Manatla...

TO BE OR NOT TO BE THAT WAS THE QUESTION.

It was very difficult for me to decide whether to go to Manipal with Aai pappa (for Devdarshan) or to stay at home alone and relax. It was travel, south Indian food, family, VS chill at home with friends and Beer. After rounds of thoughts, South Indian food and Travel won the battle.

Finally decide to relax in Manipal with Aai - Pappa.

@ Manipal Campus.

We board Mangalore express at @ 10. PM. We were supposed to reach well in advance, but somehow me and Aai reached just 5 Minute before departure.

Day 1 : We were supposed to reach Udupi Station (Karnataka) at 11.05 AM but train got delayed and in early morning we came to know train is running late by 3 hours and our revised  EAT is 2 PM. Later on we realized that this is Konkan railway and its bound to get late.

On the way to Udupi, we reached Madgaon station (Goa) and vichar kela ki….forget about family trip and Devdarshan .....lets hit Goa and 2-4 child beer pi lu. At same time i also realized that i can just fantasize this and can't make this happen right now.

As we step down at Udupi station at 1.45 PM, Pappa was waiting for us with Toyota Etios and driver. Udupi station was just amazing, reminds us of typical Hill station wala station which we finds in most of the Hindi romantic movies.

As we were hungry, we directly went to food court of Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT). Was expecting some nice and hot chicks, but got disappointed. Had a heavy free ka khana and took rest in Janani hotel next to MIT. Later in the evening had a walk in MIT campus with the same expectations and result was same too. MIT was huge, beautiful, clean, well-maintained and good enough to rewind my life for about 10 years and took me to my Patkar college days. It was good start of our tour.

@ Manipal Campus - 1st Selfie

After finishing our dinner at MIT food court, we took rest in budgeted non AC Janani hotel.

Day 2.

Planning is something which is not my cup of tea.

Planning? What’s this? I always failed to do so and when it needs to discuss with pappa, we all end up with saying OK.

After free ka breakfast at MIT food court, we started our journey in Toyota Etios to Gramadevta of Udupi “Krishna Temple”. As expected there was TUMBA rush and after standing in que for hour or so, we finally decided to buy 2 special ticket of INR 100 for darshan. Slightly disappointed me got back in Etios and headed towards our next destination “Malpe Beach”. 
Even Malpe beach didn’t have anything to excite us.  Later we reached Mookambika temple in Kullor. Same story of KRISHNA temple repeated here also. TUMBA RUSH. Without seeking blessings we rushed for PRASADAM and literally eat it like anything, rassam bhat, sambar bhat, tak bhat and then huggi. (In south all major temples serves Prasadam). Test was simply awesome. Pappa eat it in such way that, even localites were having complex. J

After satisfying our hunger, Etios make its way to MUDRANESHWAR temple. In bright sunny day we reached Mudraneshwar temple. Before going to main temple, we spent some time in near by location, capturing some memories, tried my level best to take perfect pics of sea Shore , Gopuram And the HUGE idol of Lord Shankar. By 5-5.30 we entered in temple and i wish i could take my 1st darshan of this tour (as i didn’t purchased special ticket of 100 rs for my self in Krishna temple.). But TUMBA RUSH didn't leave us alone.

Mudraneshwar Temple

Mudraneshwar Temple from Gopur

Sea captured from Gopur

 

Shadow of Lord Shankar on Gopur

And AGAIN without seeking blessings we came out of temple. Heading towards MIT food court. Near Udupi, on Mudraneshwar – Udupi road, there was one awesome road. One will find sea on one side and river on another side of the road. Was supposed to be the delightful view but as a part of our failed plan, we missed this view as sun has already said good bye to us 2 hours back and even full moon at 8 pm could not help us to enjoy this view.

Later on Gajanan anna (Driver) told us we fuckup this day, as we should have started our journey other way round. We should have started day from Mudraneshwar temple ( via this route) and krishna temple at last. Never the less, day was good. With heart full of joy and with empty stomach we reached MIT food court for dinner.

Day 3. Learning from mistakes.

As we understand, in Karnataka temples are always TUMBA crowded and during vacation time TUMBAch rush. So we decided to change our destination from DHARMASTHLA temple to BEKAL FORT (Kerala) and Mangalore city.

We were happy that we decided perfect destinations, but planning is not in our DNA.

As decided, new Etios was on the way to BEKAL fort and we reached around 12.30 - 1 PM. Fort was simply awesome, reminds me of AGODA FORT of GOA with sea on 3 sides of the fort.

