Author: Prabhith Prabhakaran

We visited Mysore in November 2015.

Mysore officially Mysuru, is a city in the state of Karnataka, India which is located in the foothills of the Chamundi Hills. It is known for its history of glittering royal heritage.

Places that we visited:

Mysore Zoo:

The major attraction in Mysore is the Zoo Itself. Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens or Mysore Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world (Started in 1892 with 10.9 acres that time). Now its spread over 150+ acres, housing more than 1400+ specimens belonging to 160+ species, representing more than 30 countries. Please note that the zoo is closed on Tuesdays. Rest of the days, its open from 08:30 AM -05:30 PM.

Mysore Palace:

Another major attraction is the Majestic Mysore Palace. The palace you see today was actually built in 1912 after a fire destruction that happened at the first palace. There are fine paintings, architecture marvel, carved wooden doors and rich colours inside the palace. Palace is especially vibrant during the time of Dussehra Festival, wherein it is completely illuminated with a lot of lights. Seems, this palace is also illuminated on Sunday Nights (for about half an hour).

BrindavanGardens (and KRS Dam):

Brindavan Gardens is situated slightly outside the city, the garden is a hotspot for locals and is famous for the musical fountain show.Initially, this was among one of the best terrace gardens of the country.

I was personally not happy with the way the gardens are maintained. Considering the number of tourists that flow in, its high time to do a proper maintenance of these gardens and can add some additional attractions as there is enough space inside.

Philomena’s Church:

The massive church of neo-Gothic style is one of the biggest churches in India. The amazing floor plan of the church resembles a cross. The 175 feet high twin spires of the church are visible from miles around. The glass stained windows of this church portray scenes of the events in the life of Jesus Christ like his birth, last supper, crucifixion and resurrection.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary:

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka,is a bird sanctuary in the Mandya District of the state of Karnataka in India. It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state, 40 acres in area and comprises six islets(small island) on the banks of the Kaveri river. This is a favourable nesting ground for birds of various species after which it was declared a safe sanctuary for birds in 1940. You can also do a boating here, but there might be higher waiting time because of the large inflow of crowd.

Another Nearby Places worth visiting:

Chamundi Hills: On the top of Chamundi Hill, you will find the Sri Chamundeswari Temple

Explore Devaraja Market: This is a market which is more than 100 years old.

Mysore Sandal and Silk Sarees are very famous. Don’t forget to grab one, before you leave Mysore.

Accommodation:

There are lot of accommodation options available within Mysore, suiting all budgets. I have personally booked ‘Kings Court’ and wouldn’t recommend this hotel to any of my fellow travellers here.

How to reach:

BY AIR – The closest airport to Mysore is Bangaluru Airport, around 170kms away. From there it is possible to take a Fly-bus directly to Mysore.

There is an airport in Mysore called ‘Mysore airport'(also known as Mandakalli airport) that has been functional since 2010, after being unused for few years. But as of now, there are no much passenger airlines flying out of this airport.

BY BUS – Mysore is accessible by bus from a number of destinations across India. To check routes, timetables and ticket prices (check Redbus.com)

BY TRAIN – Mysore is well connected via train from across the region. It is advised to book weeks in advance.

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign”

– Robert Louis Stevenson

ROUTE MAP

This trip to Om Beach, Gokarna was in November 2015 along with my family. My friend and his family accompanied us for this trip.

The route that we followed was : Bangalore –> Agumbe –> Jog Falls –> Mookambika Temple (Kudajadri) –> Murudeshwar –> Gokarna Om Beach –> Shimoga –> Bangalore.

My fellow travellers in Bangalore: This is one of the best trips that you can plan from Bangalore. You can cover some beautiful places in this entire road trip. Our’s was a 4N/5D trip; 1 night in Agumbe, 1 night in Gokarna , 2 nights in Shimoga.

Gokarna brings together the experience of a sea-side destination and a getaway in the hills. Om Beach is one of the most famous beach in Gokarna. Famous for being naturally shaped like the Hindu religion’s auspicious symbol Om, this beach attracts tourists round the year. This shape is formed by two semi crescents joined together. It is a nice 6+ kms drive over the hills with splendid views from Gokarna town to Om beach.

The sunset view from this beach is amazing.

There is also a bunch of fun water sports activities available at the Om Beach, including speedboats, surfing, fishing, banana and bumper boat rides and so on.

