Vikarabad, Ananthagiri hills, off road trails - Exploration drive

[Gowtham]

Plan:

It was during the first week of September Mr. Vishu had shared a beautiful location at Vikarabad.

My first question to Vishu was, "Can you please share the location?"
He shared the location in no time.

 

Saran and I have decided to explore the place the next morning.
We took out our CIVICs and drove down to Vikarabad.

It took us some time to find the location as the google maps has not been so accurate in such a remote area.

Just then when we had reached there, we realised that the place turned out to be much more beautiful than expected.

It was pretty tough to explore the place in our low GC vechiles. (Hatch and sedans)

 

 

 

We drove around for a bit and decided to come back the next weekend in Creta and EcoSport.

 

We finalized the plan and few of our members turned out their interest towards this place.
Soon we were a group of 10 members.

We have decided to take only cars having high ground clearance.

Drive

As we all live in different parts of the city, Meetup point was finalized at the TSPA junction.

 

Ecosport and Duster arrived the spot by 5:15 AM. Soon Creta joined in, we waited for the Thar and another Ecosport.

 

We had an early morning tea and discussed about road trips and cars.
Ecosport and Thar arrived by 6:15 AM.

Without wasting time, we started gunning towards Vikarabad.

 

Road condition from Hyderabad to Vikarabad is not so great. Single lane, filled with potholes.

Driving the Duster on the same road showed us the difference between Duster and Civic on the roads filled with potholes.

Duster was literally gliding over the potholes. I would say it has the best suspension under the 30 lakh segment of cars.

We reached Vikarabad by 7:30 AM

We missed a few lanes and after couple of u-turns we finally found the correct route.
We reached the location by 8:00 AM.

 

 

[Gowtham]

And those twins had some real good morning exercise on this off road track until they reached this first pit-stop.

 

This energetic soul would never get tired sitting behind the lens. Cheers @Omik. Way to go..!

Creta has powered through a few tough bits despite front-wheel drive.

 

We drove along the unpaved paths on the terrain watching through the slush and boulders which came along our way

 

Thar was the only 4X4 amongst the cars which could make it to the drive.

 

The Duster has always been up for any sudden drive planned. Cheers @Vinithreddy

 

All those cheerful petrolheads who have been responsible for bringing in more and more fun to every drive we do.

 

And @Charan9 could finally make it to the drive in his new Ecosport .

 

They have been the 'Chip and Dale' of the drive meet that day.

 

All the cars drove within their ability to explore this unseen beautiful site so close to Hyderabad.

 

[Gowtham]

If you're looking to scratch an off-road itch, This place is one unexplored venue to try.

 

 

 

This group of men always carry an adrenaline-pumping when we call up for a drive 

 

 

 

Ashwin and Saran had some fun time sitting on the hood of the Thar while it drove the terrain. Risky!

 

From the nosediving across a decent decline into a ditch to crossing a muddy water pool, The Thar has excelled not surprising us anytime. 

 

Few of the us have been new to doing this but, none have backed out to throttle down to this paradise.

 

 

Thar was having most of the fun capturing all the terrains in the surroundings.

[Gowtham]

We spent for about 2 hours exploring the place in bits.

 

 

 

Ravi surely had the best time off-roading all through the place leaving no path unpaved.

 

We hiked up a small ascent to reach the top and get a panoramic sight of the whole place. 

 

And when it's about time, we had started back home.

 

 

 

 

The after effects has showed off in return.

 

 

That hurled up to the end of our early morning short exploration drive meet at Vikarabad. Cheers! 

 

[Gowtham]

Drive video url: https://youtu.be/UPNsuk3dvdc

 

 

[sagar]

It has been a wonderful day drive as we explored the unseen beauty of Vikarabad last weekend. Many more to come soon..

[Vinith]

Anytime any Place. Me and my duster are always ready to explore [emoji41] [emoji106]
 

[varunc]

It was a superb morning drive and the weather was awesome such a peaceful place so close to the city

[Charan9]

That was a very nice drive. Loved the beautiful nature and ya the weather condition was great. Thank you Admins for that beautiful location. [emoji106]

Sent from my Pixel using India-Drive mobile app

[Naveen1]

Beautiful pictures and narration.
Brezza is missing in the list [emoji3]

Which car performed well, obviously leaving THAR aside [emoji14]

[Gowtham]

4 hours ago, varunc said:

It was a superb morning drive and the weather was awesome such a peaceful place so close to the city

 

3 hours ago, Charan9 said:

That was a very nice drive. Loved the beautiful nature and ya the weather condition was great. Thank you Admins for that beautiful location.

