Sonda and Hubli

Time: August 12th to 16th, 2017

Place: Sonda and Hubli

Company: Wife, daughter, parents

Highlights:

It was parents' wish for a long time to go to Sonda, and for some reason or the other, it was getting delayed. Finally, thanks to the long weekend (12th to 15th), we decided to merge Sonda trip with Hubli. There were many permutations and combinations on how to achieve all that we wanted to do but after many thoughts and considerations, we finalized on the days and drive in own car (instead of train/bus). Decision was done on 11th!

Day 1: We left at 10:30 am after breakfast. Took the NICE road from Kanakapura road (easier from our new home as compared to our old home in Jayanagar), touched the Tumkur Road in 45 mins, braved some traffic until Nelamangala, and traffic eased out. By 12:30 we were in Tumkur. Drove for some more time and maybe by 1:30 pm, stopped road-side for home-made lunch. It was fun showing Paavani a farm and walking amidst crops. There were some big black ants crawling on the road and she was jumping up and down trying to avoid them! Lunch done, we continued on. Next stop was for home-made coffee, again road-side. But this time, Tontu was sleeping, so it was a short stop. After an hour more - at about 4:30 pm, we were at our first destination - Haveri. On the way to the hotel, we picked up my mom-in-law from the bus stand. We stayed at Shivashakti Palace. It was pretty neat and clean. Just yapped, ate and slept.

Day 2: Left hotel at 7ish and took the country road to Sirsi. It was a nice drive except for the innumerous road humps. After about an hour, we entered the jungle-side in which Sirsi is encompassed, so the road was winding for a while. But it was lush greenery everywhere. Very nice. About 9:30, we reached Sonda. Took bath at the Mutt premises, did darshan of Vadiraja Swamy and generally soaked in the religious atmosphere. Had lunch at noon and headed towards Hubli.

Road to Hubli was far better compared to Haveri-Sonda. But after the lunch, was too sleepy to drive! Anyways, reached Hubli in 2-3 hours by about 4 pm. Went for a stroll nearby to a park. Did some walking and general time-pass. Dinner and retired for the night.

Day 3: Planned many things for today but it was too hot. So just went to Raghavendra Swamy mutt (to order for tomorrow) and returned back. Did nothing significant other than walk to nearby temples to hear religious discourses on Krishna (since it was Krishna's birthday anniversary eve).

Day 4: Funeral (anniversary) ceremonies conducted (my paternal grandfather's by my father and my father-in-law's by my brother-in-law) at the same Raghavendra Swamy mutt where I got engaged in 2008. Lunch. Today being Krishna Janmashtami, went to ISKCON. It was raining heavily. Nevertheless, ISKCON was crowded. Hare Krishna chanting was full-on. Spent time until evening and headed back home. Roads were flooded and had to take alternate routes. Finally, we reached home at 8 pm. Saw Sachin movie on TV and slept.

Day 5: Nuggikeri Hanuman temple was our first stop for the day. We were attending Gouri's cousin's son's head-shaving ceremony. It was a great location, and apparently very devout temple. Due to time constraints, we only had breakfast there, saw the head-shaving ceremony but didn't have time for lunch. We left at 1 pm. Our destination was home sweet home in Bangalore. We did couple of stops - once to get Dharwad Peda sweets, next for road-side home-made lunch and finally tea at road-side stall. I was doing great on time, and very comfortably we reached our home before 9 pm. Could have done it even earlier but it was raining at places and I had to slow down. I don't think I had ever done a 400+ km drive in one stretch before (in India), and that too in under 8 hours. The Indian highways are amazing now. Anyways, reached home safe and sound.

Overview: It was a nice longish weekend break. Nice long rides. I drove 1040 kms in last 5 days. Reached 140 kmph - perhaps for the first time in my life in India. Learnt one thing - never to use credit card at fuel stations, was charged exorbitantly! Tolls were expensive too. Paid almost 800 bucks to and fro. Parents' wish of Sonda finally got fulfilled. Mother-in-law's wishes of my parents staying at her place in Hubli also got fulfilled. Gouri's wish of attending her cousin's function also got fulfilled. So, all in all, lots of fulfillments!