Madikeri, Mangalore, Udupi Visit

I saw a blogger ( Passion for Road Trips ) write about a visit to Madikeri and decided to travel with family there. With kids vacation getting over in 2 weeks, we decided to cover West Karnataka a bit. So a plan was drawn to cover Madikeri, Mangalore, Udupi, Subrahmanya, Dharmasthala, Chikmagalur and Sharavanabelagola! 4 days in all was the allotted time! ( with a day to spare )

Though I booked and stayed at the place Subu stayed... HillTown Hotel ( Very decent hotel with parking, Costing Rs 936 a night for a double bedroom ), there was also another resort another Tamil blogger friend had stayed with his relatives, near Bhagamandala, Madikeri area.... which included food etc at a cost of Rs 1600 per person, per day while the kids stay free. I was hoping for a concession, as it was owned by an ex-colleague of the Tamil blogger friends brother, but didnt want to bother them too much eventually!

So a plan was drawn to hit the road and reach Madikeri by evening.

We started from Bangalore at around 11.45 AM and took the Mysore road, via NICE Road and had lunch near Srirangapatna. ( Macdonalds ). We took the route via Hunsur, Piriyapatna ( expensive coffee at Cafe Coffee day at Rs 57/- each! ), Bylekuppe ( Tibet settlement ), Kushal Nagar and onto Madikeri at around 6 PM, with the necessary pit stops! Road is good upto Kushal Nagar. We could have started and reached early, but the other resort confirmation took us time.... hence the delay. Well we liked the drive into the chilled weather near Madikeri ... lots of road work going on, which slowed a bit in the last stretch.

After checking into the hotel, we left for Raja's Seat - a view point with a park and a toy train. There is a dancing fountain with colours.... though smaller than Brindavan, it was nice for 20 minutes. We also drove in the toy train, for 2 rounds.... There is entrance fee for the park, and also a small charge for the train!

After a cozy dinner at Choice, we crashed into bed, with the chilly weather of 18 degrees.

We woke up in the morning at 6 AM, and by the time we started for Tala Kaveri trip it was 7.30 AM. We stopped near Spice Research institute for Breakfast, though we could have had it at Chettimani! At 8.30 AM we reached Bhagamandala, and went straight to the Triveni Sangamam, were Kaveri, meets two tributaries (names please! ).

After walking in the knee deep water in the center area, with family... left in 15 minutes for the actual birth place of Kaveri... Tala Kaveri. It is a forest controlled area, where cheetahs are expected. Nice winding roads and thrill drive. We had the Kaveri temple darshan and did not climb those 100 steps to the birth place of Kaveri as we thought it was too risky to climb. May be next time we would do it, with more time in hand.

We reached Madikeri by 11 AM and started immediately for Mangalore. It is a 4 hours drive, with a winding down ghats road to Sapaje, with too many potholes, and they are fixing it before monsoon!

We thought of reaching Subramanya, which is 90 kms away from Madikeri, but heard that the temple closes at 1 PM and with the tough roads, it would have been a delay to reach there. And we would have had to wait till 4 PM, and we would have reached Mangalore at 9 PM and would not have covered the beach, temples etc. Fuzzy Logic said, anyway you will end up spending another day....

We had missed seeing Nisargadhama and many other site seeing spots, which we have to cover in the first term vacation of kids!

We had a reservation at Nalapad Residency, Mangalore and drove straight there by 4 PM, after a lunch stop at Ganesh Restaurant at Puttur.

We started for sight seeing at 5 PM, and after the light house visit, nearby and kids playing in the slide and maze for sometime, we left for Panambur beach ( we booked an auto for the rest of the day ) spent sometime there, playing in Arabian Sea water.... and family drove atop a Camel....

We left for Kadiri Hills area and there was no power, so couldnt walk around in the park. So we left for the famous Kerala style temple of Lord Manjunatha, where there is a Ganesha idol, which gives water from tummy - that flows into a pond. Sacred!

We ate at Janata Deluxe ( Neer Dosa and Poori's ) and left for the room. Though we didnt plan much for sight seeing, the next day had a 3 temple visit plan, and a nights stay at Udupi.

