This is my second ride with my wife
after Gandikota in Feb 2018. Of course, we have been driving across the country
until my BULL came into my life last year.
We started at 6:15 in the morning (on14th April 2018) which was quite late compared to our past trips. We took the Mysore Road hoping that there would be less traffic. Hard to believe that I did not stop/halt my bike anywhere for the first 45 kms that too on Mysore Road. After a bisi bisi Thatte Idli – Vada breakfast, headed to Maddur, where we need to take a diversion to Kollegal. Had a tea break and started again.
There was some road work going on in Kollegal and thanks to Google Maps which took us into some narrow roads and finally on the right path.
We followed Google Maps that bypassed the route through Yelandur on Highway and took us into some village roads which was traffic free. I guess it cut-shorts some distance and traffic. Finally the so-called village road meets the highway at the very entrance of BRT Tiger Reserve. Another 12 kms to our destination. The guards opened the check post and didn’t ask us for any entry, may be because of 2-wheeler. I heard that 4-wheelers should enter their details.
Finally reached the resort by 10:30 am, which was some 100m from the main road.
My Bull resting after the ride...
We started at 6:15 in the morning (on14th April 2018) which was quite late compared to our past trips. We took the Mysore Road hoping that there would be less traffic. Hard to believe that I did not stop/halt my bike anywhere for the first 45 kms that too on Mysore Road. After a bisi bisi Thatte Idli – Vada breakfast, headed to Maddur, where we need to take a diversion to Kollegal. Had a tea break and started again.
There was some road work going on in Kollegal and thanks to Google Maps which took us into some narrow roads and finally on the right path.
We followed Google Maps that bypassed the route through Yelandur on Highway and took us into some village roads which was traffic free. I guess it cut-shorts some distance and traffic. Finally the so-called village road meets the highway at the very entrance of BRT Tiger Reserve. Another 12 kms to our destination. The guards opened the check post and didn’t ask us for any entry, may be because of 2-wheeler. I heard that 4-wheelers should enter their details.
Finally reached the resort by 10:30 am, which was some 100m from the main road.
My Bull resting after the ride...
As our tent house was getting ready (check-in time being 12:00), we headed to visit the famous Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple leaving our luggage and gear at the reception. It was a 5 km ride to a hill behind the resort and the road is good till the temple top with some good views. Some construction is going on for a new temple there.
On the way to BR Temple...
After the visit, had a good lunch and strolled through the resort. Apart from our Tent House, It had 10 beautiful cottages, a Tree house and an ayurvedic centre, all within an 18 acre plantation estate. The location is a plus point, if you are a nature lover. The standard plan of the visitors was to go for a Jungle safari at K.Gudi (Kyatadevara Gudi) in the evening (3:30) or in the morning (6:30). But for that you have to drive in your own vehicle for 20 kms. We decided to ride to the Safari point and not take the Safari as animal sighting would be minimal during this time. We have our previous experience of taking many Safaris in various National Parks.
The Cottages...
Our Tent House...
The ride from BR Hills to K.Gudi was awesome as the road penetrated inside the lush green forest with many bends and curves and ups and downs. Hardly did we see any vehicle pass by. What else do need for a good ride? We reached there in 30 mins to see the place with few people roaming around. (The road further leads to Chamarajanagar~30kms, just for info.) There is a small lake where we spent some time and took some pictures. There was a huge tree with many honey bee hives. Some people were attacked by the bees too, luckily we escaped. After spending some time we started our ride back to the resort. On the way clicked some pics in the forest which is risky. We even saw a bison pass by.
As our tent house was getting ready (check-in time being 12:00), we headed to visit the famous Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple leaving our luggage and gear at the reception. It was a 5 km ride to a hill behind the resort and the road is good till the temple top with some good views. Some construction is going on for a new temple there.
On the way to BR Temple...
After the visit, had a good lunch and strolled through the resort. Apart from our Tent House, It had 10 beautiful cottages, a Tree house and an ayurvedic centre, all within an 18 acre plantation estate. The location is a plus point, if you are a nature lover. The standard plan of the visitors was to go for a Jungle safari at K.Gudi (Kyatadevara Gudi) in the evening (3:30) or in the morning (6:30). But for that you have to drive in your own vehicle for 20 kms. We decided to ride to the Safari point and not take the Safari as animal sighting would be minimal during this time. We have our previous experience of taking many Safaris in various National Parks.
The Cottages...
Our Tent House...
The ride from BR Hills to K.Gudi was awesome as the road penetrated inside the lush green forest with many bends and curves and ups and downs. Hardly did we see any vehicle pass by. What else do need for a good ride? We reached there in 30 mins to see the place with few people roaming around. (The road further leads to Chamarajanagar~30kms, just for info.) There is a small lake where we spent some time and took some pictures. There was a huge tree with many honey bee hives. Some people were attacked by the bees too, luckily we escaped. After spending some time we started our ride back to the resort. On the way clicked some pics in the forest which is risky. We even saw a bison pass by.
On reaching the resort, I wanted to keep ourselves busy until tea time which was at 6:00pm. I thought of trekking to the BR temple that was behind the resort which we rode earlier in the morning. We trekked up till the entrance of the temple and came back to the resort to have a nice cup of tea and snacks.
Trek Route from our Resort…
Refreshed after a shower, we were ready for a tribal cultural program organized by our hosts. We felt happy to see them perform and to hear about the Soliga tribes living in the hills and their history. One thing I liked in them is the interest and happiness that reflected in their body language while singing and dancing. There is a lot we came to know about them.
After an hour of pure entertainment, it was dinner time. We were warned not to get out of our rooms between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. It seems elephants roam around at that time. My wife was worried as the tent house was isolated from the rest of the cottages and I was excited. Anyhow we were not lucky enough to see any elephants that night, but we heard some drum beats around 11:00 pm. The next morning we came to know that elephant herd had visited the nearby village last night.
The next day morning started with the sound of birds and; insects of the forest. As I sat outside the tent house, some deer and boar passed by. After morning tea, the schedule was bird watching trek/nature walk by a local tribe. We saw and; came to know the names of some more birds. It was not possible to capture them with my mobile. It ended around 8:30 followed by breakfast. After breakfast, we did a repeat ride to K.Gudi. However we didn’t take the risk of riding early in the morning into the forest. I missed my car that morning.
BR Lake with the BR temple in the background...
So now the vacation was over and started our ride to Bangalore around 12:00. While coming back we took the Kanakapura road in order to avoid the traffic in Mysore Road. We reached home around 4:00 pm with a break for lunch at Kanakapura, where there are few options.
At the entrance while returning back...
After travelling for more than 10 years, this is my first travelogue and hope it is not boring. Comments are welcome for its improvement and will encourage in writing about my earlier trips too.
Planning to write on my last year’s memorable drive: “Bangalore to Leh”
Random Click on the highway...
The route taken for BR Hills:
Bangalore (Thubarahalli) - Mysore road – Maddur – Malavalli - Kollegal - BR Hills
BR Hills - Kollegal – Malavalli - Kanakapura – NICE Road – ORR - Bangalore (Thubarahalli)
Total Distance travelled: 493 Kms
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