This was my pleasure trip post religious trip which I did in March. I and my two other friends decided to go for Coorg and Kabini (was my idea..I like wild life sanctuaries). There are two ways to go to Coorg, viz. via Mangalore or Bangalore. Since we were familiar with Bangalore, we decided to take this route. Of course, we knew the distance only from here say. Many of them said they were hesitant to go to this place because of the travel time. Indeed, when we actually traveled we realized they were not joking....However, I found the travel worth the place.
Day 1.
Option 1: From Mumbai to Bangalore by Flight. Overnite stay at Bangalore. We took Volvo bus from Bangalore to Coorg. (243 km; approx. 6 hrs).
Option 2: Break journey at Mysore. Bangalore to Mysore (150 km; approx. 3 hrs) From Mysore to Coorg (107 km; approx. 3 hrs).
We took the First option since we realized the second option post the trip:(
We had booked Beeticad Estate Homestay (3 kms away from suntikoppa bus stop). Pickup facility is available at the Estate. The journey from Mysore to Beeticad was beautiful. Lush green trees on either side of the road took us on a dreamy island.
We reached the estate around 3pm. Had delicious food prepared by the Estate Manager's wife. Truly Coorg style. we insisted that we be served only Coorg style food and only Coorg specialties!!
The place was too good. It's a small house (2 bedrooms with attached baths, hall and a Porch surrounded by spice trees which helped to spice our life since we were the only guest at the estate.
The food was very delicious because of its home made touch.
PN: I would visit coorg any number of times just for the stay at the Beeticad Estate..It was awesome!!!!!
PN: I would visit coorg any number of times just for the stay at the Beeticad Estate..It was awesome!!!!!
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| Our stay |
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| Way to Beeticad Estate Homestay |
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| Beeticad Homestay Estate |
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The Estate was surrounded by coffee trees, black pepper, cardamom,
It had a beautiful courtyard. Basically the courtyard is used for drying up the coffee beans. They had a coffee crusher machine too. Every Estate has their lace overflowing with coffee trees. Every house had coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations..
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| Watchdogs at the Beeticad Estate |
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| Watchdogs at the Beeticad Estate |
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| Coffee Beans (Beans are plucked when they turn pinkish in colour) |
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| Black Pepper |
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| Grey Hornbil |
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| Wagtail |
Day 2: Talkaveri (60 kms from Suntikoppa)
The drive to Talkaveri was breathtaking...One could see different shades of greenery....weather was cool...had just drizzled in the morning....It was a lovely drive...
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| On the way to Talakaveri |
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| On the way to Talakaveri |
Talakaveri is the Birth Place of Kaveri River. Located in the Brahmagiri hill near Bhagamandala, which is one of the 7 sacred rivers of Sapta Sindhus of the Hindu scriptures. It�s around 1,276 m above sea level. Talakaveri is about 8 km away from Bhagamandala and 48 km from Madikeri. However, there is not a permanent visible flow from this place to the main river course except during the rainy season.There is a small tank in front of the temple which is said to be the origin of the Kaveri river.
Abby Falls:
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| Abby Waterfall |
Water fall is high with green grass patch on it...Too crowded near the falls. Can skip it.
Raja's Seat: (Must see)
Raja's Seat (Seat of the King) is a seasonal garden of flowers and artificial fountains. It is one of the most important tourist spots in Madikeri of Coorg District. The Raja Garden was a one-time-favorite of the kings of Kodagu who used to watch the setting sun, and spend time with their queens. It is shaped like a small square in brick and mortar, with four pillars bridged by arches, enhanced by beautiful surroundings. It is built on a high level ground with a commanding view of the cliffs and valleys to the west.
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| Rani clicked the Sunset from Raja's Seat!!!! |
Day 3: Dubare Elephant Camp:
Dubare Elephant camp is a project undertaken by forest department and Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd. This camp has plenty of elephants which are trained under naturalists. Many activities are held at the camp, viz. bathing, scrubbing, feeding the elephants, elephants too perform for the visitors.... One has to take a ferry to cross the river.
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| Elephants are trained here |
The camp area was spread over acres of land...Nicely maintained. However, it was sad to see these elephants. Most of them were old and had to do few performances for the visitors...I really felt hurt by looking at them..their place is not here but in the jungle. Most of the elephants were used for collecting the logs in the city!!!
Chicklihole dam: Must see
This is the dam near Dubare Elephant Camp. On our way to Nisargadhama, we dropped by this place. Very few visitors visit this place. Have realized dams are beautiful place to visit. Full of greenery and water, water everywhere!!!!...One side is the water and the other side full of greenery....
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| Cormorants |
Nisargadham garden:
7 km from Chiklihole dam and 30km from Madikeri. It is just like any other garden spread over 64 acre land. There is a hanging bridge to enter the garden. Nothing else to see in the garden except for few exhibits and deer (we spotted only one!!)....Only attraction was colourful carvings on the logs...
