Life always has it’s own way of derailing the most meticulously laid plans. I strived hard to write about our travel experiences every week. The last couple of weeks have been very tough and I haven’t been able to write about the travels. As a result I have to now play the catch up game. It’s decision time now which I am not particularly fond of. Alas!!! I have to take a decision though. I will now write about our trip to Markonahalli dam. We visited this place a day after celebrating Independence day of the year 2009. The write up of the previous weeks’ shall follow soon. (Hopefully)
Searching through the various resources (google being the main one) we chanced upon a place called Markonahalli dam. Further digging revealed about another place Varadenahalli falls along the way. Of the two routes available we decided to avoid the one which goes via Tumkur road.
Yes, we did start later than our planned time but it was an early start compared to our previous weeks. This meant that we could cover some distance before we stopped for breakfast. We took the Magadi road. Early morning no traffic roads and a slightly overcast sky meant that we covered good distance. However the joy was short lived as Rain Goddess started crying... errrr… myself trying to visualize this, can you??? (My friend always uses feminine gender to address rains like arey meri ma ruk ja, kya kar rahi hai, kyon pareshan kar rahi hai etc.,).
Tippagondanahalli reservoir, famous as the place from where Bangalore gets it’s supply of water, beckoned us. The drizzle however dissuaded us from making a stop. The road was pretty good after a rough patch initially. As a result we were zooming along on our bikes. The tiny raindrops must have been pretty irked by this fact. It was not long before I felt the raindrops trying to pierce our skin wherever it was exposed. Having decided not to pay heed to this we realized pretty soon that the rain goddess wanted to prove to us that she is indeed more powerful than us. I have always said that Mother Nature is any day much more powerful than us, in fact much more powerful than all of us human beings on this earth put together. Yet I wonder what prompted rain goddess to hurl those tiny missiles called raindrops right into our eyes.
A tiny little thatched structure came into view and we stopped having surrendered to rain goddess’ assault. A family from one of the villages around was also taking shelter there and was actually waiting for a bus to go somewhere. My friend and I were gibberishing away the time when I noticed this small girl staring at us. It didn’t take me long to realize that our appearances must have been quite startling for her. Cargo pants, jackets, bandana, head scarf, riding gloves, black sun glasses et al must have made her think if we were by any chance creatures from another planet.
As soon as the rains abated we continued our journey towards Magadi. Our stomachs were growling already. Soon we reached the circle at Magadi. We entered a small hotel kind of structure and the lady there told me idlis and rice bath was available for breakfast. Not used to having rice bath early in the morning we ordered idlis. It was not the usual idlis we get in our hotels in Bangalore. It was a kind of plate idli but had onions, greens and pulses. It tasted really good. Not only that the size of the idli was also pretty big. I could now hear my stomach groaning at having been forced to make space for the huge idli. A cup of coffee would help the idlis settle we thought. At the entrance of the Magadi town was an arch which proclaimed it as the city of silk. It should have been the city of sugar going by the amount of sugar the lady had added to the coffees.
All the while during our breakfast rain goddess was peacefully sleeping in the clouds. Someone must have informed her that we have started our journey again and she woke up forcing us to stop once again. I asked the boy sitting and cleaning bike parts what the fort like structure was that was right in front of us. He said that it was Kempegowda’s fort but now inside was nothing but a big ground used for Sunday fairs. A sense of gloom descended on hearing this and seeing the dilapidated state of the fort.
Rain goddess finally relented and allowed us to continue our journey towards Kunigal. One has to continue on this highway before taking a left turn for Markonahalli dam. There is a board announcing this and it is difficult to miss it. That must be precisely the reason for us to have missed it.
The unscheduled stops due to rain meant that we lost close to an hour and as a result it was 11.00 am when we reached Markonahalli dam. A crowd had already gathered. It was definitely not what we wanted. To have traveled all the way in order to get away from the noisy crowds of the city and only to find the same was disheartening.
Climbing up the steps was a reminder of our aging bodies. Thankfully it was not too high. The vast expanse of water was as soothing as ever. Just as we decided to sit on the stone compound wall a noisy group of people came and we decided to walk.
We wandered around looking at the dam. These huge structures never cease to instill a feeling of awe. We saw quite a few butterflies but only a couple of them posed for photographs. The young one of a lizard was looking around curiously which we managed to capture on camera too.
We came back to the dam and went near the place where the gates of the dam were. A group of boys had entered the huge circular opening and were shouting at the top of their voices and this finally drove us away from the place.
Just before the gate to the dam we had noticed a canal. Stopping for a quick photograph of the canal we noticed a path along this canal. We rode our bike along this path and took a break at a secluded spot. This break proved to be the highlight of the trip.
Lots of babblers and sun birds were flitting around on the trees. A large number of butterflies made us forget our aging and aching limbs. Giving in to hunger pangs we decided to chase the birds and butterflies after finishing the sandwiches and boiled eggs we had packed from home. Sitting on the grass, by the canal and eating simple food brought from home…. Hmmm… I wonder when was the last time I was fortunate enough to have experienced such kind of bliss.
