A view from Mullengiri hill
This was a amazing picnic I ever had. We all decided to go to Kemmannugundi by bike from Udupi.We had decided that we will cover maximum places for two days. So we left with our packed bags on 22Apr at 6:30am. As everyone knows there wont be much traffic in south canara and so we could reach Karkala in 30mins and had nice breakfast in hotel Swagath and continued our journey towards Kemmannugundi. We took via Kudremukh route since the charmadi ghat was spoilt fully. The route from kudremukh would be long route for us but we knew the road will be good. We went till Samse and took diversion to kottigehara. So we reached kottigehara at noon 1.00pm as decided. We couldn't had lunch there since we couldn't found any good hotels around so we adjusted with tender coconuts and biscuits. The road after kottigehara to moodigere was not good which was the hurdle for our speed. We reached Chickmagaloor at around 2.00pm and had lunch there. After lunch we thought of changing our plans,as decided we suppose to go to Kemmannugundi but before that we got to know the place called Mullengiri hill.
So we went through Kaimara and reached the hill,but before that we will get the place called Sithalayyana giri,we rested for a while there. It was really amazing and superb place to be frank. We really missed it if we had skipped that place. Really worth seeing. I never miss that place if I ever had to go there. The scenic view from the top of the hill was awesome but we have to climb nearly 1000 steps to enjoy the real beauty of the nature. We reached there around 3.30pm but still the wind was so chilling in that hot son. Once we decided we will stay there for whole night, such a chilling place it was.We spent little time over there and decided to move forward towards KG. It was nearly 30kms from Mullengiri to KG,so we thought we can reach within 30-45mins,but the road was worst which we never expected. The dirty road made us not to speed up more than 20km/hr. So it was nearly 6.30pm when we reached KG. Our previous plan was,if we could reach before 4.00pm to KG then we could continue our journey towards Shimoga and stay there for night but when we reached KG it was late and sun already settled after his duty. So we got to know from KG to Shimoga its around 70kms distance and the roads were not good moreover we had got no stamina left in us to travel again 70kms. We all exhausted. It was real nightmare to us. So we thought of staying in KG and continue to move in the morning. When we asked for a room the manager said no room availabile today since all were booked. We have no option left other than pleading them. After waiting for a while they said they can arrange a room for us. We were very happy that time,since we left all hope and we couldn't decide what we can do. We cant move out from KG since it was dark already. So we were arranged for a room there and we stayed there. Morning we woke up early and decided to reach "Z"point and shantifalls.
It was very chilling night and we got sound sleep since all were tired. We got up early and started walking towards Z point. It s nearly 3-4kms to reach Z point but our whole team was so enthusiastic to walk and reach the endpoint before sunrise(its difficult to walk later),So we did..thanks to girls who cooperated with us. We were the first group who reached the Z point. We had a nice time pass,chat and cursing each one,pulling each ones leg,fight and we started back from there and reached back to room and had breakfast and decided to vacate.
So as we planned we have to take the way to Tharikere-->Shimoga via Badravati. It was nice journey in the morning,it was so chilling morning so. We have to go through forest and there was a shade through out our journey till we reach Lingadahalli.
The Tharikere road was straight and superb so we could raise up the bike throtle 100km/hr in that road so we did ;) When we reached Shimoga it was already noon 1.00pm and it was very hot,we had watermelon and tender coconut there and moved towards Thirthhalli and we could reach by 2.00pm cos the road was good. We had lunch in one restaurant in Thirthhalli and moved towards Koppa to reach Shringeri temple. Until we reach Shringeri our whole journey was went on travelling,we didn't see anything. We reached around 3.30pm and bowed to goddess Sharadamba and took her blessings. Now we had two options either we have to skip our plans to Sirimane falls and go back to Udupi, since it was late already,else we go and see Sirimane and move. But all are decided to go to Sirimane falls and go as planned. So we went to Sirimane falls and had nice time over there,played in water. The water was very cold,it was already 5.00pm when we reached there. The best part of this falls was it pours through out the year,whenever we go we get to see water. After this picnic I nearly had been more than 5 times to this place.So after taking bath we really became energetic to move forward. We were happy because we could execute our plans properly,On the way to Sirimane two of our buddies fell from bike and that was the sad part,luckily they were not injured other than little scratch on their body.We took the short cut to reach Kudremukh ghat and we really speeded up our bikes because we had to reach down before its getting dark(traveling in ghat section could be dangerous in night),and we could reach down as we decided. We reached Karkal by 7.30pm and had snacks there in the same Swagath hotel ;) and reached Udupi around 9.00pm.
It was wonderful,lengthy and memorable journey I ever had. We really became tan due to hot sun.
Total distance:630kms
No. of days:2 days
The route(first day):Udupi-->Karkal-->Kudremukh-->Samse-->Kottigehara-->Moodigere-->Chickmagaloor-->Mullengiri-->KG hills
The route(Second day):KG hills-->Lingadahalli-->Tharikere-->Badravathi-->Shimoga-->Thirthahalli-->Koppa-->Shringeri-->Kigga-->Kudremukh ghat-->Karkal-->Udupi
