Go off the grid at these biker-approved destinations this long weekend

Trek along the Cauvery, spot wild elephants or scale striking rock formations
Go off the grid at these biker-approved destinations this long weekend

It’s not too late to plan a ‘long-weekend’ getaway, ahead of Independence Day. Just after the summer and right before the beginning of the festive season, now is the best time to infuse some excitement into your life by getting on the road and traveling to relatively uncharted territory. From trekking along the mighty Cauvery to scaling striking rock formations, intrepid bikers give us insider tips on offbeat destinations, safety measures and important stops along the way. What better way to celebrate Independence Day than by exploring the beauty of India? 

Yana, Uttara Kannada
Straight out of a science fiction franchise, two monolith rock formations stand tall in the Sahayadri mountain ranges. The Yana Rocks, as they are known, are made of black, crystalline karst limestone and are surrounded by thick forest and streams. The peaks known as Bhairaveshwara Shikhara and the Mohini Shikhara are 120 metres and 90 metres tall, respectively. The site is a great spot for trekking and photography. Although, now the modern roads make this very easy to approach, in days gone by, the inaccessible rocks gave birth to the adage, “okkidhavanu Yanakke hogutaane, rokkiddhavanu Gokarna ke hoguthane”, which translates to, “While people with money go to Gokarna, only daring people got to Yana.” Biker and traveller Sharan Bopanna says, “Because of the unique terrain, the kind of trek offered by the place is unlike any other. In fact, it gets too challenging during the rains.” Another tip from our side is to stop by at Sri Guru Kottureshwara Benne Dosa Hotel on the way for the famous Davangere butter dosa. 

Time: Around seven hours
Route map: You can drive or take local buses to Yana from Kumta. You can get to Kumta by driving through Tumkur and Davangere from Bengaluru.
Don’t miss: Bhairaveshwara Shikhara also houses a cave which has a swayambu Shiva Linga (a naturally formed Shiva Linga made by the water trickling down from the roof).

Dabbagauli, Magadi
About an hour and a half away from Bengaluru and on the border between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu lies the village of Dabbagauli. The little settlement is popular amongst bikers and other adventurers as the river Cauvery runs through it. Surrounded by hills clothed in carpets of emerald and pine green in Monsoon or amber and chocolate brown during the peak of summer, the landscape is breathtaking, to put it lightly. However, a tiny bit remote, the spot is only accessible by a 15-kilometre ride through a dirt track. “But it’s totally worth the bumpy ride,” says Brian Ammanna, co-founder of the Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Sports Association, who made a trip with six other bikers three months ago. “We went via Kanakapura Town and stopped at Vasu Hotel for breakfast. The place is popular for its masala dosas. This is also the best place to get some lunch packed for the afternoon, as good restaurants are hard to come by after this point,” he tells us. The ramshackle structure, with metal shutters and political posters stuck to its derelict walls, is also popular with bikers for its bisi bele bath and chow chow bath. Brian recommends you spend at least two hours in Dabbagauli before heading back home. “You can trek downhill along the river, for some Instagram-worthy shots. I also know some friends who have camped there overnightoffice,” he reveals. 

Time: 1 1/2 hours
Places nearby: Savandurga hill, Manchinbele Dam, Dodda Alada Mara (Big Banyan Tree) 
Route Map: Bangalore - Kanakapura Town - Kodi Halli - Hunasanahalli - Belapatti - Dabbagauli  
Tip: The route map passes through a forest, with wild elephants, so do not overspeed. And don’t forget to wear protective gear.

Lepakshi, Anantapur
Not everyone has the means or the energy to cope with overnight rides. For those strapped for time and skill needed for the more arduous itineraries, we recommend a day trip to the quiet temple town of Lepakshi, which is located in the Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, roughly 120 kilometres north of Bengaluru. “While Lepakshi itself is quite promising with historic temples, the ride there is perfect for biking enthusiasts — open and well maintained roads, minimal traffic and sweeping views of the countryside and forest areas along the way,” says Roshan Kamat an entrepreneur and avid biker. Erected during the reign of the Vijayanagara empire (1336 - 1646), the shrines of Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra are popular places to visit. The town is located 25 kilometres off the Bengaluru-Hyderabad highway, and Roshan shares that the internal roads are as well-maintained as the highways. “For a quick snack or breakfast, stop at Nandi Upachar, which is near the turn towards Nandi Hills, or Indian Paratha Company, which is also quite close by,” he says.
Time: 2.5 hours
Other places to visit: The Nandi statue, about 4 metres high and 8 metres long, is a major attraction. One can also pay a visit to the Natya and Kalyana Mandapams to view the mural painting, dating back to the Vijayanagara empire, on the ceilings. 
Shop: The streets are the best place to shop for Banjara-embroidered fabrics and pouches, brass ware, cotton and jute durries, Kalamkari paintings, Kondapalli toys carved out of softwood, Cherial scroll paintings and Bidri craft. 
Route map: Bengaluru – Yelahanka – Devanahalli – Chikaballapur – Bagepalli – Lepakshi

