Savandurga trip

SavandurgaBikeTripAug152004 

SavandurgaBikeTripAug152004

 

08/15/2004 - 08/21/2004

 

   

 

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Monday, August 16, 2004

"Kal mein puraani tada waali photos dekh rahaa dha..".And today, on the independence day , the three of us ventured to Savandurga to celebrate it.The enticer 

caught all the limelight flaunting two indian flags.Is tarah azad ke saath azadi manaane ...Following the directions I had memorised from Jemson , I 

targetted Mysore road.Having made recent trips through the Mysore road , I was at home.300 year old Banyan tree read the board.Bike turned left and stopped 

when Azad received a phone call.An auto with five localites stopped to educate me the route to the old banyan tree scientifically evaluated as 300 years old 

and religiously considered 600 years old as explained by a brahmachari we met near it.Propaganda was his motive as opposed to guide money.There was one good 

moorthi near the good looking tree.However , the greatest attraction of the area was the abundance of the birds.Intending to keep in synch with Azad , I had 

decided not to do any bird watching or butterfly watching.I looked forward to birding experiences as the season does seem to be coming in fast.

The 25 kilometer winding road further down took us from the next major right turn to Savandurga.This is one of those roads you see in computer games 

like road rash.Those lovely windings were impartial to either side.I kept a good pace on the empty narrow road and enjoyed biking thoroughly,silently.With 

beautiful weather and a countryside ambience , the beauty and peace was nostalgic.It is like when you get smitten by a beautiful girl.You are so very happy 

and you are paralysed fearful of breaking the trance.Savandurga emerged with splendid defying presence.Tender coconut and goodday biscuits served as friends 

for yet another trip.The trek started.Azad wanted to take a harder tougher road up.I agreed and we started moving up a steep 80 degree ascent.Ten steps up , I chickened out fearing an acute loss of confidence midway.I sat there watching the crowd feeling and sitting quite low.I did not want to disturb Azad's 

concentration by a call.So I just hoped he is safe and started walking around.Suddenly , it dristled.People started running downwards as the rocks were 

beginning to get slippery.I walked downwards.Overconcerned about my safety , I walked along the rocks so that I get a handhold if the foot slips.The plan 

backfired as the surface by the rock inclined steep and away from the rock.I crawled under the rock and went to the other side of the rock.This route had 

been blocked by thorned shrubs.I went through all that and finally emereged on the road.

Two more tendercoconuts and we were on our way back.Azad was thrilled by his trek and admitted that it was a wrong decision to venture it.Already evening and I just had a bike ride for a solace.Well , there were lots of good looking sparrows around.The sparrows had so well merged 

into the civilisation that I had no trouble taking my fill with the birds.That was certainly good.We decided to give me the opportunity to take some good 

landscape photographs to make up for the trek.We moved back slowly stopping at every interesting landscape.Once , to get a good snap , I did a little bit of 

trekking to reach the proper point.After a few such shots , we got hungry.

Yamunaa dhaba's kolhapuri chicken , chilly chicked and tandoori rotis served as the lunch as well as the dinner.Here again , the ambience was 

rustic and relaxing.this was where the trek adventures were unravelled.There was a point at which Azad got scared and thought that he will just sit there and 

call me so that I would get some help to bring him down.Another challenge was that the you-cant-turn-back trek did not show signs of ending.The Thrill was the reward.As a matter of fact , the night ride through Mysore road is equally dangerous.We sang a number of Hindi songs starting with 'Yeh Dil - Deewaana'.We shouted quite hard.Around nine , we were back in Bangalore.

Posted by cinish narayanan on 10:30 AM