Our Cycling Trials - Thurahalli Forest

Myself had Rockrider 5.0. Recently upgraded to Rockrider 340. Started to go on weekend cycling, office commute etc.

Here are the trails.

Thurahalli forest

Level 0 with a bit of off roading. It was fun cycling in the forest, quiet and narrow paths. We started in the morning around 6.30 AM from Rajarajeshwari Nagar, reached Thurahalli around 7.15 - 7.30 AM. Here are the glimpse of the same

This shows the trail at the starting point

A very nice place little hiking

It was green all around

Found a peacock, there are other birds as well

 After all these we came back by around 10 AM back. It was around 10-12 Kms of ride from Rajarajeshwari Nagar. I think its a good trail for starters and there are no traffic in this route.

Happy Cycling !
  

In search of birds

Packed up the gears, got monopod, jumped in car, started on Wednesday evening 6.30 PM from Bangalore. But to where ? It should obviously be Mysore. Mysore has places such as Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary near by, Kukkarahalli Lake, Karanji Lake where birds prefer to nest.

Reached Mysore at 8.30 PM

So this time, thought of exploring kukkarahalli Lake in morning.

But the problem in shooting Morning is the lighting, also with the minimum equipment I have like 250 mm lens, you need an extra favor, i.e the proper natural light.

I myself consider lucky this time, to have wonderful lighting also spotted great birds.

Left at around 6.30 AM. These are some of the snaps.

Shooting concluded at 8.30 AM as it would be late for Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary.

Here are the few details, I searched, thought would be helpful to pen down.  Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary is located on the banks of river cauvery. Its near Sri Rangapatnam, Mandya Distict. It has an entry fees of 60 INR includes your camera charges. But Lens above 500mm is charged heavily.

Reached Bird Sanctuary at around 11 AM, went to get boat, the boat charges are again 60 INR per head, but can get a special boat for yourself for 1000 INR and extra privileges are given, like longer rides and into interiors where more rare birds can be sighted.

But went for a normal ride as this is not the season. Visiting in February will have more chances of sighting some rare birds.

And please visit in Weekday, if you are a serious bird photographer. Otherwise, fine to visit in weekends.

Here are  glimpse of the birds at Sanctuary.

Our journey to Kukke Subramanya

Just wanted to pin down my experience of visiting Kukke Subramanya, as this was a bit different and more traditional. I always used to go to Kumara Parvatha for the trek, descent the other day have sumptuous breakfast in a restaurant (Since 1960 :)), visit the deity and back to Bangalore. This would be the normal routine. But this time it was no trekking, just visit the places religiously and preformed the rituals.

So most of the travel enthusiasts would like to have such ritualistic experience, I am hereby pinning this down.

Normally, you could book a KSRTC coach according to your preference AC/NON AC.  We booked at around 9.15 PM. Boarded the bus near Basaveshwarnagar Bangalore (Saradha Colony) at 8.15 PM. You could even board near Navrang Theater as well at 9.20 PM.

This was just before the Shiradi Ghat was open. Our driver heard someone telling him that the Shiradi was open, so he took that route unfortunately.

We were just 30 Kms away from the Kukke, where at the end of the ghat the road was blocked.

We encountered the block at 2.30 AM till 6 AM we tried to clear the block which was a heap of mud that was put across.

But we failed, then we started walking across a near by village to get another bus to Kukke. Being a photographer I enjoyed the morning scenery with absolute awe.

Here are glimpse of that

Took a lift from a pick up truck

Later we waited for the bus, boarded a local bus at around 7 AM and reached Kukke.

We made a lodge just to freshen up. Got on with the shorts and went to take a dip in Kumara Dhara for the first time. This natural river is not part of any tributaries and comes through the Kumara Parvatha being one of the tallest mountains in Western Ghats. So this river, Kumara Dhara is very good to heal some of the health problems. Had a quick dip with some quick snaps.

Later came back to room by a Auto with a minimal fee. Freshened up and got ready to have a darshan of the deity.

We were fortunate not to have any rush and crowd inside the sanctum by 10.15 AM. We went to Adi Subramanya temple from there which is walkable, this the temple where the Naga Devathas bless the devotees. You can witness the Nag Devatha If you are fortunate.

Then had breakfast in a restaurant located in the temple street, did some shopping, got my tickets booked for return journey at 2.30 PM.

Wondering I could have booked a bit earlier ? Come on, how could I miss the tasty and disciplined lunch served at the temple.

The lunch starts at 12 PM, we joined and finished lunch at 1.15 PM as there was not much crowd.

Then went back to the lodge, packed things up. As this is a monsoon season it was pouring cats and dogs.

Some how boarded the bus at 2.15 PM, started the journey back to Bangalore with such a scenery is breathtaking. Here are the few snaps on the way back.

Royal escort by Bengal Tiger ! !

It was a sudden plan for Bandipur, we left Bangalore at 10.30 PM, reached Bandipur at 3.30 PM awaiting gates to open for the reserve forest at 6.00 PM.

We hurried to get on the first trip of Safari. Having been disappointing so many times, expectation was low as usual with respect to sighting the Tiger.

To our Awe, we found the tiger in a lake. There was a huge excitement and eager to have a glimpse of the majestic beast. It came out of the lake, it seems as if it was waiting for us, to give its majestic vision.

Tiger sighted in the lake in Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Walked towards us to give us the majestic look

Still further, made us spell bounded to see such an animal in such close range

We came to know that the tiger has been named as Prince, no wonder its attitude said all that !

Our safari driver and guide, Mujeeb was intelligent and well aware and seized the opportunity of predicting where the tiger would flash out.

We waited patiently for few minutes, in the mean time we were excited to have spotted the tiger at least and were among ourselves busy chatting.

In the mean time we couldn't believe our own eyes, we were in front of tiger in a few yard distance.

Tiger from the lake walking towards us

Another daring look

Much more closer look of Prince

Attitude 

Catching the track

Once the tiger came out of the camouflage, we started following the tiger from behind, where tiger started scenting the trees marking its territory. It was a feast for photographers and a memorable safari for the wild life lovers.

Started the escort

Saying it is my territory

Started scenting the surrounding

My territory, my rules

Majestic step, no words

Showing us its from a Cat Family

Showing us its from a Cat Family

Another stare at us

Scenting the territory

Prince walking 

Prince walking - fearless

Prince walking - fearless

Prince walking - fearless

Challenging

Anybody daring ?

Looking around

Finally disappearing into Huli Katte

The last glimpse

Later the tiger disappeared by leading us to an another lake near Huli Katte.

It was pure bliss of 20 minutes, where we were escorted by this magnificent beast. We almost forgot the place, time and were submerged in shooting the sight. 

Our special thanks to Mujeeb, Forest Department for taking special interest in helping sight a tiger. And of course, our team Raghu, Kiran, Shreyas and Hemanth who made me come to this trip.

Here are some of the memorable snaps after that.

The forest department guide - Mujeeb

Our co-passengers accompanied and witness of this memorable Safari

Our team - Raghavendra, Mujeeb, Kiran, Shreyas (From left)

At last, the clip of the same for the one who missed !