Monsoon Solo Bike Ride Chikmagalur & coorg - Day 2

Day 2 - After a spiritual journey its time for some greenery and landscape photography.

Started my day around 9 from Chikmagalur to Hebbe Falls. It was a 65 Km ride from the town. The plan was to see all the places near to Hebbe falls. 

Tips: Take snacks, water and some SALT( the reason you will know below). 

There are many things available to avoid leeches - get anything available

There are absolutely no shops once you reach the mountain. I realized that in a hard way.

Within 15 minutes of travel on the way you can see this beautiful huge sculpture of a lady covered with grass, surely you won't miss this while traveling as it is on the side of the road itself.

After admiring the beauty of this statue started the bike and it was a little bit boring and hard drive for 45 km up to Ballavara village as the road is full of twists and turns till Gangur. But this wont continue to be a boring ride as you will be filled with nature's beauty alongside. 

On reaching Ballavara village there was new kind of traffic, traffic of animals. Usually, on my other trips, I have seen a flock of sheep blocking the road or sometimes even seen ducks which block the road completely. But this time it's cattle. They completely blocked the road. The only option for me is to pass through them.

"I slowly started to move the bike like a snail through hundreds of cattle"

When I crossed half the herd, they started moving, I kept still until they crossed. Many bulls with big horns are crossing near me with few inches gap, felt excited along with fear.

Finally, they crossed me without any issues and finally felt relaxed.I couldn't reach out to my camera in between all those cattle, that unforgettable experience is captured only in my memory. 

After crossing the Ballavara village the real fun started. The road was not a wide one and it was around 10.30 when I started the ride in the mountain. The road was completely covered with mist, I couldn't see the road most of the time. Then after nearly 20 min of the drive, it started to rain heavily. 

The chill bliss which I felt, I'm not sure whether it's due to rain or due to the empty road fully covered with trees and darkness.

The road is too good till some 1km before the check-post for Hebbe falls. The last 1km is full of pot holes. 

Adding a bit of adventure and anxiety to the situation, I saw one sign board on the side of Road

"Welcome to Bhadra Tiger Reserve Area"

The road condition in front of me and the Sign board gave me some mixed feeling like I'm riding inside the jungle. But no need to worry as that area is safe one from tigers ( hope :P ) .

The lower check-post is the end up to which you can go to Hebbe falls. You can proceed further only in forest department jeep.

Info: Cost is 3200Rs, max 8 persons (Jeep cost: 2200Rs; Entry ticket for the forest: 1000Rs). 

Either I need bear the full cost or need to wait for some peoples to join me to share the price. I waited for nearly 30 min by chatting with security guard regarding the locations and whats the best time etc.. He gave info on a number of tigers present in that location. One Black panther is also present in the wild ;)

Instead of waiting thought to proceed to Shanti falls and Z-point which is 1 km up from this place where the bike is allowed. You can see sign boards on the way. At one point the smooth road ends and muddy road starts. You can see few jeeps in the entrance. 

I continued with my bike. Due to continuous rain, the road is full of potholes with hidden surprises. I tried to ride my bike on the side of the road. Yet my bike got stuck in the mud lot of times. It took a lot of effort to take bike from that mud. Somehow I reached 2/3rd of the distance. After this point I knew that It's not safe for my bike to proceed further, thought to park my bike and walk, but was not sure how long I need to walk so turned back to those Jeeps.

Already 3 peoples who came by car were waiting there for someone to share the jeep expense. We 4 people shared the price and hired a Jeep. After 5 to 10 min of travel, we reached the end of the road from where we had to walk.

Info: Jeep rent was 650Rs / Jeep.

The driver warned us to be careful about the leeches due to rain. From the jeep within 100m of a narrow small path, we reached Shanti falls. It's a small one approx 10 to 12 feet of height and water is very less even though it rained. It was just like a beautiful stream which you see when driving.

The pathway still continues further which leads to Z point. The path of green way which leads you to the top. It's an unforgettable treat to your eyes with greenery everywhere. It was a nearly 200m walk from Shanthi falls with a little bit of slippery mud. The path is a single way. There was too much of the wind and little bit of rain. On reaching the top wind was pushing us a lot and it was a wonderful view from the top. After admiring the beauty of the places, we started to leave in the same direction. While leaving due to heavy wind lost my balance and leaned on some plants for support. While returning found one leech in my T-shirt which was climbing, somehow immediately noticed it and removed, for another member who came with me he got a bite in the leg.

Tips: It's better to check your legs often for leeches.

After the thrilling journey, we started to Park which is further above this place. When we reached the park it is fully covered with mist and heavy rain started. So we thought to return to Hebbe falls as we are 4 peoples now.

This is one of the three streams which we crossed

In Hebbe falls after waiting and convincing 4 more peoples we started the jeep drive. It was a total 13km ride which took 30 min for reaching the trekking spot. If you have back pain then don't take this jeep ride. The roads are too much damaged. When we are sitting in the jeep we could barely see only 10 feet before us. The road is fully covered with mist, water, potholes, and rocks. Some trees on the side of the road are visible only as black and white.

Tips: Don't stand in a place for resting. More chances for leeches to catch. 

Keep moving at least in a slow phase.

After reached the trekking spot driver gave us a packet of salt for removing leeches if they bite. After getting some rough route info we started the trekking. It was nearly less than 2 km walk, but the interesting thing is we need to cross 3 streams of water which is nearly 1 feet deep. After crossing the 1st stream it started to rain heavily again. We safely crossed all the streams and reached the falls.

"It was a 551ft majestic water fall hidden in the mountain"

The Security guard told that water is very low, but due to heavy rain in that area, when we reached the water was increasing in level. We were not able to use camera due to heavy rain, the wind and water drizzle from the water falls. We somehow managed to take snaps with mobiles. 

"I tried taking few shots of the water fall with help of umbrella, but no use, nature won."

Tips: Be careful with your steps as the rocks are very slippery due to rain. 

If your solo traveler like me then be-careful on your each and every step.

After spending more than 30mins we thought to leave as the rain is getting heavier every minute. While returning again we need to cross the 3 streams of water, but this time the water level is increased due to rain and force is also increased every one could feel it. Throughout the trek, most of them got several leech bites and they keep on removing them from the leg. Due to continuous walk and as the leg is fully covered I guess I'm escaped today from leeches. We reached the jeep and continued the 30 min roller coaster ride to the check-post. 

"It was one hell of a ride, but the experience and beauty of falls are worth it."

After saying bye to new friends I left the Hebbe falls and reached Kalhatti Falls. It is a small water fall along with temple. For visiting the temple you need to cross the water. It's a small one and you can try while returning, because this is the only place I could find some snacks for eating in today's journey. I was feeling hungry because of all the drive and trekking.

After visiting the temple and having snacks headed back to Chikmagalur for staying by driving back 1.30 in rain.

Today it was a complete day with monsoon rain. Finally completed the day with special Rava Idly, the taste was superb. 

You gotta wait to read about my Day-3 Experience in this incredible journey.

Bare with me for the very long post, hope I am not boring.

Thanks for reading let me know your comments and the places I might have missed ;)

For more of my trip photos check out my Insta account: tk_diaries ( Follow me for direct updates ;) )