Journey for which we all waited so eagerly who knew that will end as a “Journey to Nowhere”. We all were excited about this trip as we will be on bikes for 4 days, covering 1500kms in monsoon, witnessing the beautiful countryside of North Karnataka, beaches of Goa, exploring the green & wet forest in Western Ghats and see the sights of one of the biggest and beautiful waterfall of India called “Dudhsagar Waterfall”.

Bikes, Roads, Jungles and Journey to Nowhere

Second Largest wind energy belt of India, as said by my friend

We took NH4 Pune Hubli Highway through Tumkur road. On the Highway we ate “Yellow Mellon”. A young kid was trying to sell it to the trucks drivers who were passing through the highway but unfortunately no one was stopping. He had given us one Yellow Mellon for just Rs. 5. When we finished eating my friend gave him Rs.10 extra. At first he was bit hesitatant to take, but then with smile he took from him. When we were about to go he took out Rs. 5 from his pocket, which I gave him for that Yellow Mellon and he ascended  his little hand towards us to take back that Rs 5. We just gave him smile and went back on the road.  It was good that we had not taken back money; otherwise we would waste it on a cigarette.

Blades of Wind Mills whom I thought remains of crashed plane.

We all were feeling hungry, so we started searching good “Dhaba” on Highway. At the same time we were also searching for medicine shop. Just 1 km down the highway we found “Wine Shop”. That’s our medicine which heals all wounds and pain. We found one nice Dhaba down the highway in “Chitradurga’’. It was really nice Dhaba, both by location and food wise. We ordered Daal, Bhindi, Egg Curry and Chapattis.  His Bindi was delicious and that four leg net beds which we called “Khatiya” in our language had made our day. Just one thing was missing, a song “Pardeshi Pardeshi Jana Nhi”. All time best song of the Dhaba’s

Highway Dhabas – The Real Taste of India.

We reached Hubballi at 7 pm in the evening. None of us had expected that we will reach Hubballi so early. We rode 450 kms from Bangalore that two in just 8:30 hours, which include our long breaks. Now we had to cover 70 kms in order to reach Dandeli. When we were asking for route, someone advised us not go in night, as the road was not good and it was continuously raining in forest. But we thought better to reach Dandeli today so that we need not to ride much next day.

As expected road was terrible, we took more than 2 hours to cover 70kms. Luckily it did not rain much during jungle ride; only 2-3 times we had faced some showers of rain. We crossed 4-5 small villages in jungle and as we were hoping two times local villagers shouted on us. They wanted us to stop but as we travelled a lot in Karnataka we knew that if we stop it will be like putting your hand in fire. It was 10pm when we reached guest house called “Stay Lodge”. After eating and drinking we slept at 12 ‘o clock.

Heaven is on the Earth, you have to explore it

Next morning we started for Castle Rock at 9:30. It was raining outside but that rain was not at all irritating. It added fun to our journey.

“Barsat Ki Hain Bundain, Bundon May Hai Khushbo
Ye Lamha To Dil Ka Ehsaas Chuu Jata Hai

Aisay Main Tum Bhi Keh Do Dil Ki Baat
Ye Mousam To Pal Bhar Main Beet Jata Hai”

We had also seen Dam on Kali River on the way to Castle Rock. As we were going towards the Castle rock we had witnessed number of beautiful places and sceneries which is impossible to explain in words. In every half an hour it was raining and we had to keep our jackets with our body all the time.

We wasted one hour in Ram Nagar due to bike breakdown. We got couple of suggestions of not going to Castle Rock now. Shop keeper who repaired our bike told us go to Goa instead of Castle Rock. Goa was about 60 -70 kms from Ram Nagar and tracking will not be possible on Castle Rock due to rain. After lots of discussion and confusion, finally we headed for Castle Rock. I had witness some of the amazing colours of nature during our ride to Castle Rock. Zigzag roads, green carpet on the earth, rain, no sunshine, dark green forest, roads made by cutting rocks, twittering sounds of wired birds. I was feeling that I may enter in Switzerland; soil was not even visible on the road side. As you ride you can see only two colours Green and black (colour of road). First time in my life I had seen such a green and wet place.

Kali River Dam

We got confused in the villages and forest, we had seen the Dudhsagar Fall resorts boards but not able to discover route for the waterfalls. We planned to visit waterfall tomorrow morning and for now decided to go Goa, which was may be 60 kms from the village where we stopped.

