Destination : Kodagu (Coorg)

Monsoon is the season that wide opens its arms to welcome you into Nature's habitat. There are places that owe to its weather all throughout the year. And Kodagu is one such place. An affluent hills stations of Karnataka. It occupies an area of 4,102 square kilometers (1,584 sq. mi) in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka.

I always wanted to visit Kodagu for the past 6-7 years and had never gotten an opportunity. For Kodagu (Coorg) is known as the Scotland of India. If you are a nature lover, then Coorg is the place to be to enjoy the exotic scenery and lush greenery. For this was my yet another summer trip, I chose to write about it only during the rainy season. Early February was not the very pleasant season to enjoy the place and weather as it could have been now.
Kodagu is girdled by Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Mysore districts of Karnataka and Kannur, Wayanad, Kasargod districts of Kerala. The weather and nature are substantially close to that of Wayanad. Kodagu has always been a topic of talk for its coffee, spices, nature and its people. Kodava culture, heritage, and tradition are very rich. Kodavas are the predominant people here.

Coffee Blossoms

In every walk of life, I have had a diverse set of weirdos as my friends. I once read, "Become friends with people who aren't your age. Hang out with people whose first language isn't the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn't come from your social class. This is how you see the world and this is how you grow." This was a complete check. All the criteria met. All the weirdos in closest vicinity caught. It’s a different feeling to be with a set of people younger than you. You can be extra demanding, extra dominating, you can take undue advantage of being older, you can shhh shhh them and act like a wise person even if you are not.

My Weirdos!

This was one such trip where I could act like old and wise in spite of being young and stupid. My friends call it as an instant plan and a successful one. However, every single time the planned trips were a real flop except for this. We started our way to Kodagu from Bangalore on a Friday night. On a chilled weather night, eight of us went to Kodagu. On our way, we halted for an hour or two at a Café. Had a midnight supper, played Uno and started again. Leaving moderately late from here, we still endured reaching Kodagu by early morning 6'o clock. The most pleasant weather to welcome us. The aroma of coffee that spreads across miles is something that makes your heart dance in joy.

Coffee Beans

We stayed at a Homestay near Kushal Nagar. A single house encompassed by acres of coffee estates on one side and a highway on the other. It looked merely surreal. So close to nature and so close to the heart. After a quick walk around the homestay, we got ready and started our excursion. Food is not a problem here at all. The non-vegetarians get a plentiful amount of varieties to have, while the vegetarians can still manage with a decent and good food.

At the Homestay

Kodagu is packed with ample of tourist attractions like Namdroling Monastery, Abbey Falls, Iruppu Falls, Dubare, Nisargadhama, Talakaveri, Bhagamandala, Tadiandamol peak, Raja seat, Omkareshwara temple, Brahmagiri, Honnammana kere, Nagarahole etc. Depends on every individual as to what is their primary preference to pick up the places, as 2-3 days aren't just enough to cover all the places. We covered a bunch of them and below are from my basket of memories.

Namdroling Monastery, Bylekuppe: It is situated just 6 Kms from the town of Kushal Nagar and around 35 Kms from the Madikeri. It belongs to the Sangha community. The temple is termed "golden" because of the golden work done on every painting. It is yet another beautiful Tibetan monastery. The monastery is presided over by an 18m-high gold-plated Buddha. Children are also taught outside the temple. The paintings inside the temple describe the gods, demons, culture and some of the phases of Buddha's life.

Monastery Entrance

The Big Bell

Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihar

Buddha Vihar

Kids These Days!

Abbey Falls: It is a very beautiful and well-known waterfall in Coorg. It is very close from the city like around 5km. For any waterfall, the monsoon is the season and right now, I feel this falls looks much more beautiful than any other time of the year.

Abbey Falls

Cauvery Nisargadhama: Nisargadhama is a manmade island and it looks beautiful. It takes a small bridge to cross over the Cauvery river flowing to go on the other side of the nisargadhama. There are animals that look calm, there are lush groves of bamboo, sandalwood and teak trees. This also consists of a Deer Park and a Children's park. This has some cottages alongside the Kaveri river.  This is located just 2-3 km away from Kushal Nagar. Yet another tourist pull that cannot be a miss.

Rabbits in the Nisargadhama

Never too tired for a picture

Tiny Bridge across the river

Dubare reserve forest and elephant camp: For if my fate wasn't really a bad one, I could have enjoyed this place much much more. There is an elephant training camp where one can actually go for rides. Also, the elephants come across the other sides of the forest to drink water at the Cauvery banks. I'm sure this looks great now with many more elephants than then. Definitely, a must visit. Pay a few bucks and you get a chance to feed and bathe the elephant along with rides. It is also said that the Mysore Dasara elephants are trained in this camp.

