Bicycle Tour: Dharwad to Karawara through Dandeli

A close three friends, cycling three days, wonderful camping at nature camps, peddling through reserved forest, ending at beautiful beach!!! Yes, these all happened Dharawada to Karwara three days cycling on 10 – 12^th December 2016.  The team was myself, Shanthi Prasad & Sudhakar.

Route Chosen

Bengaluru – Dharawada by Airavata

Dharawada – Alnavar – Haliyala – Dandeli – Kulgi Nature Camp : Day1 ride

Kulgi Nature Camp – Syntheri Rock – Ulavi – Anshi Nature Camp: Day2 ride

Anshi Nature Camp – Karawara Beach : Day3 ride

Dharawada – Bengaluru by Airavata

I and Shanthi Prasad wanted to do this trail sometimes back, this ride decision taken within short time.  There is an interesting story of joining Sudhakar with us.  He never peddled the MTB and not in touch with any cycling activities.  Sudhakar was not confident and never thought doing a maiden attempt of 200+ KMs.  Myself just sparked the cycling in his mind and asked him to join with us.  Shanthi Prasad also motivated him to join and both made him confident about finishing the ride.  By great difficulty made his mind to join with us.  Now the challenge is to arrange the cycle.  Thanks to Adarsh & Ananth who spared us bike and our issue resolved.  Bike is ready and person too ready.

I have taken the responsibility to book the tickets, Shanthi Prasad arranged about our stay.  First day camping at Kulgi Nature Camp and second day Anshi Nature camp.  I had been these place with family twice.  The firstvisit with my daughter and cousin family, second visit with my family.  I just love to camp the both place again and again.

09.12.2016

We need to board the bus from Majestic, always I feel painful while riding home to bus stand and after completion of event back to home.  Bengaluru traffic irritate a lot for cyclist, I and Sudhakar started journey from Raja Rajeshwari Nagar.  Floating with traffic reached Majestic by 9.30 pm.  The bus was scheduled at 10.15pm, soon Shanthi Prasad also joined with us.  Driver & Conductor were more co-operative, boarded our bikes in the luggage compartments and continued our journey.

10.12.2016

When opened the eyes, the bus was still near Haveri.  Pathetic driving, surprisingly the red KSRTC busses were over taking our bus.  We were almost an hour late by schedule.  Reached the Dharawada bus stand around 9 am.  Finished our morning core job at bus stand.

We finished the breakfast roadside a good hotel.  Everyone set ready to begin our three days a long journey, took a group photograph.  Initial trail we missed and hit to Alnavar road.  After couple of KM ride understood, we took a long way trail.  Not worried much, continued our journey.

Instead of tar road, decided to take interior village route.  Passing through a small forest range reached Alnavar at 12.30 Noon.  The trail was scenic, spent good time with photography.

Decided to finish the lunch at Alnavar, found a good Khanavali on the road side.  The tasty lunch filled our empty stomach and continued our journey.  The sun was on top, decided to relax for some time.  Found a tree shade roadside, spent half an hour relax.

When we reached Haliyal it was 3pm, the trail was flat and very soon reached Dandeli.  Took multiple breaks in between and finally reached Kulgi Nature Camp by evening 6 pm.

Finished the check in formalities and allotted a Deluxe Tent.  Relaxed our bikes and got refreshed.  The day went well and enjoyed the ride.

Relax evening roamed around the camp, finished the dinner and retired for the day.

11.12.2016

We woke early morning at 5.30 am.  Finished the morning job and left the early to cover maximum distance before the noon.  The day was good by scenic and bad by food.  By suggestion of the guard at Kulgi nature about getting a breakfast after some 10 – 12 KMs ride.  The interior forest route was very calm and empty narrow road.  Enjoying the trail reached the junction point.
  

We found a small hotel where you can have only tea + biscuit.  After enquiring the hotel, the only stop for food is Ulavi.  The distance was around 40+ KMs.  Not to take risk, filled our stomach with tea and biscuit.

From this point, the trail is awesome.  Vehicles are not allowed between 6 pm to 6 am.  Thick forest and lonely curve road give you more joy.  The vehicle moment is very less, we enjoyed the ride.  Many breaks for photography, reached the Syntheri rock junction.

From main road, again we have to peddle around 2+ KMs inside the forest.  Off road experience for this trail, reached the Syntheri Rock.  The place was already filled with tourist, spent some good time and headed towards Ulavi.

We badly suffering by hungry, the only hope was Ulavi.  The trail was rolling one, make you tiered.  Reached the holy place Ulavi by 2pm.  Parked our bikes nearby shop and headed to Dasoha [Temple Kitchen].  We were lucky, after our entry the kitchen was closed.  Just five minutes late could have again issue for us.  A big thanks to God for arranging the lunch.

Spent a good time in temple premises, paid darshan to Ulavi Sri Chenna Basaveshwara.  The temple was not much crowded.  Now our next destination was Anshi Nature Camp.

The distance was around 20KMs from Ulavi.  We decided to peddle fast and reach the camp before sunset.  The dense lonely forest make you scary after sun set.  Enjoyed the silent valley and reached the Anshi by 6pm.

Finished our check in formalities and allotted the tent.  After ride, the hot water bath will make more refreshment.  We all got refreshed and explored the camping area.  The dinner call got around 8 pm and retired for the day.

Second day was again rolling one, enjoyed the beautiful trail with empty stomach.

12.12.2016

The final day was not much distance and tough one, decided to start the journey late.  Morning breakfast was yummy Poori and bid adieu to Anshi beautiful nature camp.

The descending trail very soon took us to Kadra junction point.

Taking multiple breaks very relax reached the Karawara town by 1 pm.  Finished the lunch in one of the Udupi hotel and headed towards the beach.  Our bus scheduled by 5pm, we have enough of time to spend on the beach.

Lot of photography & shooting ended our journey.  The beach was more crowded since the Karawara Utsava on the beach.

We reached the bus stand by 4.30 pm and the sad part was waiting and waiting.  Due to traffic and other stuff, bus reached the bus stand 7 pm.  This waiting was most crucial time for all of us.  Boarded our bikes in luggage compartment and relaxed in the bus.  Journey went well and reached Bengaluru by 7 am.

Kudos to Sudhakar for successful completion of maiden cycling journey 200+ KMs and special thanks to Shanthi Prasad joining with me.