We woke up and after breakfast... at 9.30 AM left for Subrahmanya ( to reach in time ). I could have gone to Udupi first, but with a beach and Island trip in mind this route was taken. We took the first route, right after 53 KMs on NH 48, and after 20 KMa, about 28 kms before the temple, the roads were are scrapped ( one blogger had written about it a - as mine blasted roads - but we forgot in the heat of the moment to take the right at 88th KM via Gundia ). It was a tough drive, and with Lord Muruga's help, I could cover those tough 10 kms distance till Kadaba in 45 minutes and made it to the temple at around 12 Noon. We spent about an hour in the temple complex, with lots of crowd on that Amavasya Friday. People do Rahu Kethu Puja there ( 6 AM to 12.30 PM for Kalasarpha Dosha Nivarthi - even Sachin Tendulkar has been there and also many famous personalities ).

We had lunch at New Mysore restaurant and left for Dharmasthala at 2.30 PM. We thought that the temple at Dharmasthala would be open at 4 PM, for darshan and after that we wanted to visit Udupi Krishna Mutt temple before staying at Kidiyoor Lodge near Udupi bus stand ( a very nice hotel ).

I could have also covered Kollur Moogambika temple, if I had gone first to Udupi and then on to Kollur and return back to stay there... and left next day... adding another day!

At Dharmasthala, the darshan for evening was not at 4 PM as informed, at it is at 7 PM only, while people are allowed inside at 6 PM. So we started for Udupi via Karkala, Manipal and went to the Krishna temple ( where there is no need to remove shirts now - for men ) and saw the Rath moved around temple complex and reached hotel at 7 PM. We had nice dinner ( Singapore Fried Rice and Neer Dosa ) before crashing - as they adviced against going to the dark beach!

We woke up in the morning and after a quick breakfast of Idly Vada, Neer Dosa and Poori's... we went to famous Malpe beach. We took at ferry to St Marys Island - a wonderful ride, where you need to set aside total 3 hours for a trip. The Island is so cool! Kids enjoyed it. Worth a visit!

We started back to Bangalore at 1 PM and I took at wrong left turn again, that led me back into Mangalore. It is 10 hours drive and I didnt want to take chances ( tired! ) and I looked at the map and decided to have a break at Chikmagalur ( known place ) before going back to Bangalore.

So I took the Belthangadi - Mudigere - Chikmagalur route. Didnt check with anyone and paid the price of driving in the tough ghats - a life time ride.... too tough and winding roads, with 42 hair pin bends probably? Mad bus drivers, almost hit you instantly! By the time I reached Chikmagalur it was 6 PM - 5 hours for 150 kms total ride from Udupi.... Stayed at Planters Court, an expensive place of stay. I should have taken the Udupi - Agumbe - Sringeri - BaleHonnur - Chikmagalur route for an easy ride. Though it would have taken the same distance, I could have saved 1 hour and the tough drive!

We met my wife's cousin brothers ( also my childhood friends at Kotagiri - while their family was vacationing at Kotagiri ) we had a late dinner at Maurya and slept.

Next day morning we had very good Idly Vada and Masala Dosa at Town Canteen, on Ratnagiri Road, very famous with all the people who are visiting Chikmagalur ( and onwards to Sringeri  - only route ). Never miss it!

We started for Bangalore at 11 AM and after reaching Shravanabelagola at 1 PM, after a 100 KMs drive, we decided to climb up with socks on.... 620 steps.... Man, it was a tough excercise for me. Too giddy.... By the time we reached the top it was 30 minutes. Had Lord Mahavira Darshan, 1000 years old monolithic statue.... we had a nice view of surrounding areas from top. I wish they can have a winch ( pulley cart ) done to climb up! We climbed back down and had a late lunch at Hotel Raghu - famished!

Started back at 3.30 PM after some shopping and reached Bangalore at 7 PM - driving 170 KMs on NH 48 - via Kunigal - Magadi Road ( after Johnsons Tiles ) in  heavy winds and rains.... Bought some vegetables on route.

