a good view of tea plantation. we reached chikmagalur at 12 had lunch. Post lunch we headed towards mullainagiri.Distance is around 15kms from chikmagalur,First 5-6kms drive was smooth through estates .As we started going up the hill, Road became narrow with sharp turns and hairpin bends.Last 5km were toughest as it was single road and no space to give way for the oncoming vehicles. 

Zero visibility

It needs a lot of experience to drive on this stretch(*fresher better take a driver). Last 2 km visibility became zero with dense fog, even the fog lamps won't help.Once we reached top, It was worth the effort, lush green forest and deep valleys with fog covered mountains. We couldn't drive to hill top due to fog ,we parked car on the way and started trekking to the peak.

Lush green Mountains

Place is best suited for adventurous drivers.Funny part is driver will enjoy the beauty of the road and people on board will enjoy the greenery. 

Green Route

way to Temple 

Reached the hilltop around 2, Standing at 6300ft(Highest peak of Karnataka) the view was breathtaking.Way to the temple is a trek through steps,Even steps were not visible because of fog.  We didn't waste much time there came back and headed towards seethalayyanagiri. 

 The advantage of having power steering comes to the rescue, it was easy to take quick turns on those narrow roadsand even  mag wheels offered smoother steering and braking performance.

Ritzz...

We didn't risk going to kemmangundi from here ,as i heard the roads are very bad and ritz was new. I would have definitely tried if it was my zen.
So skipped kemmangundi drove back home. 

Highlights
*Dont miss the route,some deviations doesn't have direction boards.
*Loved the pickup (80-90kmph on third gear)and handling of Ritz.
*Last 1.5Km in mullainagiri use lower gears(1st)and engage handbrake properly while      parking.
*The trek route SARPADRI gives  more chance to explore these mountains.
*No barricades, so drivers be sure when taking car on the edge. 

Monsoon Drive

Vehicle: Maruti Zen 1999

Route taken :Kundapur->Goa->Amboli falls->Kolhapur temple->Bijapur->

Hampi->Shimoga->kundapur.

Total Kms:1500km

speed: 80-100 Avg
Top speed:120kmph

Mileage:15km/litr

ZEN 1999

The best part of a drive is planning the travel. As everything was planned and finalized, finally I started our first long drive(with family) from kundapur at 3pm.

Day 1:  Kundapur->Ankola

Driving on NH17 with light drizzle and heavy clouds ,greenery all around, beaches on the left was a superb experience. The road conditon was not good from kundapur to bhatkal but it got better once we crossed bhatkal. we stayed in ankola on first day.

MARVANTHE BEACH ON LEFT AND SAUPARNIKA RIVER ON RIGHT

Day 2: Ankola->Goa->Amboli Falls>Kolhapur>Gokak

It was 3 state drive on 2nd day. Entered GOA early morning filled up petrol(rs.55) ang through Sawantwadi reached amboli. This ghat section stretch was a awesome  drive with twists and turns.

Amboli Ghat-The Fog

From amboli started towards kolhapur. Reached kolhapur by noon, Visited temple and started driving towards gokak. It pleasant to drive on pune-bangalore highway. even my old zen was crossing 120kmph easily and 2nd day come to an end.

Day 3:Gokak>Bijapur>badami
Third day drive started with empty roads. only thing irritating in this stretch was humps which comes each time we enter a village. Reached bijapur at 10am, hired a guide as we didn't wanted to waste time searching routes.

Badami

Bijapur

Visited  Ibrahim Rauza,Gol Gumbaz,Malik-E-Maidan and started towards Badami. Reached Badami at 5 and planned to visit Caves. we reached just before clossing time. there was lots to cover and we had less time. people going to these places make sure you have at least 3-4 days just reserved for badami and hampi.

                                     Bhuthanatha temple

Day 4:Badami>Pattadakallu>Hampi

Day  4 morning Started with exploring Gali Gopura and then started driving towards pattadakallu. Pattadakallu is small Place with vast history. then started towards hampi. Reached hampi around noon and here we hired a guide. there are many guides available, we hired a KSTDC guide, well trained about history of these places.

Kamal Mahal

We missed many small places to keep up with time.Day ended with stay at shanbhag International Hospet.

Two face Art-Cow on left and an Enlephant on right

Day 5:Hospet>Shimoga>Kundapur
Started driving Home,we had to cover 383Km. Drive became pleasant once we crossed shimoga. The road from shimoga-agumbe-kundapura is in very good condition. Reached home at 5.

Sunflower field near Harihara

 Highlights

*Karnataka roads are worst when compared to Maharshtra and Goa.

*Amboli ghat gives very good experience to nature lovers.

*Best experience was driving on pune-bangalore express way.

