TOUR OF HOSANGADI

After another hectic week in Bengaluru, we 4 of us [Neo, Don, TDP, Bhatta] left for an outing in Hosangadi 400 KM from B’lore on Shivamoga-Kundapur state highway. Left B’lore on 25^th at around 8:45 PM and reached next day early morning to our destination by 6:30 AM.

Day 1,26^th Jan 2007 [Mountain view day]

Had a stay @ Inspection Bungalow [I.B] owned by K.P.C [Karnataka Power Corporation] which we had got through reference from my friend’s dad Mr. Sathish Koppar. It’s the best place to stay around as all the basic facility available.

At around 10 AM Sai reached from Mangaluru to I.B

On Indian Republic day, 5 of us had planned a cool trip on the mountainside.

Left to Shringeri @ around 11AM on our Classic Audi [Maruti 800]

On the way Agumbe hills it’s a must stop place for a picturesque view of mountains.

Reached Shringeri by 1:30 PM. Fish feeding @ Tunga River is a must. Have a view of amazing architecture of temple. Try out temple meals its absolutely free.

Way back traveled through Kudremukh National park and then Karkala.

Visited Gommateshwara statue build around 1432 AD, which stands on top of hill.

Hotel Sagar is a must visit.

Back to base by 10 PM and had a tight sleep.

Day 2, 27^th Jan 2007 [Trekking day]

Around 9:00 A.M Left for trekking @ Basavanapura Forest, guide is a must as u may get lost in those dense forest till we reach Tombattu [Varahi River]. Takes u around 4 KM. Have a nice time in fresh waters of Varahi River then leave back. [Trek on ur own risk as it’s a Naxalite zone and wild-animals can b encountered here n there]

@ around 2:00 PM had a visit to Pump House on the banks of Varahi river

Then it was time for the biggest adventure, trekking to Mettkal Gudda to a height of 1300 ft. and around 6 KM. It’s a must try for adventure lovers. Even the best machines available cannot take u to this place u need to trek to touch skies from Earth. It takes around 90 Minutes for climb @ an angle of 50-60 degree and 30 Min. for getting down. Lord Ganesha will b waiting for u so visit him first n wait for Sunset. The whole of Western Ghat region is visible from top

Day 3, 28^th Jan 2007 [Varahi power plant n Beach day]

Early morning natural bath@ pump house just 2 KM away from IB.

Had a nice Neer-Dosa [Udupi special] it’s a must try for breakfast.

At around 11:00 AM we had been to Varahi Power Plant which u will find after a km drive in an underground tunnel. What we found there was the best example that man-machine ‘n Vishveshwariah’s brain can create amazing project for the benefit of mankind. What we call Electricity is generated in 230 MHz turbines by 2 units operating 365/24/7. They have it 600 Meters under Earth at an angle of 50 degree. Where ground level water is brought through pipes of 15 Meters in diameter, and a 3 Meter pipe in length weights around 15 tons.

The whole engineering process is an amazing team effort. 2 new units are under construction. With a cost of millions of US dollars and Software technology from Germany, Turbines from Australia and Steel from Russia. This was an amazing experience under Earth where u found a whole new city with about 10 KM of tunnels connecting here n there.

This is Asia’s Third largest project and I would rate it as one of the amazing wonders of the World, which earns around 25 lacks INR per day. From a place situated so remote where the population is less than 5000.

[Even High Level reference will not help u to visit this place. We entered inside as a project engineers for IHP-Pune, who were doing there piping works. Please do not even attempt to visit this place if u don’t have any onsite emp ref.]

@ Around 3:30 PM Move towards Marvante beach 12 KM from Kundapur.

It’s a 3 KM stretch on NH 17 where there is Marvante beach on one side and Sawparnika River on the other.

Try out boating with 250 INR on a motorboat for a 6 KM ride Sawparnika River.

Wanna enjoy without shelling money then just cross river by paying 1 INR on a regular

Boat service, which takes u to Padukone Island [Native place of Prakash Padukone and Deepika Padukone].

Moved towards Kodi Beach [4 KM from Kundapur] where Varahi River meets Arabian sea this Sangam spot was the perfect place for us for sunset view and wrap up our tour.

Returned back to IB and then back to base B’lore.

THESE 3 DAYS WAS AN AMAZING TOUR FROM HILL STATIONS TO BEACHES AND FROM RIVERS TO JUNGLES.

The total cost of tour was around 1300 INR.

TOUR DE KOCHI

Finally after a hectic week ,on 29^th Dec 2006 we left from KBS Bangalore by Airavath (Volvo) at 8:00PM to our tour destination KOCHI.

Had a 12 Hrs luxurious journey to Kochi through Coaimbatur-Salem -Trishur.

One of the best travel service available to Kochi is by bus preferably Volvo as u will have a tight sleep after a good Bollywood movie [we had Janeeman (Night show) and Chupke-Chupke (Morning show)] so that u r in full charge the next morning.

DAY 1, Saturday 30th Dec 2006:

By 8:00 A.M had a stay @ Good Shepherd Tourist Home, M.G.Road the heart of Kochi .Got fresh n left to out first destination Mattancherry island at 10AM. Had a taste of local bus (Fully Naturally Air Conditioned, i.e. without windows) service of Kerala, well its really cheap n a must try and the best way to travel around Kochi even the auto service is damn cheap.

Mattancherry Island @ 10:00 A.M:

We traveled to this island through bus crossing 2 of the major bridges connecting main part of Kochi by paying just 6 INR.

