Its 6:15 in the morning and we are leaving for a bike ride
This is how Asha describes it
“The total distance is approximately 150 kms. The best thing - roads are very good most of the way with few roads slightly less good. The scenery is very good with wide open country side, lots of hills, rock formations, huge trees, farmland, ponds with water lilies, quiet roads where you hardly cross any other vehicle, cows grazing, men having leisurely shaves in wooden-box barbershops in small villages, children waving, harvest being dried - all this made all the more enjoyable/visible because the roads are good and you don't have to keep looking down for potholes.
On the way you have the Chamarajendra Reservoir over the Arakavathi river - if you ask the watchman nicely, he will tell you of a backdoor entry where you can go up to the water. There is a sunken temple in the river.
Sivaganga is a nice temple town with a temple on top of a huge rocky hill you can climb up. Great view, and great exercise ! But is definitely less strenuous than Savandurga which is just off the route.
Before I describe route - remember - after you leave Mysore road - no petrol pumps/repair shops until you reach Magadi - so stock up/check vehicle. There are places you will feel that you are exactly 15 feet from the Middle of Nowhere.
Secondly, take food - not much choice anywhere.
The route - go down Mysore Road - after Kengeri, on the right side, you will see a big board with a picture of the Big Banyan Tree. Turn right and enter - keep going until you reach the Tree. Stop for tea, stretching legs etc. Watch out for monkeys. They like attempting to remove bike parts for fun ! Then ask someone the road to Magadi - keep going down the road - at a particular place, 3 kms down, you have to turn right. Golden rule - when in doubt, ask. And there's nothing like asking 2 different people. Especially if the first one looked slightly tipsy.
This stretch all the way to Magadi is fabulous ! Stop at dam if you want. Magadi is a very small town, though it was the birth place of Kempegowda who built Bangalore. You will know you have reached there when you see the petrol pump on the right. If you like history, there is an ancient 11th century temple a little ahead of the town. Someshvara, I think it was called. Left side of road. Magnificent architecture mostly in ruins. I just happened to see it in a guide. It will be locked most of the time - but you can jump over the wall. The local kids will tell you all its history, whatever version they know. “
This is what Prashanth the great had to say
“…sivagange is too good!!! but take care abt the monkeys... once they had put
their hands inside my pocket frm behind to snatch the small biscuit pack I
had in there.. :) take care of ur cameras..”
And
“….hey there is something called OLAKALLU TEERTHA... that means the holy water
of the stone inside...
there is a cave where u can sneak into.. there one small well is there..
u need to put ur hand in and try n take handful... if u can take the water
then ur sins are less than gud deeds... and if u r not able to touch the
water then it is vice versa.. I have seen small kids easily pick up a
handful and elders no matter how much they try they are unable to even
touch it.. some sort of wave theory but fun to try that out... don’t miss
it...”
Also
“….if u r really too keen try this...
the rocks at shivagange are not regular ones... and especially the big bull
dodda basava at the top of the hill is really peculiar...
we all know that if we process butter, we get ghee... but on the head of
this bull, if u smear ghee for sometime and take it out, u will have
butter!!!!
never got to try this... if u wanna do it, take some ghee.. but this is a
very popular myth among ppl….”
Snaps when I come back…
Regards,
Swapnil
