Bicycle Tour: Mudigere to Manipal [Through Charmadi Ghat]

There are many ways to reach home Muniyalu from Bengaluru. However, we have to cross any one of the Ghat. I have already finished bicycle trip of Hulikal, Agumbe, Kuduremukha and Mookambike Ghats. This time decided to go through Charmadi Ghat.

Quite long time, I did not go for any bicycle tour. Monsoon is on peak, weather is tempting to take a challenge for a long ride. Initially, planned to go solo, at the last moment joined my close friend Sudhakar. We finalized the 20 – 21^st July 2019, accordingly booked the tickets.

Route chosen:

Bengaluru – Mudigere by Volvo

Mudigere – Kottigehara – Charmadi – Ujire – Guruvayanakere – Bajagoli – Sharlalu – Muniyalu

Muniyalu – Shiroor – Hiriyadka -Manipal

19.07.2019

Bus is scheduled at 10.45 pm; we had enough time to reach Majestic bus stand. Sudhakar and I reached ahead of schedule. After waiting half an hour, bus arrived at platform. We convinced the conductor, loaded the bikes in the luggage compartment, journey went well.

Day – 1: 20.07.2019

Sky was dark, weather was chill and its drizzling, the time is 5 am, when we reached Mudigere bus stand circle. Need to kill the time another one hour to start our journey. Assembled the wheels of bike and taken into bus stand. Decided to get refreshed and wait for sun-rays to start the journey.

Its now time to start peddling, after hot coffee and light snacks of bread. We expected, the journey is going to be happen awesome in the monsoon rain. After smart selfie, begin our journey towards Kottigehara.

Sudhakar brought homemade chapati and my-self curry. We decided to keep yummy food for lunch time and take the breakfast at Kottigehara.

Mudigere to Kottigehara is almost down trail. Drizzling giving an extra joy to our ride. There was no count for our photography. Taking many more breaks reached Kottigehara.

The breakfast totally disappointed us. We are unable to find any good yummy hotel. Ordered the Neerdose where the sambar was yesterday's. Compromised the situation and filled the empty stomach.

After a long break at Kottigehara, continued our journey towards Charmadi. Now the entire atmosphere become dark; rain drop increased; fog and mist captured the valley. 

I never seen such a wonderful monsoon magic in Ghat. We have stopped in may places to take the photographs.

Traffic was very less; taking multiple breaks reached Sri Annappa Swamy temple. It is in mid of Ghat; spent some time and continued our journey. After this point, the Ghat path get little wider; you won’t able to see the valley since it is covered hill both sides.

We had recalled our Charmadi Ghattrek memories which we ventured four years back. Indeed, every place looks different in the different seasons. Taking many more photographs, reached Charmadi village.

Decided to take a small tea break nearby hotel. From this onward, the trail is rolling; put target 5 pm to reach home; we are on-time.

After a small break, rain took a charge again. There is no point to wear the rain cheater since the heavy rain. We understood from the locals, school and colleges declared two days holiday due to heavy rain in the Dakshina Kannada district.

Very soon reached the Ujire; rain is pouring non-stop. From Ujire to Guruvayanakere road is very dangerous. The traffic is always more with heavy vehicles. Taking an extra precaution continued our journey in the heavy rain.

We have taken the deviation towards Karkala at Guruvayanakere. The traffic is manageable from this on-wards. We were feeling very hungry; however, the rain pouring non-stop. Decided to find the bus stop shelter to fill our empty stomach.

Found a descent bus stop at roadside. Homemade yummy food is always favorite. Chapati's and curry was not enough to our hungered stomach, again top-up with Bun + Bread.

We have come across high-tech Bus stop at Naravi, a small village. It has all modern facility viz., Wi-Fi, CC Camera, Water Filter, Digital Clock, Bus Timings etc.

After a long break, continued our journey towards Bajagoli. This is the place where the deviation takes us to Kuduremukha/Sringeri. I have chalked out the inner village route to reach Muniyalu through Shirlalu, Andaru. Traveled many times on this route.

In non-stop rain peddling, reached Bajagoli. Home, Muniyalu is around 30 KMs distance. Took a tea break and continued our journey.

Bajagoli to Muniyalu trail is so beautiful. It passes through interior village road. We could not able to capture more picture due to heavy rain.

I had been getting an journey update call from home, children were waiting my arrival. Nothing much taking break reached the home at 4.15 pm.

Day – 1 journey come to an end which will be in memory for peddling non-stop rain.

Day – 2 : 22.07.2019

Second is always relax one when the day-1 camping is at my home. This time also not much different; decided to visit the favorite place Multlapadi. Daughter and Son also demanded to join with us.

After yummy breakfast, we went to Multapadi in car. This place is always one of my most favorite in this region. The stream is flowing very forcibly; mist is covered the Valikunja.

We had spent good time in photography; tried different poses. Now the time to visit Kabbinale Falls.

This is my first visit to this beautiful fall. It was on glory of this peak monsoon. However, forest department restricted public to venture this falls for many reasons. We have obtained the permission from guard and get in to the forest.

Gorgeous Kabbinale falls will attract more tourists, definitely. It is very easy to access from road. After spending some good time, returned back to home.

We have been getting a call from home for lunch. After yummy lunch, adieu to children and continued our journey towards Manipal.

As per initial plan wanted to visit the Malpe and Udupi. But considering the weather condition and heavy rain, decided to peddle till Manipal. Our return journey is booked from this place.

Today also rain did not give relax; enjoying the rain and local village route reached the Shiroor Math. This is one “moola math” of Udupi. 

I had been this place multiple time and also visited during Bicycle tour from Shivamogga – Udupi with friend Chandru.

We explored the surrounding area, spent some good time and continued our journey. We were not in mood to explore anymore place. Heavy rain completely exhausted our energy.

Passing through Hiriyadka reached the Manipal at 7 pm. Of course, it is a big challenge to ride bicycle from Hiriyadka to Manipal due to heavy traffic. We had enough time to catch 9.45 pm bus. Filled our tummy with yummy dinner and boarded the bus back to Bengaluru.

This will be remembered for long for couple of reason:

1. Non-stop two days rain            

2. Monsoon Charmadi Ghat        

3. Many waterfalls throughout the trail

4. Yummy homemade food