Places to watch Jew Town n Jewish synagogue [Fri/sat Closed] it’s a must watch.

The whole of Jew town (Feels like u r in some part of Israel) was filled with some of the world’s biggest and best antique products, spice shops and perfumes.

Dutch palace [Fri closed]:

Had amazing paintings related to Ramayana and Mahabharatha painted in 14^th Century A.C. It’s a must watch. Such a beautiful palace can be watched by paying just 2 INR.

Walk through the beautiful streets of Jew Town towards Fort Kochi. It feels like coming from Israel to France by walk.

Places to watch in Fort Kochi:

St. Francis Church an 18^th Century Church.

In and around you will find lot of French styled villas.

Walk towards Chinese fish net area.

You will find lot of seaside restaurants. Its time for a good fishmeal.

(Purchase fresh fish of your choice, and get it baked for you).

Best way to travel here is hire a Bicycle…

Moving from Mattancherry Island to Vypeen Island @ 2:00 PM:

Travel cost: 2 INR from Fort Kochi to Vypeen Jetty (Standing service by Boat)

Get ready for some sudden surprises in Kerala, as it is a Communist dominated state in India. 30^th Dec 2006 had another major thing apart from our tour to Kerala. The so-called famous leader Saddam Hussain was Executed in Iraq on that day morning. So there was a super response for it in Kerala. All the transportation services were jammed by noon and locals didn’t know the reason. Tried our luck to hire an auto by paying thrice the charge what they demand, but it was hard luck. After 2KM walk then came a perfect Keralite Literate (Some times its pretty hard to communicate in Kerala as people don’t know other than Mallu Language), who just agreed to drop us to High court Junction for just 20 INR.

High court boat Jetty @ 4:00PM:

Had an excellent boat ride with a DJ Music and look-alike Himesh Reshmiya blasting our ears and a dance floor. The ride takes u through the coastal side of Kochi to Arabian sea via ONGC, Kochi ship building yard, Indian Navy, Kochi commercial port, Wellington Island where u can have a glimpse of Bolgatty Palace (which has been converted to a Taj group resort) etc… All these stuffs @ a cost of just 30 INR.

Evening walk through Marine drive and crossed the cable bridges to reach Royal music footway. Settled down for a while, having a glimpse of sunset with local DJ playing Bollywood music (Pretty surprising…)

DAY 2, Sunday 31st Dec 2006:

Its time for some early morning Kerala styled breakfast, had a good Idiyappam Kadala, Puttu and get back to work.

Travel to Tripuntara Hill Palace [Monday holiday] –

The total time to spend is about 4-5 hrs. Entries charge 30 INR.

It’s the palace of the then Kochi kings. It’s a must watch place. It has amazing collection of paintings, weapons and caravan. It even has a zoo and a life size Dino and elephant carved by wood. The best thing to watch there is a whole heritage village u feels as if u has passed through a time machine and r currently in 18^th century. U can have an Arial view of Kochi from the front balcony of the palace. The best part was the jewels of Maharaja…The Crown, which was worth millions of US $. It was a high security area with no cams n mobile. And the amazing part for those who have watched “Mr. Bean-Movie” you will find the famous lady painting from the French Museum there (It’s a once in a life time chance to see that painting).

Return back to Kochi and have a tight lunch. Book a package for Murunjapura (Backwaters) @ the cost of 350 INR. (Inclusive of pickup and drop from your Hotel)

Its around 40 KM from Kochi.

That was an amazing ride through the backwaters of kerala… some even man made backwaters are found with just 3 feet of water.

Now and then they had stopped to have a glimpse of coir making industry of Kerala.

That was a ride to remember for lifetime.

Back to base by evening New Year party @ full flow in Kochi…but we had a tight sleep as we needed to cover lots more next day morning….

DAY 3, Monday 1st Jan 2007:

The first thing to b seen in this year was the working of Chinese Fishing nets.

We got into the first Ferry service from High court jetty to Custom jetty which cost just 3 INR. There come the time punctuality the first service was about to leave @ 7:10 A.M and the whole 100 seater boat left sharp @ 7:10 with just 3 of us seating…That was a cool journey in the Queen of Arabia.

Walked till Fort Kochi n saw the amazing Chinese Fishing nets that operate on the concept of gravity. No fuel needed they operate for a time of 3 Hrs in morning and evening and catch fish worth 5000 INR in one shift….

@ around 10:00 A.M traveled to Vypeen and from there reached Cherai Beach one of the best beaches u will find around….

Moved towards Kodalur Elephant training Center [Monday-Holiday] Here u can have a Elephant safari for 200 INR. And a small river to cross and a zoo to see.

Finally it was time to pack off so returned back to Kochi in full swing …….

The roads are rubberized so Best way to travel is by Bus which never goes @ less than 70 Mph.

Had shopping @ M.G.Road….

NOTE: There is only one Citibank in Kerala i.e @ M.G.Road Kochi and bcoz Saddam was executed people stormed it and we were running out of cash….SBI cards r the best option to carry during traveling in Kerala (Every 100 Mts u will find a ATM)…….coz u never know when Bin Laden can b found dead…..

Best way to travel is rome around ur self so that u can cover lot of places…..

@ around 8:00 P.M left to base camp B’lore by the same old volvo the only change was the movie we had (Phir Hera Pheri).

IT WAS A SUPERB TOUR FROM 2006-2007 IN GODS OWN COUNTRY (WHERE GOD GOES ON HARTAL (STRIKE) NOW N THEN).

WE COMPLETED THE TOUR WITH 3300 INR.