I was just looking for some place which is around 100 km from Bangalore to trek and can be reached on bike. Then I zeroed on Skandagiri as trek involves approximately 80 km bike riding and 4km mountain climbing. We were 7 guys on 4 bikes. I left my room by 9pm and we all gathered near vijayanagar for dinner except 2 of our friends. After the dinner, they also joined near navarang theatre and by the time, we left it was already 12:30 AM midnight. It was fun to go on long drive in night on a highway. I had bought new bike so for me it was first long drive. Before I share my experience, I would like to list some important points if you are planning for skandagiri trek on bikes or cars.
1) Carry a torch or two. We went on full moon day. Hence, We did not have that much difficulty in climbing the hill. I had a torch which is of medium size. Even if we go on full moon day, we need torch as you to walk on steep path and also you will encounter with lot of dense bushes.
2) Carry some food to eat in mid way of your hill climbing. Better carry atleast 2 liters of water and some biscuits. Don't take too many breaks while climbing as it will hamper your speed.
We took almost 2 hours to reach papagni mutt from Bangalore which is the base of skandagiri hills. From Bangalore we have to take new airport road and reach chikballapur. From chikballapur it is around 6-7 km.
3) When we just entered the village, 2 police constables blocked our way and narrated some stupid story of suicides which have been committed by few youngsters near that place. Obviously, story is not true and it is just to scare us. They will tell you to either go back home or ask you some money as bribe. They demanded us 100 Rs/bike and we told them that we are students and convinced them for 100 bucks total. Never tell them for which company you are working and if possible tell them you are govt employees. I said most of us are still students.
4) Wear a jacket and shoes which can keep you warm as weather will be cold and chilling.
As we reached papagni mutt, it was around 2:45 AM. Some people of that village blocked our way and advised us to park bikes inside the farm land and take one of them along with us as guide. We denied their offer and went ahead to the temple and few more men from that village were there and showed us the way for parking. We parked our vehicles just beside the temple and they started demanding 30 bucks for each bike as parking fee. They had covered their faces with blankets and since it was dark, we could not even see their faces properly. But we argued for some time and finally gave them 30 bucks for all bikes. Parking our bikes there, was a big blunder.
They also advised us to take one of them along with us as guide. But we did not pay them as 2 guys in our group already climbed the hill before and they knew the way very well. So We ignored them and started climbing. If you do not know the way, you can take one of them with you and they will charge you around 200 bucks.
We took few breaks in between and took almost 2 hours to reach the top. It was very chilling and cold breeze was blowing over our faces that we were even struggling to stand still. At the top of hill, some villagers will be there to sell tea/coffee and bread omlette. Its a decent business for them and you will find them only in weekends. It was 5 when we reached the top and the place was already crowded with visitors. We were exhausted climbing the hill and feeling hungry badly. We ate maggi noodles, omlette and had tea. It was still dark and heavy cold breeze was blowing over our faces and I was even struggling to stand still. We found some place to lie down for a while as there was still half an hour left for sunrise. By 6 AM, We could see sun rising and with that beautiful clouds floating around us. All started capturing the beautiful snaps in their camera and I just forgot everything else for sometime. I climbed on the top of a broken temple to get the better view of clouds. By 7.30 AM, clouds started disappearing slowly and we started feeling hot. We started getting down and it took around 1 and half hour to reach the bottom. When we reached the place where we have parked our bikes, we were just shocked after seeing the condition of all bikes parked over there.
Some drunken villagers have damaged our bikes very badly. Seat covers were scraped with knife, both front mirrors were broken, air has been removed from rear tyre. My bike tank alone was dented with a brick i think. They had broken my helmet lock and stolen my helmet. I felt like crying as my bike was new and did not even have a small scratch before. They had not even spared cars. Bikes which were parked later were not touched. I think they came after those idiots damaged our bikes and flee away. We took a honda activa which was not damaged to find a mechanic. To our bad luck, We could not find any mechanic as it is a remote village and we had to go to chikballapur to get a mechanic. Thankfully we found a bicycle shop. But he was not ready to come with us and he said if i come there, police will trouble me for my no fault. We tried convincing him but he was adamant as this type of incident had happened earlier also and he was screwed up badly by police. We somehow convinced him to give his pump so that at least we can fill air to rear Tyre and can drive till chikballapur at least. I filled air to my bike rear Tyre but unfortunately, my friend's bike Tyre was punctured. We went to chikballapur and got a mechanic. We roamed there for around 4 hoursto get all our bike repaired. We did not have sleep whole night and were completely exhausted.
