Memories of Jog Falls

Jog is one of the higest waterfalls in Asia, and being from M'lore and been to shimoga many times, I did not get the opportunity to see this great falls anytime before. It might be that, as well said "time had not come" to see the falls. This time, I planned it independent of any other fellows who might turn negative at the last moment. I decided that only me and my cousin will go by car. The plan was to visit Jog and other tourist places nearby and stay in Ripponpet (where we have our uncle's house) and goto my native next day. So everything was finalised and we decided to start saturday early morning by 3.00 AM or so.

We wake up at around 2.40 AM, and were ready in time and were able to start at 3.15 from our house. There was no issue finding the route to Tumkur road. We were out of b'lore by 4 AM, and we stopped in a place on the way at around 7.00 AM to call Ripponpet and tell them that we may not be able to make it for breakfast, so no need to prepare for that. I have not decided anything, as I was not sure at what time we reach Shimogga. The road till Shimogga was awsome, 2 lane till Tumkur and then National Highway (NH 206), There was few Kms of bad road at around 30Kms before Shimogga. We bypassed Shimogga city and stopped at a hotel near the bypass and had breakfast there, and started to Sagar from there. We did not go via Ripponpet as it will be little far and road may not be good.

We also have a close relative's house in Sagar, thus we thought of visiting there first and make ourselves fresh and start to Jog falls after that. They did not allow us to start immidiately after the bath, they said we can visit in the afternoon, as there wont be much crowd at that time and also that the clouds will get cleard at around 4, most likely, so that we can have a better view. We agreed for that, and thus visited places near by such as Ikkeri and Keladi.

Ikkeri was walkable distance from their house, Keladi was a bit far, and we did take some wrong turns and finally reached there. Ikkeri is a nice place to visit, it is almost similer to Belur and Halebid, the same kind of sculpture, but place is much calm and clean, You will enjoy more than Belur and Halebid as it is still not commercially come up.

Afternoon when Prakashanna came home, we went to Jog falls, there was enough water at that time, but it was not too much, that we could see Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket separately. All these were appearing so close to each other from the view point.

There were two more falls which we came to know that they are visible only in rainy days. If the dam is opened then you cannot see these falls seperately in rainy season, all will look like a single huge falls, and even we will not be able to visit the British Guest House view point, from where you can have a closer look at the falls.

After taking some snaps at the view point, we left that viewpoint and went to the other end from where the water falls down. That place has a British guest house, must have been built by British people for their entertainment. Here we can see the reallity, I mean actual view of the falls, more closer and dangerous view point, the rocks are very slippery and one should be extra careful while walking on them.

The view from there was Amazing, it was shown in recent super hit movie Mungaru Male also. You can actually go to the top of all the falls, I reached the top of Raja falls, and it started drizzling at that time, it was very good experience there on the tip of the rock, I had to lay down on the rock and see the bottom of the falls.

Prakashanna was continuosly giving me warning not to be too freaky and to be careful in that silppery rock. Putti did not agree to come on top of that at the begining as she got afraid by hearing the sound of the falls and the slippery rocks, I took her on top of the rocks, and she too enjoyed the scene, and the challenge. When we were done with taking photos and had enough fun we planned to come back.

It started raining, and it rained so heavily that it took lot effort for even to get inside the car.! As the roads were very nice, it made our journey smooth, and we had a wonderfull time there in Jog falls. I wish, I will make it to the falls, next time whenever I go home via Shimogga.

We left to ripponpet late in the evening at 8.00 PM. The road was better than expected, so happy about that, we reached Ripponpet at 8.30 around in the night. Chicken dist was waiting for us for dinner, it was so tasty and we were tired, and hungry, and was raining outside, which made it still better.!!

Morning aunt prepared Masala dosa as Putti like it very much, it was nice as it had that freshness of home. I washed my car, as it got dirty because of long drive. We had fish fry and curry for lunch, and had good time there. It was pleasant weather, so we could enjoy the place.

We started at 2.10, After Nagara, road was not good for some distance, I noticed petrol in red, worried, somehow managed to reduce the petrol usage by switching off A/c,Music, 5th gear etc, finally switched off engine in down, and which made break not working (power break!!).

I was on a slope near a temple in the ghat section, and I tried to slow down, and found that break is not working, first time in my life I realised how it could feel to a driver, if he finds that break is not working! I took it a little cool and managed to stopp in front of temple in the middle of the Ghat. Realized that it is because the engine was off.!!

Finally with fear reached Siddapur, and could fill the petrol for only 250 Rs after searching all the pockets as I had very less cash at that time. I could get the money out from ATM nearby. The road was good till Bidkalkatte, and after that it was ok type, finally we reached home at 5.15 PM around.