[kanwal]

Friends,
I have to be in Bangalore next week for some personal work. I plan to drive down from Hyderabad to B'lore with my family (including my 1 yr old). I would have couple of days over weekend (Saturday /Sunday) before I reach B'lore and we plan to spend these couple of days at a nice, relaxing place near Bangalore (within 3-5 hrs drive).

Few places that I am considering are (one of them):

1. Coorg
2. Kabini
3. Yercaud
4. Wayanad

I would need your advices and suggestions for this plan. Key factors that are playing in my mind are :

1. Mansoon/Rains - Heard Coorg will not enjoyable during rains. Also - what precautions I must take since I am driving such a distance and have little kid
2. Cost - specially Kabini seems to be very costly (very few options to stay) but may stretch if It’s worth the money (was quoted ~30K for 2N/3D - pkg)
4. Time - We would have 1Night or max 2Nights to stay at these places. Also, we have to be in B'lore by Sunday evening. If I start from Hyd on Saturday - I would have 1N/1D, if I travel on Friday - I may have 2N/3D. If I consider 1N/2D - what is the best place within this time frame?
Request you to advice me on latest route conditions (will also check other threads/posts), best place to stay (my budget is 8K (preferred)-17K (max) (excluding fuel)), and any precautions that I must take. Also, should I include a night stay at Mysore (the first day) also to make sure that it is not too much driving for me?

Looking forward for your suggestions and thanks in advance!

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by kanwal

Friends,
I have to be in Bangalore next week for some personal work. I plan to drive down from Hyderabad to B'lore with my family (including my 1 yr old). I would have couple of days over weekend (Saturday /Sunday) before I reach B'lore and we plan to spend these couple of days at a nice, relaxing place near Bangalore (within 3-5 hrs drive).

Few places that I am considering are (one of them):

1. Coorg
2. Kabini
3. Yercaud
4. Wayanad

I would need your advices and suggestions for this plan. Key factors that are playing in my mind are :

1. Mansoon/Rains - Heard Coorg will not enjoyable during rains. Also - what precautions I must take since I am driving such a distance and have little kid
2. Cost - specially Kabini seems to be very costly (very few options to stay) but may stretch if It’s worth the money (was quoted ~30K for 2N/3D - pkg)
4. Time - We would have 1Night or max 2Nights to stay at these places. Also, we have to be in B'lore by Sunday evening. If I start from Hyd on Saturday - I would have 1N/1D, if I travel on Friday - I may have 2N/3D. If I consider 1N/2D - what is the best place within this time frame?
Request you to advice me on latest route conditions (will also check other threads/posts), best place to stay (my budget is 8K (preferred)-17K (max) (excluding fuel)), and any precautions that I must take. Also, should I include a night stay at Mysore (the first day) also to make sure that it is not too much driving for me?

Looking forward for your suggestions and thanks in advance!

5hrs from blr,you would be able to reach Ooty.

[kanwal]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

5hrs from blr,you would be able to reach Ooty.

Thanks for your suggestion ranhitp1! In your opinion, how's Ooty in rainy season and specially compared to above four options?

[ravibhat]

I suggest Nagahole/Wayanad/Ooty(6hrs drive from Bangalore)/Bandipur are suitable places. Already you would be tired reaching Bangalore from hyderabad so it is better If you choose place which is within 5 hrs from Bangalore. Nagarhole is best suited. I can send few details of places to stay I used in the past.

Regards,

Ravi.

[ampere]

Another place can be a good homestay at Chikmagukur!
Should be enjoyable in rains.

As Ranjit said, Ooty would be the best choice. But if you were thinking, I have been to Ooty,
does not make sense to go again, then you weigh the rest of your options.

For 2N-3D at 30K, you should get Taj Gateway at CKM.

[kanwal]

Originally Posted by ravibhat

I suggest Nagahole/Wayanad/Ooty(6hrs drive from Bangalore)/Bandipur are suitable places. Already you would be tired reaching Bangalore from hyderabad so it is better If you choose place which is within 5 hrs from Bangalore. Nagarhole is best suited. I can send few details of places to stay I used in the past.

Regards,

Ravi.

Thanks much Ravi. you are right, after ~12hrs drive, I would want to take a break and I am planning to stay in Mysore that night (instead of the destination). Next day early morning, I can drive and reach to one of this places. Do you think it is the right plan?

Also, In your opinion which options is better for 1N/2D stay (with family & considering rainy season)- Nagahole/ Wayanad/ Kabini?

Thanks once again for your suggestions.

[kanwal]

Originally Posted by ampere

Another place can be a good homestay at Chikmagukur!
Should be enjoyable in rains.

As Ranjit said, Ooty would be the best choice. But if you were thinking, I have been to Ooty,
does not make sense to go again, then you weigh the rest of your options.

For 2N-3D at 30K, you should get Taj Gateway at CKM.

Thanks ampere! Yes, I and my wife both have been to Ooty before (separately though) and want to visit a new place this time. Not heard about Chikmagukur before, let me do some search. But in your opinion how does it compare to - Wayanad/ Nagahole and Kabini?

[mobike008]

Chikmangalur or Ooty are good options. There is nothing much in Mysore though except for the palace.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kanwal

Thanks ampere! Yes, I and my wife both have been to Ooty before (separately though) and want to visit a new place this time. Not heard about Chikmagukur before, let me do some search. But in your opinion how does it compare to - Wayanad/ Nagahole and Kabini?

