Banyan County

Latest one in Mair-Uth-Anne tour series. This time to Big Banyan Tree, Banyan County Dam area.

Sunday morning, Autobahn-ians got up around 9.
Sand : "What doing?"
Me: "Anything"
Kiron (still fast asleep): "Trip hai tho dho options... One dhoddaal, second, Simla"

The first one was decided to be the current destination as the second may prove to be a bit hectic for a one day trip. Calls to Sow, Dips and Rat. Dips as usual fast asleep and refused to budge. Sow said he would reach in half an hour. Rat said he would reach before 9.45. He was asked to pick Jins up.

It was 11 when everybody reached Autobahn. Kiron did a quick calculation. 40 kms till Dhoddaal. 100 kms for the round trip. 400 Rs diesel. 100 per head was collected from all. Started Bolero. Me in drivers seat. To Shobha Super Markt, to buy refreshments. Cakes, biscuits, soft drinks… it was as if 6 of us were having a competition in collecting them. 7 minutes flat. The collected common fund was over :_). Some more money pooled in. To BTM diesel pump. Journey starts.

BTM- Banshankary - Mysore road – a turn after some 10 kms – Ramahally.

This is the place where the Dhoddaal is situated. Serene area. A giant banyan tree. A garden, temple etc situated within the tree. Its not like a single trunk or anything. The tree branched out and spans across a huge area. Aerial shoots that grow down into the soil forming additional trunks... Its branches and sub branches sprouting out from all directions and covering the entire area. Spent some time and snaps there.

Then to the dam area. Another 10 kms drive thru some not so good road. Had some fun and fotos near the water body. Finished lions share of the refreshments there. Met a couple on bike, the girl was gorgeous... It was like they overtake us, we overtake them... the girl was enjoying the celebrity status ;_).

In fact, the place is not the best of places to visit. But when bethanians are on the move, they make sure they shake up everything on the way. Enjoyable as usual, jokes, goals, pulling legs, ogling, snacks, thumbs up. Usual stuff. We were back by 6.

Destination : Big Banyan Tree, Banyan County Dam area
Date: Sunday 17th July 2005
Distance: 40 kms from Silk board to reach BB tree. 10 more kms to the reservoir
Route: BTM- Banshankary- Mysore Road- Right turn after Sri Raja Rajeswari Dental - Big Banyan Tree - Banyan County Dam area.