Honey Valley Trip

[Ranji_80]

Honey valley is a private estate located at kabbinakadu village about 25 kms from Virajpet town, in coorg district. The estate is spread over 75 acres of coffee, cardamom and pepper plantations.

Well this was also a long planned trip, for which i had booked a 10 bed dorm. Since many from the group backed down from joining the trip, we five viz Ranjith (myself), Anil, Leela, Shiva and Amit ended up starting the trip on a saturday early morning.

Route : Bangalore - Srirangapatna - Raganthittu bird sanctuay - Hunsur - (take left after 5 kms from Hunsur) - Gonikoppa - Virajpet (continue on madikere road after virajpet for 4 kms and take a left turn immediately after a bridge) - travel 19 kms exactly to reach Kabbinakadu.

Kabbinakadu is only a small tin shed busstop, where ur vehicles need to be parked. A further 3 km uphill ride takes you to the Honey Valley Estate. This 3 kms can be done only on a 4 x 4 wheel jeep or similar vehicle as the route is steep and non existent.

By the time we reached Kabbinakadu, the jeep was waiting to pick us. We were welcomed at the estate by a phirang "Jack", who was vey cordial. He has setteled along with the Chengappa family and has become part of their family. Jack explained to us that there are many trekking trails, all of which starts from a dry pond 1 km further up the estate.
After having lunch, we embarked on a beautiful trek, on an unknown route, aided by a map handed to us by Jack. After a 1 km trek, we reached the dry pond, from which almost all trekking trails start. Since we had decided to take the route to the top of the RIDGE, we set out in this path. Well it was basically a cattle path, with thick forests to our right and little plain land to our left. We were greeted by beautiful views of the faraway hills, almost draped in thick mass of mist or clouds.

At this juncture let me introduce you to our little companion for the trek "Dineshan"(well i gave him this name) a cute little dog, who had followed us from the estate house. We all wished that he could talk, since a lot of questions were in our minds abt the route and its difficulty. If ever this doggy could talk I would have bombarded him with numerous questions abt the vicinity. The climb continued until we reached a big boulder. Insted of continuing on the contour along the hill, we decided to walk up the hill to reach the summit. A futher 1 km walk didnot take us to the summit. We started wondering whether to continue or trace our route back, as Leela was apprehensive of we getting lost. We did decide to walk back, without reaching the summit. But the keeda inside Lord Shiva always tickles him to do crazy things. He didnot get down along with us, but walked further up the hill in search of the summit, assuring us that he will soon join us at the big boulder.

After 10 mins we recieve a call on Amit's mobile, Shiva on the other end screaming for us to climb the hill further and that he has found a waterfalls. We were all exited and immediately ran up the hill. Wow! what a scenery it was, picture perfect, a large waterfalls, roaring from a cliff abt 2 kms in front of us. We had reached the top of the hill, and could see lot of hills 360 degrees around us, partly covered in mist.

After spending quality time, staring at the waterfalls and playing witha beautiful snail, we headed back down the hill as it was getting dark. We reached the big boulder which i mentioned earlier and took the left path contouring the hill. But after walking some distance, Shiva sggested that the path seems to be going upwards, and we have to get down the hill. Getting down we could see only dense forest ahead and no path.

At this spot fear started creeping our minds, we started debating abt the route, preparing ourselves to stay back in the forest for the night. None of us panicked and tried to think abt the route. We decided to trace our route back to the cattle path which we had left earlier. Further walking for 1 km brought us to the dry pond. Sun had sunk by this time, and we were a relaxed lot to have reached back.

Dinner was good, and we met the Chengappa couple, Suresh and Susheela. They are one of the nicest people i have talked to. Suresh uncle was glad that we had trekked a lot and very enthusiatically drew us a map of the route to a waterfalls that was inside their new estate. This walk to the estate was to be done the next day morning. He also told us that the waterfalls we had sighted on top of the hill was called "Nilakandi" waterfalls.

After a sound sleep, all were up early morning for the walk to the waterfalls, it was called. "Chingara of Honey Valley". We could reach the base of the waterfalls, and had a nice time getting massaged by the downpour. Anil had a nice time clicking snaps of butterflies which were posing for him.

Our next sojourn was to the Chelavara peak and Chelavara waterfalls, abt 10 kms away from Honey Valley. It was a wild jeep ride of ten kms all through coffee estates and forest. Chelavara peak also can be reached, through Cheyandaney.
Back from Chelavara we munched our lunch of spicy chicken curry. Bid goodbye to Suresh, Ganesh the jeep driver and returned to Bangalore.

[HKP]

Hi

Hows the road after you turn to rangathittu sanctury and till virajpet. Is it drivable in a small car.

/HKP

[Ranji_80]

The road is quite good. The 4 laning is almost complete except small stretches. We enjoyed the ride

[akroy]

Nice pics !! How was the general weather in Coorg? is it raining heavily / chilly etc?

Abhi

[spider77]

nice writeup dude. and thanx fr the logue as iam planning the same trip next week. How is this Honeyvalle, and what r the rates?


"Kabbinakadu is only a small tin shed busstop, where ur vehicles need to be parked. A further 3 km uphill ride takes you to the Honey Valley Estate. This 3 kms can be done only on a 4 x 4 wheel jeep or similar vehicle as the route is steep and non existent."

Is this place safe fr parking the vehicle ,any guard etc .?
And how long (hours) from Bangalore fr Honey valle?

[dadu]

Very good writeup ranji, well published pictures across the paragraphs, are you into DTP business , how did you book the rooms ??

[Ranji_80]

Weather is good and pleasant near honey valley. it drizzles some time.

The pictures were shot by my friend Anil using a Canon S3.

There is safe vehicle parking place available which is provided by honey vally ppl only. so no need to worry.

They can be contacted at : 08272 238339

4 bed dorm RS - 1000
5 bed dorm - Rs 600 (old house)
luxurious 2 bed room - Rs 900

[Steeroid]

Looks like a terrific location - thanks for the location, guys. Need a change from Orange County and its ilk of resorts in Coorg and this looks like a decent change.

Everyone on TbHP is a super photographer - makes me feel like selling my camera. Rudra's responsible for this, I guess.

[pjay_in]

Awesome pics, wonderful report.

Need to make a trip to Coorg soon!

[-GT-]

Ranji_80:

Nice write-up and beautiful pics.

I think you could have taken right at Kadanur (before Virajpet) and driven straight all the way to Kabbinakad via Cheyandane.

Reminded me of my recent trip to these places. (not to Honey Valley though) - the sight and smell are still fresh in my mind.