14/06 Sunday Night Drive to Cafe Coffee Day, Kolar Highway

After going to the Antragange Caves a week before, I started with my five friends towards Cafe Coffee Day, Kolar to enjoy a drive on amazing Kolar Highway after a pleasant drizzle in Bangalore earlier that evening. We started from Bangalore at about 9pm on 14th, Sunday and the roads were still wet. We rode till K.R.Puram, fuelled the tank with Rs.200 and started on our journey starting from KR Puram Hanging Bridge.

The drive was smooth and sexy. Wind was cold and we were riding on bikes having a lot of fun, singing songs and a lot of bakchodi inbetween. Karan and I stopped at Sher-e-Punjab Punjabi dhabba before CCD, Kolar. The dhaba had an amazing Punjabi feel to it, with Sikh owners and manji to sit on. We ate the delicious food as much as we could and drank a lot of tea and lassi. The food was super delicious and authentic Punjabi. It was closer than going to Electronic City. After sitting and chatting there for quite a while, we started towards CCD, which we again reached in no time.

After reaching CCD, we ordered some coffees, but we weren't really hungry. Rahul took us behind the CCD into the rocky hill and we found a peaceful place behind CCD in the rocks. We smoked and rested there for quite some time before starting on our journey back to Bangalore. The roads had dried by the time we were returning, and it was cold. All of us crashed into beds tired after coming back home.

We did not take any photographs, nor did we need any because it was more about the drive and feel and a surprise get-away.

06/06 Antragange Cave Exploration

Friday Night on 5th June, I took the bus to kolar from KR Puram railway station. The buses start from where the hanging bridge starts and for those driving in their own vehicle, the drive is a bliss. Smooth and sexy. 

There is also a train apparently that starts from Bangalore Cantt, through KR Puram till Kolar. But, bus stand is nearer to Antragange. 

I had planned for a night trek but couldn't gather the courage. I reached the trek starting point alone at 9pm in complete darkness, no fellow person, lightening behind the entire Antragange range and a pack of dogs guarding the entrance barking at me from a distance. I followed my insticts, took a lodge for the night, had an on and off sleep and started early morning towards Antragange base. 

I started my Antragange trek early morning around 6. The weather was really nice and I reached the temple and then further the vegetation within no time. The trek was a short and easy one. 

Early morning View from the point after
I finished the initial trek to reach the vegetation.

This is where the cave exploration starts. There is apparently a road route to reach till here. The caves are not deep caves but natural formations of rocks where you can pass through from tight passages. Antragange are a range of rocky mountains (more than 10 atleast), most of which are unexplored. The place is a delight to explore during early morning. I roamed around a lot and tried to explore a lot of it. Found a virgin cave also which was not polluted with any paper or plastic. The cave exploration was exciting, peaceful relaxing views were a good break from noisy Bangalore.

I trekked down from the top around 10 and it was getting hot, so I tip toed quickly among the rocks to reach the base. Took a bus back to Bangalore (which dropped me at KR Puram). Buses from Kolar to Bangalore run till 12pm.

Mantapa in middle of an open field.

Early Morning View from near the Mantapa

Beautiful. Isn't It ?

Another trek route (starts from the left) into one of the hills. Less Explored.

After trekking the hill quite some distance, an open field.

A lot of such unexplored caves/rock passages are there in Antragange.

Peace, silence, soothing wind, no sun and a joint.
This place was really amazing ! :-)