THE WALL - RAHUL DRAVID

A Final  Goodbye

Rahul Dravid famously known as “The Wall” because of his solid defence and technique, which even the greatest bowlers of his time found difficult to crack, has  signed off  his long runnig international carrier of 16 years(1996-2012). Jammy is a great cricketer, As we say “one of  its kind” . He has averaged 52.31 from 164 tests and has  the record of second highest run scorer(13288)only cricketer after Sachin.On his debut on the green turf of lord’s in 1996 , He caught the eyes of the spectators for his clean drives and strong defense by scoring a classy 95. The run that he started in 1996 has come to an end in 2012 after the tour of Australia. In this period of 16 years Dravid and India both have tasted a  fabulous form in cricket. Bringing India on top of ICC Test ranking was his great achievements and also He holds the record of highest catches in tests(210).

He has been a multi -utility player for Indian  team ever since his international debut. He has  played in Test’s, played in ODI’s, kept wickets as a part timer for around 70 ODI's including 2003 world cup, In which India finished as runner up. He took over the captaincy from Ganguly in 2003 in Pakistan, Meanwhile under his captaincy(2003-2007) India jumped from 7th position to 3rd position in ICC test rankings. We can’t forget the match in Adelaide oval where he scored 233 & 72 and India went on to win that match. Also the match that was played  in Kolkata in which India were forced to follow-on by Australia and His timely 180* and 376 partnership with Laxman(281) won a historical match in 2001.So we call him "Mr. Dependable".He was awarded “Player of the year” and “Test player of the year” in the 1st ever ICC  AWARDS function in 2004.

He was a more of  a Test  player than an  ODI player, But in the end his passion for cricket made all the difference. He played 344 ODI’s  and has scored over 10000 runs at an average of 39.16. He was a important phenomenon while chasing, where he used keep wickets in hand and keep the run-rate  ticking. He takes it as a challenge saying “Never give up” and win the game for his team. We can say, he was middle overs batsman than a middle order batsman. He was kind of player liked to play under pressure. Under his captaincy  india broke the record  of 14 consecutive wins by West Indies, placing new record of 16 wins in ODI’s.

He was dropped from ODI’s in 2007, reason given was his low strike-rate and showing respect towards selectors, He continued  playing tests, He was graded  the best No.3 batsman in the world. He holds a record of playing 93 consecutive tests for India from his debut in 1996 to 2005. His  passion for cricket made him back himself  for every criticism that  came in his way. He defended it, as he usually does. He was brought back in to squad for England ODI's in 2011 Because, the on-going squad had  weakness with the seaming ball and again he said, "Yes. I am ready" and scored 79 ball 69 and signed off from ODI’s. As Navjot Singh Sidhu said “Rahul Dravid is a player who would walk on broken glass if his team asks him to”. Showing his respect to the team, He prepares well before every match as per the teams requirements and wins it for the team.

Dravid cut's to point

As a person, He is a very friendly,calm and composed cricketer. I  remember Shah rukh khan calling  Dravid and Ganguly “sharfat ki murthiyan”(idols of good manners) of indian cricket. The stylish Aussie pacer Brett lee said “If you can’t get along with Dravid, then you are struggling in life“. He hasn’t been involved any sledging issues or misbehavior  and in reply, He answers them all by his very popular Defense with bat. Even he can be an attacking catalyst when the team needs, We saw him scoring an electrifying 50 of just 22 balls against New Zealand in Hyderabad.

Tasting All Flavors… He has had success in both Tests and  ODI’s as a batsman but hadn’t played any T20 internationals till 2010.In 2011 that desire was also completed, He came back with his blue jersey and played his 1st T20 internationals at the age of 38 years and 232 days becoming an oldest cricketer to debut in T20 and now it was a success for him in all formats, he made a quick 31 of 21 balls with 3 sixes in an over and shut the mouth of those who  said “Its youngsters game”, The crowd stood astonished seeing those towering sixes. It indicated that he still has enough cricket left in him. 
He had represented as  the Captain of Royal Challengers bangalore in IPL-1 and now has taken  up the job of captaining Rajastan Royals for IPL-5. so now as he had tasted all flavors of cricket and he has called it “The end” making way for youngsters. And  has signed off  a fabulous international career.

The class which he showed to us will be missed and remembered by his fans and cricket lovers all over the world, But in the end I am  happy that he still  is a part of IPL action, showing his  passion towards cricket. Lets wish him all the best for his future. The run that he started in 1996 has come to an end.

For all those cover drives,whip through mid-wicket,Late cuts, pulls or hooks and to hi strong defense , I can just say "It's a Dravid's shot".

 ICC AWARDS , 2004

Thank you Mr.Rahul Dravid for such stylish,classy and entertaining cricket. He is the real Mr.cricket which we oftenly use for Mike Hussey.

My words on  Dravid ” If cricket is gentlemen’s game, Then Dravid is the captain of the game”.