Sagar, shimoga
One of Karnataka’s greenest spots, the Sharavathi Valley, is the ideal destination for an eight-hour road trip. The valley is most well-known for the mighty Jog falls (that include the torrential falls — Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket) and the Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to the endangered Lion-tailed macaque. The most popular among the species of birds found here are — the hornbill, paradise flycatcher, racket-tailed drongo, blue-throated barbet, Indian lories and lorikeets. All these birds make the sanctuary an excellent location for bird-spotting. But it’s also the drive that makes this road worth taking. “If you have planned a longer road trip of about three-to-four days, then you have quite a few spots to stop over at. Visit the Chitradurga Fort, then take a deviation to see the Sigandur Temple at Sagar,” explains Dev Balaji Shetty, from Nature Admire, who regularly takes this route when he drives to the valley for camping. “But if it’s just an overnight stay, drive straight to Jog Falls. Sharavathi Adventure Camp and a few private homestays are good places to stay,” adds Dev. He highly suggests Meenakshi Bhavan at Shimoga that serves neer dosa, and paddus cooked in coconut oil. 
Time: Around 8 hours
Places nearby: Murudeshwar, Gokarna and Agumbe
Route map: Bengaluru — Tumkur — Hasan — Shimoga — Sagar 
Tip: Visit Dabbe Falls — the perfect trail for a trek. Permission from the forest department is mandatory.

Bidar taluk, Bidar 
While Bidar may have been on the traveller’s list for its fort and tombs, we are recommending it for its spectacular silver products — Bidriware. “Although the fort was very impressive, I picked up souvenirs and knick-knacks at these little shops across the town which made for really unique gifts,” says entrepreneur Oviya S. These products are created after a laborious eight-stage process including moulding engraving, inlaying, buffing and more. The first Bidriwares were created by the Bahamani Sultans in the 14th–15th centuries. The soil in the region makes the pieces very unique. The products, which range from hookahs to trays and platters, have oxidised inlaid work, usually a pattern of vines and flowers. The craft is so revered that the artifacts can be found in museums such as Louvre in Paris and the Victoria Albert Museum in London. “Since we were crossing Andhra, we got to sample the local biryani, which was the cherry atop the otherwise great journey,” Oviya signs off. 
Time: Around 10 hours.  Route map: Located on the Northeast corner of the state, the best way to get there is to drive north on the AH43 via Hyderabad. 
Shop: The Gandhi Gunj Adat Market, Bahmani Bidri Works Showroom, Khadi Gramodyog Sangh, Kala Sagar Bidri Ware and the Tarkari Market. 

Hiriyur, Chitradurga 
The Vani Vilasa Sagara or Marikanive Dam is a popular spot near Hiriyur Taluk in Chitra-durga District. It’s the oldest dam in the state and was built by the Mysore maharajas during the pre-independence era. The dam irrigates Hiriyur and Challakere taluks. The ride to the dam is about 170 kms from Bengaluru. “The best part about the ride is that you have to ride on both state roads and a national highway (NH4),” explains Arun Anbumani, a seasoned long-distance biker. “Monsoon is the best time to ride because the views alongside the roads are scenic and the dam is full of water. We usually start by 5 am and reach by 9 am. The best place to stop over for breakfast is Kamath Restaurant on Tumkur Road,” adds Arun. The dam has a beautiful garden built around, which is worth a visit. 
Time: About 4 hours. Places nearby: Pavagada Fort
Route Map: Take NH48 from Bengaluru via Tumakuru till Hiriyur, then take a left road called TH Road which leads to the dam. Tip: Visit the 600-year-old Pavagada Fort in Pavagada Town

Related Stories

No stories found.
Indulgexpress
www.indulgexpress.com