 

Yeah, Weather was perfect for our drive.
In summer, this place is better avoided. I think we should drive again before monsoon ending.
Hope our tracks will stay there.

 

4 minutes ago, driveking said:

Brezza is missing in the list

Yeah, next time we should pool Brezza.

 

5 minutes ago, driveking said:

Which car performed well, obviously leaving THAR aside

THAR performed flawlessly as expected.

Rest of the cars performed same.

Personally, I would give little edge(Suspension comfort) to Duster in those terrains, AWD Duster would have been in the different league. 

[sagar]

Any one in the crew owns a Brezza ? I think we would then have all the cars in the segment running up for a drive like this. And I wouldn't mind to test the new Renault Capture too  

[sbhamidi]

A few pics from my side on a Anantagiri Hills trip with colleagues

 

 

[Gowtham]

20 minutes ago, sbhamidi said:

A few pics from my side on a Anantagiri Hills trip with colleagues

Nice shots.

Ananthagiri has many unexplored places, would suggest you to try the above place, next time.

[sbhamidi]

Anantagiri Viewpoint to Padmanabha Swamy Temple:

Sent from my iPhone using India-Drive

[Swastik Rout]

Hi, I've been to Ananthagiri hills twice, but haven't seen such beauty over there. I am glad to see such surreal landscapes. Would you please put up the same location so that we could carry on. Thank you.

[Gowtham]

On ‎29‎-‎12‎-‎2017 at 5:26 PM, Swastik Rout said:

Hi, I've been to Ananthagiri hills twice, but haven't seen such beauty over there. I am glad to see such surreal landscapes. Would you please put up the same location so that we could carry on. Thank you.

 

Hi Swastik
Welcome on board.

This route is not available in google maps, even If we share the GPS co-ordinates it has multiple routes and will leave you confused.
I will try to explain the route.
 

• From the Vikarabad Junction, take a right turn. We usually take left turn for the temple route.
• Once you take right,  Take the first left(big road) near a circle. Road name : Ramaiahguda.
• Once you travel few kilometers, take a right turn towards the point GPS
• Don't take another route suggested by Google maps, which is away from town.
• Once you reach the given GPS point, start searching for a trail towards your left.

Let me know, If you have any queries regarding the place.  

 

 

[Swastik Rout]

Thanks a lot Ranger for your warm welcome. Thank you for the directions and GPS, looking forward to the place very soon.  

[Gowtham]

On ‎06‎-‎01‎-‎2018 at 8:03 PM, Swastik Rout said:

Thanks a lot Ranger for your warm welcome. Thank you for the directions and GPS, looking forward to the place very soon.  

 

Start early in the morning.
Reach the destination by 6 AM, this place is fantastic during the Sunrise.
Avoid this place post 11 AM. 

[Naveen1]

On 1/6/2018 at 8:03 PM, Swastik Rout said:

looking forward to the place very soon.

 

Please add some pictures to this post when you are done with the trip.
Even I'm planning to visit this place.
Not sure If the greenery is still there.
 

Ranger, On which month did you guys visit this place?

[sagar]

22 hours ago, driveking said:

 

Please add some pictures to this post when you are done with the trip.
Even I'm planning to visit this place.
Not sure If the greenery is still there.
 

Ranger, On which month did you guys visit this place?

 

This was visited post monsoon in the month of September and hence the lush green. A must go place for the Hyderabadi residents. Could be your perfect morning sunrise.

[Prashanth Bommareddy]

Hi,

Very detailed information. thanks for that.

I would like to ask that which Camera that you guys are using to capture the nice landscape / nature / beautiful pics.

Pls let me know I'm more fascinate about photography.

thank you!

[Gowtham]

18 hours ago, Prashanth Bommareddy said:

Very detailed information. thanks for that.

 

Thank you!
 

18 hours ago, Prashanth Bommareddy said:

I would like to ask that which Camera that you guys are using to capture the nice landscape / nature / beautiful pics.

It is just a basic camera, Nikon D3200.
Even I am beginner. 

 

18 hours ago, Prashanth Bommareddy said:

Pls let me know I'm more fascinate about photography.

