Chikmagalur - Coffee estates, superb weather and awesome hills

Chikmagalur which literally means Younger Daughter’s town, is close to Bangalore and is on most people’s travel list as it provides a wide range of travel and trek possibilities. The place is known for its coffee estates, lush green hills of Baba Budan Giri, Mullayanagiri and the Kudhremukh National Park. It is also very close to the world heritage center “Belur and Halebid” that celebrate the intricate detailed sculpted work of the Hoysala Empire.

Chikmagalur makes for a great weekend or long weekend trip for people living in and around Bangalore or even visiting it. 

How to Reach:

By Road – You can drive down , it is about 240 kilometers from Bangalore and can be scaled in about 5 to 5 ½ hours, the roads are mostly good.

You can also take a bus to Chikmagalur from Bangalore or whichever place you want to start from.

By Train : The nearest Rail head is at Kadur

By Air: Nearest Airport is at Bangalore

Driving down is the best option as the journey to and also in and around the place is beautiful laden with green on all sides, if it’s a monsoon drive even the better.

Things to Do :

There are plenty of places to see and things to do in this region. If trekking is what you love then Baba Budangiri, Mullayangiri and Kudhremukh have many trails to scale. If a short climb and watch sunset on the ridge is your thing then just stop pick a hill and climb it, Mullayangiri is just spectacular and you don’t need to reach the very top to get a great view, where ever your legs start to ache stop there and take in the view, it’s absolutely gorgeous.

Sunset at Mullayanagiri

You can visit the Kudhremukh national park and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, drive down to Hebbe Falls, Ayyanakere lake, and Kalahatti falls. Do not forget to visit Belur and Halebid Temples on your way back to Bangalore it is exquisite and an Indian Architecural/ artistic marvel. 

Beautiful Temple Architecture and Relief Sculptures at Belur

You can walk around in some coffee estates, the possibilities are limitless, all depends on what you love the most, in chikmagalur you can afford to pick and choose that.

Things to Remember :

1. If you are traveling during monsoon, the monsoon here is heavy rain with fog filled roads and valleys. So carry a poncho or an umbrella always. If you are driving down , fog lights may be a good idea, especially if you have plans of off roading.

2. If you plan to trek in any of the hills, carry water and wear floaters or good shoes as the terrain is full of grass growth and rubble.

3. The hill tops are always windy and a little chill so carry warm wear.

4. If you are an ardent photographer carry a telephoto lens, and keep your camera at the ready always, you could spot something while trekking, walking or even driving which you wouldn’t want to miss.

5. Book your accommodation in advance in one of the many home stays and resorts, weekends most of them get filled quite easily.

Parinitha Konanur

Travel Books – The Must Reads

For most avid travelers the very act of traveling becomes an integral part of their lives, if they have full time jobs they look forward to that trip with bated breath , for travelers who are also photographers or writers their work gets infused into the travel experience or vice versa. Most travelers are inspired, by people , their friends who travel, by movies that show destinations with ardour and spirit, or most often than not by books. 

In this blog I am trying to give you the names of books that have more often than not inspired many a traveler to look outside his existent box and leave with a backpack and a vivid day dream, wandering into different places, locales, cultures and destinations.

Some of the best books are a must read for the traveling heart.

1. Jack Kerouac’s – On the Road 

   This is a beat generation cult classic describing in detail and on the go depictions of their journey. Of what they saw felt and experienced. This beat generation book is a must read for travelers as it opens up a new vista of possibilities, and a wonderful way to experience travel.

2. Ernesto Che Guevara’s – The Motorcycle Diaries

   This is a beautiful book and a memoir of the revolutionary Che Guevara and his journey with his friend Alberto Granado riding around in South America on a motorcycle. 

3. John Steinbeck’s – Travels with Charlie – In search of America

     This is a travelogue written by Steinbeck  , It recounts the trip Steinbeck took with his French Poodle – Charlie. It is their story, their journey through United States in a camper truck.

4. George Orwell’s – Homage to Catalina

    This is a travelogue, political history and also partly autobiographical. It is a warm story with English humour about the Spanish Civil War. 

5. Jon Krakauer’s – Into the wild

    An absolute must read this book recounts in true form and content the journey of a young lad Christopher Mc Candless who leaves all his possessions and goes into the wild to live in the Alaskan wilderness with the bare minimal luggage. His death , his views and his philosophies all etched into this book, it will surely prove inspirational.

Parinitha Konanur