Category: Karnataka

We travelled to Agumbe in November 2015. My friend and his family accompanied us for this entire trip.

The route that we followed was : Bangalore –> Agumbe –> Jog Falls –> Mookambika Temple (Kudajadri) –> Murudeshwar –> Gokarna Om Beach –> Shimoga –> Bangalore.

My fellow travellers in Bangalore: This is one of the best trips that you can plan from Bangalore. You can cover some beautiful places in this entire road trip. Our’s was a 4N/5D trip; 1 night in Agumbe, 1 night in Gokarna , 2 nights in Shimoga

Agumbe is one of the least explored tourist destinations in Karnataka. It is a small village located in Shimoga district, in the Malnad region of Karnataka, India. Its also known as the place of origin of Malgudy. If you grew up in the 90s and have never heard of Malgudi Days, there’s something missing in your life. Malgudi — a fictitious town from R.K. Narayan’s novel — is actually Agumbe Village.

(Doddamane house below)

Agumbe is popular for 3 things:

1) Snakes especially King Cobra (the most venomous snake in the world)

2) Heavy Rainfall (also known as ‘The Cherrapunji of the South’)

3) Sunset (there is a sunset point 10 minutes away from town)

Agumbe has very limited visitor accommodation (1 hotel and 3-4 Home stays only). So book your stay in advance.

Best part of Agumbe is its location, which is surrounded by lush greenery with no signs & sounds of traffic.

Some places worth visiting:

Agumbe Rain forest
Research Station (ARRS)
Barkana falls
Jogi and Gundi falls
Koodlu Falls

Kundadri Hills (Jain Temple) : It is a hill (826 mt) with dense forests in the Wastern Ghats. This hill is known for 17th century Jain temple. Two small ponds formed by the rock on one side of this temple provided water to earlier sages.

Government of Karnataka joined hands with a philanthropist from Mumbai to construct an all-weather road to the top of the hill.

We stayed at Naveen’s Belachikatte Home stay. We were one of the first families who stayed in that new homestay and infact I was the first person to review this homestay on Trip advisor.

We got a chance to try some really nice Malnad cuisine from this homestay. Thanks to Naveen and his family for making our trip a memorable one.

Note: Please ensure to fill your vehicle’s fuel tank before reaching here. We missed to do so and had to go down the 18 hair pin bends to reach down the ghat section just to fill the petrol in our car. We did not see any petrol pumps on the main town. May be over a period of time, things might have changed.

The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands – Sir Richard Burton

We visited Kabini in June 2017. Kabini has been in my bucket list for a long time and I had to wait for a couple of years to make it happen.

Route Map from Bangalore:

Kabini is a wildlife reserve near Mysore and is a part of the Nagarhole forest range. Nagarhole national park is popularly known as Rajiv Gandhi National park. These were once a private hunting ground for the royal family of Mysore. Kabini is a smaller part in this park, named after the Kabini river that flows through it. Kabini river originates in Kerala, flows eastwards to join the much larger River Cauvery, eventually discharging into Bay of Bengal at end of its journey, after passing though most of Tamil Nadu and Southern Karnataka.

We went for the Jungle safari. it is organized under the supervision and control of the government officials (Forest Department).

We took the Morning Safari in the Bus arranged by the Forest Department. I was told that many people visited this place mainly to see the Black Panther(BP). Across the whole safari, we were also eagerly waiting to see a Black Panther(BP). But unfortunately, we couldn’t see one. But we were indeed happy that we saw a lot of another wild animals. Don’t forget to take binoculars and camera while going for safaris.

I think the safari at this region happens in different zones. If you are planning multiple safaris, make sure you go to different zones each time.

The river plays an important role in attracting the wild animals to this region. Elephants, tiger, deer and so on are a regular sight in this region.

For all the nature lovers, this is definitely a must-see place. It has everything a wild life enthusiast aspire for. Once we pass Mysore, we can feel the change in temperature.

Accomodation:

We stayed in Red Earth Resort. Would certainly recommend this resort to all my fellow travellers. I have also read and heard wonderful reviews about some other resorts in this region like Serai, Orange County, Jungle Lodge, Waterwoods, The Bison and so on.

All the accommodation options available in Kabini are quite costly. There is no way that you can find a cheaper option. But all are definitely worth the money that you pay. Many of the resorts are nearby the Kaveri river.