After 100+ hours away from home, it was so nice..... to be back.

Kotilinga Visit

When mom was here, we decided to go to Kotilingeshwara temple ( near Bangarapet & Kolar ) about 100 kms away from Bangalore. It is a worth day trip!

You have to take the Hoskote, Kolar, Bangarapet route to reach the temple.

We started around 11 AM, ensuring that the traffic is clear! The weather was unusually too hot that day!

I made a mistake while going near Whitefield after crossing Outer ring road and Marathahalli and took the Sarjapura route instead of straight Hoskote route ( which could have been earlier itself saving 1 hour ), and the tough route ( via Tamilnadu - Bagalur twice - where the Jain Farms land is located ) made us to reach the temple too late! Some part of roads are like mine blasted roads, where the border is there. Same as what I saw near Lepakshi ( AP ).

We saw ZP elections in full swing on the way! Biriyani and Liquor on a Saturday!

We had taken packed home lunch and it was 2.30 PM by the time we ate! ( near the temple complex, parking area! ). One fellow told me temple is closed and would open at 4 PM only. It was a lie! Open all the time, till 9 PM.

Lakhs of lingas are there in the temple! It would take 2 hours to walk around. We did a short walk!

There is also a sacred tree in the temple, where one ties a turmeric thread for a wish!

Single laddu of Tirupathi size costs Rs 50/-. While the entrance fee is Rs 5/- per person into the temple, there is good marketing going on.

We decided to drive via the scenic Kuppam route, to Krishnagiri and back to Bangalore. Though it was 140 kms extra, kids enjoyed the ride via 3 states - AP, KA and TN!

Some pictures shared here...

Devarayana Durga, Madhugiri Fort, Lepakshi Trip

With our theme for this year vacation being Hilly area.... ancient monuments... yesterday we decided for a day trip to see Devarayana Durga, Madhugiri Fort and Lepakshi in Andhra.

Devarayana Durga is about 100 kms away Bangalore. We started around 10 AM and took the NICE road to reach Tumkur Road ( toll Rs 83 ) about 35 kms aways from home, from there we drove on NH4 for about 35 Kms to reach Dobbaspeta, 24 kms before Tumkur and took the Uredagiri road, and took a left to Devarayana Durga about 8 kms drive up in the hill, a nice hilly drive. We were there at 12.30 PM.

We first went to Boga Narasimha temple which is down and then climbed up another 3 kms to reach the summit. Very nice and cool place. They collect a parking charge of Rs 15/. There is a walkway to temple. Mud path. Enough monkeys are there, so you have to close the windows of car at all times!

TVS group is maintaining the Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple. Vaishnavaites are managing. They gave Moong Dal rice with coconut, plus Thayir Saadam as Prasadham. They are also providing proper lunch at Dasappa Chathram. Very Simple. Rice Payasam, Rasam and Buttermilk. We started back at 2 PM.

Next stop in our trip was Madhugiri Fort, promoted by Karnataka Tourism corporation which is about 50 Kms from Dev Durga. Road is decent. We were there at the Madhugiri fort at 3 PM. We parked in the entrance and no parking charges inside the court complex. We started the climb, which is about 400 meters high, as the board said. Very tough to climb, and slippery. Weak hearted avoid the climb, but try upto a certain easy point. The Karnataka government (Toursim Department) could try to make the steps better, instead of leaving them as it is. Antiqueness is very risky. At midway, towards the fort, the steps become clean and neat, and easy to climb, though very steep. Enough water needs to be poured into our system. Kids liked it. Lovely to see Goats gracing, on the edge of cliffs! The bad sight was Ganja peddlers and Pig farm in the foot hills.

We reached downhill, got some juice and started around 4.30 PM to our next stop Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh, 15 kms from Hindupur, which is 45 kms from Madhugiri. I could have driven back to Bangalore, from there which is about 120 kms from Bangalore. So we were adding only 60 Kms to see some ancient temple! The roads near the border are horrible. We drove in the fields, mud and all for few kilometers. ( I should have had a jeep! ) Someone has to do something for that place. Idiotic MPs of the border states dont even bother I think. Someone has to wield the stick to make the PWD guys lay the road.... Otherwise the trees gave shade and weather was lovely. Nice rest stops....

