Beautiful afternoon. Half the neighbourhood is probably asleep. Few kids are playing cricket nearby. I am sitting next to the bedroom window overlooking neighbour's beautiful frontyard. Few arecanut trees and a mango tree, shrubs with beautiful pink, red and yellow flowers. With birds chirping and squirrals running up and down the trees - not many in Bangalore are blessed with such a neighbourhood.
I have a gang of five cousins staying in the same city, and we decided to go for an outging on the 15th of August. We stay in the Southern part of Bangalore, and we wanted to avoid driving through the city. Manchinabele would be a perfect getaway place. It is about 35 km from my place. We started at about 10am in two cars (me and Jnanesh with our better halves), took the Kengeri route and reached Mysore road in no time. We took a right turn at Rajarajeshwari Dental college and travelled for about 5-7 km to Big Banyan Tree. The last time I came here was when I and Preethi were engaged - about 7 years back. Then there was not much of lawns, walk ways and the seating arrangement. Now even the surrounding has grown - with quite many shops around the place. We spent about half an hour, took some pictures of monkeys and pups - and started off to Manchinabele dam.
We drove down the road few kms and came to the crossroad towards Savana durga. We figured out that we missed the main gate to the dam. Turning around we were told by villagers that the gates are closed and we could go to the waters if we took a diversion. We drove down that road and came to a Dhaba that looked deserted. Parked the car, took out all eating and playing stuff we'd brought and walked to the banks. It was a lovely sight. We missed getting a tent and few mats. It was indeed a lovely place, like my friends had described and my daughter Asmi loved playing there. She made her granny and mom make some paper boats for her and played cricket with us.
Last week, after the convocation ceremony at IIM, my collegemates went to Manchinabele for a daylong picnic. I didn't want to join them and spend even the Sunday outside of home. In this week, with Aug 15 falling on a Friday I was looking forward to taking a much awaited break and a chance to spend time with family.
I have a gang of five cousins staying in the same city, and we decided to go for an outging on the 15th of August. We stay in the Southern part of Bangalore, and we wanted to avoid driving through the city. Manchinabele would be a perfect getaway place. It is about 35 km from my place. We started at about 10am in two cars (me and Jnanesh with our better halves), took the Kengeri route and reached Mysore road in no time. We took a right turn at Rajarajeshwari Dental college and travelled for about 5-7 km to Big Banyan Tree. The last time I came here was when I and Preethi were engaged - about 7 years back. Then there was not much of lawns, walk ways and the seating arrangement. Now even the surrounding has grown - with quite many shops around the place. We spent about half an hour, took some pictures of monkeys and pups - and started off to Manchinabele dam.
Just as I was praising the nice, flat road we were driving on, it ended and kuchha road started. We drove around the huge Dish antenna's that ISRO has erected and enjoyed the fields of Sunflower and country side. The bumpy road didn't seem to be bothering us anymore. Then there it was, all of a sudden around the bend - a beautiful scene of Manchinabele waters. I felt the same awe I felt when I saw the valley on our way to Munnar few years ago.
We drove down the road few kms and came to the crossroad towards Savana durga. We figured out that we missed the main gate to the dam. Turning around we were told by villagers that the gates are closed and we could go to the waters if we took a diversion. We drove down that road and came to a Dhaba that looked deserted. Parked the car, took out all eating and playing stuff we'd brought and walked to the banks. It was a lovely sight. We missed getting a tent and few mats. It was indeed a lovely place, like my friends had described and my daughter Asmi loved playing there. She made her granny and mom make some paper boats for her and played cricket with us.
After some vollyball and cricket, and gobbling the Idlis and Chapatis, it time for some lazy loitering on the banks. Although it was a holiday, surprisingly there weren't many people around and we enjoyed time on the empty banks.
Soon enough it was time to return and we drove back via Big Banyan tree to Mysore road to home by about 4pm.
Soon enough it was time to return and we drove back via Big Banyan tree to Mysore road to home by about 4pm.
What a way to start off the long weekend. Now off to my native.
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