As it’s a wildlife reserve area, you might not see any restaurants nearby. So, you will have to eat your food at the resort itself.

A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving

– Lao Tzu

ROUTE MAP

We visited Kollur Mookambika temple in November 2015. We decided to include Kodachadri in this trip and I feel that inclusion was a great decision. I would certainly recommend Kudajadri to my fellow travellers here. The Mahindra 4 wheel jeep safari to Kudajaadri is a great experience. You get the jeep to Kodachadri from the entrance of the Mookambika temple itself.

The route that we followed was : Bangalore –> Agumbe –> Jog Falls –> Mookambika Temple (Kudajadri) –> Murudeshwar –> Gokarna Om Beach –> Shimoga –> Bangalore.

My fellow travellers in Bangalore: This is one of the best trips that you can plan from Bangalore. You can cover some beautiful places in this entire road trip. Our’s was a 4N/5D trip; 1 night in Agumbe, 1 night in Gokarna , 2 nights in Shimoga

You can also visit the ‘Kodachadri Moola Mookambika Temple‘ at the top of the hills (The jeep takes you till this point)

There are 2 Waterfalls nearby (Trekking Spots)(We couldn’t visit these waterfalls)

Hidlumane Waterfalls:

If you are at Kodachadri then you have cover the distance of just 5 kms to reach the waterfall area. Hidlumane Waterfalls is basically a trekking site.

Arasinagundi Waterfalls:

The distance between waterfall and town is only 6 kms. Go to down area of Dhalli village of Kudajadri to enjoy this Properly.

How to reach Mookambika (courtesy:wikipedia)

By Air: Mangalore International Airport (IATA: IXE) (ICAO: VOML), at Bajpe, about 20 km from the city centre. Currently there are daily flights to Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Kochi and Calicut in the domestic segment and weekly/bi-weekly flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat (Oman), Doha (Qatar), Kuwait and Bahrain in the international segment. Kollur is two hours drive from Mangalore.

By Train/Road: Byndoor (Mookambika Road Station – BYNR) is the nearest stations to Kollur, road distance is ~28km to temple from Byndoor. From railway station to Byndoor city, catch rickshaw & from Byndoor to Kollur private bus facility is there. Other option is private taxi from Byndoor or from the railway station. Big disadvantage of Byndoor station is its located remote border area of Kundapura taluk and there is risk of getting facilities during night hour.

We visited Mysore in November 2015.

Mysore officially Mysuru, is a city in the state of Karnataka, India which is located in the foothills of the Chamundi Hills. It is known for its history of glittering royal heritage.

Places that we visited:

Mysore Zoo:

The major attraction in Mysore is the Zoo Itself. Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens or Mysore Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world (Started in 1892 with 10.9 acres that time). Now its spread over 150+ acres, housing more than 1400+ specimens belonging to 160+ species, representing more than 30 countries. Please note that the zoo is closed on Tuesdays. Rest of the days, its open from 08:30 AM -05:30 PM.

Mysore Palace:

Another major attraction is the Majestic Mysore Palace. The palace you see today was actually built in 1912 after a fire destruction that happened at the first palace. There are fine paintings, architecture marvel, carved wooden doors and rich colours inside the palace. Palace is especially vibrant during the time of Dussehra Festival, wherein it is completely illuminated with a lot of lights. Seems, this palace is also illuminated on Sunday Nights (for about half an hour).

BrindavanGardens (and KRS Dam):

Brindavan Gardens is situated slightly outside the city, the garden is a hotspot for locals and is famous for the musical fountain show.Initially, this was among one of the best terrace gardens of the country.

I was personally not happy with the way the gardens are maintained. Considering the number of tourists that flow in, its high time to do a proper maintenance of these gardens and can add some additional attractions as there is enough space inside.

Philomena’s Church:

The massive church of neo-Gothic style is one of the biggest churches in India. The amazing floor plan of the church resembles a cross. The 175 feet high twin spires of the church are visible from miles around. The glass stained windows of this church portray scenes of the events in the life of Jesus Christ like his birth, last supper, crucifixion and resurrection.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary:

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka,is a bird sanctuary in the Mandya District of the state of Karnataka in India. It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state, 40 acres in area and comprises six islets(small island) on the banks of the Kaveri river. This is a favourable nesting ground for birds of various species after which it was declared a safe sanctuary for birds in 1940. You can also do a boating here, but there might be higher waiting time because of the large inflow of crowd.

