My first Biking trip.

March 26, 2005

The route:
Bangalore - Kanakpura – Bandipur (Day 1).
Bandipur – Mysore – Kanakpura - Bangalore (Day 2).

•After finalizing the destination- Bandipur WildLife Sanctury - decided to leave at 5:00 am, but we started at 6:00 AM from Bangalore. We reached Kanakpura(55km) at 7:15 am without any stop. Had our breakfast (idli and wada.. what better one can expect). The Bangalore –Kanakpura road was too good. I didn’t expect that good road condition.

•We left Kanakpura at 7:30am for Malvalli. Green rice fields, coconut tress along side makes a picture perfect sight on the way from Malvalli. It was an excellent drive with no traffic.

•On the way we visited ShivaSamudram Hydro electric project site. The waterfalls there are marvellous. It would be excelent place to visit in monsoon season.



•As we reached Kollegal, and started towards Chamrajnagar, road condition changed from bad to worst. After leaving Chamrajnagar, we realized that we had lost our way and instead of Bandipur we were going towards Mysore. We took one dusty road along the canal (which was totally dry). But it was comparatively good than the tar road and saved aroubd 10kms of drive. Good that we lost the way.

•Reached Gundlupet at around 12:15pm. We had our lunch. Again filled petrol for next run. Badipur is 18 kms from here.

•We reached Bandipur reception at 1:00 pm. We were very excited after reaching our destination. But all the excitement went away with no proper information from the reception crew. Actually only one lady was there who didn’t even know proper English. With the help of Kannada speaking tourists there, we got that all the cottages were sold out and the Safari was at 4 O’clock.

•Among the many private resorts nearby, we went to MC resort, which is quite good. Had some rest and came back at 3:45 for safari.

•In the evening, we headed out on a safari in the Bandipur forest. I thought of safari in a open jeep as I had seen on NatGeo, and also expected the same looking at open jeeps parked there. But we got tickets for bus safari. I don’t understand how others managed for jeep safari? (specially privileged?) and it was a bus safari, lost all the hopes of spotting elephants or tigers or any other animal.

•Even people who accompanied us were very irritating making silly comments. You should always keep in mind to keep silence and respect the nature when you are in Jungle. As the jungle has major deer population we were able to spot sambar, cheetal, peacocks… but no other animal.

•We drove through Bandipur in the morning, beautiful morning with birds on the trees and deer playing, grazing along the road side. Some of them were crossing the road as we passed by.


•Admiring the nature beauty we decided to go further till Tallkad in Tamilnadu, through Jungle. As you enter Tamilnadu it is Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctury.
You see beautiful Nilgiri Ranges infront as you drive.


•I enquired at the checkpost about the presence of elephants there, and the guard raised my hopes saying that elephants were seen a day before crossing the road. I was very excited. So finally I might see elephants.

•As we were passing by the road, Kedar shouted, “Chitta” (Leopard). Suddenly I stopped and saw my right. A cub was stading few meters away from us watching us. What a moment it was! In the excitement we forget to remain silent and calm, due to which it got scared and ran away. But before that Kedar managed to capture it in camera. It made our day.


•Same day we started back to Bangalore. Now decided to return via Mysore road. But due to traffic we decided to follow the same route by which we came.And instead of going to Mandya we returned via Malavalli, Kanakpura.

My traveling companion:
Kedar – Finally agreed to come on bike. I think he enjoyed the trip. So wont be having any regret.

After spending 2 days with mother nature, it’s back to business :)