Sunday, March 15, 2009

Day 5 - Vizag to Borra caves to Aruku

Day005 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

136 KMs

Was pretty tired the previous day under the sun. So got lazy today. Woke up and still unsure of the days activities. Find the my laptop is under a cunning virus attack. Spend some time downloading anti virus and uploading the blog. Vicky says not to miss Burra caves near Aruku valley. Checked the map and searched a bit on the net and Aruku Burra it is for the day. Checked out of the room only 12.30. Still feeling tired and had forgotten to have breakfast as well.

Get out of Vizag and catch the road towards aruku. Lot of traffic and ppl on the road for quite some time. Catch some breather once the roads clear up. Later just later i come up on a sharp curve and i see the towering mountains ahead of me. So gonna ride on the Eastern ghats. The twisties were getting bettor and bettor. As a gained altitude so dropped the temperature and quite a reprieve from the coastal weather. The curves only got bettor. But had to be easy on the curve as more i leaned, felt the front end loosing grip! especially on curve going up, thanks all the bulk on the rear wheel. The road was too good but going got slow as the curves getting tighter.

Was thinking of getting a room in aruku and then visit Burra caves later. When i came up to the deviation for burra caves it was like 3.30. Thought its bettor the visit caves first. Good decision reached the caves in a few mins. But now i have to carry the heavy backpack and tank bag. Atleast the panniers hold the cramster. Have to even be careful while parking the bike due to heightened side stand.

A lil climb down into the caves the sight was mind blowing. Never been into caves before. It was huge. I see quite some steps dropping below and carrying the weight not really helping. Since i wanted to see the caves in peace, went back and left the bags along with the riding gear with the juice vender. Carried just the main stuff in a cover and hoped the things will be there when i am back.

Well now being light i feel springs in feet :D. Then got busy aaahw'ing and clicking. Quite a huge cavern inside with meandering steps going up and down. Important formations of stalactites and stalagmites were lit with artificial lights. Left my tripod in the pannier :( had to make do with the mini gorilla pod i had. could hear the bats high up on the roof. People improving on their ghost imitation sounds. In all it was amazing being in the caves. Pictures wont do justice. Long exposure shots gave bettor pix.

Then since it was already 5 decided to stay in aruku. Some 30km more of awesome hill riding and it was actually getting chilly. How easily we get uncomfortable, last days i was wishing for something cold and now i feel its too cold. Get to aruku and find the town on planes and resorts all around a place having nothing interesting. Boy have AP Tourism sold aruku! But good for me as i found a nice hotel to retire for the day. Plan to get up early and getto Bhuvaneshwar the next day.

Going towards hills


First view of Eastern ghats.


Awesome ghats twisties kms and kms of it...
















9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Assam ,PKM .You dint have virus scan on the PC earlier :O . Any way Rde safe and keep updating .

Praveen said...

Thanks Anon. I had it but somebody had dissabled it :D

Anonymous said...

Whos the one disabled :P , i read anon as anna :D - nfs

Praveen said...

Hehe LOL :P

Srinidhi said...

aah! reminds me of caves in Guilin, China...looks similar...didn't know that something like this exists in India...jai ho!

Praveen said...

Yeah man did not expect the magnitude. Vicky said dont leave the area with out seeing Borra caves :)

Anonymous said...

This looks like Luray Caverns that i visited in Virginia.. very nice.

DJ said...

Awesome shots of the Borra Caves praveen. keep this coming...

Cheers,
DJ

RAHUL said...

pkm...ur fantastic,amazin,mindblowin guru..borra caves thumba ishta aitu...thanks guru 4 updatin..i didnt no ther is a cave like this in india..good luck..