AdventureWorks zone

Thursday, February 7, 2013

COBRA'S HOOD (NAG PHAANI) LONAVALA, MAHARASHTRA

NIKE

COBRA'S HOOD( NAG PHAANI) a.k.a DUKES NOSE is a trekkers paradise here in Lonavala Maharashtra, it is abou 65KM from Pune toward Mumbai and is 96KM from Mumbai toward Pune, it is easily accesible by road and rail.

A nice hike, on the edge at Nag phaani( COBRA'S HOOD)

Cobra's hood is a great spot for rappelling, it is an easy trek to the top from the southern approach the other routes to the top are very steep and risky, this landmark is easily visible from the Pune-Mumbai expressway.
You can see from the top the entire hill station of Lonavala, toward the south west the Lohegad and Visapur forts are visible. Here are a few pictures i've taken, we trekked here on the 7th of february 2013, it takes about 45 mins to reach the peak.
Oh yeah!! its called the Dukes nose because it resembles the nose of the Duke of Wellington!!
I must apologize here for the date and time imprinted in the pictures they are completely wrong!

all to get a good shot!

Dukes nose, it resembles the duke of wellingtons nose

the temple at the top

You can see the expressway in top left corner, Lonavala is easily spotted here

Visapur, Lohegad forts are seen in the mountains in the background

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Motorbiking to Kodachadri, Mookambika, Karnataka

The peak at Kodachadri, sunrise

Sarvajna Peetha

Kodachadri (Shimoga district) is mountain(1400 meters) located approximately 40KM from the Mookambika temple town in Udupi district of Karnataka in the Mookambika wildlife sanctuary. Kodachadri is a hill that men have apparently trekked since pre historic times, the evidence being the monolithic structures of stone 12 feet high in the nearby areas. Adi shankara is said to have meditated at a small temple carved from stone called Sarvajna Peetha.
We live in mangalore so we started from there on our motorbikes.

How to reach Kodachadri from Mangalore: Start from AJ Hospital and Research Centre, it lies on the National Highway 66 ( formerly NH 17) this road connects Kochi(Kerala) to Panvel (Mumbai), The road signs from Surathkal to Udupi Have not been completely changed, so at points road signs read as NH 17 this is the same as NH 66! Head north from mangalore to Udupi and then from there to Kundapura. The total distance from Mangalore to Kundapura is about 90KM.
From Kundapura head toward Kollur, If you stay on the NH 17( NH 66) take a right after crossing 3 bridges you'll have to travel 36KM and if you take the right from chikensaal it will be 45KM, both roads are good.
Once you reach Kollur head toward Mookambika and you'll pass through the Mookambika wildlife sanctuary and then reach the giant temple arch over the road indicating you have reached Mookambika, from Mookambika the road takes you to the main temple and from the temple gates take a left to the guest houses and continue along that road to Kodachadri, the entire trip from mangalore is 163KM and that includes the 9KM drive to the temple priests home near the peak.

our ride, from front to back: SUZUKI FIERO, BAJAJ PULSAR 150
HONDA CBR 250

If you come by car or anything other than a motorbike or a four wheeldrive you'll have to park it at the village and either hike to the peak or rent a jeep from the village. For motorbiking the road is quit an experience, it can be risky because of the steepness and the numerous hairpin bends its totally offroad motorbiking and i enjoyed it thoroughly!! Its a nine KM ride and will take around 30-45mins to reach the temple Priest's home.

road to kodachadri( picture borrowed from xbhp)

temple priests home

If you call the local tourist office you can arrange for an overnight stay at the top with tents, if not tents you can stay overnight at the temple priests home for Rs 200 that includes one meal and early morning tea, its totally worth it! the temperature can be between 10'C to 16'C in the night so bring warm clothes, you'll be sleeping on the floor with mats and a blanket.

Whats there to see? most people come to see the sunset and sunrise, the temple Sarvajna Peetha, the Iron pillar, the Ganesha Guha, nearby waterfalls are there which requires you to do some trekking. The view from the top cannot be jusified with words you have to experience it, here are a few photos enjoy!!

Sunrise

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Sinhagad Fort, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Sinhagad Fort was one of the most important forts of the Maratha Kingdom of Shivaji Maharaja.
This fort has cave paintings estimated to be 2000 years old so the fort is probably about as old, it was the site of the battle of Sinhagad (1670), the army lead by Tanaji a general of Shivaji against Udhayabhan the fort keeper of Jai Singh 1 , the story goes that they used a monitor lizard to gain access from the steepest wall of the fort, the monitor lizard pulled up a soldier, once one man got up he helped pull the rest. They scaled the wall where the forts occupants never thought an attack would present.
Tanaji lost his life in this battle and his tomb is in the fort.

Sinhagad fort, Kalyani Darwaja

Sinhagad is Present in the centre from the other forts of the region namely Raigad, Torna, Purandar.
The fort has 2 Entrances one toward Pune is called the Pune ka darwaja, the second faces the Kalyani village and is called Kalyani darwaja.

Sinhagad is around 27KM south west of Pune near the Khadakwasala Dam, It's popular destination for tourists coming to Pune. It is easily accessible by road, I took a motorbike up the to the fort which is 1300 meters above sea level the ride is great for the view, The roads weren't so great ( typical Indian road). Don't forget to fill your stomach with the local curds, roti, and pakoda, this is unique at sinhagad! Here's a few pictures of the fort for you! hope you enjoy them! information of the regional tourist office is at the bottom of this post!!
the date and time in these pictures are wrong, its the 29th of january 2013 from 430pm to 645pm IST,sorry, gotta correct my camera!! dangitt!