Well, this was our first more than a day trip. After completing our 2 years of work experience, we finally made it.
We, a group of 8, planned for a 3-days trip. It all started with Vijay, who was gossiping with Saranya about Shivmoga. Saranya, who always use to plan for everything, along with Jayasree had a discussion to visit Shivmoga, combined with Jog Falls and Abbey Falls. They came up with this idea and approached rest of our batch-friends. Since, those 3 location’s are hard to visit in 3 days of time, we decided to break-down deeper about the location’s and other option’s available in and around Karnataka for a 3-days trip. We also need to think about the mode of transport and budget in mind. After half a dozzen of meetings and discussions, we finalized with Coorg and Mysore.
Coorg, boasts of an unprecedented beauty, adventurous terrain and a pleasant climate that promises refreshing days to all its visitors. From waterfalls, viewpoints, lakes and parks to trekking trails and luxurious accommodation, Coorg offers everything that is required for a perfect holiday.
We booked train tickets to & fro Chennai-Mysore prior in advance before 40 days. We also spoke with almost 15+ travel’s, hotel’s.etc and finally got a good deal with Mr Arun on renting a tempo traveler for 3 days. We had some basic requirement like the driver must be aware of our mother tongue, tamil. Because, it will be easy for all of us to communicate and guide, as well us it be an head ache for us, if we can't able to understand their language, for 3 continuous full days of the trip and travel. Mr Arun is basically from Kerala, and he aware of almost all South Indian languages, as well as Hindi.
Name of Traveler’s :
1). Giri
2). Vijay
3). Agnel Joe
4). Santhosh
5). Hemanth
6). Saranya
7). Archana
8). Jayasree
We pre-booked the followings, just a month before the travel date. Thank god there was some availability’s in train.
1. Chennai to Mysore : 16021 - Kaveri Express (Rs. 285 per head).
2. Mysore to Chennai : 16022 - Kaveri Express (Rs. 285 per head).
3. Tempo Traveler 16-seater - Mysore RS pick-up and drop for 3 full days (Rs 14, 000).
4. Hotel Shastri Paradise, Mysore : Rs 2,000 for 2 rooms (Just for 4 hours of refreshment).
5. Hotel Coorg Mandarin, Madikeri : Rs. 3,602 for 3 rooms for 1 night stay.
6. Coorg Guest House, Srimangala : Rs. 2,997 for 3 rooms for 1 night stay.
My Lucky Money Purse, American Tourister :
19 July, 2019 (Friday) :
The journey started from our office @ OMR, Chennai. We actually planned to reach Chennai Central RS by MRTS train. But due to time constraint, we reached by cab. We we’re accompanied by one of our batch-mate, Priya, who will be missing this trip due to her personal commitment’s.
Reaching Chennai Central RS, we got the train well on-time. Priya wished us to have a nice trip and left the location to her home. The train started along with our fun and enjoyment. Since, it was a dream for all 8 member’s to go for a weekend trip like this, we all felt excited. We all were gossiping and making fun of each. Later, we started to play Raja Rani, - The Game of Empire’s. We played till 12:30am. Later, we fall sleepy, as we have to travel tomorrow.
A Long Signal @ Bangalore RS :
20 July, 2019 (Saturday) :
The next day morning, we reached City of Palaces, Mysore.
It was around 7am, when we met Mr Arun, who was waiting for us outside the Mysore RS with his Tempo Traveler. Getting the tempo, we reached Hotel Shastri Paradise, which is just 2kms from Mysore RS and just opposite to Mysore Bus Stand.
Getting refreshed, we vacated the hotel around 9:30am and proceeded towards coorg. We completed our breakfast @ New Mysore Refreshment Restaurant, which is just opposite to Mysore Zoo. Here, they served tasty idlies, mysore masala dosa, vada.etc along with authentic karnataka sambar.
We also had kesari bath as sweets and coffee / tea as beverages. We resumed our journey towards coorg. It was around 12 noon, when we reached Tibetan Monastery / Golden Temple, Coorg.
About Golden Temple :
The Tiny Tibetan colony in here is an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The enclosed calm and the spiritual ambiance of the place welcomes all the visitors. The Tibetan Monastery is located around 6 km from Kushalnagar.
This Place is one of the largest Tibetan settlements in India. There are around 16000 refugees and nearly 6000 monks and nuns in this monastery. This Tibetan settlement at Bail Koppa or Bylakuppe is the the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet
After Chinese took over Tibet the refugees were settled at Bylakuppe near Kushalnagar. The Monastery was re-established in the year 1972. Young Tibetans seeking enlightenment and education come to this place.
