Swifted : Bisle, Belur, Halebid, Chikmagalur, Kemmangundi

[laluks]

Day 2, 18th October 2009 Continued

Kemmanagundi - Lingdahalli - Chikmagalur


After another 8KM there is a road going to the left, straight 3Km will reach kemmanagundi. In this left road if you go 11kM you'll reach Hebbe Falls.






We drove in this road for some three kilometeres and we found many vehicle parked there.

Red Riding Hood parked. Confused whether to go further!!



But the road still continued further. I asked a local and he said we must take a jeep from there, cars would have difficulty. Indicatively Rs500 - Rs750 would be the cost of hiring a jeep. But no jeep was around and it was getting dark.







Hence we decided to turn back to Kemmanagundi.

By 17:45 we reached a Junction from where we had to take a right turn towards Kemmangundi. A Kilometer later there is a checkpost and we paid Rs50/- as entrance fee. We drove inside the hillstation and parked the car. We walked upto Shanti falls.

Shanti Falls





The way back from the falls



There is a rock garden before the falls, and further from the falls if you trek you get the Z point. Since it was dark we did not venture much. But a day trip would be good here.


Kemmangundi have to be visited again.



By 18:30 we exited the Hill station and came down to the Junction. As per Karnataka tourism boards, Chikmagalur is 55Km through the roads we have come. But I did not want to trace it back as the terrain was very bad.

So stopped by for a tea and chatted with the locals. By then a taxi guy came in, and he told me to go via Lingdahalli and join Tarikere road and turn right to Chikmagalur.

The circuit


Green lines show the way we have taken


By 19:00PM we started our return journey to Chikmagalur. Another 30minutes and 18KM later we got the right turn to Chikmagalur. Chikmagalur was another 42Km and by 20:30PM we reached our hotel in Chikmagalur. This road was good and it helped us in saving at least an hour.

Had dinner from hotel Saundarya amongst the mad crowd. By 21:30PM reached the room and retired for the night.


Total distance for the day 156KM
Start 09:45AM
Stop 20:30PM


-

[dreamdiesel]

The drive from Baba Budhangiri to Kemmangundi takes you through some of the best views Western Ghats has to offer. But the roads are punishing. Last time I travelled through this route in my Swift a couple of times the underbody got scrapped.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by dreamdiesel

The drive from Baba Budhangiri to Kemmangundi takes you through some of the best views Western Ghats has to offer. But the roads are punishing. Last time I travelled through this route in my Swift a couple of times the underbody got scrapped.

Very true.
Some how the Zxi with its wider and taller tyres thankfully did not scrape anytime during our drive.

[laluks]

Day 3, 19th October 2009

Chikmagalur - Muthodi - Chikmagalur - Belur - Halebid - Hassan - Nelamangala - Bangalore.


Since we had to get back to Bangalore this day, we got to an early start. Checked out and Started rolling by 08:45AM, unlike the 10:00AM start the previous day.

Muthodi

We took a left turn to Muthodi from IG road, and after 31KM of good curvy roads we reached Muthodi checkpost at 09:50AM. From here the roads are terrible. In another 2Km we reached the Nature Camp.






We drove on further 9 KM in those terrible roads till the end of the Badra Wild Life Sanctuary limits. From locals I came to know that the dirt trails can take you all the way to kemmangundi, and in some other directions another road which will reach Shringeri from Chikmagalur. I decided to turn back and come back the same way through the sanctuary.


We reached Muthodi.



The views around the road we drove.













The other side form Bhadra dam has the Jungle Lodges and Resorts. This is nearer to Kemmangundi and can be reached from Tarikere side. Please refer the map.





Except for the customary spotting of Deers no other wild life spotted. Since we had enough of deer photography left these deers to their natural habitat and moved on our way back to Chikmagalur.



continued...

[laluks]

Day 3, 19th October 2009 Continued.

Muthodi - Chikmagalur


We reached the Checkpost back by 11:00AM. We had a comfortable drive and reached Chikmagalur by 12:00PM.

The route is like Muthodi(0KM) - Mallandur(12KM) - JakkanaHalli(17KM) - Joladal(23KM) - Karemane(24KM) - ChickMagalur(31KM).

Some views from this route.














After reaching Chikmagalur, I had to keep a promise to my young one.

We had to climb a small hill behind the lake.


Some views from the lake.


See the town behind.






continued...

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by laluks

Day 3, 19th October 2009

Chikmagalur - Muthodi - Chikmagalur - Belur - Halebid - Hassan - Nelamangala - Bangalore.

