3-State Trip (Wyanad Bike Trip) - Aug 28-30, 2010

It had been quite a while since I went on a long bike trip, and me and Vinay too had not been together on a bike trip, so finally it happened. Also, I had never done a 3-state trip.

If at all you want to do a bike trip covering 3 states within a 3-day period, want to see historic places, a superb drive, gorgeous landscapes, mix spirituality with nature, feel the hospitality of Tamil Nadu, view the rolling plains and villages of Karnataka, and hilly terrain of Kerala, then this is it.

Day 1 = With an equal mixture of scolding and concern from my parents, we started around 8 a.m. The drive to Karnataka passing through the hills of Aasanur and Thimbam was excellent. And we reached Nanjangud. You have to see in person to see the beauty of this great Shiva temple and the Kapila river. Of course, you can't miss the old world charm of Karnataka towns like Chamrajnagar and Gundelpet. You can also go straight from Chamrajnagar to Gundelpet without touching Nanjangud, thereby saving 30 km, but then don't do that. You will miss Nanjangud. And the same day we reached Wyanad, Kerala, via the Bandipur forests. Don't forget to cross the checkpost at Bandipur before 6 p.m., they won't allow you to cross after 6 p.m. And we stayed the night at Sultan Bathery.

Day 2 = Started with a visit to Edakal Caves. This is a prehistoric site dating back to the neolithic period, nearly 6000 years old. Ancient man lived in these caves and you can see carvings depiciting their gods and animals among other things. The same day we visited the Phantom Rock, Wyanad Museum, Kanthanpara Falls, and Karapuzha Dam. We stayped the night at Meppadi.

Day 3 = Rain, Water, Wet, Drenched - these are the words which can describe day 3. It started to rain from 6 a.m. and was contnuing and we had no other go than to start in rain. It was raining continuously till we reached Ooty, Tamil Nadu, shivering like wet chicken.

Route: TAMIL NADU = Coimbatore-Annur-Bannari-Aasanur-Thimbam. KARNATAKA = Chamrajnagar-Nanjangud-Gundelpet. KERALA = Sultan Bathery-Meppadi-Vaduvanchal. TAMILNADU = Cherampani-Gudalur-Ooty-Kotagiri-Mettupalayam-Coimbatore.

Distance: 600 km/3 days

Expenses: Rs.1600/= per head including petrol, food, and lodging.