Bekal Fort

Bekal Fort

And finally I found something for which I was waiting from last 2 days.  I saw 1 pretty girl, she was cute and was looking like MIA KHALIFA. I wish i could share this with someone, but i don’t want to disclose my “favorite time pass” and “hobby” with any one. So i decided to not to share this with any one and i kept  my “open secret” with myself. I tried my level best to capture both the NATURAL beauties in single frame.

............. :-)

Bekal fort is place where TU HI RE ( Bombay Movie) song was pictured.  

Tu Hi Re......

As usual, after HEAVY breakfast at MIT @ 8.30 AM, even at 3 PM also we were not dat hungry. So we asked Prakasha anna (Driver) to find one typical south India hotel for snacks and somehow he managed to find it.

In South, even small temples are very beautiful. 

Local Temple in Manglore

After having delicious Dosas and Tea, Prakash took us for local sight seens in Mangalore.

PABBA’s ice cream is one of the specialty of Mangalore, pappa somehow came to know this from one of his colleague.  With ice cream in hand we headed towards local beach in Mangalore city. The beach was replica of JUHU Beach, full of Food stalls, shopping stalls, ice golas etc. Even though beaches are not new for us still we enjoyed that evening. Every beach gives you kind of calmness. No matter how much beach is crowded, you can find ME TIME and talk to you self. I did exactly the same and it gives you the inner peace, and it was much needed too.

In retuen journey to MIT food court, we realize this day could have been better if we start with Mangalore 1st and then BEKAL fort so that we could have enjoyed sun set and evening cool breeze at fort. Non the less, this day was good better than previous day. 

Day 4.

After having LUNCH in the morning, another Anna with SUNNY NISSAN was waiting for us outside MIT food court at 9AM.

As per our plan, NISSAN hit the road smoothly for Sringeri temple. Nissan was as smooth as CHIVAS REGAL.  We need to cross giant GHAT to reach Sringeri and it was real test of Driving skills. All Sharp turns and curves.  On ghat only we reached Sum Set point at 10.30 AM, not for sun set of course and but to see the lovely view.

Sunset Point

"PAP" monkey

Hungry....

Finally got something to eat

On the way to Sringeri we visited waterfall. Pappa had best time of this tour as he enjoyed in waterfall like youngsters. . Pics says it all.

Waterfall

The YOUNG man

Young man again

At that time i remembered those magical words of MM (3idiots) Underware bina hole wali pehnna and i did exactly opposite as there was a BIG hole is my underware so, i couldn’t go in fall.

Sringeri was only one of the famous temple where we could seek blessings. After that we had a PRASADAM and enjoyed rassam bhat, sambar bhat, taak bhat. It was supposed to be a starter only as we planned to have proper lunch at Hornadu temple.

Sringeri Temple

We reached our last destination of our tour (it turns out our last destination) at Horanadu temple. The road from Sringeri to Hornadu was simply awesome. Road was surrounded by Tea and Coffee garden and sky touching supari trees. 1^st  time ever we saw and touch the coffee beans. For all those who love to Drive, this road is like heaven.

On way to Hordan

On Way to Hornad

On Way to Hornad

View from temple was so peaceful / pleasant, my belief of NATURE IS GOD is become stronger. I wish we could stay there for one night, so that we could look enjoy a cup of coffee with cool breez in early morning that could have been one of the best morning of my life. DEVA NE HI NISARGACHE AABAHAR MANAVE ITKA SUNDAR PARISAR HOTA TO.

Hornad Temple

View from Hornad temple

View from Hornad temple

View from Hornad temple

Reluctantly, we started our return journey towards Manipal for our last destination of BAHUBALI temple. By the time we reach there, temple was already closed and we missed our last sight seen of this tour.

With local shopping we reached MIT food court for our last dinner @ MIT. In the entire journey, what we have managed perfectly was not to miss MIT BREAKFAST AND DINNER.  The only thing we did religiously.

Day 5 - End of Journey and beginning of new one…

It was supposed to be a very relaxing day. After breakfast in the  we came back to hotel and spend some time in hotel to pack our bags. We said good bye to our hotel at 11 AM as per checkout time and spend some time in MIT campus as Mumbai express was scheduled at 3 @ Udupi Station. Mumbai express arrived 20 mins and running late too.I was afraid of getting late to office and office work. I told myself FUCK OFF, things which are not in my hand there is no point thinking on this. RELAX.

With relax and fresh mind i started sharing few pics to DADA -VAHINI with some interesting captions. And the most exciting part of this journey started at the end of the journey…. The BLOG. I started to pen my 1st blog of my life and half of the blog i pen down in train only.  

Finally, Mumbai express was also kind to me, helped us to reach home at 6.30 AM.