Other places nearby:

1. Kudle Beach (3 Kms)
2. Half Moon Beach (2 Kms)
3. Paradise Beach (8 Kms)
4. Namaste Café (for some local cuisine) (3 Kms)
5. Murudeshwar (8 Kms)

How to Reach Om Beach, Gokarna :

By Road:

Gokarna is around 483 km from Bangalore, 238km from Mangalore and around 59 km from Karwar. Road connectivity is excellent to Gokarna and can be reached by bus from Karwar, Kumta (30 km) via NH 17 where multiple buses ply from Panaji, Mangalore, and Bangalore. Om beach is around 6.5 km from the city of Gokarna. Even tourists can hire cabs from major cities to reach Gokarna

By Rail:

Konkan Railways ply via Gokarna; hence anyone boarding the train from Mumbai or Goa to Mangalore can also get down at Gokarna Road (station) which is around 6km from the city. Many other trains also ply via Gokarna from major cities. To reach the beach one can hire an autorickshaw or even cabs or private buses.

By Air:

Mangalore International airport is the nearest airport to Gokarna. Mangalore is around 238 km away from Gokarna. Tourists can hire a taxi or even take up trains to reach Gokarna.

ROUTE MAP

We visited Nandi Hills in October 2016. It’s around 70 Kms from Bangalore. Its 4851 ft above sea level. Nandi Hills is also known as Nandi Gram or Nandi Durga. Nandi Hills was Tippu sultans summer retreat. Due to its location, Nandi Hills is rapidly developing, and numerous commercial and residential ventures are underway in the region. This is one of the most preferred destination for Bangalorean’s.

How to reach:

The nearest airport is Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore from where you can hire a cab or taxi. If you wish to experience the train journey, then the nearest station where you can get down is Chikkaballapur from where both buses and taxis are available. But, if you’re looking for a short road trip, you can cover the distance of 70 kms between Bangalore and Nandi by driving yourself. This is also a perfect bike trip destination.

Beware of sharp turns – drive carefully

Once you start driving up the hills, you may want to keep your camera aside and focus fully on the road and watch for oncoming traffic. There are sharp turns and steep sides with minimal barriers on the side. Local and frequent visitors were seen to be driving pretty fast and we found several young guys driving bikes and cars like crazy.

Places to see:

Tipu’s Drop:

Located on a hilltop on a cliff which is 600 metres above the elevated ground, Tipu’s Drop is one of the oldest and most famous tourist attractions in Nandi.

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple:

Also known as Nandi Temple, this place which dates back to the 9th century is one of the oldest temples in Karnataka

Sun rise point

Garden

Tippu’s summer residence (not open to public)

Some Tips:

• If you come across monkeys, avoid feeding them.
• Since this place has very limited food options, prefer carrying your own packaged food.
• The best option will be to reach around the Sunrise (please note that the gate might open at 6 Am only). Also, be informed that many people come with the same intention of seeing the sunrise view and there might be many cars waiting at the gate in front of you.
• Don’t consider this as a full day trip. If you start early to see to Nandi hills, you can come back to Bangalore by afternoon.
• Don’t forget to carry your camera as there are a lot of picturesque places in Nandi.
• If you’re driving to Nandi in your own car, prefer parking it at the designated parking area.
• Try to return from the hill station before evening since driving after dark can be quite dangerous if you are not familiar with this place. 

Traveling’s not something you’re good at. It’s something you do. Like Breathing.” – Gayle Foreman

Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens or Mysore Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world (Started in 1892 with 10.9 acres that time). Now its spread over 150+ acres, housing more than 1400+ specimens belonging to 160+ species, representing more than 30 countries.

Please note that the zoo is closed on Tuesdays. Rest of the days, its open from 08:30 AM -05:30 PM.

Area is lush green and you will not feel tired if u can manage to walk in the shade. There are also enough benches to take rest at every corner. Zoo is well planned and clean, the explanations are written in an interesting way and the directions within the zoo is clearly marked. There are washrooms, child care rooms and drinking water here and there.

Be ready to walk for around 4+ Kms and might need around 5+ hours to cover the entire zoo.

One specialty of the zoo is its Adoption scheme. One can adopt animals and has to give expenses of adopted animal till its death. Many celebrities, politicians, Industrialists, Cricketers, and even some corporates have adopted animals.

