Bandipur Trip:
Total Journey: 624 Kms
Start time: 2:45 PM, Friday, 26th January 2007
End time: 4:55 PM Sunday, 28th January, 2006
Total duration: 2+ days
Going: Blore – maddur– kollegal– yalendur(stay) – BR hills – K’Gudi - chamaraj nagar– nanjungud – bandipur – mysore (stay) - Blore
Coming: mysore (stay) - Blore
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Machine: Black Pulsar 150cc DTSi
Rider: Varun Khandelwal
Other riders: Praveen, Vicky, Srikeerthi
Min Speed: 10 Km/hr
Max speed: 125 Km/hr
Fuel: Approx. 18 litres.
Average: 624/18 ≈ 34 Km/lit
Expenses: 900 INR fuel + 400 INR (food + drinks + lodging + miscellaneous) ≈ 1000 INR
Accident n Injuries: 1 accident when rider fell 6 feet down the road on a twisty at BR Hills. Machine and rider landed safely.
CLICK HERE FOR PICS
Article by Varun:
Huh Friday 26th Jan t0 28th Jan – 3 days vacation including republic day and long time without ridez. So, thought of being republic on D-day. J I was in full touch with Praveen to whom I know very well as he is in the same company where I am and with whom I had all my last ridezz. J
Waiting for Praveen’s call till afternoon, I got a call from Praveen on 26th at 2:30 PM to leave from home ASAP as other guys were already waiting for us Kengeri, Mysore road.
The plan was to go for go to BR Hills which is considered to be among some of the nice sanctuaries full of elephants, tigers etc.
Day 1:
Bangalore > Maddur– Kollegal– Yalendur(stay)
Oil controversy
I started from my room at around 2:30 PM but before that thought of sipping tea at shop next door. Just took the first sip when I saw oil dripping out of my bike. Left my tea there at shop and rushed to see the problem. Huh didn't understand anything so simply turned off the supply knob and started bike to see some mechanic nearby. Reached to nearby mechanic but he seemed to be too busy to see the problem. I saw again at the place from where oil was dripping out…ooops nothing happening now…what the hell is problem…Actually this is not the first time that it’s happening with me. It’s very common with me whenever I go anywhere with some problem the problem goes away…be it my mobile, my room’s tap, fan or whatever and this time it was bike…
I started the machine without bothering again to call the mechanic and went to Food world, BSK, where Praveen was already waiting for me from last 5-10 minutes. I told him the problem which probably he didn't listen so simply putting everything upon God I dragged my machine from there. At Mysore road Praveen stopped at petrol pump and I got another chance to see the problem. Oil was coming out again which made me feel traumatic as it may lead to cancelling my trip. I went to mechanic nearby and amazingly again oil stopped falling. Huh…what the hack…!!! Mechanic told me that there is some dirt in carburetor causing leakage but that will go off once you will ride the bike. We told him that we are going for really long-long ride, so it’s very important for us to know the exact problem. He said nothing simply gave a secret smile…hah assuming he was saying true I started my bike for another adventure trip.
At around 3:15 PM at Kengeri, near to a temple I and Praveen met to Vicky and Srinidhi.
Soon we were on full throttle riding the machine as if it’s not bike but the jet planes. Man…Mysore road is too good for dragging. I saw my tacho going up to 125 KPH which made me glad thinking “uhhh my bike has so much in it…” as if some one has just now came to know about a nice secret of his/her spouse.
Within 1.5-2 hour, we were at Kollegal, stopped there at a “Shanthi Sagar” and had idly.
Started again at around 6:00 PM, road was like HELL, no roads actually. The path was full of dust with bumps, some high some low all the way.
Check post chapter:
Reached at BR hills – check post at around 7:00 PM. Closed barrier in front of us and a police guard in front of the barrier stopped us.
Reason: No vehicle is allowed into BR hills (forest) after 6:00 PM.
Reason for reason: Higher officers’ order
Reason for reason for reason: Forest full of wild animals, which may harm humans or vice versa. Also naxalites problem may be other problem.
