Kalavaarahalli Betta (Skandagiri)

Kalavaarahalli Betta

Distance from Bangalore – 70km.
Time of Journey – not more than 2 hours.
Parking – Yes.
Trek Time – 90 - 120mins.

Route - Bangalore - Hebbal Flyover - Yalahanka - Devanahalli - Chikkaballapur.
Once you reach Chikkaballapur you will find a statue of Visvesvaraya in one of the circle, take a left there and keep going straight until you get a temple, from here just ask anyone of how to go to Omkara Jyoti Ashrama which is at the base of the hills.





Clouds Clouds Clouds everywhere so you are very much in the middle of them. It is very much like the window side view when you are traveling in the plane, the big difference is you are out there and you can feel them. Honestly I don’t have words to express the wonderful scene I witnessed out there. Check out the picture that will say it all.

This place is quite popular but not as much as it deserves to be, well you can find a lot of people out there, normally people come in groups in the night time to trek in the moon light to the top and put a tent there and hangout till morning.

We left to this place around 2am from Bangalore and reached at around 4am. If you are planning to trek in moon light and its your first time to this place I would recommended you to take a guide, he should charge you anything b/w 200-300 rs. Carry a torch and it will be freezing cold up there, so warm clothes too.

The best time I would say is between 6-8am and I don’t think you can stay up there for more then 30 mins, its very chill out there. We were actually trying to find some shelter to escape from the cold breeze.

Definitely place worth visiting, to make the most of it go early. Happy Trekking :)

Places Around Mysore

You want to take a break, just want to run away from Bangalore traffic, want to go on a long ride, you need not have to think to twice where to go, just 120 km from Bangalore is the worlds heritage city - MYSORE.

I have been to this place many times, but still not tired of it, in fact there is always a place which i have not visited, the number option you have to go around is huge.

Let me start with my favorite.

The Magical Mysore Palace -

I have been to this place many times, right from my school trip, along with friends and family but I really don't know how many people really experience the beauty of this place, very first its huge, takes time take a look at each and every sculpture. It was never a place which amazed me much, it was just like another historical place but when i visited last time around, my family members opted for a guide.
He started with very much history of Mysore, then some of the sculptures, well well here comes the big part which i had missed every time i had been to this place, the paintings, believe me I don't know how old they are but they where magical, they are around 20 3D painting, take a look at each painting, when i saw the first painting i was literally stunned, there are around 30 people in the painting and when i move from one corner to other corner, its like they just turn around and look at me, they will be facing you no matter which way you see the painting, not many people who visit realize this, they just pass by. Take a look at each painting right from the finger ring to the shoes they wear move along with you as you pass by, its just amazing, just cant put the magical feeling in words. Do check out where the maharajahs you sit and the paintings on the wall, i don't know how they managed to do it. Just amazing.

I know you have been there many times, but if you had missed it, just go and have a look, its worth it.

Now lets get back to some other places, well overall best part of Mysore is, its very calm.

Mysore Zoo -
You need to couple of hours to go around this zoo, this is one of the best zoos you can get, so when you are there do visit. Again its not crowded and its well maintained.

Chamundi Hill.

You have a temple of goddess Chamundeshwari, half way to the temple you will also find 16 foot huge nandi Bull, you will also get a very good view of Mysore from top of the hill, its green green everywhere.

KRS -

Krishna Raja Sagar dam, well this place is a must visit in Mysore, especially the musical fountain.

Nagarahole National Park

Nagarhole National Park or Rajiv Gandi National Park

Route - Its around 210 kilometers from Bangalore, take the Mysore road --> Maddur --> take right soon after Srirangapatana, the root goes to coorg --> Hunsur road --> Nagarhole.

Wild Wild Wild that's the best way to describe this place, you just cant miss going out there and staying there a couple of days and take 2-3 safari trips to the forest. First don't compare this to Bannnerghatta National park in Bangalore where you find animal in cages or fenced boundaries, there is no fencing it is just wild forest every where.

Safari is in 2 batches, 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM(Check for changes), that's the time when animal come out to drink water and they take you near the bank of the river Kabini, safari in the forest is for about 2 hours, not sure on that because I stayed in Jungle lodges resort and they used to take us for couple of hours.

They take you into the forest (Jeep Safari), you can very well see deers everywhere in fact they are to many, when enquired bout the same, we were told it was to keep the grass level low, so we get a clear view of the animals. Wild elephants are quite a lot, well you are in wild forest and there will be some risks, the authorities make sure to maintain some distance from elephants there have been incidents in the past of they attacking sometimes.




