Bicycle Tour: Sirsi to Gokarna exploring Waterfalls & Yana

 I was not sure about trail except the range, totally confused to finalize the route, googled and seek the expert suggestions, 75% village lonely trail, enormous waterfalls, camping at Govt School in remote village of Yana forest range, visit to popular Yana, ending the ride at beautiful Gokarna beach, self-made yummy food, lovely friends company!!! It is one more memorable bicycle tour from Sirsi to Gokarna on 23 – 24^th September 2017. Unplanned camping added more thrill to our journey. This is my second ride in this month, the first one is Sharavathi Valley.

Unchalli Falls

I am thankful to Md. Rafi & Rajkumar Khot for guiding to finalize the route. Initially, we thought to start from Yellapur, explore the surrounding waterfalls and end at Gokarna. There is no Volvo Bus service from Bengaluru to Yellapur. Considering the non-availability of bus and boring highway ride, changed it Sirsi – Yana - Gokarna.

Team size stick to max 4 members, however only three of Santosh Kumar, Sudhakar & myself ventured the ride. Accordingly booked the ticket from Bengaluru to Sirisi and back from Gokarna to Bengaluru.

Vibhooti Falls

Route Taken

Bengaluru – Sirsi on 22.09.17 by Volvo overnight journey

Sirsi – Unchalli Falls – Manjguni – Devanahalli – Bengaon : Night Camp

Bengaon – Yana – Vibhooti Falls – Gokarna Beach

22.09.2017

The day was busy and complete tight schedule for me. Since, I have to attend a Summit at external venue somewhere near Mattikere, worried more about time. My day is started at 5 am with preparation of Chapati’s. This time, I decided to take self-made food. Evening I was back at 7pm and engaged in preparation of Tomato curry, however Chapati's were prepared in the morning. After finishing the task, rushed towards Majestic to catch the bus. The bus departure is around 10.15 pm. Sudhakar & Santosh reached well in advance to the bus stand, bus also arrived on time. Loaded our bikes and relaxed in our seats, journey went well.

23.09.2017

We got down at Sirsi around 7.30 am, bus got delayed for two hours. Refreshed in the public place and inquired the people about good hotel. Localities recommended “Hotel Satkar”, filled our tummy with yummy breakfast.

Breakfast Point

Journey started from Satkar hotel towards Sirsi famous temple 'Maarikamba'. The temple is in centre of town. There was a special pooja going, on event of Navaratri. Considering the time factor, paid our darshana from outside and continued journey towards Unchalli falls.

Maarikamba Temple - Sirsi

Very soon we crossed the Sirsi town, hit on the Kumta – Sirsi highway. The weather was cool, we come to know that, heavy rain stopped just a day back. Rolling trail we reached a village Amminalli. 

Initial Trail

We have to take a left deviation from highway towards Unchalli falls. The village road gives you more joy than the highway.

Towards Unchalli Falls

The weather slowly started turn to hot, sun started to itch badly. However, the beautiful trail will wipe your tiered, reached the village Heggarne. We decided to take a small break, purchased fruits, cucumber and snacks. The Unchalli falls is another 6 KMs from this village, continued our journey.

Photography Time

Reached the forest check-post, paid Rs.5/- each as entry fees. The trail is little tough from this point, rolling trail took us entrance gate of the falls. We were so happy, there were NIL of tourist. Another 600 mtrs mud down road leads to view point of the falls.

Entry to Unchalli Falls

We were just speechless!!!! We just heard the roaring of falls!!! The falls is really amazing!!!! The falls is its monsoon glory time. Thanks to authorities who made very descent steps which leads to the beautiful view point. Hope this is my first falls view, where just standing in front of it and enjoying the view. The one Dudhsagar is similar view, however Unchalli falls is bigger.

Rainbow in Unchalli Falls

Spent good amount of time with photography and started back journey. We struggled little to push back till entrance. There is a pity shop near gate, you can find snacks, cool drinks and other eatable items. We had Badam cold milk and started back to the same village Heggarne.

Mid of the Forest

Sun itching was more, it made us more tiered, decided to take one more break. We found a descent small hotel where we had Lemon Soda. After the break journey is continued towards Yana.

