Hogenakkal Drive

                This was one trip i wished to go for long (2-3 years), as it is pretty near to Bangalore and that i haven't been there even once. Prasanna, had mentioned on multiple occasions about the scenic route. But somehow this trip was eluding me for this long. Finally decided to do it this week by bike with Sutha, as the monsoon has been at its best over western ghats.

                A quick search in google maps didn't yield conclusive results. It shows 3 options : Krishnagiri-Dharmapuri (180 Kms on NH7 ) , Dharmapuri (160 Kms) and kanakapura (150 kms). After checking with Prasanna and then in team-bhp blogs,  identified another route through Denkanikottai-Ancetty which is only 120 Kms. Since i haven't heard of these places and that the almighty google hasn't shown in firstplace , i was hesitating if should take this route , that too with Sutha (this is her first trip on bike). But decide to take this risk and it turned out to be a good decision .

                There is a road marked to Denkanikottai  just after AshokLeyland factory on NH7 before crowded hosur town just after a petrol bunk. Filled up petrol there and continued. To my surprise the road was broad enough , smooth and and the view - scenic. To top it all it was completely traffic free even at 10 AM , making it as a stress free ride. Every 20-30 km a large village lies on the road. Except this the entire road was lined with forest area & fields ploughed and ready for farming. I couldn't get a clue of what they are planning to grow over there.There were couple of places where ornamental flowers where grown.

From Hogenakkal Drive - July 13, 2013

From Hogenakkal Drive - July 13, 2013

         Picked up few biscuits in Denkanikottai on the fear that we might not see any large settlement on the way .But there was small settlements all along the way and small shops too. Lonely huts were a perfect fit in this scenic surrounding. There was a small ghat section with 4-5 hairpin bends on the way. There was a section of say 5 km after Ancetty where the road was bad. some how this section was out of fit with the entire 120 km section . The last 5 km the road lies in parallel to the river. It now filled with water and pretty much broad. All along the section there were picnic spots where river can be reached by walk from the road. We stop at one spot and had freshly fried fish.

From Hogenakkal Drive - July 13, 2013

       We need to pay Rs 5 - 10 at couple of places for entry tax/parking etc and finally reached the falls. it wasn't a crowded day as i can see that most of the shops were shut. A lady asked us to buy fish and that she would fry and make it ready by the time we get back from the falls. I bought 2 fishes weighing about 1.5 Kgs (Rs 110 / Kg) and handed it to the lady. Then we went to the falls. It was mesmerising to look at . At the first place we can go near the falls to that extent  that moisturised wind from the falls would drench us in a matter of few minutes . Didn't want to risk my camera and hence moved off after taking few pics. Next at the end of the hill , there was excellent view of river flowing gently , falling fiercely and then following mighty towards mettur. Spend couple of hours in total  here.Had we started earlier in the morning , we could have spent more time. This is a place where you can spend many more hours.

From Hogenakkal Drive - July 13, 2013

From Hogenakkal Drive - July 13, 2013

From Hogenakkal Drive - July 13, 2013

        I badly need a dip to refresh after 3 hours of drive and to increase the appetite for the lunch awaiting us. Took bath for around 30 mins in 2 places.Then went to place where lunch was ready for us .I had asked them to fry all the fish i had bought. We didn't order any rice. But when Sutha asked for rice, the lady over there arranged it along with fish curry .That was too delicious. We couldn't have that entirely and hence packed the rest for home.

From Hogenakkal Drive - July 13, 2013

       The drive back was also equally good. we started at 3:30 PM and planned to wind it off in 3 hours including stops for the section .On the outskirts of Anchetty we were blocked by local police checking for helmet less drive. Unfortunately i took a bike of my friend and didn't have papers with me. Ahh do i have to spend couple of hundreds .. Luckily the officer there warned me to drive slow and allowed to continue. After a stop at Denkanikottai for tea and reached bangalore as per our plan. There was route to skip Hosur town , which goes near TVS factory and enters Attibelle skipping the RTO checkpost on the NH , which normally is a dampener for fast moving vehicles on NH.

Hogenakkal Drive - July 13, 2013