Coorg 2010: From Pune by Road

Long time I was planning for a trip to Coorg from Pune by my Car which eventually materializes on 5th Sep when we four (myself, my wife and my friend and his wife) embarked on the trip.
We started on Sunday night at around 1:30 am (to be precise on Monday morning) on the NH4 highway with my car Fiat Punto. Everything was planned and booked in advance in Coorg and addition was Kollur (Mookambika Devi temple), which I always visit every even year.


As night travel we prepared tea in thermo flask which eventually comes handy as we stopped in between for a cup of hot tea.
Our route was Pune -> Dharwad -> Yellapur -> Sirsi -> Siddapur -> Jog Falls(view) -> Kargal Road -> Bhatkal -> Kollur (Stay at kollur) -> Mangalore -> Mani (Puttur Road) -> Coorg.


On 6th we reached Belgaum at 5:00 AM and took a hotel for 3 hrs to refresh and then having our breakfast we embarked on the NH4. Once crossed Dharwad and when the single lane road starts keep an eye on the road for Yellapur on the right hand side (if missed asked the lorry driver or when the exit toll comes take a reverse for 1 KM and leave the NH4 on the lest). Reached Siddapur at 2:00 PM and had our lunch at Hotel Ambika (veg thali but food was extremely good). Then reached jog falls at round 4:00 PM and after watching the India’s longest falls we took Hanovar road which was a deviation from the planned route. We have missed the Kargal route in enthusiasm and it cost us nearly half day and 100 KM. One should always take the Kargal route and it is the shortest route to Kollur.
We reached Hanovar at around 7:00 PM and asked the localites if was can go ahead but was discouraged as the road was pathetic after Bhatkal and it was night. So we stayed at Murudeshwar and the hotel was quite cheap as it was not the season. Had our dinner at NHS Highway Hotel and it is also the best place to stay.


On 7th we explore the temple and embarked on Kollur and it was right that there was no road for a 20 KM stretch after Bhatkal (We Indians agreed that during Monsoon road will be like this it’s the Indian mind set) reached Kollur at 12:00 PM and after offering puja to Devi Mookambika we started for Coorg.
Due to pathetic road condition and bad weather we reached Coorg at 1:00 AM to our booked resort Alath-cad. It is supposed to take 4 hr from Kollur to Coorg via Mangalore but due to external factors(bad road and raining we reached Coorg lately.


About Alath-cad:
I have been to Coorg before and always stayed here as this is situated outside the city. And you got to stay in the midst of Coffee plantation. The food and hospitality is very good and in staying there is simply awesome.


On 8th We woke up lately due to previous day exhaustion and after having breakfast we went to Raja seat. It was raining but good view all around. Then went to Abbey falls and from then to market where usually it’s better to buy spices and always Coffee. But remember if you are buying coffee then also buy the filter as (lowest could be Rs. 90) as we cannot use the coffee as we use nes coffee.


On 9th we visited Dubare forest and couldn’t do elephant riding as it was raining but did Water rafting downstream 7 KM in the Cauvery river. It was a lifetime experience as the rapid was ok which falls in grade 4. From there we went to Nisargadhama (a park type) and then to Kushal Nagar for lunch. We had our lunch at Kannika International as the food was good.


On 10th We started for Pune from Coorg at around 11:00 AM. We took the route Coorg -> Konnur -> Arkal gud -> Hole Nasipur -> Channarayapatna -> Nelamangala -> NH4.
We took this route as we tried to avoid Mysore and Bangalore traffic. It is the shortest route to NH4 but road condition was bad. It is under construction and once the road is fully done then this will be a good road. But it is advisable to take the Mysore and Bangalore road.


Total Km travelled is: 2440 KM and avg I got is 13.9 KM.
Planning for Chikmangalur trip until then byeee..

Dajipur

I am writing this blog after a long long time due to time constraint and being lazy.
Last month I went to Dajipur which is 90 km from Kolhapur. This one I had planned long time back but people reasoning so many reasons for which it never materialize.

But finally I made up my mind that this time I will travel as best season is during winter time.
I started from Pune at 4:00 am on 25th Jan 2010 and the first halt was at Kolhapur to offer puja to deity Mahalakshmi which I always include in my plan if I travel to Kolhapur.

And this journey is more special one as I am travelling first time in my newly bought Fiat Punto with my wife and mom.

AboutDajipur:-
Dajipur is Indian Bison (Gaur) sanctuary situated in mountain at a height 1200 mt.(approx). It is called Radhanagri forest.

It is 90km from Kolhapur and one has to pass the city traffic to reach Dajipur so it’s always better to start early.

If you are new to Kolhapur city then ask someone for RadhaNagri road and then just follow the road. On the road ask for Dajipur people was always there to help. Once you put the city behind the road is good and one can travel uninterrupted but to be careful when village approaches. This time of the year its dry every where so the scenic beauty is not that pleasant but ok as both side still hold greenery.

The full ride is on hilly road and not sure how many hills I have crossed. I started from Kolhapur at 11:00 am and reached Dajipur bison resort at 1.00 PM with intermittent stop to ask the road direction.

The resort is situated at the foot of the mountain jungle and it’s clam, clean and the place is simply awesome. You can the see the lake (dam water) from the resort, just opposite of the road.

We quickly checked in quickly and I must say the room is good, nway you cannot expect five star treatment.

I thought of going to the jungle on the next day morning but then the resort mgr informed me that next day jungle will be closed being 26^th Jan.

So, we had our lunch quickly and thought of travelling by car, but then the resort person informed the 14km road to jungle is not good, so we had to hire the jeep, it coast 1200, first I thought it is costly but when I reached the jungle its worth as there is no proper road and only jeep can travel.