The zoo had gifted India its first pair of gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees in 1977. Likewise, the zoo had brought giraffes from Germany, red kangaroos from Washington DC and lemurs from Duke University. The nearby lake, Karanji lake is also a part of Mysore zoo now.

This zoo follows an open zoo concept, where carnivorous and other huge animals are not kept in the cage bars and are allowed to roam around freely, within a specific boundary.

There is enough parking available near by the zoo. There are also many small shops where snacks and juice are available.

Website: https://www.mysuruzoo.info/

Ticket Rate (as of Dec2018):

Adult: Govt. Holidays & Weekend days: Rs 80 and Weekdays: Rs 60

Child: Govt. Holidays & Weekend days: Rs 40 and Weekdays: Rs 30

Tickets can be booked online in the website.

This is a common tour destinations for people in Bangalore, Mysore, Calicut, Wayanad and so on. So expect good rush throughout the year.

Address:

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens,

Zoo Main Road Indiranagar,

Mysore, Karnataka.

ROUTE MAP

We visited Shivansamudra and Talakkad in October 2016. This was a one-day road trip that we had done from Bangalore.

This is one of the great day trip options from Bangalore.

Route: We had followed the Channapatna- Maddur route

Locally, Gaganachukki and Barachukki Falls are collectively called as Shivanasamudra Falls though Gaganachukki is most commonly represented as Shivanasamudra Falls.

A common misconception about these waterfalls are that the left segment is called Gaganachukki and the right segment is called Bharachukki. In reality the Bharachukki falls are a few kilometres(15 minutes drive) to the south-west of the Gaganachukki falls (approach roads are also different). This is due to the Kaveri river itself splitting a few kilometers to the south into western and eastern branches. The western branch results in the twin waterfalls of Gaganachukki, whereas the eastern branch results in the Bharachukki falls. The Gaganachukki waterfalls are best viewed from the Shivanasamudra watch tower. This is a segmented waterfall. Segmented waterfalls occur where the water flow is broken into two or more channels before dropping over a cliff, resulting in multiple side by side waterfalls.

(courtesy: Wikipedia)

We had visited the Gaganchukki falls in October when the water flow was very less.

Ideally Monsoon is the best season to visit this place as the falls looks gorgeous in its full swing. These waterfalls and surrounding hills fall into Cauvery Wild life sanctuary which provides a wide opportunity of excursion, trekking in the forest, rock climbing, bird watching, fishing and other activities for naturalists.

The Hydro electric power station here, is the first of its kind in Asia, installed in 1902, and is still functional. It was commissioned by the Diwan of Mysore, Sir K Seshadri Iyer. The first town to receive the electricity from this station was Kolar Gold Fields, hence Kolar became the first town in Asia to get hydro electricity. Much smaller power plants started functioning earlier in different parts of India like the one that was started in 1897 in Darjeeling.

Temples in Talakadu:

The route from Shivanasamudra to Talakadu is with a view of dense green fields and coconut trees. There are more than 25 temples in this region. Even though many temples are already excavated, we were told that many more temples are still buried under sand. This area is indeed a ‘Mini desert’. Many of the excavated temples are now open for Darshan. Many temples have the Hoysala Architecture. It will be a good option to hire a guide here, they will take you around the temples and explain interesting stories about the temples.

Locally, this place is also known as the Banaras of the South for a large number of old Hindu temples and their religious significance, Talakadu is an interesting place for the seekers and believers alike.

The most imposing temple here is ‘Vaidyanatheshwara’ temple.. Among the temples of Talakadu, the Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vydyanatheshwara and Mallikarjuna temples are considered as the five Lingams, believed to represent the five faces of Shiva. In honour of these five Shiva temples, a fair is held once every 12 years called Panchalinga Darshana, last held in 2009.

For those interested in mythology and history, Talakadu should be a part of your itinerary.

But be prepared to walk a lot(in sand), in case if you wish to cover more temples.

There are some Udupi style pure vegetarians hotels. Even though the ambience might not be so appealing, the food was very tasty.

Coracle ride in Talakadu:

We ended the tour on a high note with a fun-filled coracle-ride in the river Kaveri.

There is enough parking space available in this area. The Sandy beach of Talakadu is very nice. You can play in the water near the bank. But be careful, if you are planning to swim in the river as there might be sudden depths due to loose sand pattern. You will also see coracles being rented out for rides. You can try at your own risk as these are not authorised and they don’t come with any life jackets. If interested, you can also have a dip in Kaveri river.