Dense Forest

Absolutely the roads were completely empty, except local two wheeler movement that to be very rare. We set our-self target to reach Yana for day one camping. Taking multiple breaks, we again hit back to Sirsi – Kumta highway.

Green Path

On the highway, journey is continued around 2 – 3 KMs. Later took left deviation towards Manjuguni. The Manjuguni is around 6 KMs distance from the highway road. There is a very famous Sri Venkataramana temple. 

Manjuguni - Sri Venkateshwara Temple

Rolling journey, tiered body reached temple at 3.30 pm. Temple offer Prasad between 1 – 2.30 pm. We thought to reach in time of Prasad, however we have to satisfy by feeding Misal Paav to our hungry stomach. We skipped today's lunch, preserved the homemade food for today dinner and tomorrow breakfast.

Lunch Time - Break Time

We had hardly 2 hours for sunset, the journey of Yana is around 30 KMs. Now we started to think about our first day camping. Just inquired at Manjuguni about the availability at Yana. One of elder suggested to stop the ride at Devanahalli considering the thick forest ride in the night. Also, he mentioned about no any villages after Devanahalli and referred about the lodging facility.

Kalyani - Manjuguni

We had a discussion among us, decided to stop the ride around 6pm at nearest village and camp either School or Temple. All are agreed and continued our journey. Very soon we crossed the Devanahalli. We thought we have enough time. Indeed, after this village, we did not find any village. I stopped one of the two-wheeler person and reconfirmed about the trail. He also suggested to take a break at Devanahalli.

Dense Trail

We ignored the suggestion and continued our journey in thick forest. The time was almost 6 pm, the sun setting down. The atmosphere slowly turning into dark. We reached a deviation where the Board showing Yana – 12 KMs and Benagaon – 4 KMs opposite direction. Even we were not sure about allowing camping at Yana. Waited for a while to get suggestion / guidance from the localite.

The time is passed almost 10 minutes, heard a vehicle sound. I shown hand to stop the bike. A lady biker stopped with panic. Briefed about our camping concern, she recommended to go Benagaon. Appreciate her courage of solo ride in the evening in this thick forest.

We decided to take one more suggestion before taking any decision. This time got localite in Mahindra jeep, again explained about our camping concern. He suggested to ride Benagaon and camp in the village, again you can continue inner forest route to Yana.

Benagaon Govt School

Now we were relaxed, just continued our journey towards village. The sun is almost setting down, we come across one more two-wheeler guy. Voluntarily stopped to guide us to Yana, thought we took wrong route. I am explained about our journey, seek his assistance to set camping in their village. The good soul name is “Nagendra”, happily invited us to their village and promised to make comfort stay in Govt school.

Night Camp - 5 Star Stay

Reached a small beautiful village Benagaon. Hardly there could be 15 – 20 houses, well-furnished Govt Primary School and small pity shop. Children were playing Kabaddi, we met Nagendra. He just informed the villagers about our ride and stay tonight in school premises.

Tiered body wanted refreshment, there was a borewell, decided to take a bath. We asked a bucket + mug at pity shop, happily they offered us. Chilled water refreshed our body. Children surrounded by curiosity to see our bikes. We offered bikes for a jolly ride in their village.

Raghavendra - Shop Owner a Kind Soul

After refreshment, we settled in the school. Thought to have a small walk around shop. Badly needed some hot tea to relax our body. We thought, the shop will sell the tea. Since it is very small village, understood they won’t sell tea. Just requested Raghavendra [Shop owner] to provide hot tea, agreed and served. We about to pay money he refused to accept it. Strictly warned us saying “not sell the tea for money, on humanity basis served for you”. We were just speechless, thanked him.

Dinner Time

Visitor of the pity shop asking about us. Hope almost half of the village come to know our ride. Now the dinner time, left to school. We skipped the lunch not to use the homemade food which will be required in the night. Set for ‘Torch Light Dinner’, finished the dinner.

Relax for the Day

We come across many children, one boy is so curiosity about our journey. His name is Nagaraj, whose home is very close to the school. He arranged the drinking water. He was with us till 9.30 pm, shared his many adventurous incidents. Now the time to relax for the day.

Day was memorable, we peddled around 84KMs.