As conversation with the guard was happening in Kannada so I simply sat at a place and started singing song and tried to call my friends but oops…no network L..can’t bug anyone. Anyone after some time I realized that it was fun sitting there as lot of vehicles like cars, buses (but no bikes) either trying to enter as we were or trying to exit. All were halted to wait for the forest officer who came at around 9:30 PM. He came in a blue Jypsy (dunno why I like jypsy so much), definitely drunk. As soon as he came people hurdled all around him, pleading, shouting…fun all around…he he…I kept bugging Praveen, sitting beside me by asking about the talks people were having with officer and he asked me not to laugh for that…LOLzzz…After all people were over, Vicky approached to officer to let us allow to go in the damn forest…”NO WAY” probably would have been the answer by officer for that. He told to give us officer’s quarter to stay at night but without bedding…huh. We rode back to village to get some resort but of no help. Finally after riding back around 35 KM from check-post,, at around 11:00 PM we got a hotel in yalendur called as “Hotel 10 Star”...proving his name the hotel was enough to show you stars anytime…dirty rooms, bed, shitty toilet…chee…but there was no other option…We were too hungry so went to Military restaurant opposite to the lodge which was the only place probably opened during that time…holy shit again the place was stinking badly…thoo…tried to order safest options – rice + beer. Beer was all Ok but rice was again ‘un’eatable. L
I had 2 Kingfisher already and then helped Srikeerthi’s 2nd one…he he.
I was badly drunk and went for sleep in hotel at around 1:00 AM. So, much of liquor without any side-serves/snacks put me on puke at around 2:30 AM. Could not say I have reduced my capacity for liquor now…at least for Beer. After that I slept nicely at around 3:30 AM.
Day 2:
Yalendur – BR hills – K’Gudi - chamaraj nagar– nanjungud – bandipur – mysore (stay)
Bike tumbling
We woke up at 5:30 AM and then we were again on our bike at 6:00 AM without getting even getting fresh”ed” up in the shitty 10 star hotel. Reached to check-post in 20 min, woke up guard, and freed ourselves in BR hills jungle early in the morning. It was all dark and as always I was at last among all riders and trying to reach up to them…and SUDDENLY to my HORROR I saw a smart turn against my anticipation of a straight road….brakes applied, engine braking done, bike slanted…huh no use…I understood time has come to TUMBLE…and here I was…me and my machine around 6 feets down the road inside shrubs and bushes all around.
5 sec – Bike and me tumbled. 20 sec - I was still stuck under bike…Pulsar engine still pulsing, which I turned off. Hoped if someone may come back and help me out…20+ sec over…NO HELP…bad bad…
Detached myself from my machine with difficulty and felt that definitely I got some bruises in my left leg but no time to see them right now. Let’s get out of this hack. Put Pulsar (god damn it‘s very heavy to put back Pulsar on wheels…very heavy) back on her legs. But even now I was at slope beside the road – 6 feet down. It was very impossible to go up on your own – need HELP HELP.
OK at last collecting some more courage…1st gear ON…brakes pulled…clutch pulled…auto started bike…darling roared for some time but at last didn't ditch me and started…I pulled bike up with engine started and keeping myself on my legs….huh at last I was on road….my God at last I am out of the hell safely.
I put the petrol tank knob OFF and started searching for any harm to machine… headlights were up and out of place…bike was all full of shrubs and bushes …other things looked to be pretty Ok.
I started machine back…saw Praveen coming back and asking me if I fell somewhere… (I feel falling with/from bike is part of game while riding bikez)…I told him not a serious matter and we can move on…only that I will be on my own speed from now…soon I was again talking to wind…this time Praveen was keeping an eye over me like a big bro J
Sun was out till then. Sri and Vicky were trying some pics at a nice place where we pit stopped for some time.
Rode again...Pit stopped…
There were very less of roads and generally it was all stones and pebbles on the way. At around 8:00 AM we reached to JUNGLE LODGES, K Gudi, B.R. hills - the beautiful resort in B R hills. There was a very old and sick elephant there, who was probably at the verge of passing last days of his life. We didn't take his pic 
Resort was too good, with beautiful cottages and ambience. Yup even the charges were good – 2000 INR per head.
...and I went to Ladies toilet:
While we were roaming in resort, Srikeerthi was busy; searching for a restroom and yes he was fully successful. He gave us the info after doing…Vicky and me also raced for it...at last Vicky went first after asking me that he will come soon. God damn…15 min over but no signs…huh…soon 2 old uncles were also accompanying me for the damn place but Vicky was not giving up. Wait Varun…wait…I said to myself…waiting at the courtroom.