Don’t forget to ask them to spin the coracle, it’s a nice experience.

“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.”

– Sir Richard Burton

ROUTE MAP

This trip was in November 2015 along with my family. My friend and his family accompanied us for this trip aswell.

The route that we followed was : Bangalore –> Agumbe –> Jog Falls –> Mookambika Temple (Kudajadri) –> Murudeshwar –> Gokarna Om Beach –> Shimoga –> Bangalore.

My fellow travellers in Bangalore: This is one of the best trips that you can plan from Bangalore. You can cover some beautiful places in this entire road trip. Our trip was a 4N/5D trip; 1 night in Agumbe, 1 night in Gokarna , 2 nights in Shimoga.

Murudeshwar is certainly one of the most visited and popular Shiva Temples in India. Murudeshwar is a town in the Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India lying on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

The statue here is the second highest statue of Lord Shiva in the world. The Tallest Lord Shiva statue is in Nepal known as the Kailashnath Mahadev Statue. The design of the idol is in such a way that the sunlight directly falls on the statue making it to sparkle when the sun rises. It’s a massive photography opportunity to click the epic seaside statue of Lord Shiva looking over the shimmering Arabian Sea and the magnificent Western Ghats.

The Rajagopura at the entrance of the Murudeshwara Temple complex (also known as the Kethappa Narayana temple ) is one of the world’s tallest, standing at 249 feet. This is the newly added masterpiece and inaugurated in May 2008. The Gopura has 20+ floors and is the only Gopura to be fitted with elevators. Take the Temple lift for fantastic coastal panoramas. You can also get an excellent view of Shiva Statue from here.

The legend of Murudeshwar goes back to the age of Ramayana. A small temple existed here for generations, But with time the temple disintegrated. The locals tried rebuilding the temple earlier, but it did not last long. Then the businessman and philanthropist Mr. R.N. Shetty, who hails from Murudeshwar, started renovation work in 1977 with a team of craftsmen and artisans. So the credit of beautiful, modern Murudeshwar goes to Mr. R N Shetty (RNS) and his team.

Konkan coast beaches are known to be clean and Murudeshwar Beach happens to be one among them. The clean white sandy beach extends up to 2-3 km easily and offers a range of water activities. Activities involve speed boats, water scooters, parasailing, boating and even snorkelling near Netrani Island.The beach is also home to a small flea market and chat centre. One can purchase clothes, souvenirs and so on from here.

Near By attractions:

• Explore the heart shaped Netrani islands
• A place called Kadavinakatta which is situated just 25 Kms away from Murudeshwar offers a beautiful dam and a temple of Goddess Durga Parameshwari.
• Om Beach, Gokarna (82 Kms away)
• Apsara Konda Falls (20 kms away)
• Kollur Mookambika Templeand Kodachadri  (60 Kms away)
• Mirjan Fort
• Adventure at Yana Hike
• Jog falls (98 Kms away)

How to Reach:

By Road: Murudeshwar Temple is connected by KSRTC and private transport from Mangalore (155km) and Bangalore (488 kms). Most buses plying between Mangalore and Mumbai stop at Murudeshwar.
By Train: Murudeshwara lies on the Konkan Railway route. There are multiple trains from Mangalore or Mumbai and the station to stop at is Murudeshwar railway station
By Air: Mangalore is the nearest Airport and is around 165 kms from Murudeshwar Temple
Whether you are religious or not, this is a must see place in Karnataka.

“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

ROUTE MAP

Visited Bandipur Tiger Reserve in June 2014, along with my family. Bandipur reserve is around 250 Kms from Bangalore.

Going to the wild is always exciting and refreshing.

As we crossed Gundulpet (the main town before Bandipur), the landscape changed. We could see the beautiful mountains covered with clouds. The weather was just perfect with the cool mountain breeze blowing.

As soon as we entered the park premises, we saw many deer’s langurs, peacocks and wild boars roaming around.

“Wild animals have the right of the way in the Tiger Reserve Limits” and we had to stop for a while at many places waiting for the herd of deer’s to cross the road. Bandipur National Park is regarded as one of the most beautiful and the better-managed national parks of India.