Another Nearby Places worth visiting:

Chamundi Hills: On the top of Chamundi Hill, you will find the Sri Chamundeswari Temple

Explore Devaraja Market: This is a market which is more than 100 years old.

Mysore Sandal and Silk Sarees are very famous. Don’t forget to grab one, before you leave Mysore.

Accommodation:

There are lot of accommodation options available within Mysore, suiting all budgets. I have personally booked ‘Kings Court’ and wouldn’t recommend this hotel to any of my fellow travellers here.

How to reach:

BY AIR – The closest airport to Mysore is Bangaluru Airport, around 170kms away. From there it is possible to take a Fly-bus directly to Mysore.

There is an airport in Mysore called ‘Mysore airport'(also known as Mandakalli airport) that has been functional since 2010, after being unused for few years. But as of now, there are no much passenger airlines flying out of this airport.

BY BUS – Mysore is accessible by bus from a number of destinations across India. To check routes, timetables and ticket prices (check Redbus.com)

BY TRAIN – Mysore is well connected via train from across the region. It is advised to book weeks in advance.

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign”

– Robert Louis Stevenson

ROUTE MAP

This trip to Om Beach, Gokarna was in November 2015 along with my family. My friend and his family accompanied us for this trip.

The route that we followed was : Bangalore –> Agumbe –> Jog Falls –> Mookambika Temple (Kudajadri) –> Murudeshwar –> Gokarna Om Beach –> Shimoga –> Bangalore.

My fellow travellers in Bangalore: This is one of the best trips that you can plan from Bangalore. You can cover some beautiful places in this entire road trip. Our’s was a 4N/5D trip; 1 night in Agumbe, 1 night in Gokarna , 2 nights in Shimoga.

Gokarna brings together the experience of a sea-side destination and a getaway in the hills. Om Beach is one of the most famous beach in Gokarna. Famous for being naturally shaped like the Hindu religion’s auspicious symbol Om, this beach attracts tourists round the year. This shape is formed by two semi crescents joined together. It is a nice 6+ kms drive over the hills with splendid views from Gokarna town to Om beach.

The sunset view from this beach is amazing.

There is also a bunch of fun water sports activities available at the Om Beach, including speedboats, surfing, fishing, banana and bumper boat rides and so on.

Other places nearby:

1. Kudle Beach (3 Kms)
2. Half Moon Beach (2 Kms)
3. Paradise Beach (8 Kms)
4. Namaste Café (for some local cuisine) (3 Kms)
5. Murudeshwar (8 Kms)

How to Reach Om Beach, Gokarna :

By Road:

Gokarna is around 483 km from Bangalore, 238km from Mangalore and around 59 km from Karwar. Road connectivity is excellent to Gokarna and can be reached by bus from Karwar, Kumta (30 km) via NH 17 where multiple buses ply from Panaji, Mangalore, and Bangalore. Om beach is around 6.5 km from the city of Gokarna. Even tourists can hire cabs from major cities to reach Gokarna

By Rail:

Konkan Railways ply via Gokarna; hence anyone boarding the train from Mumbai or Goa to Mangalore can also get down at Gokarna Road (station) which is around 6km from the city. Many other trains also ply via Gokarna from major cities. To reach the beach one can hire an autorickshaw or even cabs or private buses.

By Air:

Mangalore International airport is the nearest airport to Gokarna. Mangalore is around 238 km away from Gokarna. Tourists can hire a taxi or even take up trains to reach Gokarna.

ROUTE MAP

We visited Nandi Hills in October 2016. It’s around 70 Kms from Bangalore. Its 4851 ft above sea level. Nandi Hills is also known as Nandi Gram or Nandi Durga. Nandi Hills was Tippu sultans summer retreat. Due to its location, Nandi Hills is rapidly developing, and numerous commercial and residential ventures are underway in the region. This is one of the most preferred destination for Bangalorean’s.

How to reach:

The nearest airport is Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore from where you can hire a cab or taxi. If you wish to experience the train journey, then the nearest station where you can get down is Chikkaballapur from where both buses and taxis are available. But, if you’re looking for a short road trip, you can cover the distance of 70 kms between Bangalore and Nandi by driving yourself. This is also a perfect bike trip destination.