I saw an old lady coming out of ladies restroom…1 uncle leaving for resort reception and…????...where is another uncle…was he some ghost…NO!!!!…POOR went into ladies toilet…and this damn Vicky is on the holy shit even now. Wait Varun wait…10 min over…Old uncle came out of ladies….wot should I do…waiting like this for the shit…making me feel bad…I thought when uncle take chance why shouldn’t I…J…I am young…may take more risk (as quoted in an article in TOI saying that young people are prone to take more risk the aged people)..he he…so I went inside ladies toilet at last…”en”lightening myself… Hurray..!!! Came out soon while taking some cautions before coming out, to see if somebody is out waiting for me….vicky…???? Went outside, met Sri and Praveen…damn Vicky missing even now. Man!!! What is he doing there…!!! Vicky drama probably took around 45 min…he returned back and asked me to go…BOSS!!! I am already done. J…Huh…
We had few pics with elephants, monkeys and resort there and rode again…
Reached to Chamrajnagar at around 11:15 AM…has good idly at a restaurant and started again…Reached to Nanjangud and stopped at Nanajangud temple…Grand, beautiful, splendorous…me and Sri took some pics and started again…
Reached to Gudulpet where Sri met his uncle who owned a petrol pump and of course a farm house. We went to the farm house freaked out, took pics of various places, took some rest as well and had rice meal with sambhar then rasam then curd + tasty pickle.
While not being a south Indian, I dunno but in never had any problem in having south Indian food, I enjoyed it. I was the biggest food eater among all four of us. J Sri asked in amazement that I eat so much even then how come you r flat stomach…well even I dunno the answer J…neways I don’t want to be fat. Started again at 3:00 PM after bidding adieu to Sri’s relatives.
Reached Bandipur National Park at 3:45 PM.
Bought 4 tickets of 100 INR each for evening safari in the Jungle and waiting for it to start. In the mean time, I went into Bandipur wildlife museum near by and took some pictures inside.
When I came outside…guys were waiting for me…I thought safari has come but instead Vicky got some local guide to take us for jungle trek and show us elephants. Tickets which were bought have already been sold off…so we started our bikes again and reached to a village nearby…deposited our belongings at a shop, left our bike there only…looked to be a huge risk but again we youth may take that much risk. :D
We trekked around 4-5 KM inside jungle full with shrubs, bushes, thorny plants…huh. No signs of “Haathi” till now. Sri and I making full mockery of guide and jungle. Haaah…then came the time….so many wild elephants fighting to each other, rampaging trees…oh man there was a huge herd of elephants, there were some . Guide told us to be silent and walk slowly and carefully. Watching so many wild elephants was not only adventurous but a bit scary as well. We took some pics, passed some time there silently. Vicky, Sri and guide had few cigs. Wind direction was from elephants to us as told by guide otherwise elephants would have come to know about us a long time back.
K we started back but oops not from the same way from where we came but we were going inside dense forest. We saw tiger’s shit (as told by guide), freshly eaten meat and bones here and there…as if saying to us don’t dare to go ahead…huh sri, Praveen and me were scared now while Vicky was following and talking to guide continuously. There were no ways, no directions, once lost in jungle no idea where to head on. It came to my mind that this guide definitely wants to make us die here in jungle from tiger. Oh so POOR I am…helpless...could not shout due to wild animals on the round…cud not bully guide who brought us to the hell…Pray…Pray…
After walking for around 5 km inside jungle we were at last out of the hell. Now I was feeling very tired as earlier scariness was the only feeling I was having. We reached to village back at around 6:45 PM. It was just started getting dark Guys again had some puffs of smoke at the shop.
Started again at 7:15 PM, seeing deer, hoar on the way. Now I was giggling on so much of a adventure he he…Stopped at a bandipur resort for dinner…but oops no dinner there…only tea and coffee...went way back to Nilgiri resort to have dinner. Food was better than expectations…now tea/coffee but oops no tea/coffee…so again halted at bandipur resort and had coffee…very expensive – 30 INR each.