We left chikballapur by 2 PM. After reaching bangalore, again for my bad luck, traffic police caught me for not wearing helmet. I narrated my story and they advised me to pay 100 Rs as fine and show the receipt to police if I am caught again. I reached my room by 4 PM.
It was my first trip on bike and I will never forget it!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
VTU duplicate convocation degree certificate...!!!
I would like to narrate an interesting story and hope it would not be boring. I had got an offer from a top software organisation and I was badly looking to change my company due to obvious reasons like less salary and not so challenging role. I was about to join my new office in another 1 month and they had sent me the joining checklist where they had mentioned my convocation degree certificate as one of the must and should documents to bring on my joining day. I started collecting all the necessary documents and found that my convocation degree certificate is missing. For my first company, I had provided provisional degree certificate as that time my convocation degree certificate was still not arrived. It was almost 3 years since I completed my engineering and I had completely forgotten the where abouts of degree certificate. I was anxious about not finding it and decided to go for duplicate copy as only one month was left to join. I started searching madly on Internet to know the procedure of applying for duplicate convocation degree certificate from VTU. But I couldn't get sufficient information anywhere on net. Then I went through the VTU official website for any clues. There I gotta know that I need to go through some legal procedures before applying for duplicate convocation degree certificate. But I was not clear yet so I went to my college and spoke to VTU co-ordinator. He helped me with procedure I must follow. I called up VTU Belgaum on 08312498136. A lady picked up and told me what documents to bring. I hurried myself up and decided to visit VTU directly and I didn't inform any of my close friends that I am going to VTU. Anyways, Here I am just briefing the steps to follow when you apply for duplicate copy of degree certificate.
[Also I got lot of calls asking whether I put any Ad in newspaper saying that I have lost my convocation degree certificate, which I didn't do. When I went to my college for the procedure, he suggested me to put a newspaper Ad before applying. Then I think I called up VTU (sorry, I don't remember exactly as I am editing this blog after almost 1.5 years), they said it is not needed. I got the duplicate degree certificate without putting any Ad in newspaper. I didn't even get any letter signed by Principal of my college. I could have even applied to the duplicate certificate by post sending the necessary documents and the DD. But it might take 3 to 6 months or never. So I suggest you guys not to take that risk even if you have ample amount of time to wait for your duplicate degree certificate. Put some extra effort of going directly to VTU. It would be really nice if you visit the university at least once in your life which tortured you for 4 long years ;-)]
1. Make an affidavit from any lawyer stating that you have lost your original copy and applying for duplicate one. For this, if you are staying in Bangalore then you can go to Jayanagar sub registrar office near 4th block bus stop. There you will find a typist sitting just beside the entrance. He will charge you 200 bucks to get the necessary affidavit done. Just tell him that you have lost your degree certificate with details like your name, address, college, year of passing, branch, USN no etc. He knows how and what to be written in the affidavit. It has to be printed on Rs 20/- bond paper and he will only get you the signature and seal of some lawyer. Just pay him and he will take care of making an affidavit for you.
2.Now ask the same guy to write a police complaint on behalf of you. Don't worry, he knows that too very well. After getting both documents, take few photocopies of the same. Reason I put was that I lost my degree certificate while taking photocopies in a xerox shop in Jayanagar since I was registering the complaint in Jayanagar Police station. Be careful while writing the information about where you lost your certificate because it should be logical enough to convince Police or VTU officials though neither of them will actually check it nor they will have any patience for it. But still it is better to be in safer side.