24.09.2017

Morning got up around 6 am, we had good sleep. The place, school was really awesome, it has all facilities. Got refreshed at school, packed the luggage and continued our journey. Santosh also brought self-made Chapatis which we wanted to use for today breakfast.

Off Roading - Benagaon to Yana

Benagaon to Yana connectivity forest trail is one of the best of our ride. Almost 6 KMs trail, which pass through remote two villages, thick forest, countless waterfalls. Beautiful off-road journey leads you Yana. Spending good time on photography + shooting reached the tar road of Sirsi – Yana.

Off Roading

Now the time to fill breakfast, we found small stream, decided to stop here. Thanks to Santosh for preparing yummy Chapatis, after spending little time continued our journey towards Yana.

Beautiful Trail

We reached the deviation point of Yana, the board showing 3KMs. This trail is one of the toughest through our entire journey. 

Yana Deviation - Tough 3 KMs trail

The continuous 3KMS down trail take you the entrance of Yana. There is a small pity hotel, we can get cool drinks, tea and snacks.

Yana Entrance

Parked our bikes near shop. We tried to gather the information about camping at Yana. Forest Department strictly made it as non-camping zone and also the wild life movement is more. The shop person confirmed that "even if you reach here night, forest officials send you back". We all appreciated ourselves to taking decision to camp Benagaon.

Yana

Continued our trek towards Yana. There are two ways to approach Yana. The one is from Kumta side [visited while back from SCUBA diving event] and another one is from Sirsi. We were lucky, there was crowd NIL you can say.

Paid darshana to Bhairaveshwara swamy, headed to explore the Yana caves. There was no limit of our photography, the caves are totally empty for us. We spent good time exploration and back to entrance gate where our bikes were parked.

Exploration of Yana

Had Lemon Soda and some snacks, now the tough trail ascend of 3 KMs ahead of us. No one could able to ride on bike, we finished this trail while walking. The body got really tiered after this tough trail, relaxed for sometimes.

Off Roading

Now, the next destination is to Vibhooti falls. This distance was around 10 KMs. After 2 KMs distance, it was complete downhill ride. It was reminding me the Bisle Ghat ride, the trail was similar. We found many streams, small waterfalls. Explored beautiful unknown waterfalls in mid of the trail.

Un-known Water Falls

Reached the Vibhooti falls deviation village Achave. We have to make entry in the Police check-post with all our details. The falls is around 2.5KMs up ride from this place. Continued our journey towards Vibhooti Falls.

Entrance to Vibhooti Falls

Here we found few tourist vehicles in the parking lot. We need to walk another a KMs to reach the beautiful waterfall. Chitchatting, taking photographs reached the Vibhooti falls. The crowd was not much, many local boys swimming in the falls.

Vibhooti Falls

The falls is similar to Vibhooti which is white, it is almost like Irpu falls. After spending some good time, back to Achave village. The stomach is hungry, badly wanted the lunch. The hotel provides the lunch with Chapati descent food. Finished the lunch and continued our journey towards Gokarna.

Lunch Break

Time was around 2.30 pm, bus to Bengaluru is around 7 pm. We set a target to reach Gokarna by 5 pm, distance was 40+ KMs. Decided not to take more breaks continued our journey. There is no any place to visit except the beautiful trail.

Beautiful Landscape on the way to Gokarna

We hit the highway road, now the vehicle movement little more. Stopped a while to have the tender coconut which cost us Rs.110/-. We should appreciate the village people for their honesty. Continued our journey towards Gokarna, suddenly heard some voice on bike. Tender coconut guy came on bike to handover the bag which we left in his shop. Hope we almost raided around 5 KMS. Sudhakar vallet and Santosh Apple phone were in the bag. 

Backwater

Rolling terrain finally reached the Gokarna around 5.20pm.

Gokarna Town

Finished our ride at Gokarna beach with Facebook live, spent good time photography. No one wanted to dip in the Sea, got refreshed nearby centre.

Gokarna Beach

Beautiful and most memorable ride come to an end. It’s loaded lot of golden memories to my journey. The overall ride was around 156 KMs. Thank you so much to my beloved friends Sudhakar & Santosh Gupta joining with me.

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