October 6, 2007 – Saturday. Wayanad to Mysore

We desperately wanted to stay back but then the rooms were full and a new lot was coming in that day so we had to pack up.

With the last day going behind brooding, we wanted to freshen up a bit before reaching home. So it had to be Mysore before Bangalore.

At about 130 kms its was a short and great ride through a bit of Waynad and Bandipur forests.

What a change from the hole drive to smooth roads and soon the Bullet was cruising away at my favorite speed. 90 kms/hour. And averaging it as well.

There were places where the sun could not shine through because of the dense overgrowth. The tress and overhanging creepers giving the place a great feeling of living it inside a forest. This lasts for about 15 kms. And then you cross over to the Karnataka border and into Bandipur which is not so dense. You see lots of greens but shrubs and more grubby.

No animals encountered. And we reached Mysore in a flash. The ride took us 3 ½ hours and we were not even tired.

So after grabbing a beer and a bite to eat at Mysore after checking in. We went around town to the palace which was getting decked up for the Dasara festival which was a huge draw here. The town Mysore name after the evil king of asuras Mahishasura was killed by the goddess Chamundi (or Durga.)

The celebrations take place not only in the palace but also around town lights, set-ups the whole city was preparing itself for the mid October celebrations.

After the city rush we went to chill out with birds at Srirangapatnam. Even though this was not season we caught a few. Wifey wanted to become a bird watcher immediately. Good activity. Told her to Ask google.

After lazing around the bird sanctuary while also going to some of the other sights around we rode back to the hotel for the last night out.

Next morning had to be the uphill ride to the Chamundi temple and Mysore city view and then back home.

September 30. A raging bull in Nagerhole.

Trip start point Airport Road
Distance 200 Kms (approximately)
Trip end point Jungle Inn (Nagerhole)
Route Bangalore – Srirangapatinam – Hunsur – Nagerhole
Duration/time 4 1/2 hours (8 AM – 1:30 PM)

This ride was really really repetitive and boring. Done this stretch so many times. Cut till Hunsur. Nothing changes… do refer to my earlier trip stories for more on this route (Bangalore-Mysore).

After Hunsur comes the diversion to the small single road which leads to the jungle. And that’s where everything changes. The road less tarred. Lush greens all around. Cotton fields on either side. Clouds painting sketches in the blue sky. Lone cottages looking serene. The cool fresh air right on your face. And even the mind changes, thoughts change. Forgotten are the frustrations of the city life, the irking traffic, the pollution, the navigation, the deja vu... this is life to be lived, loved.

This is fresh, green, passionate. The mix with the clear blue sky, a canvas that makes the mind go wild… the whiff of natural scents, the flowers blooming, the smell fresh soil which has tasted water… this was the real trip.

Well, it lasted all of 20 mins and the resort sign welcomed us. We dismantle the Bull and walk up to the office where the friendly manager helps us find a place to stay room or tent was a choice. We were lucky he said, normally, this place was packed on weekends this weekend the bookings were a bit low.

We went for the jungle tent which was a contraption hung on solid foundations of course and with a walled up toilet.

Freshening up and lunch went in a flash, we were out on the road to find our way to the Jungle. And it came within 5 minutes… NO ENTRY FOR MOTOR BIKES.

No amount of coaxing the forest guard could change his mind. So I guessed something must’ve happened. On chatting up with the manager later that evening we got to know that some bikers were caught unawares by a wild elephant and had suffered injuries. I am yet to fathom how one could survive an elephant attack though!

Anyway the day went behind finding designs by clouds and subjects by the village folk. Thumped back in the evening to our tent.

The night is different here. Everything shuts down at 7. There’s no light, no music no cacophony of sound. One can hear the sound of crickets, some distant howling, and of course the staff at the resort having a scrap over something insignificant.

After a heavy dinner, a short night walk around campus, and, overhearing a corporate gang's drunken conversation how they should be working (there was a convention on those two days at the resort) we decided to call it a day.

Quick to fall asleep with dreams of getting into a jungle safari the next day.

Read the next part. Click here.