Tour of Karnataka TOK 10 — Tour report
Left Bangalore at 7:30 AM on **Tuesday, November 19, 2024**. I was introduced to many fellow riders by **Dr. Srimanth**, who organized the trip. While many enjoyed breakfast at **EatFirst**, I decided to skip it. 🍽️
Lunch was at **Anagha Grand Channarayapatna**, where we indulged in some ghee-laden bisibelebath. The feast began right there! 😋
We reached and checked into **Aditya View** in Dharmasthala, gathering for a briefing and the tour inauguration in the evening. After a good night’s sleep, we were ready for the next day flag-off at 6:30 AM.
## Day 1 — Dharmasthala to Udupi (118.7 KM)
The ride from Dharmasthala to Udupi featured rolling hills. We had breakfast at **SDM IRTI College** in Venur and stopped for lunch in **Belman** at the 79.45 KM mark. As we descended into **Kapu** near the beach, I rode a few kilometers into Udupi along the coast. 🌊 Sri Krishna and I found a beautiful spot to kick off our shoes and enjoy the waves on a pristine green water beach.
Our check-in at **Hotel Karthik Estate** in Udupi was uneventful. The evening flew by as we chatted with friends, leading to an early turn-in since Day 2 promised a challenging route.
## Day 2 — Udupi to Sagara (152.9 KM with nearly 2000m elevation gain)
I cleared my mind in the morning, bracing for the ride ahead. The journey was smooth until about the 65 KM mark, after which we began climbing the **Hulikal Ghat**. The next segment until our lunch break at **Narasimha Temple** was quite a struggle. After a quick glimpse of my Ishta Devatha (favorite deity) and receiving a light scolding for entering the temple in shorts, I enjoyed a sumptuous Kannada lunch of **Ragi Muddhe** and **Soppu Saaru**.
The following 12–14 KM featured a steep and steady climb through Nagara — glimpsing Shivappa Nayaka’s fort.
Thereafter, we rode up to Hosanagara, where we relished some amazing lemon juice before arriving in Sagar by 5:30 PM.
## Day 3 — Sagara to Sirsi (91.70 KM)
This day was relatively easy; our goal was to ride smoothly and finish before it got too hot. Breakfast was at **Basvanabailu** near Jog Falls, where we devoured delicious masala dosas.
Without waiting for company, I pushed hard towards Sirsi to finish well ahead of schedule, allowing for a long afternoon rest.
## Day 4 — Sirsi to Karwar (111.2 KM)
The plan was simple: ride with Dr. Srimanth and enjoy the journey together. As usual, we flagged off at 6:30 AM from **Hotel Supriya International** in Sirsi. The ride was easy with pleasant conversations and scenic views. We tackled 2–3 steep climbs followed by exhilarating downhill rides, reaching **Yana**, where our tour director had thoughtfully stationed bouncers to keep us on track.
Breakfast was served at **Devanahalli Government School**, and lunch at **Honnalli Government School**. At around the 78 KM mark, we joined the coastal highway around 1:30 PM, which was bustling with heavy traffic and poor road conditions. As we passed through the **Karwar Tunnel** under the hot sun, battling headwinds and rolling hills, we questioned our life choices — until we glimpsed the Arabian Sea on our left, which made everything worthwhile! 🌅
As I received my TOK medal at the end of this memorable tour, I felt a profound sense of regret — regret that it was over and that I would have to wait another year for such an experience again.
I made a quick decision to take a night bus so I could spend Sunday with my kids and experienced the sleeper bus from **Seabird Tourist**.
What a week it has been! Traveling by bus, cycle, foot, auto, sleeper bus, and metro! 🚴♂️🚌.
