About Chikmagalur: 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 was the place where coffee was first cultivated in India. Rivers like Tunga and Bhadra have their sources in the mountains here which are parts of the Western Ghats. Chikmagalur district also contains Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka.
The city is placed amid a scenic landscape in a fertile valley; it is surrounded by lush green coffee plantation hills. The distance from Bangalore and its situation in the lap of Mother Nature, makes this place a perfect weekend gateway for all Bangalorians.

Duration of the trip: It was a 2 days and 1 night trip for us.

Transportation: We traveled this destination with our own car. We started from Bangalore at around 4:30 AM in morning on a Saturday and reached Chikmagalur at around 10:00 AM. For returning to Bangalore, we started around 4:00 PM on Sunday and reached by 9:00 PM.

On the Way to Chikmagalur

Details of the Trip:
Day 1: As I already mentioned, we started from Bangalore at around 4:30 AM in the morning and reached there by 10:00 AM. On the way, we stopped at a Café Coffee Day and had our breakfast over there.
Upon reaching to Chikmagalur, we boarded in The Planters Court. We booked two double bed rooms at Rs. 1075/- each (excluding taxes) as we were four people. The hotel has free parking facility in the campus itself which was something we didn't find in most of the other budget hotels in Chikmagalur.

Front view of the Hotel

Once we got into the room, we freshen up and decided to go for sight-seeing after having lunch. We had our lunch in Hotel Mayura, though it was as small vegetarian restaurant, but they served the best north Indian food I ever had in entire south India. Even the famous restaurants of Bangalore don’t serve such delicious north Indian food.
After enjoying the delicious lunch, we booked a cab from the nearby KSRTC bus stop for the sight-seeing purpose. Though we had our car with us, but none of us were confident enough to drive to the hill station, and so we didn't take any risk. So, from the bus stop, we booked a Tata Indica in Rs 2200/- with a deal of showing six most popular places around Chikmagalur in two days.
Athigundi is a small village on the way to Baba Budan giri. The place provides a fabulous scenic view to the tourists and an awesome place for photography.

Athigundi

Athigundi

Honnamana Halla Falls is a small fall again on the way to Baba Budan Giri. Though there is nothing much to see as it’s a smallest of falls, but there were many tourists who were enjoying the place.

Honnaman halla Fall

Bababudan Giri Datta Pet is the main attraction of the day. By the time we reached there it started raining, and the place was fully covered by mists with a visibility of less than 50 meters. However, the mist added a thrill in the journey.

Ayurvedic shop @ Baba Budan Giri

Ayurvedic shop @ Baba Budan Giri

Near the entrance of the Shirin

There were three large caves, said to have been sanctified by three siddhas contain their icons and ‘gaddiges’ (tombs), and an annual jatra is held here in their honor. The enthralling scenery around makes this many frequented pilgrim centers. This holy place is worshiped by both Hindus and Muslims. A beacon lighted here during Deepavali can be seen at Chikmagalur. The peak takes its name from the Muslim Saint, Baba-Budan, who resided here for more than 150 years.
Furthermore, these are the places that the first ever coffee in the country was grown way back in 1670 A.D.
Jhari Falls is said to be one of the best falls nearby Chikmagalur. To visit the place one has to walk to around two kilometers downwards from the road inside forest. Even so, the place is full of leaches should we didn’t take the risk to make it to this place.

Near Jhari Falls

By the time we finished visiting these places, it started raining heavily, and we got completely drenched. We came back to hotel and got freshened up. Later, we went for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Food was good there also but not in compare to the one we had for lunch in Hotel Mayura.
Day 2: We had our breakfast at the hotel and checked out in from there in the morning keeping our entire luggage in the car. As I already told that we didn’t want to take a risk of sightseeing driving own car and booked a car for the sightseeing, we needed some place to keep the car. We requested the lady behind the hotel reception, and she was generous enough to allow us.

On the way to mullayangiri

On the way to mullayangiri

\The first place we visited this morning was Seethalayan Matha, on the way to Mullayanagiri. Seethala Mallappana Kanive to the left side is said to have been hallowed by Sidha Seethalaya and contains a Matha and the dual shrine temple of Seethala-Mallikarjuna.

Seethalayan Matha

Then we proceed towards Mullaiyanagiri, the highest point of the district and in Karnataka, it rises to 1926.7 meters above the sea level and is situated at the south of the range. The small hillock in the temple compound is the highest point in Karnataka. The road to Mullayanagiri is very narrow with views from steep cliffs. Driving to the peak is impossible and includes a trek up the hill from the half-way point. There is a small temple on top of the hill. We heard that from the topmost point on the hill, the Arabian Sea is visible on clear days. However, ours was not a day of such weather.

