Thursday, September 26, 2013

Mission Madikeri

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Collecting information about a place where we wish to go, posting it on a blog and then using the same info during our trip. This is somehow turning out to be a good, useful habit.. :)

After Yercaud, its now time for 'Coorg' which is also at a distance of 250kms from Bangalore. This would be my 4th time visiting this beautiful Hill Station which is also known as "The Scotland of India".

Tourist Attractions:

The usual places:- 

1) Golden Temple (Byle kuppe, Tibetian Colony)
2) Dubbare Forest (Rafting/Elephant Camp)
3) Nisargadhama (Boating, Zipline etc)
4) Abbi Falls 
5) Raja Seat 
6) Omkareshwara Temple
7) Bhagamandala (TalaCauvery)
8) Gaddige (Raja's Tomb)

Places that are less popular:-

9) Chelavara Falls 
10) Chomakund Hills (near Chelavara Falls)
11) Mallalli Falls 
12) Iruppu Falls (Lakshman Theertha)
13) Tadiyendamol, Kakkabe (2nd Highest Peak in Karnataka)
14) Nalnad Palace (located on the foot of Tadiyendamol Hills)
15) Mandalpatti (MugiluPete in Gaalipata :) 
16) Devarakolli Falls
17) Iguthappa Temple

The list goes on.. :) 

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Here's a plan that one can follow:-


1) Bylakuppe(Tibetian Monastery), Nisargadhama and Dubbare Elephant camp in one shot preferably on 1st day itself.

Try Zipline at Nisargadhama and Rafting at Dubbare. Check this for the timings: https://coorgtourism.co.in/dubare-elephant-camp-coorg

2) Omkareshwara Temple, Abbi falls, Mandalpatti, Raja's Tomb and Raja Seat all are near Madikeri.

Mandalpatti has some offroading. Better park the bike midway and walk the last stretch.

Abbi falls you've to climb down and climb up some 100-150 steps. You can take pics from a distance. Can't get down to the waters. During monsoons, the view is worth it. If its your first time, then Abbi falls is definitely worth a visit. 

Raja Seat
(Sunset point) and the Omkareshawara temple can be covered at evening time as well. Raja Seat will be open till 8pm. You can take a walk at Raja Seat if you reach there before its dark and Relax watching the Sunset. There's a toy train and musical fountain as well. You can just have some snacks and relax.

3) Talacauvery and Bhagamandala- go early in the morning. Will be a good Ride. Dont keep this for evening/afternoon. Try coffee/tea at some shops on the way.

4) Tadiandimol(Trekking)- Chelavara falls (close to Virajpet). Again, dont keep this for evening.

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Other than the above you can visit:-
  1. Mallalli fallsBeautiful falls but it was difficult to reach few years back. Not sure about the condition now.
  2. Nagarhole Reserve forest, Iruppu Falls(Lakshman Theertha). Lakshman theertha involves a short trek of few minutes. In Nagarhole you can take a Safari.
Try to explore some offbeat places as well in Coorg.

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Also, on the way to Coorg from Bangalore there are plenty of places to visit around Mysore, Srirangapatna etc. 

Some of the ones I like are:-
1.    Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
2.    Ranganatha temple, SangamaTippu Summer Palace in Srirangapatna
3.    Chamundi Hill, Mysore Zoo, Mysore Palace in Mysore
4.    TalakaduSomnathpur/ChannaKeshava Temple, ShivanaSamudra Falls(Barachukki, Gaganachukki) 

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Some maps:- Tourist map, Route map, Road map, whatever you may want to call it.. 



                             

1)  SrirangPatna-Hunsur-Madikeri




2)  Hunsur-Kushalnagar-Madikeri/ Hunsur-VirajPet



 3)  Madikeri-VirajPet-Kakkabe


 4)  Madikeri-Kakkabe-VirajPet



Info: http://www.homestaykodagu.com/coorg_info.html
 http://www.homestaykodagu.com/home_stay.html

http://www.hotelhillviewcoorg.com

http://www.hillyside.com/

Other Accomodation Options (Hotels)


Capitol Village
5th Cross, Chettahalli Siddapur Road , Madikeri,
Kodagu - 571 201
Tel: 08272-225929, 75
Tariff Range : Rs. 750/- to Rs. 1800/-

Hotel Rajdarshan
No. 8/13, M G Road ,
Madikeri, Kodagu - 571 201
Tel: 08272-229142, 2228823
Fax: 08272-228367
Web site: www.karnatakatourism.com/hill/madikeri/rajdarshan.htm
Tariff Range : Rs. 700/- to Rs. 1300/-