@ Hindupur we missed the Bombay sweets, where my friend (roomie at Hyderabad) used to get sweets from - in the Bus stand area, which was NTR constituency! We clicked the photos at the junction, where there is NTR statue... called NTR junction, leads to many places. I filled petrol, which costs as good at Tamilnadu, Rs 2 cheaper per litre than Karnataka.

We took the road to Lepakshi, 15 kms away, where a 500 years old temple of Veera Bhadraswamy is present. Wonderful architecture and it is not maintained well. The parking charge was Rs 10/- and we parked in front of a coconut vendor house, who forced us to buy 2 coconuts. We clicked the Nandi statue on the way. Even though it is AP, they spoke Kannada.

A friend of my wife called and they chatted in roaming for sometime in the temple when the Arathi was going on. Women!

After having our cuppa Coffee, Thumsup... we started at 5.40 PM and after a smooth 15 Kms drive, touched the NH7 near Puttaparthi main road around 6 PM, second time in 6 days! We reached home at 8.45 PM, after stopping at Devanahalli Airport area to watch 2 flights land in the night at around 7 PM.

Round trip 330 Kms. Worth the day!

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Regards
Vijayashankar

Hogenakkal Trip

Last Sunday we decided to hit the roads to see Hogenakkal in Tamilnadu ( near Karnataka border ) as a day trip. Vacation mode for kids.

It is about 180 kms from Bangalore ( via Hosur -Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Pennagaram ) and a 4 hours drive.

We started at 9.50 AM and reached there at 1.30 PM, right in time for lunch. On the way we stopped in Dharmapuri for getting some Coconut water and Dharbooz. We had packed some fried rice and snacks and were saved! Not many decent hotels are there. We also bought some fish, after checking various places on the road side. 10 rs a piece. But you have to be vary of the oil they use! ( stomach collapsed in the evening ). Even if you buy and give the fish to cook, they charge obscenely it seems! The place near the river bank, where they do pooja's was so dirty. We managed to find a place for eating food under tree shade, with troubles from monkeys, cows and dogs. It is the area, were people offer Karuppu ( Karumam ) for elders passed away. Thithi area. People were cooking and eating near that temple.

We never new it was such a dirty place, commercial minded and very badly managed. I was thinking how Ooty was spoilt like this.

I would never reco this place to anyone, unless they want a drive, and a bit of hill scenary! with villages along the way.

The Pennagaram Panchayat collects Rs 30/- as parking charge about 13 kms before Hogenakkal. Idiots. I hope some TN authorities take care of this. Also at TTDC hotel you can park for Rs 10 and the watchman collects another Rs 10 for tea!

There is another route via Thali, Palakodu and Rayakottai. About 20 kms less, but I am told roads are bad. Some blogger had written about Jigani - Anchetti - Pennagaram route on hills. I would like to try that once....

The falls area is dirty with smell, oil massage washes and there was limited water flow. The bathing area is so crowded with people!

The hanging bridge is a good view point. We did not want to take the coracle, as we were afraid of accidents. We saw one person taken to hospital after drowning.

The heat killed us literally. We were not prepared for that heat! Kids said, that's it - no more visits for this area.

We started back at 4 PM and reached home at 8 PM, with heavy rains on the Krishnagiri Ghats and saw some accidents on the way. Tough to drive after 6 PM. Experience helps.

Morale - get the real tips before you hit the road.

--
Regards
Vijayashankar

Puttaparthi Trip

With vacation mode around, and with lots of free time in my hand, what a wonderful way to spend time with family, particularly kids driving around. It is cheap and economical, provided you know your limits on spending on other things.

On Friday April 23rd, 2010 we decided to go out somewhere for a day trip, driving up north from Bangalore.