The major attraction of this place is the forty feet tall golden Buddha statues. The walls of the temples and institutions are decorated with beautiful paintings depicting the characters from Tibetan Buddhist mythology.
This place really worth a visit. The serene atmosphere of the place take you to another world. There are so many shopping centers in and around the monastery where you will get traditional Tibetan items. Also we can try their style of food or lunch or dinner. It was budgeted and tasty to have.
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It was totally a different experience for all of us. The environment and the people over here made us to feel like we were in Tibet, China. It was a nice start for us, and drizzles started lightly. We did some shopping to get some momento's for our office-mate's Priya and Nambi. We also did some personal shopping here.
Entrance of The Golden Temple :
The Main Temple :
Side View :
Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihara :
Hemanth :
Meditation / Pooja Hall :
Welcoming With Brick Fire Both The Sides of The Main Temple :
Two-Headed Pine Tree :
Relic Stupa :
Surrounding Beauties :
Where Did You Go Chlorophyll.?
It was around 1:15pm, when we completed our visit to this golden temple and moved on to next location.
Around 2pm, we entered Kaveri Nisargadhama Forest Park.
About Kaveri Nisargadhama :
Formed by the main river of the region, River Kaveri, it is surrounded by dense forest. A popular weekend getaway in itself, it is situated quite close to Kushalnagar, with just 3 km of distance between them.
Established in 1989, it has been attracting tourists since decades now. Spread over an area of 64 acres, it presents an alluring natural setting where tourists can admire the sight of River Kaveri flowing gloriously through the dense forest accompanied by chirping birds sound.
It presents an excellent opportunity for tourists to have a close interaction with nature. Visitors can enter the reserve through the new hanging bridge, which is not to be confused with the old hanging bridge which is no more functional.
We can witness a well-maintained deer park at the end of this park. There is also availability of Jungle Rope Safari, which costs just Rs 100 per head. One who wants to experience some kind of real adventure, can try this without any hesitation as it is 100% safer.
Time : All Days - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Entrance Fees : Adults Rs 10/- and Children Rs 5/-.
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Entrance Hanging Bridge :
Hemanth :
Agnel Joe (Amaidhiyoo Amaidhi) :
Santhoosshhhh : Love Panlama Venama..??
After Some Time : Simbu Paadura Alavuku la Ila. Panalam..
Watch Tower :
Ready For Jungle Rope Safari :
Rest'uu :
Vijay The Undertaker :
Final Point - Deer Park :
Completing our visit to this amazing park, we proceeded further towards Madikeri. In-between, we halted @ Hotel Crown Grand, Kushalnagar.
It was around 5pm, when we entered Madikeri town. At first, we visited Raja’s Seat. Since it was the start of monsoon season, it became perfect time for us to visit coorg. Raja’s Seat is covered full of mist and even an object or a person next to 5 feet distance isn't visible.
About Raja’s Seat :
Raja's seat literally means Seat of the King. Located in the town of Madikeri, it is a beautiful place presenting a refreshing setting and soothing environment.
The place is called as Raja's Seat because it was the place where Coorg's King used to enjoy the beautiful scenic beauty around. It was believed that the Coorg's King use to watch Sunset, every evening along with his wife / Queen.
It is perfect setting to relax and admire the breathtaking view of the surrounding areas. Lush greenery with calm environment and golden streams of sunlight makes for a picture perfect setting.
The place along with a wonderful park has a Gandhi Mantap to its left. The Gandhi Mantap is the place where remains of Mahatma Gandhi have been kept.
There is area for children’s amusement as well making it’s a perfect place for family outing. The toy train which goes around raja seat attracts not just children but adults as well.Inside the train, along with having a look at the beauty around, one can also enjoy delicious snacks. To enter the park, tourists are charged with a minimum entry fee of Rs. 5/- per person.
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Post 6pm, i.e., after sunset, we had some chats just near the entrance and left the location, get-in our rooms @ Hotel Coorg Mandarin.
We all aren’t much tired, as we didn't have much travel. So, getting refreshed, we all started playing cards around 7:45pm.
Since Madikeri is a small town, all the restaurants and shops will be closed by 9pm. Therefore, we had a walk post 8:30pm and it was drizzling outside. We all came out with our umbrella, in that freezing cold weather. The mist continues to be present, covering the whole Madikeri like a blanket. There was only a small hotel available and it has only chapathi to serve us. We need to go with that one and only option, but it was not bad and also not so good. Completing our dinner, we all are back to our rooms and fallen sleep.