3. Go to nearest police station. I went to jayanagar police station only as suggested by the same typist. But police will make you wait and ask you to bribe them. They took around 300 bucks from me to give an acknowledgment. Show them the complaint you have written and they will put signature and seal on it. They will not give you any receipt or will not register any FIR. They will just put a seal and signature on your complaint copy, that itself is the acknowledgment. Give them a photocopy of affidavit. Be careful, they might ask you the original copy of affidavit which you should never give. Now you have an original affidavit and police complaint acknowledgment.
4. Now time is set to visit Belgaum. Do not take any DD in Bangalore. Rates are subjected to change in VTU.
After reaching belgaum, first I found a lodge near bus stop only and got refreshed. Then I came to City bus stop which is just opposite to KSRTC bus stop. I had to find a bus which goes to Shanthibaswad and waited for more than 20 minutes to board the bus. Unfortunately, no bus arrived and I decided to board an auto. As VTU is 17-18 km from bus stop, autowala would ask you more money. Try to negotiate and board it. I suggest you folks not to wait too long for bus. Then I reached VTU by 10 am and somehow found out the section where I can apply for certificate. If you can't find it, ask the security guard.
They had put up all the fee structure in notice board. That time I observed that I could apply for some other documents also. I filled application forms for consolidated marks sheet which contains 1st to 8th semester marks in a single sheet along with my degree certificate application form. I am 2007 pass out and went in June 2010 for the documents which seemed ridiculous to VTU guy. Normally for duplicate convocation degree certificate it would cost you 1400/- + 100/- for every year. so for me it was 1700/-. I went to SBI bank which is inside the campus and got the DD in 5 minutes. you can get the DD there only so don't make any DD in Bangalore. Don't even worry about, on whom you need to draw DD as bank officials will get it for you without any hurdles in quick time. Then I submitted original copies of affidavit and police complaint copy with acknowledgement and DD to VTU official. He asked us to come back by 4:30 PM that day. I didn't go anywhere and just roamed around the campus and spent some time in Library. I had my lunch in VTU canteen only. Campus looks like a software company campus and has been maintained very well. By 4 pm I went to get my documents and was eagerly waiting for the VTU official to come back. One more point, don't ever try to bribe any VTU official as they will not take money anywhere and don't embarrass yourself. By 4.30 PM he came back with my degree certificate and i was jubilant after seeing it. But one thing which hurt me is, yeah literally it hurts you seeing the DUPLICATE seal on the certificate,otherwise everything else is same as original certificate. That day I learnt that we should never loose any original documents because later you would get only duplicates. Also, Date on the duplicate degree certificate was of recently concluded semester/curriculum year. They will not print the date of the year which we actually passed out from VTU, instead they will put the current date. Not exactly the date of the day you apply, but the year. These 2 are major differences between original and duplicate degree certificates.
I boarded a city bus back to bus stop. Then I visited my relative house there and started by 9.30 pm back to Bangalore.
After 2 days of reaching Bangalore, I pinged up my close friend and narrated the whole story. He replied me "hey dude!! your convocation degree certificate is in my house!! you remember?? you had given my address that time as you were shifting your room then..! and later you forgot to collect it"
[Also I got lot of calls asking whether I put any Ad in newspaper saying that I have lost my convocation degree certificate, which I didn't do. When I went to my college for the procedure, he suggested me to put a newspaper Ad before applying. Then I think I called up VTU (sorry, I don't remember exactly as I am editing this blog after almost 1.5 years), they said it is not needed. I got the duplicate degree certificate without putting any Ad in newspaper. I didn't even get any letter signed by Principal of my college. I could have even applied to the duplicate certificate by post sending the necessary documents and the DD. But it might take 3 to 6 months or never. So I suggest you guys not to take that risk even if you have ample amount of time to wait for your duplicate degree certificate. Put some extra effort of going directly to VTU. It would be really nice if you visit the university at least once in your life which tortured you for 4 long years ;-)]
1. Make an affidavit from any lawyer stating that you have lost your original copy and applying for duplicate one. For this, if you are staying in Bangalore then you can go to Jayanagar sub registrar office near 4th block bus stop. There you will find a typist sitting just beside the entrance. He will charge you 200 bucks to get the necessary affidavit done. Just tell him that you have lost your degree certificate with details like your name, address, college, year of passing, branch, USN no etc. He knows how and what to be written in the affidavit. It has to be printed on Rs 20/- bond paper and he will only get you the signature and seal of some lawyer. Just pay him and he will take care of making an affidavit for you.