I was always intrigued by the famous Puttaparthi Sai Baba and the place. We thought of going there, and it fit our bill. My mother had been there recently along with the Seva Dala people for 15 days doing "Seva" taking care of the public / crowd management. Heard good things about that place and hence the interest. The darshan timings of Sai Baba are 9 - 10 AM and 5 to 6 PM. Mostly I was told the evenings are less crowded.

Roughly about 170 kms said maps.google.com, straight up on NH 7, entering into Andhra Pradesh after Chikka Ballapur ( SeddiHalli to be precise, with a toll of Rs 80/- for 24 hours round trip or Rs 55/- for one way. ) It is a 3.5 to 4 hours drive with stops for lunch / snacks.

We started around 11.30 AM, after all the work was done at home for the day. Anyway we planned to have lunch on the way, either in a Dhaba or any road side eatery. Kids were excited and I was worried on the weather. Rain was on the cards.

First thing, I filled up the tank in a nearby place. Heard from blogs about non availability of Petrol bunks ( gas stations ) beyond Devanahalli towards Hyderabad, at regular intervals. Since the highway has been developed around small cities, and with no new gas station allottments, you have to drive into that town to fill gas. So you better fill you car tanks, well in advance, when you see a gas station on the way.

I decided to take the outer ring road, even though it is 10 kms extra to reach Hebbal junction of NH 7 towards Hyderabad. If you drive thru BG Road and go up through Mekhri Circle and RT Nagar, you might end up taking 1.5 hours+ to reach that point and I bet that you legs will start aching by then. We did it in 1 hour 15 mins and cool breeze drive...

It was around 1 PM, when I crossed the Devanahalli BIAL Airport. Congested with left turning traffic. Lorries in the day time? Unheard off. Thats how it is here... 80 kms is the speed limit all along the way. But you can see 4 speed breakers / humps near / after BIAL area ( Turn towards right or you will end up in Doddaballapur, instead of towards Hyderabad as destination. Luckily there is a hand written board that guides you, but you might miss ). For few kilometers, there is single lane road, and mad traffic might head towards you. But stick to your lane! Keep the head lights on! I did not cross 80 Kms speed limit, and your average will stand at 50 KMPH definitely.

We crossed the Nandi Hills area ( 70 kms from Bangalore - turn right few kms after BIAL ) and clicked few pictures in the drive.

Next action point, we were hungry and it was almost 2 PM... we thought about the Ranjitha restaurant near Chikka Ballapur a friend had written about ( but it is on the right side with bar attached! ). We were in no mood for non veg., so decided to eat at Kamat ( Rest area, with BP petrol bunk - on the left ) in Saittu Thinnai ( the resting parapet of Sait ). This place is an hours drive away from BIAL. You can also find many Dhaba's and Omni van vending food stalls along with the grapes from the vineyard ( fresh? may be ) being sold on the sides of the highway NH 7 ( at obscene prices ).

We had plate meal. Rs 55/- each. Got some chilled water in the nearby shop and kids played in the merry go round and swing for sometime, before taking in some ice cream. Beat the heat.

We started off to Puttaparthi at 2.30 PM, and it was only half the way. I was planning to be there by 4.30 PM at the latest. Thanks to the free roads, and well laid roads we reached the Ashram at around 4 PM. You have to take a right turn on to Puttaparthi Main road near Kodur and travel for 31 kms, to take another right turn for 8 kms to reach Sai Prashanthi Nilayam.

Tried to pull over couple of times to call, but signals are weak, as a person had called in after a blue moon, in ages! ( whom I have never met in person being in Bangalore! ).

On the way, we saw the big Sai Baba Hospital ( in light pink colour - compared to the white colour in Whitefield ) and the Airport.

Odometer reading 179.1 kms in 4 hours approx with our scheduled lunch stop and nature call pitstops.

We found it difficult to park. A good samaritan helped us ( A Nadar from Tirunelveli ) in finding a spot in the General Hospital to park among the staff. Thanks to him!