21 July, 2019 (Sunday) :
Next day morning, we all waken up around 7:15am. It was cold and misty outside with fast drizzles.
We completed our breakfast in our rooms itself, as breakfast comes as complementary along with our stay. We all got refreshed and by 8:45am, we left the our rooms and marched towards Mandalpatti.
About Mandalpatti :
Located at a distance of 25- 30 km from Madikeri town, Mandalpatti is a popular tourist spot. A lush green mesmerising place, Mandalpatti has recently become popular amongst travelers. The place is way from the hustle bustle and offers some seclusion and calmness. It is perfect place to go for trekking. However, to go for trekking, one is required to take entrance tickets from the authorities at the base of Mandalpatti.
It is better to equip oneself with all the required materials before starting the trek as there are no shops. Thus even the basic items like water and food need to be carried. Once at the top of the hill, tourists will be greeted with cool and gentle breeze along with huge stretch of lush greenery.
To reach Mandalpatti, one have to go through a deviating road which is 4 km before Abbey Falls. There are no buses running to the destination.
Thus, it is better to hire a private vehicle, jeep. It is better to avoid visiting this place during rainy season as the road is still not fully developed and thus path can be rough and slippery during heavy rain days.
Jeep Cost : Rs 2,000 per jeep (Max 9 nos).
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Our visit to mandalpatti in jeep safari was a nice experience for all of us in that bumpy roads, drizzling rains and misty environment. The wind was blowing in high-speed accompanied with rains. It was freezing chill covered with mist all around us.
Entrance @ The Start Of Trek :
Freezing Hemanth :
We are back to our rooms around 11:30am, freshen up and ready to vacate our room’s around 12noon. It was a nice and comfortable stay @ Hotel Coorg Mandarin and thanks to them.
Around 12:15pm, we reached Abbey Falls, Madikeri. At first, we all felt hungry. So we completed our lunch with available options nearby, Maggi Noodles and Bread Omlette. Then, we entered inside Abbey Falls spot. It was a 300meters walk from the shop / parking area. Umbrellas are available for rent @Rs 30 per nos. Having umbrellas are recommended as it was drizzling and start of monsoon season.
About Abbey Falls :
The Kashmir of Karnataka, Coorg, the land of coffee and awestricking nature, is the home for some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the state. These waterfalls in Coorg add on to the picturesque setting and pleasant weather making the Coorg plan all the more memorable.
Abbey Waterfalls is one of the worth visiting sightseeing places in Coorg. Its scenic charm, coupled with aromatic plantations of coffee and spices and peaceful surroundings deserve to be not just visited but remembered by every traveller.
Entrance Fees : Rs 15 per head.
Timing : All days between 9am to 5pm.
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Completing our visit to Abbey Falls, we resumed our travel towards Srimangala,via Tala Cauvery. It was around 3:30pm, when we reached Tala Cauvery, which was covered by mist all around accompanied with fast drizzles.
About Tala Cauvery :
Located in the Brahmagiri hill which is at a distance of 8 km from Bhagamandala and 48 km from Madikeri, Talakaveri/Talacauvery is one of the popular tourist spots in Coorg. It holds high religious importance as well and thus attracts hordes of religious tourists.
TalaCauvery is said to be the source of River Cauvery. Although the source that is the flow of water is not always visible. During rainy season, one can get a glimpse of the same. River Cauvery is one of the seven sacred rivers of Sapta Sindhus belonging to the Hindu scriptures.
At a height of 1276 m above sea level, it has small temple as well that is visited often by pilgrims. The temple here has been recently renovated by the state government.
There is a small spring called as a tirtha kundike or Brahma kundike. It is believed that the river originates from this spring. This spring apparently flow underground and emerges after a short distance. Near the kundike, there is a shrine. In front of the shrine, a huge tank has been built where pilgrims take bath and offer prayers.
The place has two temples. One temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has an ancient Shiva Linga. Another temple is of Lord Ganesha. At this temple, you will find a holy Ashwantha tree. According to legend, Lords-Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave the glimpses of their holy avatars to sage Agastya.
Many devotees visit the shrine during the month of October on Sankramana day. During this time, it is said that one can see sudden bubbling and frothing of the small well which symbolises the appearance of the Goddess Cauvery.
Timing : 6:00am to 8:30pm.
Entrance Fees : Nil
Restriction’s : Visitor’s must wear only Veshti / Dhothi, before entering the temple.