Hotel Sangam & Sri Brahmagiri Comfort Deluxe Lodge
Near Lower Kodava Samaj,
Behind Janata Bazaar,
Madikeri, Kodagu - 571 201
Tel: 08272-224867, 225866, 67
Fax: 08272-225866
Tariff Range : Rs. 600/- to Rs. 900/-

Hill Town Hotel
Daswal Road ,
Behind J D Hospital,
Madikeri, Kodagu - 571 201
Tel: 08272-223801-05
Tariff Range : Rs. 199/- to Rs. 650/-

KSTDC Mayura Valley View
Raja's Seat, Madikeri,
Kodagu - 571 201
Tel: 08272-228387
Tariff Range : Rs. 275/- to Rs. 500/- 

 Hotel Cauvery
School Road, Madikeri,
Kodagu - 571 201
Tel: 08272-225492
Fax: 08272-225735
Tariff Range : Rs. 200/- to Rs. 450/- 

Palace Estate
Kakkabe,
Kodagu – 571 212
Tel: 08272-238446
Mobile: 9880447702
Tariff Range: Rs.300/- to Rs. 1500/-
Contact : Apparanda Prakash / Poovanna 

         KSTDC Mayura Valley View, Hotel Rajdarshan (Raja's Seat)
Note: The above tariff was quoted in some forum 3yrs ago. So add 300-400 more to the price range :p
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Friday, May 31, 2013

Yercaud, Dream Destination- a trip in the making :)

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Yercaud!!

What?

Yeri means lake and Kaadu means forest. 
so Yercaud means LakeForest :)

a Hill Station in Salem district of TamilNadu. 
Height- approx 5000ft from Sea level.

also called "Shevaroy Hills", 
"Jewel of the South" & "Poor Man's Ooty" :)

Isst info saaku!!


pls note: i'm probably the first person to start a 
travelogue on a place even before visiting it :p
===================================== 
Question: What business do we have there?

Answer- a long drive to a hill station on a weekend,
in the early hours is soothing enough to keep us
'Happy & Content' untill our next trip :p

Basically, we are poor jobless souls(on weekends), 
seeking temporary Salvation from our "Hectic IT Lyfu".
  
How to reach: 
Options: by Air, by Rail, by Bus, by Car etc.

Our choice: by BIKES :)
=====================================
So, when are we leaving?
leave namma Bengaluru on Friday n8:- 11 pm. 
Reach Yercaud by Saturday 6am. 
Distance: 250kms. Time: about 6 hours with breaks.
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Whaatt to do?

Yercaud Lake-Boating, Grange Resorts- Dirt Biking 
n off course riding our Bikes in the Hill Station.

Whaat to see? Lots to see!!

Deer Park, Leisure Park, Arthur's Seat

Lady's Seat, Gent's Seat n offcourse Children's seat :)

Killiyur falls-Trekking, Servarayan Temple (on the hill): Cave with Goddess Kaveri & Lord Servarayan

Bell Rock, Bear's Cave, Pagoda(Pyramid) Point, Karidiyur View Point,  Tipperary View Point

Anna Park, Sri Raja Rajeswari Temple.

Silk Farm, Rose Garden, Orchidarium-Botanical Survey of India.


Heaven's Ledge: Beautiful views of the sunset, situated in "Gowri Estate" on the loop road



http://www.travelguru.com/hotels/weekend-breaks/bangalore-yercaud.shtml
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Whats the PLAN? 

1st Day: Have breakfast, Check-in, sleep for some time & 
then have Lunch, Roam around, Do Boating etc. eat  n again Sleep

Next Day(Sunday) : Dirt Biking after motorbiking. trekking. etc.
Cover as many places as possible n check-out.
Reach Bangalore safe n secure by monday early morning.

as if we do things as per the PLAN :p
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Ooota??
Sarvana Bhavan Elite, The Regent Hill Side- Dinner, 
Renowned for some of the best food in South India.
"chenagilla andre bai bedi"

Snackes?
Melaga Bhajji (Fried Green Chillies), 
Egg(Mutta) bonda with spicy chutney (Sauce) etc 


Where to sleep? Sterling Resorts, GRT Nature Trails
GlenRock Estates (Dormitory, tree house etc), 
Hotel Shevaroys, Star holidays Inc 
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Below content is Only for interested people
                                                                       Route Map1
  
Route Map2
 


                                                                   Yercaud Tourist map

Route from Blore: (via. Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Salem - Yercaud) 

Some notes:- 
Grange Resorts: 4 kms from the lake. Take the road to Pagoda point from Anna Park and it is carried out next to the T junction to the right.

If you are driving to Yercaud, you must enter Salem in the by-pass road, drive towards 5 roads, take the Sarada College road and take a left at the Hasthampatty traffic signal. There are twenty hair-pin bends, some of them very narrow, so great caution is advised.
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One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.