It was 3’o clock when we saw the board on the road side “Welcome to Goa”. Clouds of rain had covered the Western Ghats and it was not looking like a Goa but like a hill station. Goa is completely different in monsoon as compared to winter. It was raining in Ghats, uncountable waterfalls on the way, mountains covered with clouds of fog, green deep valleys and at last beaches. This is how I can define Goa in monsoon. It will offer you all things in one place hill station, waterfalls, deep forest and beaches but you will miss one  thing in this season foreign chicks.

Its not a Hill Station – its Goa in Monsoon

We entered Ponda city and first thing which we did was went to a Petrol Pump and fill our tanks. Like all other things petrol is also very cheap in Goa. It was just Rs.57/litter as compared to Karnataka which is Rs.75 per litter. After filling tank we got the place for which Goa is famous ‘Wine Shop’. We bought 2 quarters of Imperial Blue and a beer. When we heard the total amount we got shocked.  It was just Rs. 135 which includes half liter bottle of Sprite. Then we realized that we are in Goa not in Karnataka.

“Sharabi Naam Na Do Mujhko
Main To Kabhi-Kabhi Peeta Hoon,
Pahali Bar Aaya Hoon GOA Mein
Roz To Ghar Hi Par Peeta Hoon”

We planned to go Candolem Beach, which is one among the famous beaches of Goa. But at 6 pm in the evening we found ourselves in Madgaon City and then on a less known beach called ‘Balolem Beach’. So after Palolem Beach this time we were at Balolem Beach. Hopefully next time we will be able to see Condolem Beach. Like our earlier trip of Nirvana Beach, this time also we had not did any booking but this time also were lucky and found nice shacks just 200 meters from the beach. Owner of the resort was a lady who had given us the possession of the Kitchen, fridge and all other things. She left after an hour and had given us full freedom of using her kitchen and other things. Just one resort staff member was there. He was a young boy who was there to take care of foreigners and may be for assisting us.

Dream came true. We owned resort in a Goa but only for a day.

We left for the beach when we felt that may be we were disturbing two foreigners. We took beer with us and sit on the shore of the ocean under the open sky and started drinking beer there.

“Bus raat bhar ke mehaman hum hain
Jab tak hai jeena khush ho ke jee lain
Jab tak hai peena jee bhar ke pee lain,
Hasrat na koi rah jaye baqi
Kal subah ke daman mein na yeh raat hogi na hum honge
Bus rait ke sine par kuch naqsh-e-qadam honge”

It was such a quite atmosphere there on the beach, no noise only waves sound. Sea was very wild and continuously strong waves were coming with roaring sound. But suddenly we noticed that water level had dramatically gone down as night was increasing. We felt something awkward because I heard that this happen only before coming of Tsunami. Sea will take its water back silently and then rest will be the history. I don’t know whether this theory is right or wrong but that night no such thing happened. May be it was due to the concept of low tide or high tide, which till now I am not able to understand or may be we were too high after drinking.

Bike Riding on Balolem Beach

We went towards the sea till our feet were under the water. It was already 12 o’clock in the night and we thought it’s better to go for bed after having dinner. We finished our dinner near 1 o’clock in the night and went to sleep in the hope that next morning we will wake up early so that we can leave for Castle Rock on time. In next post I will write about our Goa to Castle Rock journey.

About Girdhar Singh Sodha

Girdhar Singh Sodha has written 6 posts at Ghumakkar.

A young traveler from Jodhpur city of Rajasthan. A management graduate currently living and working in Bangalore. I love travelling and writing travel experiences. I wan to explore all the beautiful places of mother earth. I like desert, forest, hills, beaches and biking. I am not very much fond of eating but want to taste all the cuisines of different cultures and countries. Till now only traveled in India but my dream places for travelling and exploring are landscapes of Ireland and Kenyan forest and wildlife sanctuaries. I want to experience the different cultures of the world. Currently enjoying the South Indian culture. My dream is to learn as many languages as I can and travel as many places as possible.

• View all posts by Girdhar Singh Sodha →
• Blog
• Twitter
• Facebook

Related posts:

A Journey To Nowhere – Goa to Castle Rock Coffee, Hills, Foliage and Beaches – Part 4 Goa in August Road Journey from MORI to DELHI via SAHARANPUR