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Dubare

Elephant Camp

There is a river rafting facility available during the heavy outflow of river Kaveri. The place is beyond beautiful. Amazing weather and a beautiful place are all it takes for an escapade into nature.

River Rafting

Shopping: After the day-long visit we stopped at various places for shopping. My pick was the spices. Stop anywhere in Coorg and you find shops for spices. These shops have a lot of spices, medicinal herbs, coffee, honey, homemade chocolates, varieties of Wines and what not. Pick the store wisely, do not just go by the look of them. They cheat you if you don't know the prices already. Check in a couple of places before you make huge purchases. 

The Spices all over the city

                       

Shopping options around the monastery

End of Day 1: Campfire at the home-stay. 

As the sun set on the west, the chirping birds return to the nest. We returned to the home-stay. Just so that you know it was in the middle of estates. Where there is none around except us. Perfect conditions for narrating horror stories. That’s what I do perfectly when given a chance. But even before that, we had a campfire arranged by the home-stay. Celebrated KB Bhai's birthday and then some music.

Campfire

You must be special to me if you can only get me to dance with you!

Before everyone could hit the bed, we played a few rounds of UNO. A few games and when everyone wanted to go to bed, there was this cool breeze. Once a while the sound of a passing by vehicle from the nearby highway and it faded away sooner than expected. That only pulled me into narrating some cool horror stories. The problem raised only after that. The fading away vehicles, the noises from the jungle kept the girls awake. The boys quietly made way to their floor. Overall everyone so afraid of everything, none even dared to walk to the washrooms. Nish stayed awake all night and felt there was someone staring at her all night. And the next morning I had a baby sleep until 09:00 am.

How to narrate a story? May be!

Day 2: Talacauvery

Our first visit for the day was Brahmagiri hills. On the slopes of the Brahmagiri hills is the birthplace of River Cauvery(Kaveri). It is located amidst the lush greenery and on a mountain side. The drive to Talacauvery is a beautiful one. On a morning visit, when it is still not very sunny the clouds are right on top of you. Misty weather with dark fog that makes it worth the visit. Talacauvery has a religious importance with temples in it. There is a worship place where the Cauvery originates, along with temples of Lord Ganesha and Agasthya Muni.

Talacauvery Entrance 

Anytime for a picture

The river originates from here and is worshiped dearly.

Talacauvery as seen from the stairways

After the 300th step, we still smile!

After visiting the temples some of us chose to climb the 300 steps to have a look at the serene beauty while others chose to meditate at the temple shelter. On top of the mountain is the peace all that your inner-self endures enjoying the nature. Slight drizzles would make it even more beautiful.

The serenity! 

The Batman left behind his daughter, may be!

Because there is some inner peace here that heals the soul!

Raja Seat:

Raja's seat or the King's Seat is yet another attraction in Madikeri, Coorg. It is basically a sunset point. A garden with seasonal flowers and fountains. The view from here is amazing. The view offers the breathtaking experience when one watches the towering hills, valleys, and fields amidst which runs the highways. There is a 4-pillared structure which is said to be the place where the Rajas of Coorg sat and watched the glorious sunsets.

Raja's Seat

Just outside the Raja seat is the toy train station. Just remember, you are never too old for some crazy toy train rides. It is okay to be a child at heart. Grab that ticket of 10 bucks and get into the train. For if nothing, at least for the child in you will enjoy the ride.

And the toy train!

Post the day long moving around we went for another round of shopping. This time it was another round of spices fo my mother. All the varieties of spices of a better quality and a better price. A passion fruit flavored wine for Octopus. Chocolates for people at the office. And loads of memories.

You name it and you get it

For there is a Scotland of our own here in our land why crave for another land? The right weather and the right place to go to. Pack your bags and tie the shoe laces. Escape into the serenity. For this time go to Coorg may be with a better plan than ours which was rather very random as it was a last minute escapade. Pick your choice of places and then get set goooo!

With a promise to return with another story!

Love,

V

(Nutty Wordsmith)

Nilgiri Hills - Wellington,Coonoor, Ooty & Pykara

Every now and then people disappoint me and this time my sibling by choice Octopus did. He always told me he would first dance in my wedding and then allow me to dance in his baarath. But rather unfortunate that neither he got a chance to do it first nor I could do in his wedding. He betrayed me and that is the truth. Truth does hurt and I chose to let go for the heck of his happiness and I so wanted to welcome his gorgeous bride to the family. 