Its 14km travel to high mountain with plenty of greenery on both the sides. The road is narrow and the jungle is deep. We went to the first watch tower but as expected no animal came to our vision as time is not perfect. One thing which I noticed is that when you reached the mountain top, it’s like a table land. Flat land with mid size boulders scattered. We came back at the resort by 6 pm as jungle get close at 6 pm. Food was good and I had lot of Solkhadi which is my favorite.

Night was cool and breezy and its clam everywhere.

Next day morning we had our breakfast and started for Pune.

I am planning to travel in the coming monsoon season and as informed by the resort mgr it is awesome.

I can be reached @9850971527 for any info required.

Towards Coorg, Feb 2006

This one starts where we (me and my wife Barnita) took the cab from Mangalore and heeded towards Coorg, basically to Alath-Cad holiday home which I booked before hand. We started from Mangalore at around 12 pm; well the journey was pleasant but a bit hectic because Coorg is nearer from Bangalore. We had our lunch (udupi cuisine) on the way, by this time we came to know that our driver bhai knows a little bit of Hindi which in fact helped us to communicate with him better. We reached our destination Alath-Cad at around 6:30 and it was quite dark, although our host was waiting for us to receive us. Once reached there we quickly went to the cottage and had bath by the time tea came for a well needed refreshment.

About Alath-Cad(http://www.alathcadcoorg.com): Before planning my journey to Coorg, I was very much sceptic about the place as you know newly married and I don’t want to disappoint my better half. Well my friend Karthik advice it will be good place although he had never visited the place and at the end his 6th sense prevailed. This place situated around 28 km from the main town Mercara, hence there is no hustle & bustle and a complete cut off from the city life. Its primary a coffee estate, which has been partly, developed in to a holiday home by Mrs. Muddhu hmmm our guest. The day temperature is usually hot and the nights are cool. The cottages are situated amidst coffee plantation and tall teak trees only to be climbed by the creepers called black pepper plant. There is also a river which passes by the estate. There are plenty of activities one can do at the holiday home like cycling/angling and so many. The food here is local cuisine and it is awesome but I would suggest veg. The hospitality is very good and it’s like you have come to someone’s home and not hotel/resort. "One thing I can say if someone is going to Coorg, the places to stay is this Alath-cad”.

Back on track, next day we had our breakfast by the time the same cab driver came and we planned to visit Talacauvery(the birthplace of cauvery river), the mercara city and Omkareshwara temple. This time year, here it is usually hot in the day time so when we are back to visit talacauvery, our driver had lost the car key. Well me and my better half and few locals joins us in searching the key on the road, but it was fruitless. Our driver brought a mechanic and some how managed to start the car and we rather happily boarded the car for next destination. But fate has some other plan stored for us, we are about to reach the temple, suddenly gushes of water came out from the engine and full of smoke. We both got down quickly from and car and after little investigation from driver, we came to know the exhaust fan was not running hence the exhaust pipe broke.Sencing help is going to come late, I suggested my wife to walk and see the temple, at first she was a bit hesitant but eventually agreed. It’s the birth place of Cauvery river, it’s like a small storage tank and water source is underground, priest says
that water comes out one a particular day of the year. There is also place which you have to climb steps, near about 200 to reach the top from where one can view the whole western ghats range. But for us, on that afternoon, it was miss-adventure although we reached there.
Hats off to my wife for her effort. When we returned back , our driver has managed to mend the problem and this is temporay.From there we went to Raja's seat place and abbay falls both are magnificent and some shopping from mercara.

Next day we wake up a bit early to explore the surroundings, only to be found our guest scheduled for morning walk. We had talk and they suggested to see the coffer blossoms which is one word "MAGNIFICIENT". The whole coffee plantation is looking white and the aroma of the flowers adds to be more romantic. That day we went to visit places called Dubare(elephant camp), but unfortunately all the elephants(these are not wild) went into the jungle. So we decided to take a river ride and fortunately we were able to see two wild elephants, this time we both were lucky. Then we went to Nagarhole national park and Tibetean monastery and then back to Alath cad. Since we would be heading to Trivandrum, out last leg of the journey, we had missed a lot of other places. But then the best time is after monsoon and I definitely will visit Coorg again.
Next day we are about to leave for Kasargod from where we will be boarding the train to trivandrum then news came there is riot and hence the host don’t want to take any risk and suggested to got to Mysore and from there to Trivandrum by Bus.
We don’t have any option but to agree…and headed for mysore which is totaly unplanned.

Kollur Feb 2006

This is my first posting for the one of the places which I had visited way back in feb 2006, infact this is mine 2nd time and this time with my wife, then just married. Since starting a new phase in my life so I included Kollur in my so called honeymoon iteniary to get the belessing of goddess Mookambika.

This place is of immense religious importance and the ambience and atmostphere is awesome.It is believed that Sri Adi Shankaracharya had a vision of Sri Mookambika Devi and he installed the deity here. 

Kollur can be reached from Mangalore by bus which takes 3 to 4 hrs and the last phase of the journey is really good with serpent roads, admist villages and by the side of Sowparnika river.We reached there at around 12 pm and book a hotel (which is plenty and and rate is reasonable), took batch and went to the temple. We offered puja and had our lunch at the temple provided by the devasan for free,the most good thing is that there is no special treatment for anyone, everybody is sittiing and having lunch.

The evening part is the most beautiful one I had ever witnessed, the lightining of the deep stand is really one needs to see which is 30 ft tall and the sandhya aarti. Again we had our dinner at the temple only and spend some there and returned to hotel, ready for the next day journey to Mangalore where our hired cab will be waiting for us to take us to Coorg, the 2nd leg of our jouney.
Well I have not asked my wife how is the place becoz once can understand if somebody is happy from inside.