 

What made pictures look better?

• Early morning(Pictures usually come out best early in the morning or late in the evening)
• Dramatic weather 
• 50mm/35mm lens 
• Post processing 

 

[ksa171983]

lets plan and meet up once in July .. it may not require lot of planning.. Probably just folks saying yes lets go tomorrow should work..

[ksa171983]

On 6/13/2018 at 9:54 AM, Ranger said:

It is just a basic camera, Nikon D3200.
Even I am beginner.

i don't think you are a beginner @Ranger looking at the wonderful pics you keep posting in different posts.. ..

[karthik]

1 hour ago, ksa171983 said:

lets plan and meet up once in July .. it may not require lot of planning.. Probably just folks saying yes lets go tomorrow should work..

 

Yeah,
I'm ready!
Lets plan Vikarabad drive around 21st of July.
Want to take my Duster on those tracks. 

[ksa171983]

8 minutes ago, karthik said:

Yeah,
I'm ready!
Lets plan Vikarabad drive around 21st of July.
Want to take my Duster on those tracks. 

done deal @karthik ..lets catch up around that time and plan..

[sagar]

16 hours ago, karthik said:

 

Yeah,
I'm ready!
Lets plan Vikarabad drive around 21st of July.
Want to take my Duster on those tracks. 

 

I'm in for it anytime after the Coorg drive meetup  

[ksa171983]

17 minutes ago, sagar said:

 

I'm in for it anytime after the Coorg drive meetup  

Of course we would need one the members from the primary batch who knows the territory quite well to lead the way towards the beautiful hills ... ????Else who knows I may end up stranded at a bad place ?...

[Gowtham]

We can plan a drive to explore Vikarabad hills. 

July will be perfect to explore Vikarabad.

21st/22nd looks ideal. 

 

We will pull in few more members and can have  a short breakfast meetup. 

 

 

[Srini-d]

We can plan a drive to explore Vikarabad hills. 
July will be perfect to explore Vikarabad.
21st/22nd looks ideal. 
 
We will pull in few more members and can have  a short breakfast meetup. 
 
 

Hi..this is Srini. I am in for this trip. This would be my first trip.[emoji106]. Will wait for confirmation of trip plan.

[sagar]

On ‎7‎/‎15‎/‎2018 at 12:37 AM, Srini-d said:

Hi..this is Srini. I am in for this trip. This would be my first trip.. Will wait for confirmation of trip plan.

 

 

Hi @Srini-d, Welcome to the club. Looking forward to catch up soon during the drive meet  

[sahil]

We can plan a drive to explore Vikarabad hills. 

July will be perfect to explore Vikarabad.

21st/22nd looks ideal. 

 

We will pull in few more members and can have  a short breakfast meetup. 

 

 

Enjoy the trip guys. This place is fabulous especially during rainy and winter seasons. I'm going for Matheran trek on coming weekend. Hence can't join.

 

[sagar]

23 minutes ago, sahil said:

Enjoy the trip guys. This place is fabulous especially during rainy and winter seasons. I'm going for Matheran trek on coming weekend. Hence can't join.

 

 

Matheran during monsoon will be so breath-taking. Brilliant place to be. I've done this trek about 5 years ago getting drenched throughout the trek. Do share some pictures when you are back. Have a safe & wonderful time.  

[sahil]

 
Matheran during monsoon will be so breath-taking. Brilliant place to be. I've done this trek about 5 years ago getting drenched throughout the trek. Do share some pictures when you are back. Have a safe & wonderful time. [emoji4] 

Sure. Thank you!
The more rains, more fun. !

[Srini-d]

 
Hi [mention=1427]Srini-d[/mention], Welcome to the club. Looking forward to catch up soon during the drive meet [emoji4] 

Thanks Sagar, looking forward to meet you guys.

[Sridhar Tandra]

On 7/15/2018 at 12:37 AM, Srini-d said:

Hi..this is Srini. I am in for this trip. This would be my first trip.. Will wait for confirmation of trip plan.

Welcome on board @Srini-d Looking forward to meet you soon buddy

[DPac]

Nice unexplored place and beautiful pics. Will try in an weekend

[Gowtham]

Place is good during monsoon.
If you are planning on winter try to visit early in the morning.



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[karthik]

Since Monsoon is back. This place will have more greenery now.