Karnataka – Halebidu, Hornadu, Kudremukh, Srinigeri, Agumbe, Tirthahalli

Halebidu Temple:

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Day15

This was our longest and most difficult day in the whole plan and we started by 6.45 in morning just after sunrise. I discussed about the route to take with JP and HVK and finally based on all feedback we received, we took the longer route via Chikmagalur rather than taking Belur-Aldur straight road. Crossing Chikmagalur, we reached a place called Vastare from where we took a right again consciously to bypass mudigeri completely. We soon reached Aldur and after crossing Balehonnur we stopped for neer dosa at Bhadra Coffee Shop which was a nice place to have your breakfast with hot coffee. The road was ok type but very very scenic. After Balehonnur we took a left towards Magundi and crossing Balehole we turned right for Hornadu. The temple was at awesome scenic setting but like other South Indian Temples men have to remove their shirt to enter there. I had my darshan there and then turned towards Kalasa.

After crossing Kalasa we hit Kudremukh National park where a ban on mining iron ore by Supreme Court has turned this KIOCL township into a ghost town. But the whole drive till SK Border was amazing through lush green forests, many birds around and the beautiful mountains towering all around. If you have time you can quickly visit Hanumangundi Falls too. From SK Border we turned right towards Srinigeri and as we were informed the road turned quite bad. Some 20km of very bad roads and 10km of ok roads would take you to Srinigeri. In Kudremukh once you enter, you have to cross the forest check gates in other sides (One in Kudremukh side through which we entered, one each in two forks of Y in other side, at Srinigeri and at Karkala side) by 1 hours 30min unless you visit Hanumangundi falls which allows you an hour extra to cross the stretch. This is a stretch must visit for any one who loves driving in forest road.

Srinigeri temple was nicely located beside the left bank of Tunga river and we were surprised by the number of fish one can spot on standing at the river bank there. The temple reopened at 3.30, we had our darshan and moved towards Agumbe which was a nice road anyway.

Agumbe is a famous hill station and rain forest having King Cobra sanctuary. We went to the sunset view point which is some 2 km beyond the town, enjoyed a magical sunset from top of Agumbe which is nothing but on top of western ghats to see sun going down in the planes below.

We started our last phase of journey towards Tirthahally, which is hidden treasure of Malnad beauty and the Vihangama resort where we booked our stay found to be an awesome place to chill out. The food, accommodation, service and the resort as such was really wonderful and it was affordable too.

Car Odo Reading:

Belur – 45249
Chikmagalur – 45275
Vastare (Turn Right) – 45286
Aldur – 45295
Balehonnur – 45328
Magundi – 45339
Balehole – 45352
Hornadu – 45369
Kalasa – 45377
Kudremukh – 45390
Hanumangundi Falls – 45418
SK Border – 45421
Srinigeri – 45452
Agumbe – 45482
Tirthahalli – 45517
Vihangama Resort – 45522

Badra Coffee shop:

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On the way to Hornadu:

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Hornadu Temple:

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Tea garden enroute Kudremukh:

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Entering Kudremukh National Park:

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Driving through Kudremukh National Park:

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Srinigeri Temple:

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Sunset at Agumbe:

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Day16

In the morning we roamed around the resort, chilled out in the nice river beach adjacent to the resort, witnessed the mists kissing the river flowing silently to have a wonderful start of the day. Today primarily was a driving day when we moved out of Malnad and headed towards Badami at Northern Karnataka. Once again it’s the knowledge of HVK that came extremely handy in choosing the route.

We took Tirthahally – Shimoga – Honnali – Harihar (Entering NH4) – Ranebanneur – Haveri – Hubli (Leaving NH4) – (Entering NH218) – Navalgund – Nargund – Kulgeri Cross and taking right to Badami. The NH4 was superb 4 lane highway. NH218 was 2 lane but extremely smooth and the rest part of road was good too.

We covered 440 km in 8 hours flat. We booked at Maurya Chalukya, a KSTDC Hotel there at Badami where again we found rooms quite good but absolutely no service. My kid was unwell with some stomach upset and that caused us a delayed arrival here.

Car Odo Reading:

Vihangama Resort – 45550
Shimoga – 45611
Honnali – 45656
Harihar – 45694
Haveri – 45750
Hubli – 45828
Navalgund – 45870
Nargund – 45893
Kulgiri Cross – 45918 (Take right to Badami)
Badami – 45939

Mist on the river at Tirthahally:

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The nice river beach adjacent to the resort:

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The resort:

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Sun setting on the way to Badami:

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Previous: Karnataka – Kemmanagundi, Mulayanagiri, Belur

Next: Karnataka – Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole and way to Hampi

Karnataka – One State Many Worlds : Introduction

Why Karnataka and that too for a person like me who loves mountains and lonely landscapes? The question haunted me and many of my friends who curiously asked if I am taking each Indian state as my destination. Few good friends of IM even alerted me saying it’s not going to be a Zanskar or Arunachal even in farthest dream where for many miles it’s you and your soul only. Honestly I also never heard of any Karnataka round trip, we are familiar with a Kerala trip, a month long South India trip but spending almost a month in one state, Karnataka? Isn’t it going to be too much?