Armed with our digital camera we set off in pursuit of the birds. From one branch to another, from one tree to another they kept flying around all the while making us run and helping us grow young; even if for just a few minutes.
A small girl named Arpita saw us chasing birds and asked us if we wanted them. This had me thinking and asked her what she meant by if we wanted the birds. She went on to explain that they catch birds and that too with their hands. We said we were not interested in having the birds. However a question popped up in my head, how does this kid manage to catch a bird with bare hands?
Continuing with our pursuit of birds we wandered off and were pleasantly surprised to see people working in the fields. There were a couple of lapwings sitting idly and enjoying the tender green of the just planted... Errr I really don’t know what they had planted. We looked around desperately for a place to sit but were disappointed. Trudging back towards our bike we were treated with sightings of some lovely insects, butterflies and birds.
It had been more than and hour and a half since we had reached this place. As if to compensate for the rains throughout our journey the Sun had been mercilessly beating down on us throughout this stay of an hour and a half. We were thirsty and hence headed off to Vishnu Bhavan. Surprise surprise… Rain Goddess did not take long to realize that we had started off our journey once again and decided to accompany us.
Having reached the Varadenahalli post we asked around for Varadenahalli falls. The locals said they had never heard of anything like that. It was very frustrating. Deciding to visit Tippagondanahalli reservoir instead we continued our journey. Yet again disappointment awaited us. A board at the gate of the TG Halli reservoir announced that there is no entry for public.
Masala Munch was the name of the place we stopped for a cup of coffee. Since we were hungry we decided to order for bread omlette. I wish I had walked into the kitchen and seen the cook coax the hen into laying eggs. The hen must have been very reluctant because it took a long time for our bread omlette to be prepared and brought to us.
Rest of the ride back home was pretty uneventful and a slightly disappointing trip came to an end.
Markonahalli dam is at a distance of about 93 kms from Bangalore and about 18 Kms from Kunigal.
Bangalore --> Magadi --> after Magadi town turn left towrds Kunigal--> go past Kunigal and continue on the highway --> take left at the signboard which indicates the way to Markonahalli dam. (there is a hotel by name Vishnu Bhavan on the right side of the road just opposite to this cross)
To see the pictures from this trip Click Here
Searching through the various resources (google being the main one) we chanced upon a place called Markonahalli dam. Further digging revealed about another place Varadenahalli falls along the way. Of the two routes available we decided to avoid the one which goes via Tumkur road.
Yes, we did start later than our planned time but it was an early start compared to our previous weeks. This meant that we could cover some distance before we stopped for breakfast. We took the Magadi road. Early morning no traffic roads and a slightly overcast sky meant that we covered good distance. However the joy was short lived as Rain Goddess started crying... errrr… myself trying to visualize this, can you??? (My friend always uses feminine gender to address rains like arey meri ma ruk ja, kya kar rahi hai, kyon pareshan kar rahi hai etc.,).
Tippagondanahalli reservoir, famous as the place from where Bangalore gets it’s supply of water, beckoned us. The drizzle however dissuaded us from making a stop. The road was pretty good after a rough patch initially. As a result we were zooming along on our bikes. The tiny raindrops must have been pretty irked by this fact. It was not long before I felt the raindrops trying to pierce our skin wherever it was exposed. Having decided not to pay heed to this we realized pretty soon that the rain goddess wanted to prove to us that she is indeed more powerful than us. I have always said that Mother Nature is any day much more powerful than us, in fact much more powerful than all of us human beings on this earth put together. Yet I wonder what prompted rain goddess to hurl those tiny missiles called raindrops right into our eyes.
A tiny little thatched structure came into view and we stopped having surrendered to rain goddess’ assault. A family from one of the villages around was also taking shelter there and was actually waiting for a bus to go somewhere. My friend and I were gibberishing away the time when I noticed this small girl staring at us. It didn’t take me long to realize that our appearances must have been quite startling for her. Cargo pants, jackets, bandana, head scarf, riding gloves, black sun glasses et al must have made her think if we were by any chance creatures from another planet.
As soon as the rains abated we continued our journey towards Magadi. Our stomachs were growling already. Soon we reached the circle at Magadi. We entered a small hotel kind of structure and the lady there told me idlis and rice bath was available for breakfast. Not used to having rice bath early in the morning we ordered idlis. It was not the usual idlis we get in our hotels in Bangalore. It was a kind of plate idli but had onions, greens and pulses. It tasted really good. Not only that the size of the idli was also pretty big. I could now hear my stomach groaning at having been forced to make space for the huge idli. A cup of coffee would help the idlis settle we thought. At the entrance of the Magadi town was an arch which proclaimed it as the city of silk. It should have been the city of sugar going by the amount of sugar the lady had added to the coffees.
