Bike Ride to Turtle Bay & Maravanthe Beach, 03/07/2011

Here is another weekend without lectures. If this was last year, I would have been lazing around in my room and watching movies. But things change and in a year, I realized what I love doing. Any guesses??? Travelling of course.. I had initially planned a bike trip to Sita falls but that didn't materialize. So, early in the morning I got a call from Sarvesh suggesting that we go to Turtle Bay - a place near Kundapur, about 60 kms from our college. I agreed instantaneously and asked Khushal who initially hesitated but later gave in.

So, we were 4 of us - Harshal, Sarvesh, Khushal & myself on two bikes off for an adventure ride to Turtle Bay. We stopped for breakfast at some restaurent near the Udupi Bus stand and took off on our 1.5 hr ride from there. We bought some mazaa (Mango drink) in case we needed some energy boosters mid way. I was initially worried about the roads and also the Big Volvo's overtaking vehicles at high speeds, just a cut and we would go flying somewhere. Luckily none of it happened. The roads were amazing & both of us, Harshal & me we riding safely, allowing those massive vehicles to overtake whenever they wanted to. So, after an hour and a half of a great ride, we reached Turtle Bay. We parked the bikes and walked towards the shore. It was beautiful and serene. However, it was not a beach where we could go in the water and have some fun. Still, the view was amazing and Sarvesh & me started clicking photos. After some clicks, we decided to go to Maravanthe beach, about 3 kms from there. 

We reached the beach in no time. Infact, we went far ahead and had to come back after asking few locals there. This beach was a beauty, very clean and not crowded. It has a road running parallel to it with some rocks dividing the shore & the road. It looks great and the ride there is an experience in itself. The sound of waves splashing, winds blowing onto ur face and the view itself... feels as if you are a free bird meant to just fly. We then clicked some pictures there, had tea at a local shop and decided to leave for Manipal where we would eat our late lunch (at about 5 pm).

Our return journey was again great with the view still stuck to my mind. It felt great to know that I was at Turtle Bay and not in my room watching another movie. We reached Manipal by about 4.45 pm and after our  late lunch at Snack shack, all of us sleepy and tired, reached college by 5.30 pm. Coming back to the room and lying flat on the bed after a tiring but a terrific ride...feels heavenly. Now looking forward for some more breaks where I can go and visit more wonderful such places nearby Manipal/Udupi.

K.G

Manipal, Karnataka

Trek to Dudhsagar Waterfalls, Goa..!!

After all these trips and the list of places to visit, Dudhsagar had a prime position. Reason being “revenge”. My last trip to Goa with Siddhesh & Roshan was great but would have been awesome had I got the opportunity to complete my trip to Dudhsagar falls that day. We had reached till the base of the falls (Kulem stn.) and due to inaccessible roads we could not go further. There are locals there who give you lift for Rs 560 per head. We didn't find this worth and so we had changed our plans to go to Tambdi Surla - which turned out to be another heaven.

Well, it was that day that I had decided I would be trekking all my way to the falls someday. So, back here in TAPMI - our lead Prasad Nayak had planned a trek to Dudhsagar and I was all game for it. We left from TAPMI @ about 8.45 pm, had our dinner @ Snack Shack and then reach Udupi stn. at about 11.20 pm. We found out that the earliest train to Madgaon wat @ 11.50 pm. So, we bought general compartment tickets and got into the train. The general compartment here was much more comfortable than the experience I had while going to Kolad. We reached Madgaon by 3.45 am and our next train to Kulem was at 7.40 am. Sarvesh & me borrowed some news paper from a stall there, spread it on the platform and went off to sleep.

The loud announcements woke us up at 6 am. After a pretty decent nap and a nice morning tea, the train finally arrived. We reached out destination station - Kulem @ 9 am and started our trek from there. We had the option of getting down at the next stn. which was just 0.5 km from the falls. However, we decided to trek it all the way from Kulem - Distance 14 kms. 

Prasad had found out the route. We just had to follow the tracks and be careful and alert of trains coming from behind. Initially all of us were apprehensive, but after some trains passed us, we were quite comfortable. We walked and walked and walked. On our way, Sarvesh. Prasad & me got busy clicking pictures. After a 3 hr walk we reached a point were we could see the falls. Just the sight of it was brilliant. It was huge and massive. We decided to wait there for the mist to clear so that we could get a clear shot of the falls. We managed to get that awesome pic and then moved on to reach some tunnels which had mini-falls. I couldn't resist myself. After the long tiring walk, we all need a break don't we? And what better break than a nice natural shower :) Looking at me, GP & Ramanuj also hopped in. Sarvesh helped us getting the pics - Thanks Sarvesh :)

The falls wasn't far away. We could hear the noise. As the noise got louder, I started walking faster to reach there. This is where I wanted to come with Roshan & Siddhesh but couldn't. This was it. I reached the massive falls. It was awesome. Just standing on the railway bridge which is right in front of the falls took some effort. We all were tired but felt totally refreshed and full of life. After clicking some pics, we walked towards Dudhsagar stn to catch a goods train which goes back to Kulem. Luckily, on our way towards Dudhsagar stn, I just waved a hand to a motorman operating an engine asking him to drop us to Kulem. We got a nod from him and all of us exited as ever climbed the Engine and stood there. The best part of the trip I feel was when the engine train passed through the falls, we standing on it and the water splashing on all of us. We reached Kulem @ 5 pm and thanked the motorman for the lift.

Our next train to Udupi was at 8.45 pm. Sarvesh & me went out to eat something while GP, Ramanuj & Prasad waited there at the platform, tired and sleepy. We caught the train and luckily got a place to sit. We got down at Udupi at 1.15 am and finally reached college at 1.45 am. After a nice shower, I went off to sleep with just one thing in my mind - the awesomeness of the trip and the beauty of nature. Truly, Dudhsagar waterfalls in one beautiful place to be.

K.G

Manipal, Karnataka