So here comes the best part spotting tiger in wild, can you imagine that just amazing, you are in the middle of a forest, its not easy to find them and if you can get a view of them in your safari, your trip was worth, you also have leopards, sloth bear, giant squirrel.

Its one of the adventure thing you don't want to miss in your life, the forest department authorities exactly know which area tigers move around a lot, at the end you should be lucky to spot them, i would recommend best go for Jungle lodges resort, stay there for couple of days, they take you on a  safari both in morning and evening, you also have boat safari, elephant safari if elephants are available.
Its touch expensive 3,200(Check prices now) for wildlife package, it includes everything breakfast, lunch, dinner safari everything so you don't have spend anything above that.

Best time, as expected its summer, all the animal have to come near the river banks for water, so the chances of sighting animals is more.

Note : All the above points were made with respect to the experience  I had staying in Jungle lodges resort run by the forest department there, where we go in an open jeep, so just 7 people along with the guide who make sure our safari is the best.

Weekend Getaways Bangalore

Weekend Getaways Bangalore

Checkout some of the well known places around bangalore, some of them are not so near but they are good weekend getaways.

Would be glad to have your input, please do leave comment and help to update the blog if you find anything worng.

• Balmuri Falls Near Mysore

• Mekedatu, Sangama near Bangalore

• Nagarhole National Park

• Muthyala Maduvu Pearl Valley

• Nandi Hills near Bangalore

• Wonderla Amusement Park

• Places Around Mysore

• Coorg Kakkabe - Home Stay

• Gopalswamy betta near Bandipur

• Kemmanagundi

Gopalaswamy Betta near Bandipur

Himavad Gopalswamy Betta or popularly known as just "Gopalaswamy Betta"  is on the way to bandipur, its around 215km from Bangalore, just around 10km before Bandipur you get Hangala village, take a right turn, 4km further there is a Forest department check post, 10km up hill from there you get Gopalaswamy betta. Its a nice ride uphill.

On Gopalaswamy Betta(Betta = 'Hill' in kannada) you will be stunned by the sudden climate change, Misty winds blowing at a very high speed, its tough to even stand, Yes I mean it. Mist and fog every where as if high speed clouds were passing by you, It just keeps you amazed and you need to experience it to know how it feels.
On the other side of the temple(Gopalaswamy temple, hence the name) just take a walk and its green every where, Also they say wild elephants do wander there, so to avoid them coming near the temple they have dug a 3-4 meter channel so they don't pass them, so no worries.
Want to have fun and try something adventurous? Then take a 10 min further walk, there is no one stopping you, you can spot some wild elephants if you are lucky(or unlucky ;)!), but the best part of Gopalaswamy betta is the misty wind blowing through. Checkout the below picture which will give you a better idea.



On the way back just try to notice the change in climate just as you get down the hill, its a very drastic change, best time hmmm.. just avoid summer :-) to enjoy it thoroughly.

Mekedatu, Sangama near Bangalore

Sangama is the name give to the place where two rivers – Arkavathi and Cauvery meet. Sangama is around 50km from Bangalore and the flow of water is high only in early monsoon, most of the times The waters here are shallow and wide, its a very pleasant walk on the banks of the river, you can always take a dip and swim around, beware of crocodile, that is the first thing locals say you, believe me there are a lot bad incidents that have happened in the past, so better be careful.

Mekedatu is around 3km from sangama, you can always drive your way to mekedatu but if you like to walk, just follow the river on the banks and you will reach mekedatu, trust me its a walk worth taking, but may be touch risky, if you are in a gang go for it, otherwise dont try, lot of people come out there just to have drinks and have a nice time, so you never know how they can turn on you.

Once you reach Mekedatu, there will be few buses in a very bad shape on the otherside of the bank, to take you to the place where the water flow narows and rips through, its just around a kilometer you can always take a walk.
Once you reach there,  the first sight scares you to the core, if the water is less you can always get down and have a closer look at how water gushes through the rocks, since the river gets narower the speed of the water increses rapily and it just gushes throug the the sorounding rocks. The speed of the water does scare you, you can see holes in the rocks which are carved by the rapidly flowing river, its a sight that stuns you for a moment.
The below snap was taken when the river was running low, checkout the holes in stones, they are actually carved by the high speed of flowing water.




Food - You do get small restaurants but better pack your food before leaving if you don't want to fall sick.

Wonderla amusement park Water Games bangalore

Wonderla amusement park - You are going to have fun, well i can assure you that, i have been to quite a few amusement park including GRS fantasy park, but this one was lot of fun, there is not one game where you don't feel the adrenaline rush, each and every game drives you crazy unless you try all of them, if you are scared better not go there :-).

Note :- Go early to make the most of wonderla, otherwise you will be in hurry to run through all the games.