All the while during our breakfast rain goddess was peacefully sleeping in the clouds. Someone must have informed her that we have started our journey again and she woke up forcing us to stop once again. I asked the boy sitting and cleaning bike parts what the fort like structure was that was right in front of us. He said that it was Kempegowda’s fort but now inside was nothing but a big ground used for Sunday fairs. A sense of gloom descended on hearing this and seeing the dilapidated state of the fort.
Rain goddess finally relented and allowed us to continue our journey towards Kunigal. One has to continue on this highway before taking a left turn for Markonahalli dam. There is a board announcing this and it is difficult to miss it. That must be precisely the reason for us to have missed it.
The unscheduled stops due to rain meant that we lost close to an hour and as a result it was 11.00 am when we reached Markonahalli dam. A crowd had already gathered. It was definitely not what we wanted. To have traveled all the way in order to get away from the noisy crowds of the city and only to find the same was disheartening.
Climbing up the steps was a reminder of our aging bodies. Thankfully it was not too high. The vast expanse of water was as soothing as ever. Just as we decided to sit on the stone compound wall a noisy group of people came and we decided to walk.
We wandered around looking at the dam. These huge structures never cease to instill a feeling of awe. We saw quite a few butterflies but only a couple of them posed for photographs. The young one of a lizard was looking around curiously which we managed to capture on camera too.
We came back to the dam and went near the place where the gates of the dam were. A group of boys had entered the huge circular opening and were shouting at the top of their voices and this finally drove us away from the place.
Just before the gate to the dam we had noticed a canal. Stopping for a quick photograph of the canal we noticed a path along this canal. We rode our bike along this path and took a break at a secluded spot. This break proved to be the highlight of the trip.
Lots of babblers and sun birds were flitting around on the trees. A large number of butterflies made us forget our aging and aching limbs. Giving in to hunger pangs we decided to chase the birds and butterflies after finishing the sandwiches and boiled eggs we had packed from home. Sitting on the grass, by the canal and eating simple food brought from home…. Hmmm… I wonder when was the last time I was fortunate enough to have experienced such kind of bliss.
Armed with our digital camera we set off in pursuit of the birds. From one branch to another, from one tree to another they kept flying around all the while making us run and helping us grow young; even if for just a few minutes.
A small girl named Arpita saw us chasing birds and asked us if we wanted them. This had me thinking and asked her what she meant by if we wanted the birds. She went on to explain that they catch birds and that too with their hands. We said we were not interested in having the birds. However a question popped up in my head, how does this kid manage to catch a bird with bare hands?
Continuing with our pursuit of birds we wandered off and were pleasantly surprised to see people working in the fields. There were a couple of lapwings sitting idly and enjoying the tender green of the just planted... Errr I really don’t know what they had planted. We looked around desperately for a place to sit but were disappointed. Trudging back towards our bike we were treated with sightings of some lovely insects, butterflies and birds.
It had been more than and hour and a half since we had reached this place. As if to compensate for the rains throughout our journey the Sun had been mercilessly beating down on us throughout this stay of an hour and a half. We were thirsty and hence headed off to Vishnu Bhavan. Surprise surprise… Rain Goddess did not take long to realize that we had started off our journey once again and decided to accompany us.
Having reached the Varadenahalli post we asked around for Varadenahalli falls. The locals said they had never heard of anything like that. It was very frustrating. Deciding to visit Tippagondanahalli reservoir instead we continued our journey. Yet again disappointment awaited us. A board at the gate of the TG Halli reservoir announced that there is no entry for public.
Masala Munch was the name of the place we stopped for a cup of coffee. Since we were hungry we decided to order for bread omlette. I wish I had walked into the kitchen and seen the cook coax the hen into laying eggs. The hen must have been very reluctant because it took a long time for our bread omlette to be prepared and brought to us.
Rest of the ride back home was pretty uneventful and a slightly disappointing trip came to an end.
Markonahalli dam is at a distance of about 93 kms from Bangalore and about 18 Kms from Kunigal.
Bangalore --> Magadi --> after Magadi town turn left towrds Kunigal--> go past Kunigal and continue on the highway --> take left at the signboard which indicates the way to Markonahalli dam. (there is a hotel by name Vishnu Bhavan on the right side of the road just opposite to this cross)
To see the pictures from this trip Click Here
nice post Ina .. were there no water activities at the dam? Varadenahalli falls got lost in the post, didn't you visit it along the way?
ReplyDeletealso, if you could post some facts along with your posts ... distance, route with rough directions, etc.
-Ankit
In one way isn't it good that it rained as they open the gates to let the water flow to the paddy fields. When I had been to this place on a peak summer the paddy fields were crying for water and behind this man made structure lies the water which is much needed...:(
ReplyDeleteJust felt that "only if" superman powers were with me :)
Interesting & very detailed piece!
ReplyDeleteI'am visiting the same tomorrow,
Thanks!