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We had nice visit and learnt many new things about River Cauvery and it’s origin. We also had tasty onion bajji along with tea in a small shop, at the enterance of Tala Cauvery temple. It was nice to have those hot bajji’s in that cold climate.
Origin of River Cauvery :
Around 5pm, we let the location and marched towards Srimangala, via Virajpet. It was a nice drive during sunset time accompanied by drizzles and Maestro ILAYARAJA songs.
We reached Coorg Guest house, Srimangala by 8pm. Before reaching, we had a call with the guest house regarding available options for dinner and they made it ready. It was a nice home stay for us, where a group of ladies were managing the guest house so neatly and we we’re impressed a lot by their work and their dedication toward’s it. The guest house location was near the border of Kerala (Kutta, which is the gateway of Wayanad). The dinner was delicious and yummy, which also made all of us to feel like we’re in our own homes. They had a common dining hall, which was well maintained. All we’re good from their side.
Completing our dinner, we all have fallen sleep, as next day morning, we have to wake up early for visiting Nagarhole National Park And Tiger Reserve.
22 July, 2019 (Monday) :
Last day morning, we all set for visiting Nagarhole National Park And Tiger Reserve. We all waken up early and excited to witness some tiger’s. Around 5:30am, we left the guest house and started to travel towards Nagerhole. It was a 40 minutes journey in Virajpet-Kutta Road.
About Nagarhole :
Nagarahole is derived its name from Naga, means snake and Hole refers to as streams. The park is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park located in Kodagu and Mysore District. Kannada is the local language around the National park
Nagarahole Park is declared as thirty seventh Tiger Reserve in India. It is also considered as World Heritage site by UNESCO. Three of the park namely Bandipur, Mudumalai & Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary are adjacent to the Nagarahole
Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena are the predators that can be spotted in the park. Herbivores like Elephants, Chital, Sambar Deer, and Barking Deer is also spotted around the national park.
It was originally constituted into a sanctuary in the year 1955 covering an area of 258 sq. kms and subsequently enlarged to include the adjoining areas of Mysore district and now extends over an area of 643.39 sq. kms which was given the status of a National Park in 1983.
Nagarahole National Park forms apart of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and together with Bandipur National Park (875 sq. kms) and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (325 sq. kms) to its South East and Wayanad (350 sq. kms) to the South-West, is one of the last remaining and best protected habitats for endangered species like the Elephant and the Tiger.
Timing :
Batch I - 6:00am to 9:00am in the morning and Batch II 3:00pm to 6:00pm.
Entrance Fees : Rs 250 for adult and Rs 100 for children.
Official Website : https://www.nagarahole.com/
Suggestion :
There is a 26-seater minibus (canter) safaris, operated by the Forest Department. These run twice per day -- early in the morning from 6.30 a.m to 9 a.m., and again in the afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The cost is 300-500 rupees(depends on season) per person for adults and 125 rupees for children. Tickets must be purchased in person from the Forest Department booking counters at the gates, which open about 30 minutes before the start of the safaris. The tickets are very limited, morning 52 tickets for 2 slots and evening 52 for 2 slots. They give only 4 tickets to each person with a valid Govt. identity proof. Apart from this share-based minibus, there are availability of private vehicle, which cost around Rs 2,000 per head. They will provide us a separate jeep, along with a forest dept guide.
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Reaching Nagerhole entrance, it’s our tough luck as the monsoon got arrived here just an week before, all the safari rides has been closed for 2 months till August end. We all got disappointed. Just witnessed some deer’s near the entrance, crossing the roads, we all are down.
But, I always use to use to analyze a lot about the visiting places, as well as it’s surroundings, and have multiple plans before visiting. This helped us to have 2 alternate plans ready on-hand. With Iruppu Waterfalls and River Rafting.
I’ve already saved the contact information’s of available river rafting nearby. It was a 1hr travel, crossing our guest house. Reaching the rafting location, we met Mr Ashis and Mr Bashir. They are honest and welcomed us warmly. We enquired the pricing and other details. They are having GoPro cam, which costs additional amount of Rs 1,500, per boat. The per head cost is Rs 800. At last, we finalized and came to a conclusion for Rs.1,000 for GoPro per boat, which made our overall per head cost as Rs 1,050.