Go and try all the games, they look scary, i mean it, just go and give a try, it will drive you crazy. Don't miss the vertical fall, that's the best part of wonderla and the most scariest, it just last for couple of seconds but the excitement before and after is amazing, there are lot of other games which are going to crack the nuts out of you.

I don't remember the names of all the games, most of them where very good and scary, they have rain dance to, there is one sport where they blow the waves which gives beach side feeling. Do try the huge giant wheel, believe me that's the least scariest they rotate it very slowly, but you will get a good view of surrounding.



Going with friends would be lot of fun, the entry fee is 500 rs i believe, you can buy the swim clothes there itself, its very cheap, they have quite a lot of change rooms and lockers to, so your stuff are safe.

Food - there are couple of restaurants, the food is quite good.

Nandi Hills near Bangalore

Nandi hills its around 70Km from Bangalore, one of the most popular weekend getaways from Bangalore, the best part of nandi hills is the weather, very very pleasant.



Its in fact one of the picnic spots, you can see lot of families out there and in weekdays its more of couples, reaching there isn't tough there is a proper road laid out, i have been there many times and i find something new every time, its big, very first take a look at the map at the entrance, people normally just checkout the tipu drop and the temple and that's it over, believe just get down the hills on the other side and take a walk its trees everywhere and its very very calm, you can just sit there relax and enjoy the wonder full view. People normally ignore it considering thats the end but its quite a long way inside.

Tipu drop is just a touch tough to recognise no boards out there and its not something which will get you very excited, checkout the temple.



Its not a adventures place unless you try to do something crazy, its a place where you can just relax relax relax.

Balmuri & Edmuri Water Falls - Mysore

Balmuri and Edmuri is on the way to Mysore, it is one of the most popular water falls near Mysore. The best part of Balmuri and Edmuri falls is you have enough place around to play in the water and get under the little falls too, its not exactly falls you will get an idea when you have a look at the photo.



Its a nice weekend getaway, but I won't really suggest you guys to go to Balmuri, it is too crowded and they have spoilt it up completely in recent times, its no more a falls, so dont even think of going there.
When you reach Balmuri take a left turn and you will reach Edmuri. People say its very dangerous but I didnt find it risky. There are two good things about Edmuri when compared to Balmuri. 1. less crowded and 2. Its very much like old Balmuri before they screwed it up by narowing the flow of water, so people can play around.

So go take a long walk on the edge of the mini falls, if you want to have more fun get under the falls, its an amazing experience, take a look at the snap it was great fun.

Coorg - kakkabe - Home Stay

Kakkabe is 250km from bangalore, takes 6-7 hours.

Route - Mysore Road --> Srirangapatna soon after Srirangapatna take a left and take Hunsur Road --> Virajpet --> There you go Kakkabe.

Well well a single cottage in the middle of the forest on the hills, a wonder full view where you can almost feel the clouds pass by, fire camp in the night along with barbeque's and very comfortable camps outside the cottage where you can sleep, can you imagine that its just amazing, that was my first experience of coorg home stay.

Thadiyendamol in Kakkabe is the highest peak in coorg, its one of the well known treking places, there are lot of places around where you can trek for days, so as expected we where out there to trek, very first we went to Kakkabe where we had already booked the accommodation, that guy got his jeep and took us to the cottage which is in the middle of the hill, the cottage was not great, its just a home stay so don't expect anything special, its just like one of the houses in villages, you get better one to, but on top of the hills you get only these, who cares the view from there was so amazing with cool breeze blowing, it took some time for absorb everything.

One of the problem everyone faces when they go to coorg is the food, but luckily this guy served us comapratively good food, not the best but not bad to, we had our breakfast and started planning abt how to go abt trekking, one of the guy from cottage lead the way to Thadiyendamol, just 10mins from start which looked like 30mins for us, the guy showed us where we are actually going, the very first though that came to us was, OK lets go back no trekking :-) It was a long hard trek after some time the path was very much flat and no trees around, now that's boring isn't it, we tried some alternative path but nothing seemed to work, we had to get back to the normal route, we where tired majorly due to hot sun :-)..

we did make it at the end and it was a great feeling, well now there is a big task we need to go back to the cottage, we expected it to be tiring but it was fun, we lost the route i don't know where we went but after asking some locals out there we somehow made it, took well deserving rest and woke up in the evening and we knew its going to be fun in the night, with fire camp, barbeque's and the camps outside the cottage it was lot of fun.

Don't miss the early morning view, and the sunset in the evening they are the best part, If you are going in winter checkout for leaches they are there everywhere :-)

will upload the photos soon, you will get a better idea.