Waynad is enjoying rains, greenery and a bit of wildlife (No mountains).
At CKM you can go to hill tops, enjoy Coffee plantation and have a serene getaway. Very good during rains.

Nagarhole/Kabini is full fledged wildlife.

[ravibhat]

Satying in Mysore makes sense if you plan to visit that area. Chikamagalur is also good one. You can visit KemmanGundi hill station. 1N/2Days would be best plan. Not so good roads around KemmanGundi area when I visited 6 months back.

Regards,

Ravi.

[ampere]

Kanwal,

I did not realize that you have a plan to go on vacation before coming to Bangalore.
If that is the case you can by-pass Bangalore and through NH4/NH206 can reach the
Bhadra Reservoir (Jungle Lodges Property) which is North of CKM. (Check this out at the JLR site (River Tern Lodge)

http://www.junglelodges.com/

That is also a good option. Or take the same path and directly head for Chikmagulur.

Attached is Google Maps Link: (I have taken an Arbitrary point on NH7 before Chikballapur and used Bhadra and CKM as endpoints.
For going to CKM you need not go to Mysore.

NH 7 to SH 64 - Google Maps

[kanwal]

Wow! Thanks Mobike008, Ravi and ampere for your valuable suggestions. It is helping me quickly finalizing the trip. As suggested by all of you - Chikmangalur is now top of my list and I am keeping Wayanad and Kabini [Biwi is very much interested in visiting wildlife-but rainy season:( ] as backup.

With your confirmation, we will halt at Mysore on day/night 1 and drive to next destination (Chikmangalur, most probably). ampere - Is Bhadra Reservoir best option for night stay @ CKM in your opinion? If so, I will speak to them tomorrow and try to finalize it. Other suggestions are also welcome (especially any good homestay options - We have our one year old kid )

Best Regards

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kanwal

Wow! Thanks Mobike008, Ravi and ampere for your valuable suggestions. It is helping me quickly finalizing the trip. As suggested by all of you - Chikmangalur is now top of my list and I am keeping Wayanad and Kabini [Biwi is very much interested in visiting wildlife-but rainy season:( ] as backup.

With your confirmation, we will halt at Mysore on day/night 1 and drive to next destination (Chikmangalur, most probably). ampere - Is Bhadra Reservoir best option for night stay @ CKM in your opinion? If so, I will speak to them tomorrow and try to finalize it. Other suggestions are also welcome (especially any good homestay options - We have our one year old kid )

Best Regards

Bhadra is a good option to stay, provided you get the accommodation!
Its a Jungle Lodges Property and hence booking is very hectic. If possible you can do 1D/1N at Bhadra and 1N/2D at CKM. But if you have choose between the two, I cannot say! Because both are extremely beautiful places.

If you can get accommodation at Bhadra (River Tern Lodge) I would say you can spend 2 days there easily. Very nice place. The loghuts/rooms are right opposite the Bhadra river. You can enjoy the lazing around, do kayaking and also spot some wild-life. (I guess it solves all your needs!)

Then while coming back to Bangalore you can come via Kadur/Tumkur (NH206/NH4).

Mentioning again: If you plan to hit CKM/Bhadra, then there is no need to go to Mysore. Hence no need to stay there.

[kanwal]

Originally Posted by ampere

Bhadra is a good option to stay, provided you get the accommodation!
Its a Jungle Lodges Property and hence booking is very hectic. If possible you can do 1D/1N at Bhadra and 1N/2D at CKM. But if you have choose between the two, I cannot say! Because both are extremely beautiful places.

If you can get accommodation at Bhadra (River Tern Lodge) I would say you can spend 2 days there easily. Very nice place. The loghuts/rooms are right opposite the Bhadra river. You can enjoy the lazing around, do kayaking and also spot some wild-life. (I guess it solves all your needs!)

Then while coming back to Bangalore you can come via Kadur/Tumkur (NH206/NH4).

Mentioning again: If you plan to hit CKM/Bhadra, then there is no need to go to Mysore. Hence no need to stay there.

Sounds Great! Let me checkup with River Tern Lodge about the availability. If it is not available, what is the next best option that you would suggest?

and point taken - Mysore will be skipped. I am trying to do google map to see the route(and distance) between HYD-Bhadhra but its not showing the Bhadra. (Help needed - best route (rainy season) and distance/time)) -can it be done in 10-12 hrs?


I'll update after my conversation with River Term persons. Please suggest a good place for CKM as well. will speak to all of them tomorrow.

Once again, Thanks a ton ampere!

[ampere]

Look at the following JLR link:

Jungle Lodges & Resorts Eco Holidays

It says its very close to Lakkavalli after Terikere (Before Bhadravathi town).
It leads on to the roads that ends up at the Bhadra Reservoir.

Let me also tell you, many of my office colleagues have been there,
but for me! But have been hearing rave reviews about this place.
Others can comment if they have visited this JLR property.

If you you dont get any reservations here, then at CKM there are the following options:

- Many-many home-stays available (Other can help out here)
- You also have the Taj Gateway and The Serai (Coffee Day 5 Star Property)

There may be monsoon offers available in these 5 star hotels, which you can
check. I was at the Gateway 3 years back and had a wonderful experience.