Isha Foundation

Isha foundation is around 40 KMs from Coimbatore. It takes minimum 1 hour to reach Isha foundation from Coimbatore. Coimbatore is well connected by air, rail and road. 

Accommodation is available in Ashrama, since we didn't had any plan of registering to any program we stayed in Coimbatore. Our main intention was to visit Isha foundation during evening so that we can be part of light show, we had enough time in morning to visit any other places. 

There are lot of places around Coimbatore to visit, but considering time of travel we listed out some of the places which are easily reachable Siruvani Dam.  On Google maps it was showing just 8 Kms away from Isha foundation. And Siruvani Falls which is around 18KMs. We thought visiting these 2 places first and come back to Isha foundation by 4.00 PM. 

When we reach the check-post we came to know that entry to Dam is closed for visitors from past few years! First plan flopped. 

Again we continued towards Siruvani Falls (trusting google maps) when we visit near the Tamilnadu - Kerala border we came to know that road is closed to this falls because of heavy rain from past few weeks! Second plan also flopped. 

Which ever near by places which we thought of, most of the places were closed for visitors because of rain. 

We were searching for some place to take some rest, we came across this beautiful place. We could not get some shelter to rest our self, spent some time clicking photos around and left the place. 

Finally we decided just to finish lunch and get into Isha foundation only. Had early lunch around 12.30 and Entered Isha foundation. 

We visited this place in a wrong time, because of long weekend & Independence day celebration approximately 10K people were there in this place! Just to park our bikes we took close to 1 hour!!!

First we thought of visiting to Dhyanamandhira and again come back near Adiyogi statue. 

Spent some time in Dhyanamandhira and finally came back near Adiyogi Statue around 5 PM. 

About Adiyogi Statue - The Adiyogi statue is a 34-metre tall (112 ft), 45-metre long (147 ft) and 25-metre wide (82 ft) steel statue of Shiva with Thirunamam at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "Largest Bust Sculpture” in the world.

This statue is located in a very scenic place. 

Light show will be there on weekends from 7.00 PM to 8.00 PM after watching the lightshow we were totally delighted. Its worth waiting for that show. No words to explain the beauty of Lord shiva. Totally amazing experience. Though light show is ended at 8.00 PM we were not in a hurry to leave the place till 9.30 PM. Traffic is one reason but that magnificent statue hold us back for some time.  

Started back to Coimbatore around 9.00 PM with loads of memories. 

Next day we decided to take same route to reach back Bengaluru. Satyamangalam - K.Gudi - BR Hills - Kanakapura & Bengaluru.  

We repeated couple of mistakes again in this trip 1st thing planning trip on long weekends and Trusting Google MAPS!!! 

Hope we will not repeat this again. 

Suvarnavathi Dam

Suvarnavathi Dam is located near Attugulipura village, 14 km from Chamarajanagara town. The Dam is built across Suvarnavathi river which is a sub-river of Kaveri river. It is adjacent to Chamarajangara to Coimbatore National Highway. 

A reservoir across river Suvarnavathi was built in 1977. Next to it is the Chikkahole Reservoir. These are called twin reservoirs. Both of them are in the back drop of beautiful nature.

After crossing K-Gudi stopped here for a while, walked till the gates capturing few pics around.

Entry to this dam is free while passing through this highway its good place to visit.

Bike Ride to Isha Foundation

Ride to Isha foundation was pending for a long time, last couple of times when i planned could not complete this ride due to some or the other reason. After updating the bike, for Independence day long weekend we planned again for this ride.  

Plan was not to take the normal highway (Bengaluru - Coimbatore), route planned was Kanakapura - B.R.Hills - K.Gudi - Satyamangalam Forest - Coimbatore. 

This time also we had bit doubt about the ride, because of heavy rain from past couple of weeks. Most of the roads were blocked in the planned route. 

Luckily Rain stopped a bit and we decided to stick to the plan. Chinmay, Vikas & Varun joined me for this ride. 

As planned Saturday Morning 5.00 AM grouped up near KSIT collage and started our Journey. Till we Kanakapura it was drizzling slightly, we thought it may continue but once we crossed Kanakapura there was no sign of rain for rest our journey. 

Stopped near Malavalli for breakfast (compare to Mysuru road - options for breakfast is very minimum at this route). 

Just after breakfast stopped near a bridge for quick photo session 😊

Spent some time around clicking pics and continued our journey.

Reached BR Hills check-post around 9.30 AM (BR Hills is around 160 KMS from Bengaluru), because of Saturday this route stuck in some traffic. This was the first time i saw so many vehicles in this route! Because of this traffic could not enjoy the ride much this time. 

We didn't stopped near BR Hills, we just continued our journey towards K-Gudi (Around 20 KMS from BR Hills junction). Ride from this point was awesome. Just sometime back rain was stopped here, forest was filled with lush green. This time we were not lucky enough to spot any wild animal.      

Stopped near K.Gudi spotted one trained elephant, spent some time clicking pics around. In past couple of years this was my 4th Ride to K.Gudi and each time i just love to ride this dense forest. 

We are not supposed to stop anywhere else in this forest area. So could not capture the beauty of forest in our cameras! 

Once we crossed K.Gudi forest range ride was through some small villages (just followed google) most of the lakes were filled this time (in-fact over-flowing). Where ever its possible we stopped and clicked some pics. While doing so, one of the localities came to us told try to visit Dams (Suvarnavathi Dam & Chikkole Dam) on the way even those dams are worth visiting places.  

Could not stopped near Chikkole Dam. But we stopped near Suvarnavathi Dam and it took us almost one hour to explore the place. 

All my earlier rides were limited to K.Gudi to Chamarajanagar. But ride after Chamarajanagara is also equally beautiful. The only challenge is to get some decent restaurants! 

Ride through Satyamangalam forest allows you to ride through 27 hairpin bends, riding experience was memorable on through this route. 

Stopped near Bhavani Dam on the way, clicked few pics and continued our journey. By the time we crossed this place it was around 3.30 PM and in search of good restaurant we just continued our ride. Finally stopped near road side Dhaba around 4.00 PM for late lunch. 

We were almost 60 Kms away from our destination, but took close to 2 hours to reach Coimbatore. Finally reached Coimbatore around 7.00 PM and dropped the plan of visiting Isha foundation on the same day. Roamed around city had dinner and called it a day.