About River Rafting @ Coorg (Our Experience) :
This is the perfect trip for first timers and for those who need to witness real adventure. It's an absolute perfect for everyone. They provided us all kind of life jackets and other rafting equipment's. There are 4 main spots, which starts from Morning Breakfast and ending with Delicious Dinner. We also got down from the boat @ some spots, where the depth was deeper. But our life jackets saved us here. In addition to the fun and joy, rain joined the party with us. The boat guides were really helpful in making us learn new things about rafting. Actually, we got stuck in a wrong route (all bcoz of me in the driving seat ;-p). But our guide Mr Arun, handled that situation so nicely, without any fear or tension. Even many spiders and unknown insects got inside our boat, as we stuck deeper into the dense bushes. But our guide was there, holding our hands, which made us to have a complete adventure. Thanks to the Kodugu White Water Rafters.
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Everywhere I Go..
Completing our rafting, we all returned to our rooms. While starting from the rafting location, we called the guest house and asked them for availability of breakfast as we all got tired. Arriving the guest house around 11am, breakfast was available and ready to serve. We all had nice breakfast, in home style. We really need to thank Coorg Guest House of Srimangala as they keep on supporting us always throughout our visit. We left the guest house around 1pm and thanked them all. We started our journey towards the last location, Brindhavan of Mysore, KRS Dam through Nagerhole. The route was impressive surrounded by dense forest both the sides of the road.
About Brindavan Gardens :
Brindavan Gardens of Mysore is undeniably one of the best terrace gardens in the world. A must visit sightseeing place of a Mysore, Brindavan Garden mesmerizes everyone. It is located about 12km towards the north west of the Mysore city. Brindavan gardens with its illuminated fountains, botanical park, extensive varieties of plants and fulfilled boating, is place for everyone.
Especially famous for its symmetric design and illuminate terrace gardens, Brindavan Gardens was built by Sir Mirza Ismail, the then diwan of Mysore state. He was the brain behind its modelling and conceptualization. Spread across an area of more than 60 acres, this garden is laid out in three terraces, and ends in a horseshoe shape.
It was the idea of Sir Mirza Ismail, the then diwan of Mysore state to beautify the area around the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam (KRS Dam) which is located in situated in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district. This dam, named after Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, has been built over Cauvery River, which is one of the prominent rivers of South India. Brindavan Gardens have been designed by seeking inspiration from Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir, which have been created in the ancient Mughal style. Hence, it also radiates grandeur and beauty, comprising of a wide array of fountains, terraces, water channels, parterres, lawns and flowerbeds, etc.
The dam site is now being maintained by the Public Works Department, Irrigation department, the Police Department and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation.
Timing : 6:00am to 8:00pm.
Entrance Fees : Rs 500/- per head.
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It was around 3:15pm, when we entered the parking lot of Brindhavan. Getting the enterance ticket, we started to explore the inside beauty of Brindhavan Gardens. It took nearly 2 hours to have a complete visit of only one side of Brindhavan gardens. We came across many unknown trees and flowers around us.
Completing our exploration of inner beauty, we came out and had a walk over the river bridge, which is at the mouth of the dam. Later, we all had some snacks like PanjuMittai, Chats like Pani puri, concluded with some fresh fishes.
It was around 6pm, we left the garden and marched towards the Mysore RS. While on the way, we purchased Mysore Pak @ the famous MahaLakshmi Sweets, Mysore. Reaching Mysore RS, it all started to rain heavily. We thanked Mr Arun, our Temppo Traveler owner and driver who accompanied us or the past 3 days. We all greeted him and made him feel happy and satisfactory. He want to drive to Kushal Nagar again, where he resides. Thank You Mr Arun for being the best guide.
We got dinner parcel in a road side shop, as all of us wanted to taste something like our home town style. We got Parotta, Dosa and Veg Briyani parcel along with kuruma. It was raining heavily and we all got the train on-time.
Thanks to Mr Arun, Srimangala Guest House and Coorg Mandarin for making our Coorg visit, safer, pleased and comfortable.
Concluded Experience :
Thus, we all’re back to our routine office work. In this trip, we covered almost all the part’s of Coorg District, Karnataka.
Coorg you Beauty.!! You are too good than what I've actually thought. One must have to plan and segregate at least 3 days to a week, for a complete visit of Coorg. Still there are some locations like Mallalli Waterfalls, Madikeri Fort, Dubare (closed during our visit due to monsoon) and all, in Central-North Coorg.
That’s it about my coorg exploration. Hope you guys enjoyed and got some valuable information about the locations and enjoyed it reading.
Contact me for any travel related queries or help right at the top under menu. Signing-off from this exploration. See you all in my next adventure. Till That, Take Care. buByeee..!!
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