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..