2.Now ask the same guy to write a police complaint on behalf of you. Don't worry, he knows that too very well. After getting both documents, take few photocopies of the same. Reason I put was that I lost my degree certificate while taking photocopies in a xerox shop in Jayanagar since I was registering the complaint in Jayanagar Police station. Be careful while writing the information about where you lost your certificate because it should be logical enough to convince Police or VTU officials though neither of them will actually check it nor they will have any patience for it. But still it is better to be in safer side.
3. Go to nearest police station. I went to jayanagar police station only as suggested by the same typist. But police will make you wait and ask you to bribe them. They took around 300 bucks from me to give an acknowledgment. Show them the complaint you have written and they will put signature and seal on it. They will not give you any receipt or will not register any FIR. They will just put a seal and signature on your complaint copy, that itself is the acknowledgment. Give them a photocopy of affidavit. Be careful, they might ask you the original copy of affidavit which you should never give. Now you have an original affidavit and police complaint acknowledgment.
4. Now time is set to visit Belgaum. Do not take any DD in Bangalore. Rates are subjected to change in VTU.
After reaching belgaum, first I found a lodge near bus stop only and got refreshed. Then I came to City bus stop which is just opposite to KSRTC bus stop. I had to find a bus which goes to Shanthibaswad and waited for more than 20 minutes to board the bus. Unfortunately, no bus arrived and I decided to board an auto. As VTU is 17-18 km from bus stop, autowala would ask you more money. Try to negotiate and board it. I suggest you folks not to wait too long for bus. Then I reached VTU by 10 am and somehow found out the section where I can apply for certificate. If you can't find it, ask the security guard.
They had put up all the fee structure in notice board. That time I observed that I could apply for some other documents also. I filled application forms for consolidated marks sheet which contains 1st to 8th semester marks in a single sheet along with my degree certificate application form. I am 2007 pass out and went in June 2010 for the documents which seemed ridiculous to VTU guy. Normally for duplicate convocation degree certificate it would cost you 1400/- + 100/- for every year. so for me it was 1700/-. I went to SBI bank which is inside the campus and got the DD in 5 minutes. you can get the DD there only so don't make any DD in Bangalore. Don't even worry about, on whom you need to draw DD as bank officials will get it for you without any hurdles in quick time. Then I submitted original copies of affidavit and police complaint copy with acknowledgement and DD to VTU official. He asked us to come back by 4:30 PM that day. I didn't go anywhere and just roamed around the campus and spent some time in Library. I had my lunch in VTU canteen only. Campus looks like a software company campus and has been maintained very well. By 4 pm I went to get my documents and was eagerly waiting for the VTU official to come back. One more point, don't ever try to bribe any VTU official as they will not take money anywhere and don't embarrass yourself. By 4.30 PM he came back with my degree certificate and i was jubilant after seeing it. But one thing which hurt me is, yeah literally it hurts you seeing the DUPLICATE seal on the certificate,otherwise everything else is same as original certificate. That day I learnt that we should never loose any original documents because later you would get only duplicates. Also, Date on the duplicate degree certificate was of recently concluded semester/curriculum year. They will not print the date of the year which we actually passed out from VTU, instead they will put the current date. Not exactly the date of the day you apply, but the year. These 2 are major differences between original and duplicate degree certificates.
I boarded a city bus back to bus stop. Then I visited my relative house there and started by 9.30 pm back to Bangalore.
After 2 days of reaching Bangalore, I pinged up my close friend and narrated the whole story. He replied me "hey dude!! your convocation degree certificate is in my house!! you remember?? you had given my address that time as you were shifting your room then..! and later you forgot to collect it"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)