Kozhikode is not only popular for IIT, it is known for its beach, ghastly humidity and scorching summers. We drove from Bangalore to Kozhikode only to get ambushed in the humidity. The minute we reached our hotel we looked like the ones bathed in sea water. No, I do not complain anything else about this place for it is the cleanest city with the most friendly people around. Only and only if it were not to be such a hot place. Bangalore has been such a beautiful weather place, I no longer feel home when I visit my own home during summers. So the cribbing is very reasonable. Even then I'm still going to cherish this visit, as my brother got married there. For the first time my heart which usually makes noise saying "Take Me Anywhere" rebelled saying "Idiot stop it, the last tan hasn't even gone and you are tanning all over again"

The traveler in me who ignored the heart!

After the wedding, we made our way to the Nilgiris, Western Ghats (UNESCO declared World Heritage Site). On a summer night when I reached the Nilgiris I could feel the natural AC. The car windows were slid down just feel the nature at its best. It was a road trip, for they don't trust my new driving skill, my sibling drove all the way round. When I reached Udagamandalam, my braces started dancing in tune to the cold. The shiver ran all over me. Just wondered how the heck a summer night be like this and temperature be like 15 degrees.

Day1: Wellington & Coonoor

Once upon a time, I was very passionate about the Indian Armed Forces. I even have written a couple of exams and never qualified in the initial shortlisting for my very tall stature. The dream just remained a dream. The defence services lifestyle was something I was very much drawn to in the childhood and even now. This time Wellington is the place I fell in love with. Wellington is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, approximately 80 kms from Coimbatore and 18 kms from Ooty. Wellington is home to the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), a premier tri-service training establishment that imparts training to middle-level officers of the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces, friendly foreign countries and various Indian Civil Service departments. Wellington is also the base for the Madras Regiment, the oldest regiment in the Indian Army. It is connected by road to Coimbatore via Mettupalayam, and to Bangalore via Ooty, Bandipur, and Mysore. Wellington lies at an altitude of 1880 meters above mean sea level and is blessed with a mild and salubrious climate throughout the year. For if I ever have to leave my everything, work and town, then Wellington would be the place to settle down in. 

National Flag flying high at the DSSC Entrance

Temple inside Wellington

War Memorial, Wellington

War Memorial, Madras Regiment, Wellington

 Wellington Barracks

The Wellington Barracks is now named as Srinagesh Barracks in memory of the First Indian Colonel of the Madras Regiment Gen. S.M.Srinagesh.

Inside DSSC, Wellington

Wellington has the fame of some popular movies shot there. There is a beautiful Hindu temple which also houses the Sikh, Christian, Muslim and Buddhism significance within it. Wellington also has a lake with boat house. This could also be called as a miniature to Ooty Lake but much more calm and peaceful with less or no people. From Wellington, we drove to Coonoor. On the way to Coonoor are Sims Park(Miniature Botanical Garden), Dolphin's nose, Lamb's Rock, Pasteur Museum and beautiful tea gardens. The picturesque hills are breath taking. Dolphin's nose seems to have got its name from its very appearance. A few kilometers uphill and then u reach. The view is beautiful and so is the en route. The drizzling weather and streams all over are just wonderful.

Oh yeah! I do blush at random things!

After breathing fresh air and feeling good at heart, we made our way to Coonoor Railway Station. The train that runs to Ooty from Mettupalayam, and the must thing to do can be gotten into from here. This is the best experience that one can have. On a summer day, amidst the valley, streams, mountains and the sky-touching Nilgiri trees, the train runs slowly. There are 3 tunnels to pass-through. The changing high and the low altitude and the drizzles make it a complete heaven. Close to an hour journey makes it just AMAZING. With the overwhelming experience, I reached Ooty and then the resort. The resort itself is in a beautiful location. The sunrise and sunset from the balcony are no lesser than any therapy. 

The most popular Indian Song "Chaiya Chaiya" was shot here on the moving toy train!

 Through the Nilgiri Trees!

Udagamandalam Railway Station!

Day 2: Ooty
Whoever ever made fun of Ooty only as  Honeymooners paradise, nah! You guys just got it totally wrong. There is so much more to go out and explore rather than! It's a place to be in and around in the Summer. Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri are the three hill stations in the Nilgiris. Nested in the Blue mountains, Ooty stands at over 2200 mts above the sea level and has all the staples of a charming hill. With the cool temperature and the greenery, it has rightfully earned the name "Queen of Hills".  The buildings and bungalows display the colonial heritage of Ooty.  The local vendors and residents are very friendly here. Every single person we sorted help from spoke fluent Kannada. What else one needs in a neighboring state? I call them Friendly and helpful.

