Bike Trip to Big Banyan Tree ( Bangalore )

There is a big banyan tree on the outskirts of Bangalore city. They claim it is more than 100 years old and it is spread across 4 acres of land. If that tree could speak, it would tell you all those historic events that happened at the beginning of the 20^th century :). Spread across four acres! May be my ‘sense of area’ is distorted. Or is it that there is an encroachment happening there :). Whatever it be. The tree doesn’t appear to cover four acres of land.

So … on a Sunday I decide to go to this place. Most of the websites told me it is 18kms from Bangalore. That info was not entirely accurate. Assuming the Corporation circle – the place where the town hall is located - as the center of Bangalore, it is true that we need to take a right turn to this place after traveling 18kms on Mysore Road. But if we calculate the total distance, it is 26kms from Bangalore.

How to reach this place? Look for Kengeri first – the place that comes after Bangalore ‘vaitharani’ – the stream of industrial wastes that makes you cover your nose :(. Cross Kengeri and then look for Rajarajeshwari Medical College. It comes on the right hand side of Mysore Road. There is another Rajarajeshwari College that comes on the left hand side of the road. This one is a Dental College and the most important landmark. Just after this Dental College (in fact next to its walls) there is a road. To get into that road you got to take a right turn from Mysore Road. Keep going for another 8kms and you will see this Big Banyan Tree. Btw, the tree is called ‘Dodai Mara’ in Kannada. Keep that in mind. It will help you when conversing with the local people

A caveat: Don't expect anything great out of this place. If you do, you will be disappointed ...

Bike Trip to Kokkrebellur and Ranganathittu

I normally don't travelogue. When you have so many available in the net - thanks to those authors - I find it irrelevant to add anything more to the already existing ‘sea of info’. Till a month ago, I was a staunch believer of that 'sea of info' part. But that changed recently when we were planning to make the best use of our time - a long weekend - by biking to a nearby location. Btw, did I tell you I stay in Bangalore and for me the center of the universe is Bangalore. Center of the universe!!! Perhaps that’s stretching it too much ;). Rephrasing it ... Bangalore would be my fixed point of reference :).

It was the last week of April 2006 and we were googling to get this lilliputian tiny lil bit of info on how to reach Kokkrebellur. I gave this google search of "Kokkrebellur bike trip" (without quotes). And voila ... info obtained insufficient. So I decided to become a guide to those billions of search packets that hit the net. I guess you already know what this place is famous for. All I'm providing you is how to get there from Bangalore.

What you have to look for when you start from Bangalore is a small town called Channapatna on Mysore Road. Kokkrebellur is situated between Channapatna and Maddur. Btw, I came to know from my friend that Channapatna is famous for its toys. You may want to get one from the heritage village near to CoffeeDay . Know why I mentioned CoffeeDay. Coz that’s the next landmark you got to look for after you cross Channapatna. From Bangalore to Kokkrebellur, you will see CoffeeDay on your right hand side. Its not just CoffeeDay, there are a couple of hotels in this place. So you shouldn't be missing this landmark.

Take a break there ... if you want one. Coz ‘a lot can happen over a cup of coffee’ :D. You can ask the hotel guy to guide you and he will tell you that it is around 6kms from there. You will find a board towards the left hand side welcoming you to Kokkrebellur. These days sign-boards and 'welcome-boards' keep disappearing ... as how it happened in Ranganathittu. So please excuse me if you don't find that board there. The bottom line is ... around 6 km from CoffeeDay, you got to turn left and travel for another 12 kms. Midway through those 12 kms you will have to take a right. Again there is a board there that will direct you. Worst case, get down from your bike and ask anyone. :)

Did I mention Ranganathittu? I did coz we have been to that place too. As I said the 'welcome board' disappeared. Guess it was because of the road construction. I think the directions to reach Ranganathittu are available in other travelogues. All you need to look for is Srirangapattna - once the nerve center of the Mysore Tiger - Tipu Sultan . Travel another 8 to 10 kms. You will be crossing a couple of bridges. Turn right and head straight to Ranganathittu. It is a lovely place to spend your time :)

Enjoy the ride …