Trip to Masinagudi

Megha, Ram and Bhadra were suppose to come to our house this weekend (18-Aug-2018) but she called last Thursday to check whether we want to go to Masinagudi / Bandipur and our reply as usual was yes. So she quickly booked a place in Masinagudi.

Saturday, we woke up at 3:45 am and got ready and started from our house at 4:45 am. We reached Megha's house at 6:00 am. Ram told that they have bought some items to donate for Kerala flood. Btw it is scary there in Kerala and some part of Karnataka due to flood and land slides. I read in news paper that this kind of flood didn't have in last 100 years in Kerala. We were also worried if we can reach Masinagudi because we have to cross Kaveri river which too is flooded.

Anyway we 4.5 of us were ready and started from there place at 6:30 am with all relief material. I started to drive, Bhadra was with Ram and Megha and Runai were in back seat with relief material. We reached Kengeri and handed over the materials and started at 7:30 am from there. Our next stop was at mcdonalds in Mysore road for breakfast. Had breakfast, checked tyre pressure because it was behind a petrol pump and from there Ram started to drive. We crossed Mysore and was en route Bandipur and the trouble started. Because of Kaveri flooding, road was closed in Kabini area. We were asked to go through some village and some road which google doesn't know. But luckily all vehicles were moving in that direction and we followed them. Found out that 5 km drive in highway was 15 km now and took an hour. We were very hungry too. Runai took some biscuit from home which we all finished. Anyway we crossed that area and crossed Bandipur without sighting any animals except few spotted deer. Reached our place (Home Stay) in Masinagudi around 1:30 pm. The very first thing we asked Rakesh (owner of the place) "lunch please" which Megha already informed earlier to the owner about what we want to eat for lunch.

We were served lunch at 2:30 pm with rice, sambar, rasam, curd, pickle, poriyal and chicken fry. Food was simply awesome. We took some rest and also some photos. The place has some varity of birds. Around 4:30 pm we went to see a dam which is in 15th hair-pin bend in Ooty road. It is raining crazy here so mostly dam will be full and there are endless waterfall that we could see while driving. Once we reached the place we saw a waterfall with huge force coming down. There was a police check-post and the policeman told that the road is closed because they opened the dam and it is dangerous for anyone to go there. So we took a U turn and then on our way we took some photos of the waterfall and the valley and hills and returned back. We had some bajji and back to our place. Evening around 6:30 pm again we started to go towards Singara in a hope to see animals. We filled petrol which is the only petrol pump there. We went in for 5-10 km and couldn't find anything. Leave alone animals not even a single person. We saw some place that bamboos were broken, so thought we would see some elephants but none. The road was pitch dark in jungle and no lights with rain but road was very good, we thought to return back. We were back by 8:30 pm. In town we bought some banana and guava. Had our dinner where they cooked chapati, egg curry and veg curry which we requested them in afternoon.

Next Sunday we woke up around 5:30 am and got ready by 6:30 am and headed toward Bandipur in hope to see animals. It was raining heavily but we could see peacocks, Mommy elephants with its kid, variety of deer, wild boar and mongoose. We didn't go to Bandipur rather took a U-turn from Tamil Nadu checkpost and way back to hotel. We freshedup and again started and this time headed toward Moyar. On our way we again saw lots of peacock and one was about to fan out its feather due to I guess cloud or rain, but couldn't get good picture because it went inside jungle. We went till the dam and came back hotel. Around 10:30 am, we had puri with aloo masiyal. Then we took bath, packed our bags, paid hotel and started from there at 12:30 pm. I started to drive and this time we saw lots of animals in Bandipur. A full family of elephants and other animals. They old thing left was bison and tigers. Bison, we have seen in previous trip where they were grazing and tiger never ever. On our way back we were allowed to go through highway but very slowly in Kabini area. We could see that one side of the place was flooded. Shops, house, temples, lands everything were under water. Bridge in the road we crossed were about to be under water. But luckily we could pass the place and reached Mysore. We stopped there and had lunch. We started again from there at 3;30 pm and took Kanakpura road instead of Mysore road to avoid traffic. We reached Megha's house around 7:30 pm and Megha gave us a curry leaf plant and from there we took our car and reached home at 9:00 pm.

Trip to Kurnool

It's 04-Aug-2018, we (wife and myself) ready to head toward Kurnool. We decided this 2 days back we wanted to visit Orvakal Rock Garden.

We wanted to book hotel in aptdc inside rock garden but unfortunately their site was not working. So we booked dvr mansion for Saturday and Sunday which is right in the middle of Kurnool. This hotel is one of the best that I ever visited compare with price, amenities and cleanliness.

Anyway we packed our travel bags which in someway are always pre-packed. We have our breakfast and water packed and started from Bangalore in morning 4:50 am. We crossed Devanahalli toll and straight toward Kurnool. There are 4 to 5 tolls and it cost approx. Rs. 500 one way but road is good and well maintained. Anyway we reached hotel at 10:15 am and we parked our car in basement. I am always scared of steep slope while driving and specially basement to ground floor which are always sharp steep. But thought let me give it a try and parked in basement. Went to the reception and they were kind enough to allow me to check-in though the check-in time was 12:00 pm.

We quickly freshened up and headed straight toward Konda Reddy Fort which is 1 km away.

We took our car and while trying to go straight in the steep slope my car stopped which I expected. But somehow I managed and landed in the road. We searched of the fort in maps and there we saw a gate. We thought that it is the parking place for the fort. We went in and saw a police man with gun. We were like why a fort has such security. So we ask the policeman where is the parking for this fort and he tells us that it is police head office and we need to return and go in-front of the fort. So we do and park in the road in-front of fort. The fort is well maintained by ASI team and does not have any entry ticket. We go around the place and take some photos. Next we went to a nearby church

very beautiful Church which is been renovated for its 100th year. Its been an hour or so that we are walking and its already 32 degree. We started feeling giddiness. So back into car.

Next we went straight to KURNOOL City Summer storage tank.

It is a man made reservoir. Cool breeze will energize you. It was 12:50 pm and we headed toward Rollapadu Bird Sanctuary. On our way we say greenko solar power plant which runs for many kilometers. We have to cross two villages and literally drove in between someone's balcony or possibly someone sitting room too. It was 3:30 pm when we reached there and found that it is closed. Season starts from October when they offer ride and one can see birds. There is also a small museum which is very informative about birds and their voice. They also offer rooms to stay but as per one of the forest personnel, it seems you have to get permission from some district officer from somewhere and then they will provide you room inside sanctuary. This totally doesn't work for people like us. So that is not possible. They mentioned to come Oct or Nov early morning and we can take a safari which is the best time to watch various birds. On our way back we drove in lovely rain and after that everything looked like HD quality fresh and clear. From there we came back to hotel and was very hungry and was about 4:40 pm. So we went to their restaurant. Food was very nice and tasty at least much better than what we get in Bangalore in terms of money, quantity and taste. Usually what they say as one plate is in Bangalore equivalent to 2.5 plate. BTW this time I parked in front of the hotel so that I don't have to climb steep slope next time. Rest of the day we parked ourselves in the hotel.

Next morning, we got ready by 8:30 am, finished breakfast and checked-out of the room. We went straight to Oravakallu Rock Gardens

and reached around 10:30 am. It is the most interesting place in Kurnool. One can easily spend hours and admire natural beauty and creation.

From there we headed toward Bangalore. Had our lunch in Anantapur and back home at 5:30 pm.