The New Year Adventure - Coastal Karnataka

Trip was planned for Jan 1,2 and 3. Last minute half day leave made us leave on 31st afternoon. so it became a 3 n half day trip.

Rider 1 : VInod - P220
Rider 2 : Sudhakr - P220
Rider 3: Raju - P 200AS

Day1:
Bangalore - Nelamangala - Kunigal -Hassan - Belur - Chickmagalur.

Initially plan was to stay at hassan and we were able to reach there by 6. So thought to push on till chickmagalur. Roads between hassan- chickmagalur are super awesome. I had driven and ridden this road in daylight, but this was first night ride. finally reached chickmagalur at 9 and called it a day. 

Near Kunigal

Day 2:
Chickmagalur - Aldur - Sringeri - Kundadri - Mulbagilu - Mani Dam - Mastikatte- Hosangadi-Siddapura-Maravanthe 

90% Newly laid tarmac on this stretch. Loads of corners and greenery everywhere.
This road is very remote with less traffic compared to others ghats(shiradi or agumbe).

Sunrise near aldur

Mani Dam & Reservoir Road

Mani Dam Backwaters

Pulsar 220

 Varahi Dam Backwaters.The entire stretch between Kaimara Jn (Agumbe-Thirthahalli rd) to Masthikatte runs between backwaters of varahi.

P220

Abandoned road at masthikatte

We had lunch in masthikatte and started towards maravanthe. Balebare ghat was a good ride.
reached maravanthe at 5.30.We booked a place just in front of sea. Went to beach at 6 to catch sunset. 

Sunset at Maravanthe

Day 3
Maravanthe - Kundapura - Kodi - Haladi - Hebri - Koodlu Falls - Hebri

Started late on day 3 ,as our plan was only 70 - 80kms. Reached Kundapura. Explored few Kudru's (Island), few locals suggested us a shortcut to reach kodi from kundapura and it turned out to be a superb place.

Beach Backdrop

Kodi beach lighthouse

Kudru at kundapura

Kudru at kundapura

Koodlu Falls

River meating sea

New bridge

 Day 4 :
Hebri - Varanga Basadi - Karkala - Attur Church - Belthangady - Charmadi - Belur - hassan - Bangalore
Time to return bangalore. 400km ride.

Jain Basadi Varanga

Near Mudigere

Charmadi

GoPro shot

Attur Church karkala

Reached bangalore at 6pm and this new year adventure ride will be very special and a great start 2016.

2 Ghats.. Solo Ride.. Amazing corners.. 820Kms..

Ride Plan :

- Explore corners on Balehonnur - Agumbe Route
Route : Bangalore - Nelamangala - Hassan - Chikmagalur - Aldur - Sringeri - Agumbe - Someshwara - Home - 390kms

- Rest in peace at Home

- Explore Balebare Ghat (Hulikal ghat)
Route : Home - Haladi - Masthikatte - Yedur - Kavaledurga Fort - Thirthahalli - Umblibail - Lakkavalli - Arasikere - Tumkur - Bangalore - 430Kms

Hulikal Ghat

It was my first long ride, previous best was Mullainagiri and to add to that i was riding solo. Started 5am from Malleswaram,



As it was a long weekend Yeshwanthpur signal was jam packed at 5, had tough warm-up session early morning.
Somewhere near Kunigal.Nothing much to say about this route. Boring Highway.

Kunigal

Fun started after crossing Hassan. Two lane highway all the way to home.

Belur Road

Aldur to Agumbe has a newly laid road and some awesome corners. Riding my 220 was little difficult. This road is meant for Naked bikes.

Near Balehonnur

Balehonnur Tea Plantation

390Kms.. I Was home. First half of agumbe ghat is in very bad condition.

Ritz Vs 220



Return Journey

I wanted to drive balebare ghat from long time and somehow missed it every time.

Foggy Morning on ghat



Varahi Dam Backwaters , Masthikatte

Varahi Dam Backwaters

Abandoned road, which comes out when water level goes down.

Abandoned Road Near Masthikatte

From this place there is a fork. One road goes to Kodachadri and other to Thirthahalli.

Road to thirthahalli is a single road . Road is in very good condition. road goes through the varahi backwaters, loads of places to explore.







Route Map


Route map to Kodachadri from Bangalore Via Masthikatte

Ghat And Beaches with The Beast XUV 5OO

Xuv 5OO, We call it " XUV five hundred " but actually it is " XUV five double O ". A super machine from Mahindra Rise. The cheetah inspired vehicle looks like muscled beast and can seat 7 comfortably !. It has some great feature like Ice bowl, Some reddish disco lights under seats makes it a party material, Ac vents in the center , Self adjusting headlights.
We booked a self drive car from ZoomCars.This was third from them after Figo and Scorpio.

Zoomcar At Nagara Fort

It was a complete night drive, Started Bangalore at 8pm and reached sagara at 2pm. We had reserved Hotel for stay. now the next challenge was getting up at 7 for next day drive as Siganduru gets crowded after 9.

Day1:Siganduru(ferry crossing) - Mani dam - Agumbe(Doddamane)
Started early morning from hotel and boarded ferry to cross Sharavathi backwaters.Explored wrong turn to end with Off Roading with beast (missed routes).

Zoomcar Boarding Ferry

With the Beast

XUV taking a Ride on Ferry

After crossing the backwaters all i could ,Bad roads and Bad roads.But XUV Responded really well on those jelly roads till Mastikatte. Mani dam is not famous as tourist spot but a very nice place. This project was abandoned and you can spot some haunted houses on either side of the road.Reached Doddamane at 7. Had dinner and again next days early morning plan was sunrise at Kundadri.

Mani Dam

The mini Fridge in Xuv is a X-feature. We had bought some Pepsi tin while starting from Bangalore. Box was able to hold 3 tins and cool then quickly, this helped a lot in night driving.

Pepsi. Oh Yes Abhi !!

Day 2: Agumbe-Kundadri- Someshwara-Kundapura-Maravanthe

Got up at 4am, We had already arranged keys to open Kundadri entrance gate. This place is closed at night , As people starting camping here and spoiling nature.After sunrise directly headed towards Maravanthe.Took pit stop at my home.Plan was to spend maximum time at beach. Had booked Lodging at Moonlight resort, Which is on the opposite to beach.

Day 3:Maravanthe-Udupi-Kudremukh-Bangalore

Kudremukh and The Beast.

Last day is full about driving. Had to cover almost 450+Km. Xuv gets a Thumbs Up here. Even after driving at marginally high speed on Kudremukh ghat , No complaint of body roll from last row.Reached Bangalore safely. It was 1300Km drive with single driver.
Kudos to Xuv and Zoomcar. Loved the no man pickup and drop off model from Zoom.