[rohanjf]

I had been to The Rappa last weekend, with 2 friends. It is a camp site about 20 km from NH 48. We started from Hebbal at 5.20 am, and stopped only once, for breakfast at Kamat Upachar. We reached The Rappa by 11 AM.

The place provides 4 cottages and 5 tents. As we got tents, we had to use common toilets. We guys went there with least expectations, carrying everything we needed (apart from the usual toiletries, we carried sleeping bags, toilet paper, mosquito repellents...).
This place is on the shores of Hemavathy reservoir. The peninsula is beautiful, as you can see from the pictures. You can take your car around most of the places. If you want to explore further, you might need a 4X4. If I had a pick up truck, I would taken a bicycle too.

You can also go kayaking. But if you get into the water without wearing life jacket (provided by them), the owner is going to be furious, and will surely use strong words that might offend you! There is a peddle boat too, for those who don't want to row.

Even in this summer, the weather was quite cool. Nights were cold. But the campfire wasn't required I guess.

You cannot order any additional food there, but what they provide is sufficient. The breakfast buffet consists of at least two varieties. Lunch and dinner buffet consist of chapati, rice, dal, a vegetable curry and one or two non-vegetarian curries (usually chicken and fish).

Vijay, the owner, does not sell anything there. If you need anything, you must get it before you go there. There are no shops nearby. However, if you forget some important thing (e.g., toothbrush), he might give you from his personal stock. He will not charge you extra for that :-).

This place is not a resort. It is a camp site. Those who came there with the expectation that it is a resort, had a bitter time.

The place once burned down, and the guys there are rebuilding it, but slowly. They do not have the necessary finances (because thatched huts can't be insure).

You may find my detailed travelogue here:
Treks and Travels: The Rappa (Hassan)
(feel free to leave a comment)

[sarmarishi]

Hey nice place. Can you please post the exact route details as well as contact information for this place.

Also, is it possible to do a day drive and just spend the day. what are their charges for the same?

Also will it be a good base point for visiting Halebid, Belur and Sharavanbelagola?

[rohanjf]

Sure. The place is: Welcome to the Rappa

From Jalahalli junction on Tumkur road, this place is about 210 km. Here is how you go:
- Reach NH 48 that starts at Nelamangala
- When you get close to Hassan, you will see a Reliance petrol bunk on the right side of the highway. Soon after that, you will get junction (left turn towards Mysore, right turn into Hassan city). Proceed a little further until you find the next left turn.
- take that left turn. it is a narrow road. Now you are about 20 km away from the destination. The road has a lot of Y sections. Since it is a village, ask them for Shettihalli.
- After some 15 km or so, you will come across a T junction, where there is a pink govt school on the left. Take that left turn. This road ends at The Rappa.

The tariff is 1200 Rs per day for the tent, and 1500 Rs per day for the cottage. This includes breakfast, lunch, evening tea and snacks, and dinner. There no charges for anything else. Kayaking, ride in owner's jeep is all complimentary.

I would not recommend this place for one day's trip. Ideal would be to start on Saturday early morning, have breakfast on the way and reach The Rappa for lunch. You may start from there back to Bangalore after Sunday's lunch (which probably will cost you little extra).

Before 10 am or after 5 pm are the best times to spend time in the water, to avoid the heat of the sun.

[Fauji]

Rohan,

Any campsite on the backwaters of a reservoir looks fabulous. This one too. This is Gorur dam on Hemavathy, correct? Thanks for posting this. What is the last Picture? Is it a submerged church?

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by Fauji

Rohan,

Any campsite on the backwaters of a reservoir looks fabulous. This one too. This is Gorur dam on Hemavathy, correct? Thanks for posting this. What is the last Picture? Is it a submerged church?

Yes, this is Gorur Dam on the Hemavathy river. In fact, this 'camp; is located on the backwaters of the reservoir.

The church was built by some French Missionaries in the 1800s in the village of Shettihalli. After the dam was built in Gorur, the village of Shettihalli became submerged and had to be relocated. Every monsoon, when the water level in the dam rises, the church becomes submerged and it re-emerges when the water level comes down. Google shettihalli church for more info.

Originally Posted by rohanjf

Sure. The place is: Welcome to the Rappa

From Jalahalli junction on Tumkur road, this place is about 210 km. Here is how you go:
- Reach NH 48 that starts at Nelamangala
- When you get close to Hassan, you will see a Reliance petrol bunk on the right side of the highway. Soon after that, you will get junction (left turn towards Mysore, right turn into Hassan city). Proceed a little further until you find the next left turn.
- take that left turn. it is a narrow road. Now you are about 20 km away from the destination. The road has a lot of Y sections. Since it is a village, ask them for Shettihalli.
- After some 15 km or so, you will come across a T junction, where there is a pink govt school on the left. Take that left turn. This road ends at The Rappa.

This place is after Shettihalli and near a village called Siddapura. Ask for directions to Shettihalli (also known as Jyotinagara). Once you reach Shettihalli (junction), keep going straight until you cross a big bridge (known as Shettihalli Bridge). From the bridge you get good views of the Gorur Dam and the submerged Church. The T junction Rohan has mentioned comes after this bridge.

@rohan, does vijay still have the dogs around?

[Fauji]

Thanks Addy. I have been to Gorur but most of the time when the reservoir is full. Hence had not seen this church. Looks beautiful with backdrop of water.

[rohanjf]

Vijay's one dog, Shadow (which was named so because it followed him everywhere) was apparently kidnapped by someone a few months ago. He now has 4 dogs: Dadda (an Irish Setter), Shunti (a Spitz), Milo (an American Retriever) and Tootsie (a British Retriever). Tootsie was bought recently, and she is fond of eating other pets. She ate Vijay squirrel some time back, and on last sunday, she ate 5 of the 9 new born chicks. So Sibi (Vijay's friend) gave it such a whack with thick stick, that it did not come back to the camp site for the next few hours.

By the way, there are photos of these dogs in my travelogue in blogspot.com (link given in the first topic).