Late August and early September, I embarked on a 10 day monsoon motorcycle ride through the Western Ghats of India. I had gone on a couple of day rides to lesser known Hoysala temples after the lockdown, but this was my first long trip since 22nd March. And boy was I happy!
Monsoons happen to be my favorite season of the year. I love the rains, the freshness in the air, the lush green views, the richness of ecosystem and most important of all, I love getting wet. And what better place to enjoy the monsoons than the Western Ghats.
My 2000 kms motorcycle ride took me to the following places in the Western Ghats of Karnataka over 10 days. There was a lot of walking, trekking, getting wet, eating traditional foods and sleeping to petrichor in between all the motorcycle rides.
1) Sirsi – Yellapur region: Unchalli Falls, Magod Falls, Sathodi Falls, Bilihole Falls, Sonda Vadiraj Mutt
2) Kumta region: Devimane Ghat, Mirjan Fort
3) Karavali coast: Maravanthe Beach, Kota, Kallu Ganapati Temple, Mekkekattu Nandikeshwara Temple
4) Hulikal – Mastikatte region: Hulikal Ghat, Hulikal Falls, Talasi Abbi Falls, Kavaledurga Fort
5) Bisle – Sakleshpur region: Bisle Ghat, Bisle forest view point, Kukke Subramanya temple, Athihally
A few close friends gave me company for the first 4 days, but the remaining 6 days, I rode alone.
I had a ball on this trip and visited some gorgeous places with surreal experiences. This article aims to share my 10 day monsoon motorcycle ride with you as a photo story. Hope you enjoy the greens as much as I enjoyed it.
Above photo: The beautiful view point at Bisle state forest, one of the untouched stretches of forests between Coorg, Malnad and Dakshina Kannada.
Above photo: This was the view that greeted me after climbing up the 5 level Kavaledurga Fort, built in the 9th century by the Nayakas of Keladi. The uphill climb was tough, but the view was totally worth it.
Above photo: Located between Mastikatte and Teerthahalli is Talasi Abbi falls, a hidden tropical beauty in the middle of pristine nature. A short trek makes you sweat just enough to enjoy the water even more.
Above photo: Hulikal falls is a tall waterfall that is located right next to the beautiful Hulikal ghat highway and makes for a fantastic pit stop while riding on this ghat highway.
Above photo: Bisle Ghat is one of the most scenic ghat roads in Karnataka and the best part about it is that there is hardly any heavy vehicular traffic, making for a relaxing monsoon ride where you can be one with mother nature.
Above photo: Mirjan fort is a 16th century fort that is located between Kumta and Gokarna. During the monsoons, moss and other plants take over this fort and change it from a boring brown to a vibrant green colour.
Above photo: Maravanthe beach where the highway, the river and the Arabian Sea all co-exist in one view. It is one of the most famous pit stops for all highway riders.
Above photo: This is how the Devimane ghat looks early in the morning. It is a scenic pit stop on the Sirsi-Kumta ghat highway.
Above photo: One of Karnataka’s wettest places, the Hulikal ghat is a treat to the senses during the rains. It is home to many waterfalls, forests and wildlife.
Above photo: One of Karnataka’s most magnificent waterfalls, the Magod Falls on the river Bedti is a sight to behold during the monsoons. The triple bend on the river, the floating mist and the dense green forests make for a captivating sight.
Above photo: Located between Sirsi and Yellapur is the serene Vadiraj mutt near Sonda. Temples, rustic atmosphere, and oodles of scenery greet you here. This is a Digambar temple near the mutt.
Above photo: This waterfall resembling the trunk of Ganesha is located deep inside the untouched forests of the Kali Tiger Reserve. This is how Bilihole falls looks from the Jajjigudde village. A short trek through plantations and forests bring you to this cliff edge view point.
Above photo: Another monsoon gem, the Aghanashini river plummets 361 feet to form the Unchalli falls. A steep downhill trek and the heavy waterfall spray at the view point make this an amazing monsoon holiday destination.
Above photo: This was my pit stop location on the way back from Unchalli falls where we stopped for a much needed bite as we were all hungry. Don’t you think it is the perfect place to chomp on local snacks while admiring the beauty around?
Above photo: This narrow road is the Bisle ghat highway. Every hundred meters or so, there are mini waterfalls, stream crossings, hairpins, C, curves, S curves and more. And all around you are forests. It is like riding inside a blanket of green. It happens to be one of my favorite ghat roads in India.
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