Mullayangiri

Our driver warned us multiple times to start early in the morning for Mullaiyanagiri else it will start raining, but we couldn’t make it early. As a result by the time we reached there it started raining heavily. With the heavy rain also we tried to climb the stairs to the top, but we couldn’t make it beyond the half way. The rain and wind were so forceful; we were feeling we might be thrown down the hill at any point of time. Nevertheless, it was a life time experience to cherish.
We had no raincoat with us, and it was not at all possible to open the umbrella which left us drench like anything. It was impossible to return to Bangalore in such drenched clothes, and so werequested the lady in Hotel Planters Court to allow us a room so that we can change there, and she showed her generosity again by allotting us a room that too without any cost.
None of us wanted to leave Chikmagalur without the taste of Hotel Mayura, and so we went there again for lunch. After enjoying the delicious Kashmiri Biriyani, we started for Bangalore by 3:30 PM.

Note: From my experience below are the few tips I want to share.
1. Carrying woolens and rain coat is a must in Chikmagalur.
2. If you want to make it to the top of Mullaiyanagiri, start early for the place.
3. If you are not an expert driver, don’t take the risk of using your own car for sightseeing. Especially if you are from Bangalore don’t at all dare to.

Disclaimer: We went on this trip in June 2013. There are chances that price has got changed. Please check with Hotel and local cabs about current rates. I have tried to provide as much as details is possible for the trip. For any further information, feel free to post a comment in the blog or contact me@dutshilpi@gmail.com.

About Coorg: Coorg is one of the most affluent hill stations in Karnataka. With its natural splendor and exotic scenic environment, Coorg has a special place among the hill stations in India. Nestled among the lush greeneries of the Western Ghats, Coorg offers unequal luxurious vacation period to its guests. Coorg is praised as the 'Scotland of India' and also renowned as 'Kashmir of the South' due to the majestic beauty and cool ambience of the hill station at an altitude in the range of 3500 ft above sea level. Dense teak wooded forests, lush green valleys, breathtaking coffee plantations and undulated challenging mountain ranges to make Coorg an exquisite location for the tourist seeking natural scenic spots and challenging treks. Tadiandamol, Brahmagiri and Pushpagiri peaks in Coorg are very challenging for the trekkers, and the surroundinges of these peaks are really eye feasting. Coorg is considered as a mind-blowing summer retreat for escaping from the hot summer days in downtown cities. Monsoon is one of the best times to visit this hill station; and many tourists arrive in Coorg to enjoy the wild beauty which unfolds to its maximum during the monsoon.

Duration of the trip: We visited Coorg Along with Mysore; so for us, it took three days and two nights. However, if one wants to visit only Coorg, a weekend should be more than enough.

Transportation: We booked a Toyota Innova from BookCab for the trip which picked us up from Bangalore, took us for sightseeing in Mysore and Coorg, dropped us back in Bangalore. The transport for the entire trip cost us around Rs. 12000/.

Details of the Trip:
Day 1:We started from Bangalore around morning 8:00 am. After visiting Mysore, we started for Coorg. We reached to Coorg around 01:00 a.m. We had already made our booking in Hotel Highton. We were five elders and one kid in the group, so we had booked one double deluxe and one family deluxe. There were few other types of rooms also available with variety of rates. The hotel was very clean and near to the Madikeri market.
Day 2: We had our breakfast at hotel and started for local sightseeing. The places we visited throughout the day were,
Talacauvery is the origin of Cauvery River from the Bramhagiri Hills. This place is treated as the holiest place in Kanataka. A small spring, Brahma kundike, situated 1276 m above sea level, marks the origin of the Caurvery, a temple was built on the spot where regular puja rituals took place. The temple is dedicated to Lord Agastheeswara, who is considered to be the link between great Sage Agasthya and river Cauvery.

Talacauvery from the top

Talacauvery from the Top

Brahma kundike

From Talakaveri, steps lead-up to the nearby Brahmagiri peak, where the seven great sages called the Sapta Maharishis performed a special yagna.