On the second day, we chose to start our excursion from Botanical Garden. Before which we landed in A2B for a good morning breakfast. So that there are no experiments with food and tummy. When we reached Botanical garden it appeared to be too hot for the place only until the tanning process was done. And the rest of the day was cool with occasional drizzles. The walk around the entire garden takes more than 2 hours, only if you are a kind of person to enjoy the nature and weather. It covers an area of around 55 acres. The Gardens have around a thousand species, both exotic and indigenous, of plants, shrubs, ferns, trees, herbal and bonsai plants. In the center of the Gardens lie a fossilized tree trunk estimated to be 20 million years old. The Gardens consist of several lawns with flowering plants, ponds with lilies, beds of flowers and ferns laid out in an Italian style, several plots of flowering plants, a variety of medicinal plants. The present Botanical Gardens are divided into 6 sections namely Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, Conservatory, Fountain Terrace and Nurseries. 

Botanical Garden - Virtual Tour 
                            

Botanical Garden Entrance

Madatory Family Picture at Botanical Garden

Ganga at the Man-made lake inside Botanical Garden

Flowers and flowers everywhere around

 The tired sisters taking pit-stops

Boat House - Virtual Tour

The Boat-House at Ooty is one of the popular attractions. The calm and serene place to be. Look around anywhere and find only peace. For the lifestyle that we are leading, this place wouldn't be less than a heaven.  The lake is of a long stretch and is a feast for eyes. Every bit of this is awe-strucking. Do not miss it. 

Doddabetta - Virtual Tour

We then headed for lunch and made our way to Doddabetta. It is the highest mountain in the Nilgiri Hills at 2,637 meters (8,650 feet). There is a reserved forest area around the peak. It is 9 km from Ooty, on the Ooty-Kotagiri Road in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the 4th highest peak in the Southern India. From the Doddabetta, the entire hill-station view is just breathtaking. It surrounds the three state borders of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The 2 Telescopes at the Doddabetta are maintained by the State Tourism and aren't functional right now. However, the peak is beautiful even with naked eyes. After a bubble-fun trip to Doddabetta, we made our way to the Rose Garden.

Rose Garden - Virtual Tour

Rose Garden is situated in a vast 10 acres of land on the Elk Hill. The flowers are arranged in five curving terraces. The garden has more than 20,000 varieties of roses of 2,800 cultivars. It is one of the largest collection of roses in India. There is an angel statue in the garden. The names are beyond fun when you walk reading them like Liver Pool Remember, Perfect Moment, Indira, Julie, Leg Glow, Pink Glory, Blush, Earth Song, Gypsy, Dream Come True, Buff Beauty, April Moon, Madam, Living Easy, Adam, Ballerina, Cinderella, Dark Desire, Dortmund(not kidding),  and what not! All that I could think of there was - Dil Garden Garden hogaya :)  

Variety is just a noun!

On one of the terraces!

A complete walk over all the 5 terraces takes close to 2 hours, more if the pits stops are more for the photographs. Trust me you won't regret walking so much, it's an experience of a lifetime. The Day 2 ended on a happy note. 

Day 3: Pykara - Virtual Tour 1, Virtual Tour 2

The rush and hurry to leave the place that you liked so much is always a pain. I have been in such pain many a time. This time it was the Nilgiris and not Hubli. Pykara is a very beautiful place. It is both the name of the river and the place. This has been very popular in the olden movies be it Bollywood or the Southern state movies. The lush greenery and the scenic spots are just made for it. There is a beautiful boat-house, a waterfall, movie shooting spot, Pine forest valley, Lake and the Reservoir. Had I missed Pykara, a regret would house for a long time. Every bit of it is enchanting. Leaves you content. 

The short walk to the waterfall is amazing, however for ladies and elders there is a battery operated car to and fro. The pines all over made me over-aww! Only until this point, I had no idea there could be such a beautiful place in India. All that I do when I go to such places is take deep breaths, for not only it is fresh but also to live the moment.   

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What not to do, while you are on a trip with Mommy!

After Pykara, we made our way to Bengaluru via Madhumalai, Bandipur and Mysore. As it was an evening drive while we reached Bandipur forest area, we were fortunate to meet the friends from the Jungle. They are fearless, for they see humans and vehicles every single day. They are beautiful and they make me wonder about God's wonderful creations. 

They are just there everywhere

So close!

This guy picked up biscuits from the passing by vehicles!

If he could only dance once!

Mysore- Bandipur Highway!

We reached Bangalore by 10:30 pm. 

This life is only as beautiful as we make it. Go places, meet people and cherish it forever. For life is all about nothing but to be happy without any regrets. 

Pack your bags and check the wish-lists. Life is not only about paying bills and waking up early and going to work. There is much more to everything that we do, every single day. 

Yet another promise to come back with another story.

Love,

V