Namdroling Monastery:
At a distance of 34 km from Madikeri, 4.5 km from Kushalnagar, 7 km from Cauvery Nisargadhama Namdroling Monastery is a beautiful Buddhist Monastery situated in Bylakuppe. Bylakuppe is the second largest Tibetans settlement in India after Dharamshala. This Buddhist Monastery is one of the most popular tourist places to visit in Coorg.
Bylakuppe is a Tibetan refugee settlement area established by Lugsum Samdupling in 1961 and Dickyi Larsoe in 1969 and is situated to the west of Mysore district close to Bangalore - Coorg route. The main tourist attraction here is the magnificent Namdroling Monastery. Popularly called as Golden Temple, the Namdroling Monastery was established by Drubwang Padma Norbu Rinpoche in 1963. This is the largest teaching center of Nyingmapa, a lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, in the world and is home to a sangha community of over 5000 monks and nuns.
The Golden Temple complex is huge and it houses 40 feet high gilded images of Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche), Buddha Sakyamuni and Amitayus. The temple tower is highly ornate. The outer walls flanking the doorway are decorated with huge colorful murals. The doors, red in color, have huge gold knockers and a thick plaited rope with tassels hanging from it. The walls are adorned with colourful paintings depicting gods and demons from Tibetan Buddhist mythology.
The monastery not only attracts large number of young Tibetans seeking enlightenment and education, but also draws large number of tourists from all over India and abroad.
(source: website)
However when we visited the monastery, the main temple was under renovation!!!....Failed to understand what thrilled the visitors got by clicking snaps with the monks...Bechare Monks!!!
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| Namdroling Monastery |
Day 4:
Kabini National Park (Wildlife Sanctuary)
Kabini Lake View Resort (stay): 118 Km from Madikeri.
I enjoy the Jeep safari rides in the jungle. The excitement of sighting the wild animals is simply a thrilling experience. Of course sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not....
My first choice was Kabini Jungle Lodge Resort. Had heard lot of good reviews and secondly Jungle safari was on their activity list. However, when I checked the prices, it was too expensive and secondly rooms were not available for the said dates.
So I zeroed on Kabini Lakeview Resort. Checked their site, the place looked good, near the lake with fewer rooms. When I checked with them, they said they too offer Jungle safari..One needs to book one day in advance. It was OK with me, hence booked the resort. However, later came to know there are two safaris, viz. one organised by the Govt. of Karnataka (45 minutes ride) and the second one which is for longer duration exclusively managed by Jungle Lodge Resort and only the members can avail the facility. I was very very disappointed. Finally settled for the 45 minutes ride!!!!
About the Resort: We took a cab from Madikeri to Kabini Lake View Resort. The site was beautiful. The place had lot of empty space where one could take a walk or a cycle ride or play cricket or just relax viewing the lake!!!!!!
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| Cottages at the Lake View resort |
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| Lake view from the cottage |
Rooms were clean, not too spacious. Every cottage had a balcony. We enjoyed the view of the lake from the balcony. There were other activities available for the visitors, viz. cycling, badminton, cricket stuff, etc. Food was good. Staff were courteous and helpful. Bonfire was arranged in the night.
Post lunch, We took the jungle safari. Forest was beautiful. Few regular guys with DSLR cameras (larger than their own size) were in the bus with us. They were lucky to spot a leopard with a cub a day before. However except leopard(s), we managed to see wild dogs, wild boar, deer of course, bison, elephant.......
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| Wild dogs |
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| Wild boar |
Was surprised after such a chaos to take the snaps (guys with the DSLR cameras) ; one was about to fall from the window while taking a snap of the wild dogs!!!, they never made even one sound ...
Evening at the Resort:
Post the Jungle safari, we went for a oracle ride at the resort lake. Since it was evening, lake was serene. We enjoyed the ride. We were asked to wear the life jackets in case of mishaps:(
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| Oracle ride |
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| Brahminy Kite |
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| Cormorant |
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| Kingfisher |
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| Bharadwaj |
This bird was tracked by hearing the call....First day i heard the call near our cottage. However could not take a snap because of the denseness of the leaves. I could only hear the call and was unable to spot the bird. Next day evening, again I heard the call few meters away from our cottage. There was a small farm of banana trees. I tracked the sound and without me making a single sound could manage to capture the bird in the camera!!!!.I think I am now eligible to be part of BNHS group:)
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| Watch dog at the Resort... |
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| My foot prints at the resort!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Overall experience at the resort was good. Except for the other visitors which we had company during our stay. This was a group of almost 12 to 15 people from south. I think these people couldn't get any other place to stay landed at the Lake view resort. ABSOLUTELY NO RESPECT FOR THE FOREST / ENVIRONMENT !!.....Shouting at the top of their voice, putting loud music at the camp fire, burning crackers in the night...YUCKKKKS..our entire fun during the day was lost by this one night!!!...how can they burn crackers near the lake in the forest area??!!!...Still reeling under the shock!!!!!!!!
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