Cycling trip to Mullayanagiri

Tripoto
7th Aug 2015
Photo of Cycling trip to Mullayanagiri by Vishnu Unnithan
Photo of Cycling trip to Mullayanagiri by Vishnu Unnithan
Photo of Cycling trip to Mullayanagiri by Vishnu Unnithan
Photo of Cycling trip to Mullayanagiri by Vishnu Unnithan
Photo of Cycling trip to Mullayanagiri by Vishnu Unnithan

We five of us left Bangalore Palace at 5 in the morning. Kevin, Bibin, Abhijit, Swastik and myself. It wasn't going to be easy. Cycling 260km to the highest point in Karnataka!! Kevin and Bibin never cycled more than 5 km. I was confident about Abhi and Swastik as they were the junglee types. I was doubtful about myself as I was cycling with a major ACL tear in my right knee. The route was very clear. Vasanthnagar to Yeahwantpur and then follow the metro till Nelmangala then take a left to Bangalore-Hassan highway. Once you reach Hassan go on to Hassan- Chikmangaluru state highway and Mullayanagiri is all yours to cherish. The moment we reached Sankey road, Kevin ke cycle Ka chain baher aa Gaya. The only person who knew to fix the chain was Swastik. So after an initial hiccup our journey resumed. We reached Nelmangala by 7.30 and had Idli and chitrana along with tea as breakfast. Bangalore- Hassan highway was as smooth as silk. Everyone rode as fast as they could n covered the next 30km in an hour. But as we moved further an unanticipated issue popped up. ASS PAIN. We were scared to stop even for refilling water as the initial moments once you resume again was unbearable. After the completion of 60km, Bibin was hungry and everybody settled down in a local kanavali. Those were the best masala dosas we had in Karnataka. We became the centre of attraction in that village and queries and suggestions started to pour in. I knew a lil Kannada so managed to pave the way through the excited villagers. With hesitant ass we moved. Thoughts of sitting on the seat gave chill in the spine. We thought that it would be a straight road but it was full of ups and downs. We were strained and were so tired that we slept in a bus stop for 30 mins. Listening to Pattaka gudi and Mahi be from the movie highway gave a great relief.Got up again at 2.30 in the afternoon and we resumed our journey. By 4 we were tired again. We slept on the Hassan highway in that blazing hot sun. Grass was the bed and sky was the roof. Somehow with our will we reached Hassan and we were looking for a perfect place to camp. We had nippat from a petty shop and we camped near a toll booth. Kevin fixed the T3 tent while I made maggi and sausage. We ate within 20 mins n slept. 5ppl in a tent meant for 3. Bibin took one corner and the rest of us made Kevin the pillow. Swastik on his chest, Abhi his thigh n stomach was reserved for me. We planned to get up at 3 n resume but it didn't work out. I tried my level best to wake them up but I gave in. We woke up at 6 n started again. Swastik was making use of the tractors passing by. He used to hold on to them n ride with no effort. We reached Hassan n our friends were waiting for us. The rest of the group had chosen a tempo traveller for conveyance. Kevin gave in and Vaishak joined us. The last 60 km was the most difficult. We had biriyani in Belur and reached our destination at 2. Directly after taking a lil rest we left for Mullayanagiri. Paradise was on Earth. Soothing greenery and the sound of running water was a pleasure to eyes and ears. Our friends had arranged a dormitory for us and we had a nice dinner along with whiskey. Next day we went to Sagir Ahmed falls n bathed in that chilling water. Chanting Om Namah Shivya when water was falling on my head took me to another level. We left chikmangaluru by 6 in the evening and we cracked so many jokes that Bibin vomited the chocolate ice cream which he had in the evening. Everything was going alright. But we had forgotten torch n we got to know that Bibin had night blindness. We were going to stop at Belur. I heard a loud noise from behind. I saw Kevin on the road. I rushed back n saw him bleeding from his face. I was relieved as there was no bleeding from ears. Bleeding from ear is an indication of brain injury. I looked for Abhi but he wasn't in the scene. He ambushed me as he came out of the bushes with a bleeding head. He had to apply sudden brakes to save Kevin and he fell on his forehead. A tempowala stopped n dropped till Belur. We took them to Belur General Hospital and stitched Abhi's forehead. We planned to take a bus but none agreed to take us. Again a tempowala dropped till Hassan n we had to spend the entire night on the pavement in front of a shop. We started making fun of Kevin and Abhijit. We laughed so much in that night. It was 6 am and a Mahindra pickup stopped after trying for hours. We were left with 900rs. I explained him the situation. He told savar rupaya. I heard it as sau rupaya. I was happy to hear that n we boarded the vehicle.He agreed to drop till Peenya. We reached in 2 hours n he asked for money. I gave him 500 n told thanx. He told savr kodi. I was puzzled. He told thousand. I told I didn't have but he was not ready to agree. I put hand in my pocket n a 100 came out. I was so relieved n gave it to him. Adi n Vaishak came n picked us n we went to KFC in Yeahwantpur n had a heavy breakfast n cut a cake for abhis birthday.We gave the cycles to Peddles and Wheels and reached hostel by 12. Then what? A nice deep sleep. The trip was a mixture of feelings. Fun, laughter, tiredness, willpower, tension and a lot more....

The Five

Photo of Palace Grounds Inner Rd, Jayamahal, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560006, India by Vishnu Unnithan

Resting on the Hassan Highway

Photo of Palace Grounds Inner Rd, Jayamahal, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560006, India by Vishnu Unnithan