We refreshed a bit, and with security checks in place, we were ushered inside Prasanthi Nilayam by 4.30 PM. No drinking water is alllowed to carry in ( though they serve you ). Deposit all your stuff in cloak room. You have to carry a plastic hand fan, waiting for Sai Baba Darshan. You can deposit your mobile phone in a separate area, for which they give a token. Chappals are to be left near the entrance and it was funny to see some people using lock + chains to store them like the bag locks in railway compartments. It was very hot and I got hurt walking barefoot - burns? washed my legs in a loo @ East Prasanthi Hall and felt OK.

Ladies and gents are frisked separately and the seating in separate in the darshan hall.  It's a open Hall with no door, but grills and can accommodate about 10,000 people told a Sai Ram volunteer. You have to deposit your bubblegum, pens, gutka, cigarettes etc before the security check, again.

Then the wait for Sai Baba started. People were in chants.... singing the praise in many different hymns.

At around 5 PM, the Godman in Saffron robe, moved in a wheelchair by his help ( Seva Dala ) appeared. He went around the front row, accepting single roses, hand written requests etc. Few people took his arm and kissed. I could see the white and white foreigners doing the touch feet and greet duty. There was glowing radiance in Sai Baba face, he looked old compared to the young pictures - that I have seen.  When he came to the males section, he took out something from his mouth and gave it to one of the devotees. The music and singing hit a crescendo and he went inside some rooms, behind a Ganesha temple ( small puja room ). I was told he gives interviews to many people.

With the 'darshan' mission over ( I didnt stay on for the bhajans for long, and people expected him to re-appear again, for few more minutes ) and went out to get some Vibuthi ( we wanted to reciprocate ). The Radiosai shop sells items below MRP on stocking costs. No taxes! A Rs 14 bottle of Kinley water bottle is sold for Rs 9.90 for example. Also the famous low cost Bakery is a must visit. Rs 4 for popcorn, Re 1 for a masala bread slice ( filling! ), Rs 4 for a puffs / cake piece... Rs 5 for coffee or Tea... Rs 10 for Personal Pan Pizza... we got some real stomach filling stuff... which turned out to be our dinner on the way!

The place is very clean all along. Well maintained. I liked that! Lots of learning to be done, for the Municipal guys.

We hit to road again at 6 PM. Eating the snacks purchased in the Bakery, we started listening to the music and sharing our observations. You can also stay there for a nominal fee or free ( if you book well in advance ). If you are a donor giving in Lakhs, you will get an AC room and special interview with Sai Baba may be. I saw many Telugu Actors, A judge of Karnataka High Court, few AP ministers and one Tamilnadu MP and a person whom I have seen in Bangalore in a shop! All in apt devotion!

We crossed Koduru at around 6.45 PM and after Saittu Thinnai, @ 8 PM we stopped for a 10 minutes break. Had a wonderful "Red" Tea on the road side stall. Really rejuvenated. Kids woke up, who were asleep on the way!

There was high lightning all along the way, and intermittent showers. So I could not drive beyond 80 Kms speed. My wife was scared to see lorries driving with no back red lights or reflectors ( heavy and slow moving too ). Dangerous if you are not careful. The highway patrol should do something about this, if they care for their jobs. They should forcibly stick the plastic reflectors on the backs of such lorries at a cost. will someone listen?

Also near small villages, people are crossing the roads without any care. They have also put up shops, right next to the highway. Unbelievable!

We crossed BIAL at around 8.30 PM and saw many cars merging from Airport. It is a mess out there. 6 lanes would not be enough. I hope someone, one of the twittering ministers, tweets about the pathetic road management in Bangalore, to take care of it with a Joint Parliamentary Probe. Potholes in newly laid highways? You gotta come to Bangalore to see it.

I took the City route - RT Nagar, Mekhri Circle, Sankey Road, MG Road, Lavelle Road, St Marks Road, Residency Road, Brigade Road extn. and on to BG Road ( with a slight in work progress area in Adugodi ) and reached home at 9.45 PM.

Odometer reading 161.4 kms in about 3 hours 45 mins with only one stop of 10 minutes!

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Regards
Vijayashankar

Chikmagalur Trip

We decided to take a trip to Chikmagalur over the last weekend, with kids on vacation mode.

It is about 260 kms away from Bangalore.