The Bandipur, Nagarahole, Wayanad, Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam Tiger Landscape is spread across the states of Karnataka (Bandipur-Nagarahole), Tamil Nadu (Mudumalai-Sathyamangalam) and Kerala (Wayanad). This is a fine example of managing inter-state Tiger Reserves for the long term Conservation of Tiger Source Population (Courtesy: https://bandipurtigerreserve.in/)

Bandipur Tiger Reserve:

The bus safari is available between 6:30 am and 9:00 am and between 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Jeep safari is available from 6:00 am to 9:00am and from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

We took the 6:30 am bus safari. We headed towards the national park using one of the vehicles owned by the Forest department. You are not allowed to step out of the vehicle though. The forest department vehicles are much like the conventional mini-buses and have less space to look outside or shoot. Even if you don’t get a chance to see a wild animal, its a great experience to travel through those beautiful winding roads inside the sanctuary.

Little known is the fact that these Bandipur forests once belonged to the Mysore Maharaja’s personal Game Preserve. The park was announced to be a Tiger Reserve in the year 1973. It also came under the Project Tiger in the very same year. It was notified as a national park in the year 1974.

Many people come in from Mysuru, Bengaluru and Kerala for safari alone, on weekends.

Madumalai Tiger Reserve:

In this trip, we also visited Madumalai Tiger reserve. There is a jungle safari option available here aswell, but we did not go for this safari. In general, Bandipur safari is more preferred than Madumalai safari.

Himavad Gopalaswami Betta Temple:

Himavad Gopalswamy Temple is located on the hill of Bandipura Tiger Reserve Forest. This temple is very near to the tiger reserve. There is a forest checkpost on the way to the temple.

It is approximately 19 km from Gundulpet. Take a right turn at Sri hangala on the way to Bandipur from Gundulpet. The best time to visit the place is July when on both sides of the entire route to the hill temple will be covered with Sunflower and Marigold farms in full bloom.

More details are available in http://himavadgopalaswamy.org.in/

This temple was built by the King Chola Ballala during AD 1315. The temple is dedicated to Gopalaswamy, which is one of the names of the Hindu God Krishna. We were told that the temple is build of lime and jaggery. This area is covered under the Project Tiger for Bandipur wildlife sanctuary and is a no plastic zone.

It is also the highest peak in the Bandipur National Park. It lies in the core area of the Bandipur National Park and is frequented by wild life including elephants. The view from the temple is awesome.

New updates: We went to the temple in our own car in 2014. But recently Government had decided not to allow any private vehicles beyond the Checkpost. There is a KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) bus providing shuttle service between checkpost and the temple (6Kms Drive). Ticket fare is Rs.20 per person for going up the hill and again Rs.20 per person while coming down. Own vehicles should be parked below the hill entrance and the parking charges is around 30 rupees. Some Tea shops are newly opened there. Stuffs like hot bajjis, tea, churmuri , Mineral water etc are available.

Accomodation:

We stayed in Country Club resort. I have been to couple of Resorts/hotels of Country club. Even though the experience in most of them were bad, this one was really nice. Won’t mind recommending this resort to our fellow travellers here.

But there are many accommodation options like Serai , Jungle Lodges and so on in this region, suiting all budgets.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes“ – Marcel Proust

ROUTE MAP

Visited “Jog Falls” in November 2015 along with my family. My friend and his family accompanied us for this trip.

The route that we followed was : Bangalore –> Agumbe –> Jog Falls –> Mookambika Temple (Kudajadri) –> Murudeshwar –> Gokarna Om Beach –> Shimoga –> Bangalore.

To my fellow travellers in Bangalore: This is one of the best trips that you can plan from Bangalore. You can cover some beautiful places in this entire road trip. Our trip was a 4N/5D trip; 1 night in Agumbe, 1 night in Gokarna , 2 nights in Shimoga.

Jog Falls Karnataka, is a place that is not to be missed under any circumstances. It is the second-highest plunge waterfall in India falling from a height of around 253 meters (after Nohkalikai falls Cherrapunji). It is also called by alternative names of Gerusoppe falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi.

Each segment of the falls has a name:

Raja, on the far left taking the direct plunge. 

Roarer, is the short waterfalls beside Raja. 

Rocket, a series of shooting jets.

Rani on the right.

Sadly, it was low on water during our visit, although still a magnificent sight. The falls are at their most thunderous and plentiful during monsoon season, but even if you visit in the drier months, you will still be rewarded with a scenic view of the cascades surrounded by a luscious forest.