We drove on further 9 KM in those terrible roads till the end of the Badra Wild Life Sanctuary limits. From locals I came to know that the dirt trails can take you all the way to kemmangundi,

Actually, it was a proper metalled road which has been reduced to just a dirt trail. It is pretty narrow as well. You will reach the Chikmagalur-Bababudangiri-Kemmangundi road just after Kavikalgandi ridge via Kopprikhan estate.

Btw, did you take the safari from the Nature camp?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

Actually, it was a proper metalled road which has been reduced to just a dirt trail. It is pretty narrow as well. You will reach the Chikmagalur-Bababudangiri-Kemmangundi road just after Kavikalgandi ridge via Kopprikhan estate.

The roads was doable, but very muddy. I thought so it might join the existing road, but was not sure about going that far again.

Btw, did you take the safari from the Nature camp?

Did not take. Gave it a go, since the safaris from Bandipur and Nagarahole had not inspired us.

Do you know how to book such a safari, and rooms there in advance? I heard somewhere in Bangalore the booking has to be done. How much do they charge for the rooms and safari?

[laluks]

Day 3, 19th October 2009 Continued.

Chikmagalur

By 12:15PM we reached the Mahatma Gandhi Park.

The small hill Ratnagiri Bore on the north of Chickmagalur town has a nice park, the Mahatma Gandhi park. From this park you can have a beutiful view of Mullyanagiri on a clear day.

Some pictures from the park.








There was a temple at the top of the small hill in the park




The view of the lake and town below from the hill




I had a promise to keep. In the initial briefing of the drive, the young one always asks - What is in this trip for me? This was the promise. The Ratnagiri Toy Train. . It takes you around the park and it is a 5 minutes, 1KM drive.





While the kids were enjoying the park and the play area we both sat down and relaxed. I tried some macro photography while resting there. Some clicks worked, some did not.












We had some noodles from the canteen for lunch. Well that was the only item available on that day. Adjustable.




We spent around 2 hours there, a promise is a promise, you know.



We left at 14:15 to Belur.



continued...

[laluks]

Day 3, 19th October 2009 Continued.

Chikmagalur - Belur

Another 25Km, 14:40PM we saw a board. The Yagachi Dam.


Very much on the road to Belur. We decided to check out.












10minutes, we are done.


Since this road was done on the first day during the night, I had not noticed this place.

We reached Belur in another 10minutes, by 15:00PM


continued...

[Roameo]

Beautiful pictures of the red mud roads, the sunsets and the Shanti falls.
Raring to explore those places at the first opportunity.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by Roameo

Beautiful pictures of the red mud roads, the sunsets and the Shanti falls.
Raring to explore those places at the first opportunity.

Shanti falls is at Kemmangundi Hill station.

The red mud roads are a detour to Hebbe falls, which we could not visit due to lack of time and a Jeep.

[pramod]

Originally Posted by laluks

Do you know how to book such a safari, and rooms there in advance? I heard somewhere in Bangalore the booking has to be done. How much do they charge for the rooms and safari?

you can book at horticulture dept, lalbagh, bangalore.
And also, you can call Bhadra wildlife forest range office.

Congrats on a super Chickmagalur trip and a great detailed travelogue.
I felt one very important thing you missed out on a Chickmagalur trip is the "Town Canteen"!
Dont know how you missed it out. Those brilliant "Benne masala dosas"....
This is on the way to Ratnagiribore infront of Government Polytechnic, 2 Kms from Bus-stand.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by pramod

you can book at horticulture dept, lalbagh, bangalore.
And also, you can call Bhadra wildlife forest range office.

Congrats on a super Chickmagalur trip and a great detailed travelogue.
I felt one very important thing you missed out on a Chickmagalur trip is the "Town Canteen"!
Dont know how you missed it out. Those brilliant "Benne masala dosas"....
This is on the way to Ratnagiribore infront of Government Polytechnic, 2 Kms from Bus-stand.

Thanks Pramod, this was a take it as it comes trip, and no great planning was involved. It was a kind of go there and find , and exactly that's what we did.

Town Canteen is now kept for the next trip





I must sincerely thank addyhemmige, dreamdiesel and Pramod for pitching in and filling in more information here. While writing the log you were there right through with me. A big thanks to you guys. What's the joy without sharing? You guys rock


I wish this log will oneday become a ready reckoner to these areas.

Belur and Halebid are the next spots to be logged in this trip.

[ravibhat]

Excellant report, you are simply amazing! and has lot of energy.

Ravi.

[StarVegabond]

Originally Posted by ravibhat

Excellant report, you are simply amazing! and has lot of energy.

Ravi.

+ 1000000 to this, especially the fact of Laluks having lots of energy

energy in several forms viz. Information, $$$, Time, Patience, Imagination, Vehicles, Gadgets (Camera, GPS, etc), network among T-bhpians, supporting family (wife and kids), supporting workplace etc. etc.