Step for Bramhagiri

Brahmagiri Peak

Abbey Falls, the main attraction of Madikeri, breathtaking waterfall where the Kaveri River cascades down a rock face from a height of 70 feet. A hanging bridge has now been built across the gorge here offering a good view of the falls. The falls can be reached by a narrow road from Madikeri. Cars can reach the entrance of these falls from where a downhill walk of 500 metres (on slightly paved steps) takes one to the waterfalls.

Way to Abbey Falls

Abbey Falls

Hanging Bridge infront of Abbey Falls

We had our lunch on the way near Nishargadhama and proceed to the Dubare Elephant camp.

By the time we reached Dubare Elephant Camp, it was around 2:30 PM, and the camp remained open from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, reopened by 4:30 PM. As we had to wait for a long time, we decided not to waste time.
We went for a rafting in the nearby Cauvery River. As it was not monsoon, it can merely be called as rafting, however, we enjoyed that too a lot. Rafting costs Rs 100/- per head.



From there we went to the famous Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement. We reached the gates of the Monastery which itself gave an idea of the kind of architecture inside. As soon as we entered inside the temple, it was altogether a different world for me. Being a Bengali, most of the places I had visited since my childhood have been the hill stations around East, North India and Buddhaism, monasteries are integral parts of those places. The sprawling campus, the temples took me back to my childhood.
This Tibetan settlement is the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. There are over 7,000 monks and students at the Tibetan monastery. Among the monasteries of this settlement, Sera Ja Monastery, Sakya Monastery and TashiLunpho Monastery are some of the popular ones.
The major attraction of this settlement is the Golden Temple. This Golden Template houses a 40ft tall Buddha Statue.


By the time we finished, visiting different monasteries, it already started getting dark and the inhabitants of the monasteries started their evening prayer ,which was a great feeling which can’t be expressed in words.

However, I don’t want to bore my readers with my nostalgia and so let’s move on :)

Post visiting the settlement, we came back to our hotel. In the late evening, we went to Madikeri market for shopping. Coorg is famous for Coffee, Spices, homemade chocolates and honey. So we bought all of them in adequate quantity.

Day 3: We checked out from our hotel and again started for Dubare Elephant Camp. We crossed Cauvery river in a boat which charged Rs 20/- each including the entry fee to the camp.
Before I visited this place, I was in an impression that what would be so special about an elephant camp that people like about it. But it changed by the time I left that place.
This place has around 150 Elephants, which are being trained under naturalists. In the Dubare elephant camp, there are many activities offered Jungle Lodge and Resorts which visitors not only can enjoy also can participate in a very nominal cost. The various activities conducted here are,
Elephant Grooming: Elephants been given a scrub-bath in the River and also watch how oil is applied on their forehead, tusks and other aspects of Elephant grooming.
Elephant feeding: Visitors can watch the food being prepared for the Elephants and how they are fed.
Commands: The Mahouts demonstrate the various commands the Elephants can obey.
Elephant Ride: This was the only activity that we took part. One can take an elephant ride for 10-15 minutes at Rs 100/-.

As we had a kid with us, he enjoyed it thoroughly, which added the real value to visit this place.
Other than all these activities, Dubare Elephant Camp holds a great historical importance as the elephants used in Mysore Dassehra Festival are trained in this camp.
We then proceed to Nishargadhama. There was a hanging bridge over the entrance, which was very enjoyable as it was shaking while walking. Though this place claimed to be a wild life sanctuary, we hardly found any animal other than deer and rabbit. Furthermore, the maintenance of this place is very poor. However, one thing I liked about this place is, the sculptures made by coloring trees. Entry ticket for this place is Rs 30/- per head.

After visiting this place we had our lunch at the same restaurant like the day before and proceed towards Bangalore.

Note: From my experience of Coorg visit, I want to advise visitors on few points,
1. Don’t visit Coorg during Oct-Nov as we did, because due to continuous rain you neither will be able to cover all the places to visit nor you can do river rafting as the rain is not sufficient for the same.
2. Don’t hire cabs from BookCab if you are not well versed with all the routes. We were not much aware of the roads; taking advantage of that the driver took us in the same road repeatedly to increase the kilometer count to charge more. Furthermore,  the driver imposed what places to be visited instead of showing the places we were interested in.
3. Coorg trip will be much cheaper if one can reach there by bus and hire cabs from there for local sightseeing.

Disclaimer: We went on this trip in Oct 2012. There are chances that price and timings have got changed. Please check with Travel Agencies and Hotel about current timings and rates. I have tried to provide as much as details is possible for the trip. For any further information, feel free to post comments in the blog or contact me@dutshilpi@gmail.com.