There are many view points, from where you can watch this spectacular waterfalls. There is a viewpoint close to the parking area (near Hotel Mayura Gerusoppa) which also has few shops nearby. It is the most popular viewpoint. Another viewpoint is close to the British Bungalow which is around 30-40 min walk from the above viewpoint.

Nearby Sights:

Sharavathi Valley View
Linganamakki Back waters.

How to reach Jog Falls Karnataka?

By Rail/Road: Talaguppa is the closest railway station and lies at a distance of around 13 kms from Jog Falls. From just outside the Talaguppa railway station, you will get a bus to reach the fall.

Talaguppa station can be reached from nearby Shimoga railway station. Shimoga station is well connected to Bangalore and Mysore via train. If coming from other parts of India, you can catch a train till Hubballi as it is connected to major Indian cities via railways. From Hubballi, Shimoga can be reached easily by taking a bus. For train bookings visit IRCTC.

By Air: Mangalore Airport (135 Kms) is the nearest airport.

“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

ROUTE MAP

We visited Chikmagalur (aka Chickmagaluru) in May 2015.

Chikmagalur is known as the ‘Land of Coffee’. If you want to spend some time out of your busy schedule, this can be a potential spot, especially for people from Bangalore looking for some plans on a long / extended weekend.

Try to start a little early in the morning from Bangalore to avoid the morning peak hour traffic. else, you might also have to spend a long time at the tolls.

Chikmagalur has gained its popularity because of the greenery and the peaceful environment here.

History: Chikmagalur literally means “The town of the younger daughter” in the native Kannada language. The town is said to have been given as a dowry to the younger daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakrepatna and hence the name. Chikmagalur district is the birthplace of coffee in India.

Mullayanagiri Hills:

This is the highest peak in Karnataka, it rises to 1926.7 meters above the sea level and is situated at the south of the range. The road is very narrow. If you are not an expert driver, don’t take the risk of using your own car for sightseeing.

The view from the top of this peak is amazing. There is a temple (dedicated to lord Shiva) on top of the hills and many people come here to visit this temple.

For adventure enthusiasts, the location offers an opportunity to engage in activities like mountain biking, trekking and road biking.

Butter Milk waterfalls (Jhari Water falls):

At a distance of 12 km from Baba Budangiri and 23 km from Chikmagalur, Jhari Waterfalls, also known as Buttermilk Falls, is a beautiful waterfall situated near Attigundi in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka.

Visitors cannot take their vehicles due to bad condition of the roads. One must take a Jeep ride (approx. 4 kms) the hill. There is also small shops just near the falls selling hot omelet, Vada Pav, and more..

Belur and Halebid Temples:

Belur-Halebid go together like twin cities. We visited Belur and Halebid temples, while returning to Bangalore. Belur is around 30 kms from Chikmagalur. We visited Chenna Kesava temple which is definitely a master piece constructed by the Hoysala dynasty.

The stone carvings are extra ordinary, and this temple is a great piece of architecture. Worth a visit, if you are a History Lover.

It’s around 15Kms between both these historic temples :

Other Attractions (within 100 kms):

Manikyadhara Falls (34 Kms)
Baba Budanagiri (35 Kms)
Kemmangundi (KR hills) (62 kms)
Hebbe Falls (65 Kms)
Bhadra Dam & Wildlife Sanctuary (82 Kms)
Kudremukh National Park (90 Kms)
Many Trekking sites are also available.
Kalahatti waterfalls (Not much recommended)

Accommodation:

Chikmagalur as such doesn’t have much attractions. So it’s very important that you select a nice place to stay.
Without a second thought, I would say Thippanahalli home stay (http://www.thippanahallihomestay.com/) will definitely be an ideal place.

They didn’t have the online booking facility. So, we had to call them for the confirmation and the advance was transferred to their Bank account.

The major advantage with this home stay is that they take you for a walk in their coffee plantations, which would be a new experience. You can also buy Coffee Powder from the home stay.

Chikmagalur have a lot of homestays available. My personal recommendation will be to plan your stay in a Homestay rather than a typical hotel type of accommodation.

Otherwise you can also look for more costly options like ‘Serai’.

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” — Gustav Flaubert

Coorg is relatively an easy weekend getaway from Bangalore, Mysore and Malabar region in Kerala.. So plan your trip well in advance to get the best accommodation options.

