Date: 11th November 2017, Saturday
Places visited: Mandargiri Hills, Maidala Lake and Devarayanadurga Hills (DD Hills)
No of People: 3 (Dipika, Shreyas and me)
Bikes: KTM Duke200 and Suzuki Gixxer
Total Distance: 181kms
Route Taken:
Route Map
After filtering out various trekking places around Bangalore, we decided to explore Mandargiri hills (also known as Basadi Betta). It’s a small hillock with a Jain Temple atop the hill.
The ride was just about to begin from our meet-up point Goreguntepalya, while I saw my bike’s front tire is flat. There was an HP Petrol Pump nearby on the service road where I got my bike’s tire pressure checked and that wasn’t a puncture, luckily!!
We then quickly zoomed over the flyover off Tumkur Road and kept riding straight on till Kamat Hotel, Dabaspete where we stopped over for breakfast.
At Kamat Hotel, Dabaspete
Post breakfast we were back on the highway. Take a deviation at Kyatsandra where you see an arch to your right. (Note: This is not the deviation at Dabbaspete underpass, go few kilometers ahead on the highway until Kyatsandra, look for an arch and a deviation at this arch would lead you to a village; Panditinahalli).
The road through this village would take you straight to Mandargiri Hills. The temple atop will be locked and the keys to be collected from the Priest who resides at the foothills. We searched high and low to find the caretaker and also tried calling on the numbers put up near the office, but sadly; failed to get the keys, hence missed an opportunity to explore inside of the temple premises.
We parked our bikes at the foothill and started to ascend over the carved out steps, which are approximately 450 in number.
At the Foothills of Mandargiri
The carved-out steps at Mandargiri
Climbing the steps at Mandargiri
The climb would barely take 15minutes. As you reach the top, you will be welcomed by the cool breeze, the view of coconut plantations. You can also see the Peacock feathered temple dome which is unique.
The Temple dome with Peacock feather design as seen from the hills
Please carry eatables and water bottles, as you won’t find any shops near the hills.
At the left side of the temple, there is a small pond and the mighty Maidala / Mydala Lake on the right. We spent some time under the shades of a huge rock mesmerizing the beautiful view.
At Mandargiri hills
Rule the Roads, but wear the Crown….. #HJC, and #SOL
Panoramic Picture capturing the ponds and Maidala Lake
Temple Pond (Kalyani) at Mandargiri hills
Dipi, me and Shrey at Mandargiri
Post checking out the nearby pond, we planned to visit the Maidala Lake. But as we descended down till our bikes, we were shocked to see my bike’s petrol pipe leaking. Some idiots did steal petrol from my bike; half tank petrol was been stolen from my bike.
Shrey fixed the fuel pipe and we then took the muddy roads that lead us to Maidala Lake. Please be careful here as you have to ride on the slopes of the rocky hillock and over the loose gravel.
The lake was stunning, it was a windy day; where the waves of the lake hitting the shores, gave a feeling of being at a beachside.
#Dutchess and #Warrior at Maidala Lake
Maidala Lake
A day at the lake, restores the Soul
Post a good quality time spent at the lakefront for some photography sessions; we decided to visit Devarayana Durga Hills; popularly known as DD Hills by riding the muddy roads of the lakeshore.
The off-roads besides the lake
We even rode till the end of a narrow bridge where you have pump-set room. The cool breeze and weather kept us away from fatigue and its symptoms.
At the bridge to Pump-set room, Maidala Lake
Once you exit the muddy roads and reach the tarmac roads, (taking left from here would take you to Tumkur Highway) and we took a right that leads us to a village Urdigere, which is few kilometers before the DD Hills Arch.
Over a pit-stop for tea at Urdigere, we enquired for hotels to have our lunch; the shop-keeper advised us to have lunch (Prasad) in DD Hills Temple.
After seeking blessings from “Bhoga Lakshmi Narasimhaswami Temple” at DD hills, we had lunch (Prasad); every visitor of this temple can have lunch freely.
Me with a Pup at DD hills temple
The Lunch Hall at the temple
The traditional leaf on which the lunch was served in the Temple
Waiting for the Lunch (Prasad)
The lunch (Rice, Sambhar, and Payasa) was served on a traditional leaf. Post a delicious lunch in the temple; we rode those twisties uphill to “Yoga Narasimhaswamy temple”. As we walked those steps to the temple; I was happy to see “Princey” again (Princey, a labrador dog). The shop-keeper there easily identified me; he said you were here a few months ago and you enjoyed your time here playing with “Princey” the last time as well.
With Princey, the Labrador
Post seeking blessings here, we wanted to trek behind the temple, but the authorities denied our entry; showing us a signboard that read trekking here is banned.
At a viewpoint on DD Hills
We rode back to Bangalore to stop over at Goreguntepalya and bidding good-bye, we dispersed back home.
Thank You Dipi and Shrey for a memorable trek and bike trip
181 km on my Bike Odometer
The read my experiences of my previous trip to DD Hills: Click Here
Watch the complete Vlog on YouTube: Click Here
Stay safe and tuned until I blog/vlog my next travel story!!!
#LiveFreeRideHard
#ExploreThisBeautifulWorld
Cheers,
Gokool Kini
(Soul Warrior)