Beware of sharp turns – drive carefully

Once you start driving up the hills, you may want to keep your camera aside and focus fully on the road and watch for oncoming traffic. There are sharp turns and steep sides with minimal barriers on the side. Local and frequent visitors were seen to be driving pretty fast and we found several young guys driving bikes and cars like crazy.

Places to see:

Tipu’s Drop:

Located on a hilltop on a cliff which is 600 metres above the elevated ground, Tipu’s Drop is one of the oldest and most famous tourist attractions in Nandi.

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple:

Also known as Nandi Temple, this place which dates back to the 9th century is one of the oldest temples in Karnataka

Sun rise point

Garden

Tippu’s summer residence (not open to public)

Some Tips:

• If you come across monkeys, avoid feeding them.
• Since this place has very limited food options, prefer carrying your own packaged food.
• The best option will be to reach around the Sunrise (please note that the gate might open at 6 Am only). Also, be informed that many people come with the same intention of seeing the sunrise view and there might be many cars waiting at the gate in front of you.
• Don’t consider this as a full day trip. If you start early to see to Nandi hills, you can come back to Bangalore by afternoon.
• Don’t forget to carry your camera as there are a lot of picturesque places in Nandi.
• If you’re driving to Nandi in your own car, prefer parking it at the designated parking area.
• Try to return from the hill station before evening since driving after dark can be quite dangerous if you are not familiar with this place. 

Traveling’s not something you’re good at. It’s something you do. Like Breathing.” – Gayle Foreman

Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens or Mysore Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world (Started in 1892 with 10.9 acres that time). Now its spread over 150+ acres, housing more than 1400+ specimens belonging to 160+ species, representing more than 30 countries.

Please note that the zoo is closed on Tuesdays. Rest of the days, its open from 08:30 AM -05:30 PM.

Area is lush green and you will not feel tired if u can manage to walk in the shade. There are also enough benches to take rest at every corner. Zoo is well planned and clean, the explanations are written in an interesting way and the directions within the zoo is clearly marked. There are washrooms, child care rooms and drinking water here and there.

Be ready to walk for around 4+ Kms and might need around 5+ hours to cover the entire zoo.

One specialty of the zoo is its Adoption scheme. One can adopt animals and has to give expenses of adopted animal till its death. Many celebrities, politicians, Industrialists, Cricketers, and even some corporates have adopted animals.

The zoo had gifted India its first pair of gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees in 1977. Likewise, the zoo had brought giraffes from Germany, red kangaroos from Washington DC and lemurs from Duke University. The nearby lake, Karanji lake is also a part of Mysore zoo now.

This zoo follows an open zoo concept, where carnivorous and other huge animals are not kept in the cage bars and are allowed to roam around freely, within a specific boundary.

There is enough parking available near by the zoo. There are also many small shops where snacks and juice are available.

Website: https://www.mysuruzoo.info/

Ticket Rate (as of Dec2018):

Adult: Govt. Holidays & Weekend days: Rs 80 and Weekdays: Rs 60

Child: Govt. Holidays & Weekend days: Rs 40 and Weekdays: Rs 30

Tickets can be booked online in the website.

This is a common tour destinations for people in Bangalore, Mysore, Calicut, Wayanad and so on. So expect good rush throughout the year.

Address:

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens,

Zoo Main Road Indiranagar,

Mysore, Karnataka.

ROUTE MAP

We visited Shivansamudra and Talakkad in October 2016. This was a one-day road trip that we had done from Bangalore.

This is one of the great day trip options from Bangalore.

Route: We had followed the Channapatna- Maddur route

Locally, Gaganachukki and Barachukki Falls are collectively called as Shivanasamudra Falls though Gaganachukki is most commonly represented as Shivanasamudra Falls.

A common misconception about these waterfalls are that the left segment is called Gaganachukki and the right segment is called Bharachukki. In reality the Bharachukki falls are a few kilometres(15 minutes drive) to the south-west of the Gaganachukki falls (approach roads are also different). This is due to the Kaveri river itself splitting a few kilometers to the south into western and eastern branches. The western branch results in the twin waterfalls of Gaganachukki, whereas the eastern branch results in the Bharachukki falls. The Gaganachukki waterfalls are best viewed from the Shivanasamudra watch tower. This is a segmented waterfall. Segmented waterfalls occur where the water flow is broken into two or more channels before dropping over a cliff, resulting in multiple side by side waterfalls.