On route, we took the Tumkur - Arsikere - Kadur - Chikmagalur route.

We started around 10.45 AM, after the decision was made to travel at 9.30 AM after breakfast. We reached Chikmagalur around 5 PM, with few stops on the way. We had veg lunch, with egg burji at Ananth Dhabha Green Restaurant just after Tiptur. (unusual and may be bcoz there are limited Non veg eaters in that area )

On reaching Chikmagalur, we thought of meeting my wife's cousin family, but they had gone to North India tour. We roamed around the place with weather like Coonoor, and saw the length and breadth of the city! Lots of demolition going on, of the illegal constructions. The Traffic cops are helpful, with too many oneway's, without any boards.

We stayed at Vasavi Vihar, with a decent room. Had dinner served at room. Chicken Tandoori Kebabs and Biriyani.

The next day, we woke up early. I went alone outside at 6.30 AM in search of hot coffee nearby... but no shops around. Room service started at 7 AM only. Had a small walk, with the Police Commissioner who stays near that hotel, and he gave me tips of seeing around that area. Nice of him!

We had breakfast in Food Palace, RG Road, which runs parallel to MG Road.

At around 8.30 AM we started for Muliyanagiri hill trip. It is about 22 kms from Chikmagalur and a scenic drive. There is Muliyana Easwara temple almost of the top. Beyond that point, the peak is at around 3 Kms. But it is not safe to drive beyond the first hairpin bend and after that temple. We stopped after seeing the steep climb and Maruti Omni's running behind, with people stopping them with stones and pushing the car up the hill! There are no railings that might stop the car. I drove back in reverse, with help of my wife outside, for about 100 meters (to reverse) a thrilling drive to return back to the temple area, which I will never forget.

The forest authorities in that area, should do something to build protection on the side, which might make the drivers drive upto the view point ( that too on 1st gear ) and also try to reduce the steep gradient.

We did a small trek from the temple area, up hill probably for about 200 meters... rested for sometime. Kids enjoyed a lot. Very beautiful scenarios - breathtaking ( other than me huffing and puffing pulling my weight up ).

On the return we stopped at a waterfall. Very small. The area is full of coffee estates. Nice aroma of coffee. We got some filter coffee from Jayanti Coffee works.

There are 2 waterfalls Kalhatti and Hebba falls, but we decided to skip as we wanted to see Belur and Halebidu on the return.

We reached the hotel around 11 AM, and checked out starting at 11.45 AM. Belur is about 22 kms away. In hot sun, we had a nice architectural tour for an hour. Then we went on to Halibedu, which is 16 kms away. Spent some time there wondering the architectural Hoysala marvel, and reached Hassan at 2.30 PM. We had veg lunch at Santhosh Cafe on Rt. 48 and topped with some icecream cones. We started driving the remainder of 200 kms at 3.30 PM and reached home, via Nelamangala and NICE road at 7.30 PM.

There is an alternate route itseems, from near Kunigal after Johnson Tile factory, which leads to NICE Road, on Magadi road. It might save 20 kms and some time.

Our return trip had lots of showers and the drive was slow.

Total round trip 600 Kms in 2 days.

--
Regards
Vijayashankar

My vacation with family! (Sept 2006)

Recently I had a chance to unwind in Kerala (via Bangalore and return via Madurai), along with family. My kids had their quaterly exam vacation hence this trip.

First we went to Bangalore, stayed there for 2 days and a night, saw around the places where we were before, as we were visiting after a long time, met some old friends and went to the famous shopping spots (Brigade, MG Roads and Commercial) with some Kolu shopping at Cauvery and the no new McDonalds - a very good one which kids liked - toys with meal. The lunch at Kamat Minerva and dinner at MTR was superb!

After a trip to the Lalbagh Gardens, we then flew next day afternoon to Calicut from Bangalore, to relax at the backwaters of Kerala.

There is a famous five star resort in Calicut - about 10 kms away - called Kadavu. Stayed there for 3 days and 2 nights. Superb service and the best deal!. We enjoyed a lot. Kids liked their fish and other Non Veg curries. I cannot comment on that, as I am a vegetarian for now. This resort is on the backwaters and we stayed in a very good view room. You can see lots of foreigners there. We saw a show of Kalari payatu and a Kathak dance.