Coorg is known for its Coffee Plantations. It is ideally not a hill station but a district named as Kodagu (Coorg) in the Indian state of Karnataka and has to offer many locations for sightseeing, and road trips in and around 80~100 kms of radius.

We visited Coorg in January 2015. Coorg secures the top-rated position among Karnataka tourism for being the most travelled destination. Coorg is a perfect place for both shorter or longer duration trips. You can easily keep 2-3 days, if you are planning for a trip to Coorg.

It was the British Planter community who affectionately coined the term ‘The Scotland of India’ for Coorg. Most of the planters were Scots and the uncanny similarities between both places earned Coorg that nickname. Also like Scotland, Coorg is mountainous, misty and cool.

Places that we visited:

Madikeri:

If you’re in Coorg, most likely you’ll find yourself in Madikeri at some point. Madikeri is a beautiful hill station and the headquarters of Coorg.

Bylakuppe (A little Tibet)(Tibetan Monastery Golden Temple):

In the midst of all the coffee and forest is a surprising little Tibetan settlement in the form of Bylakuppe. Around 40 km southwards of Madikeri, the Namdroling monastery is located in Bylakuppe. It is built on the land donated to the Tibetian refugees by the Government of India. This is the second largest Tibetan settlement after Dharmsala. The interior of the temple has some of the largest and most fascinating Buddha statues.

Raja Seat:

The sunset amidst the mountains is the most mesmerizing sight from Raja Seat. There is also a garden with loads of flowers which makes it even more beautiful.

Mandalpatti 4 Wheel Drive Jeep Safari:

This is something that you should definitely do if you’re in this area. Another instance , when I really became a big fan of Mahindra Vehicles. The road trip from Madikeri to Mandalpatti is a nature lover’s dream come true. It will also arouse the interests of any adventure seeking traveller. Mandalapatti viewpoint is 20 KMS away from Madikeri. You can drive till Mandalpatti checkpoint in any car, but from thereon you have to hire a forest department Jeep. The jeep will take you through the narrow roads, hairpin bends, coffee gardens and of course the Abbey Falls to a hill which is incredibly beautiful.

Dubare Elephant Camp:

If you get your timing right, you can even participate in the bathing, scrubbing and feeding of the elephants in the Dubare camp.

Omkareshwara Temple:

Structured in the Gothic and Islamic architectural styles, Omkareshwara temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. It is open all days of the week and takes just an hour to view the entire temple. There is a huge water tank with fishes which makes the place even more beautiful. At the entrance, there is a copper plate that explains the temple’s history. Omkareshwar Temple is at a walking distance from Raja’s Seat

Other Attractions Nearby: (within 50 kms)

• Coffee plantation tours
• Thadiyandamol (42 Kms)
• Madikeri Fort (18 kms)
• Chelavara Falls (40 Kms)
• Harangi Dam (32 kms)
• Kopatty Hills (40 kms)
• Chettalli (14 Kms)
• Chiklihole Reservoir (22 kms)
• Talacauvery (50 kms)
• Somwarpet (50 kms)

Food:

If you are a foodie, don’t forget to taste some Coorg food (Pork and Home made Wine). Personal recommendation would be try some varieties of pork especially Pork Fry + Rice balls or Pandhi Curry + Rice. We tried 2 restaurants ‘East End Hotel’ and ‘Coorg Cuisine’. Both of them were good.

Accommodation:

There are lot of excellent homestays and resorts in Coorg.

Also you can look for more costly options like Tamara, Windflower Resort, Vivanta By Taj and so on.

We stayed in Bird of Paradise (Home Stay). Overall the Home stay was good. Probably one of the very few home stays having a swimming pool. Please don’t expect any hill top view .There are some very good paintings on the trees within the campus. This is very near to Buddhist Monastery.

Another place that we stayed was Sri Venkateshwara residency, Madikeri. Location of the hotel is nice, It is situated in the ghat road from Madikeri and is little far from the city center.

How to get there:

By Air: Mangalore Airport is about 150 kilometers away and is the nearest airport to Coorg.

By Bus: Mangalore, Mysore and Bengaluru have daily bus (KSRTC deluxe buses) services going to and from Coorg.

By Train: 100 kilometers away, Mysore Railway station is the closest to Coorg.

Self Drive: Fly to Bengaluru and drive to Coorg. A 5 hour journey and a delightful road trip.