The answer is with due respect to every Indian state which are all fabulous on their own, Karnataka is probably the most versatile. God has given this state all except the mighty Himalayas, so if you want to take a break from the mighty Himalayas, probably this is the state you won’t regret choosing as your destination. This land of fragrance has all the ingredients of a great holiday. Its varieties lie in the relaxed length of the golden coastline along the Arabian sea, majestic Deccan rock to thick lush tropical forests and interesting wildlife, silk and sandalwood, an incredible variety of rare species of flora and fauna, a rich culture and heritage, forts, Palaces, ruins, Ornate Temples and pilgrim centers and Hill resorts.

My plan started with spectacular waterfalls to Shivasamudram, sand sunk temples of Talakad, Hoysala marvel of Somnathpura, great wildlife at the Waynad (Muthunga and Tholpetty WLS), Bandipur, Mudumalai and Nagarhole and then slowly moving to coffee plantations of Coorg and towards Bekal of Northern Kerala. Everyday you would see something new, the landscapes changes completely and so the people and culture.

Next was the coastal Karnataka and splendours of beaches like Kaup, Baindoor, Maravanthe, Gokarn and geographical wonders of St. Mary’s Island before heading for Western Ghats to hit evergreen Malnad via Jog Falls with its beauty and charming hill stations of Kemmanagundi, Mulayanagiri, Bhadra WLS or the Hoysala art of Belur and Halebidu. The brilliance of Malnad continues as you travel through Kudremukh,temples of Hornadu and Srinigeri, hitting the ghat again at Agumbe and finally at blissful Tirthahally.

The magic continues as you enter the ageless “Cradle of Stone Architecture” at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal and finally the amazing Hampi. As you keep traversing through length and breadth of Karnataka, be ready to be spellbound by its magic, truly “One State Many Worlds”.

Outline of the 3 weeks trip was like this:

Southern Forest and Coffee Circuit:

Day1 – Bangalore Airport – Mysore
Day2 – Mysore – Shivasamudram – Talakad – Somnathpura – Ranganatithu – Mysore
Day3 – Mysore – Gundalpet – Bandipur – Mudumalai – Gudalur – Sultan Bathery – Muthunga WLS – Kalpeta
Day4 – Kalpeta – Meppady – Soochipara – Sunrise Valley – Phookot Lake – Banasurasagar Dam – Kalpeta
Day5 – Kalpeta – Mananvady – Kuruwa Island – Kattikulam – Tholpetty WLS- Iruppu Falls – Thirunelly
Day6 – Thirunelly – Kattikulam – Bavali – Karapura – Kabini JLR
Day7 – Kabini JLR – Bavali – Kattikulam – Kutta – Ponnampet – Gonikoppal – Virajpet – Madikeri
Day8 – Madikeri – Abbey Falls – Bhagamandala – Talacauvery – Panathur – Kanhangad – Bekal Fort – Kasargod – Mangalore

Google Map: http://g.co/maps/cqynj

Bangalore_Bekal

Western Coastal and Central Malnad Circuit:

Day9 – Managalore – Kaup Beach – Malpe (Take Ferry to St. Mary) – Kundapur – Maravanthe – Ottinene for sunset and back to Maravanthe
Day10- Maravanthe – Byndoor Beach – Murudheshwara – Kumta Beach – Gokarna
Day11- Explore Gokarna Beach and other Beaches like Kudle, OM, Half Moon and Paradise.
Day12- Gokarna – Kumta – Take SH48 – Ondane – Mensa – Jog Falls – Sagar – Shimoga – Lakkavalli
Day13- Lakkavalli – Tarikere – Lingdahalli – Kalahati Falls – Kemmanagundi – Mulayanagiri -Chikmagalur – Belur
Day14- Belur – Halebidu – Belur
Day15- Belur – Chikmagalur – Vastare – Aldur – Balehonnur – Magundi – Balehole – Hornadu – Kalasa – Kudremukh NP – SK Border – Srinigeri-Agumbe – Tirthahally

Google Map: http://g.co/maps/8qyyg

Bekal_Tirthahally

Northern Heritage Circuit:

Day16- Tirthahally – Shimoga – Honnali – Harihar- Take NH4 – Haveri – Hubli – Take NH218 – Navalgund – Nargund -Kulgiri Cross – Badami
Day17- Badami – Pattadakal – Aihole – Badami
Day18- Badami – Gajendragarh – Kushtagi – Budugumpa – Take SH23 to Gangawati – Anegundi – back to Gangawati – Kampli – Hampi
Day19- Hampi – Daroji – Hampi
Day20- Hampi
Day21- Hampi – Hospet – Chitradurga – Tumkur – Dosspeta – Bangalore Airport

Google Map (Tirthahally – Hampi): http://g.co/maps/vy9vu

Tirthahally_Hampi

Google Map (Hampi – Banagalore Airport): http://g.co/maps/g9r4n

Hampi_Bangalore Airport

The main objective of writing this is to take you through the versatility the state can offer, so primarily it would be a photo log with some narrations.

Next: Karnataka – Mysore, Shivasamudram, Talakad, Entering to Waynad