Then we went to Madurai via Coimbatore and stayed there for a day and did darshan in various temples including MeenakshiAmman temple, Alagar Koil and Palamuthir Cholai.

Enjoyable trip...

My trip to Tirupathi on April 23rd, 2006

I had travelled to Tirupathi on April 23rd, 2006 with my family, to finish a venduthal, in terms of tonsuring hair in my kids heads. We both also gave poo-mudi.

It was after 7 years and 4 months since my last trip (Nov 1998 after my marriage).

We booked thru Sri Renga Travels, T Nagar Chennai (Phone 3299 7719), 12 days in advance, with an executive package @ 1400 Rs per tix in a Toyota Qualis (this varies lower for a Tempo Traveller ride), and they also charged for kids @ 50%. The actual travel was arranged by Sree Balaji Travels, who has good contacts on the travel darshan, might even charge lesser. We were part of another group of family, owing to entrance tickets. They had booked Unjal Seva at 12 PM for Rs 2000/-, catering to 10 adults. Only 10 laddoo's are given.

We started at 5 PM from house, starting point was T Nagar, Siva Vishnu Temple @ Chennai. The journey started with a group of 3 vehicles. We had sumptuous breakfast at Sri Vema Hotel AC at Tiruvallur (2 Idlis, 1 vada, 1 Dosai and 1 Pongal plus Coffee) at 7.30 AM. We started at 8 AM and reached Tiruchanoor (Alamelumangapuram) at 9.15 AM, on the way we saw two snakes on the road, and had a quick Darshan for Rs 25- in the Rs 200 queue, where sandwiching fo people is quite common. The pickpockets were having a heyday! We started for Tirupathi (reached adivaram at 9.40AM) and after few minutes of checkup of vehicle, we were enroute to Tirumala, abode of Lord Balaji (Venkatesa Perumal).

We reached the top, 20 KMs, and reached the VIP guest house of M/S Lloyds Steel, and on paying Rs 250/- finished the Veduthal tonsure (Actual cost Rs 10/- per head only), and had a good bath and reached Vaigundam at 11.30 AM, in time for the 12 PM darshan, after the hand baggage scan. Too much rush and large crowds, owing to holiday season for kids. To put money in the Hundi, the gaurds are taking bribe to help you cut the line. On finishing the hot sandwiching darshan, kids crying, and after having Free Prasadham - Sweet Pongal, we came out to collect ladoos. Hawkers were selling Ladoos illegally for Rs 30 each piece. I think they give a cut to HDFC counter.Since temperatures were hovering at 40 deg Celsius, walking was uncomfortable, from the temple to the parking lot on the cement plaster openway, but mud was cooler. Those idiots, who are trustees, walkin front of the temple from car, hence they dont know the pain of walking in the hot sun, why cant they put a shelter, when the temple collects 2 to 3 crores a day as donation. They should also take care of women getting molested. Scent can be sprayed in the temple complex to get rid of gas smell with huge fans. I dont know how the Ministers, CM, PM, Presidents and of course Ambani's have the darshans.

I saw a newly wed couple, the groom from USA I suppose, with a good looking bride, married at Tirupathi, donating a bunch of $ 100 notes in the Hundi, with a gold coin! Probably a very nice match etc... The lady was also climbing on the side bars, to have the darshan as she was short!

We reached the down of the hill, after a minor accident, by the sleepy driver in one of the 59 air pin bends (old road). For Rs 70/- the sumptuous lunch South Indian thali at Bhima's residency was good. They give that to the travels at Rs 52/-. We had to pay the difference for the cost of 2 Batura's, for one kids meal coupon. Nice system! We reached home at 7 PM. The trip was quick, and in the last 30 years of my travel to Tirupathi, this was the easiest and costliest trip. Less painful. May Lord Balaji shower his blessings on us. (One of my wish was to be the richest person on thee earth, beating the Sheikhs and Bushes and Bill Gates)