Night Ride:
At 8:15 PM we were dragging our bike back to Mysore at least. As always I was a bit slow in following. Initially I was at last, behind Praveen while keeping myself in the rally at around 100-110 KPH(following the tail light of each other). It is impossible to ride in night the way we ride in night. Rules become fully different in night…glaring head lights...no far sights…requires lotta anticipation, expertise, experience, and yup most important luck…and at last me and my machine gave up and I slowed down to 90-100 while guys rode at 100-110…
Reached Mysore at around 10:00 PM, searched for lodges – too costly or not vacant. Vicky’s cousin and Sri’s frnd was already came to meet. Sri’s frnd searched for lodging at many places but of no use. At last we were sitting at Sri’s frnd adobe…small but decorative… Vicky was thinking to go at his cousin’s place. I thought of meeting Ankit @ Infy Mysore…Praveen was also having relatives here...Sri’s frnd was not big enough to accommodate 1+4 guys, so here was a tacit deal - try your best to settle somewhere…I called up Ankit if he has vacancy at his room…got a GREEN flag reached to Ankit’s abode from Vicky’s help at around 11:30 PM. Seriously, it was too far and impossible for me reach by myself at that time. Anyways met Ankit, gossiped till 1:00 AM…I was too tired due to trekking + riding that when I slept while talking to him…I dunno. J
Day 3:
Mysore – Mandya - Bangalore
Next day I woke up at around 10:00 AM, it was a big relief after so much of a ride. I saw my mobile…I was having a message by Sri…oops he left in the night itself and reached Bangalore at 7:00 AM…poor Sri!!!
Ankit told to show Infy, Mysore to me. I got up and became ready in 45 min. Took out the machine. Halted for breakfast at Punjabi dhaba opposite to Infy. It was the first time after coming in south that I had REAL Punjabi Alloo ka Parantha wih Lassi. While parantha was tasty but it was too heavy to have more than one. I gave up the 2nd half parantha for which I regretted for whole day. J
Infy Mysore Resort:
We reached Infy Mysore at 11:30 PM after some formal forms entry and all…About the Infy Mysore campus; I should say that it’s awesome. It was a resort rather than a software company. Except a pub/discothèque you can not imagine if anything else was not there. What a company..!!!! Too grand beautiful and off course too big…huh I was tired fully by 2:00 PM.
Office building
Library and conference hall
The Grand Globe
Ankit @Pool side
The Gym
Bowling alley
Ok around 2:30 PM I bid adieu to Ankit who was getting late for his work. Work on weekend…too sick…poor fellow probably no escape for him…L
I called up Praveen and Vicky to ask about their plans. Vicky wanted to stay for some more time at his cousin’s abode while Praveen was willing to come by 3:30 PM. I told Praveen that I will reach to Mysore palace and will wait for him. But while on the road…oops I saw a board…”Bangalore – 139 KM”…oh I am on Bangalore highway…hell I should not go Mysore back now, so I directly started for Bangalore, told Praveen that I have already started.
Sole ride:
I should say while initially I was feeling bored of lone riding but soon I was enjoying it as soon I started getting whip of cold breeze. Sometimes I rode very fast sometimes too slow…too much fun…I danced, relaxed and did all strange stuffs on bike. I introspected, thought about the life, my career, family everything. I also put off my helmet and rode after a long time. J
Violent Mandya:
I reached up to Mandya which is considered to be among some of the most violent places in Karnataka. As soon as I reached it was full traffic jam, a truck in full flames, big mob and people running here and there. I understood that some violence took place just now. I rode on footpath got myself out from traffic jam. Halted the bike at a safer distance and clicked some pic of violence. As soon as I took the pics, police and fire brigade reached there and put the flames off. I think I was the only lucky or among few lucky ones who would have taken live pics of the violence. It gives you defiling pleasure sometimes. :) I seriously thought of sending those pics to TOI or some new agency…K anyways I started soon without knowing why the hell chaos took place.
Reached to Nandini milk bar outside nandini industry (Bangy’s no 1 milk provider)…had flavored milk and re started. Stopped again at Kamat – Lokaruchi, around 50 KM away from Bangalore, had coffee and restarted.
Reached to Bangalore at 5:15 PM, at Mysore road-ring road junction I saw Praveen going ahead of me… oops this guy at last caught me here…he he J. We talked for some time about the journey, Bandipur, Mysore stay, and Infy-The resort. At last I bid adieu to
Praveen and reached to my adobe by 6:00 PM.
Another milestone conquered…grinning.