(courtesy: Wikipedia)

We had visited the Gaganchukki falls in October when the water flow was very less.

Ideally Monsoon is the best season to visit this place as the falls looks gorgeous in its full swing. These waterfalls and surrounding hills fall into Cauvery Wild life sanctuary which provides a wide opportunity of excursion, trekking in the forest, rock climbing, bird watching, fishing and other activities for naturalists.

The Hydro electric power station here, is the first of its kind in Asia, installed in 1902, and is still functional. It was commissioned by the Diwan of Mysore, Sir K Seshadri Iyer. The first town to receive the electricity from this station was Kolar Gold Fields, hence Kolar became the first town in Asia to get hydro electricity. Much smaller power plants started functioning earlier in different parts of India like the one that was started in 1897 in Darjeeling.

Temples in Talakadu:

The route from Shivanasamudra to Talakadu is with a view of dense green fields and coconut trees. There are more than 25 temples in this region. Even though many temples are already excavated, we were told that many more temples are still buried under sand. This area is indeed a ‘Mini desert’. Many of the excavated temples are now open for Darshan. Many temples have the Hoysala Architecture. It will be a good option to hire a guide here, they will take you around the temples and explain interesting stories about the temples.

Locally, this place is also known as the Banaras of the South for a large number of old Hindu temples and their religious significance, Talakadu is an interesting place for the seekers and believers alike.

The most imposing temple here is ‘Vaidyanatheshwara’ temple.. Among the temples of Talakadu, the Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vydyanatheshwara and Mallikarjuna temples are considered as the five Lingams, believed to represent the five faces of Shiva. In honour of these five Shiva temples, a fair is held once every 12 years called Panchalinga Darshana, last held in 2009.

For those interested in mythology and history, Talakadu should be a part of your itinerary.

But be prepared to walk a lot(in sand), in case if you wish to cover more temples.

There are some Udupi style pure vegetarians hotels. Even though the ambience might not be so appealing, the food was very tasty.

Coracle ride in Talakadu:

We ended the tour on a high note with a fun-filled coracle-ride in the river Kaveri.

There is enough parking space available in this area. The Sandy beach of Talakadu is very nice. You can play in the water near the bank. But be careful, if you are planning to swim in the river as there might be sudden depths due to loose sand pattern. You will also see coracles being rented out for rides. You can try at your own risk as these are not authorised and they don’t come with any life jackets. If interested, you can also have a dip in Kaveri river.

Don’t forget to ask them to spin the coracle, it’s a nice experience.

“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.”

– Sir Richard Burton

ROUTE MAP

This trip was in November 2015 along with my family. My friend and his family accompanied us for this trip aswell.

The route that we followed was : Bangalore –> Agumbe –> Jog Falls –> Mookambika Temple (Kudajadri) –> Murudeshwar –> Gokarna Om Beach –> Shimoga –> Bangalore.

My fellow travellers in Bangalore: This is one of the best trips that you can plan from Bangalore. You can cover some beautiful places in this entire road trip. Our trip was a 4N/5D trip; 1 night in Agumbe, 1 night in Gokarna , 2 nights in Shimoga.

Murudeshwar is certainly one of the most visited and popular Shiva Temples in India. Murudeshwar is a town in the Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India lying on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

The statue here is the second highest statue of Lord Shiva in the world. The Tallest Lord Shiva statue is in Nepal known as the Kailashnath Mahadev Statue. The design of the idol is in such a way that the sunlight directly falls on the statue making it to sparkle when the sun rises. It’s a massive photography opportunity to click the epic seaside statue of Lord Shiva looking over the shimmering Arabian Sea and the magnificent Western Ghats.

The Rajagopura at the entrance of the Murudeshwara Temple complex (also known as the Kethappa Narayana temple ) is one of the world’s tallest, standing at 249 feet. This is the newly added masterpiece and inaugurated in May 2008. The Gopura has 20+ floors and is the only Gopura to be fitted with elevators. Take the Temple lift for fantastic coastal panoramas. You can also get an excellent view of Shiva Statue from here.

The legend of Murudeshwar goes back to the age of Ramayana. A small temple existed here for generations, But with time the temple disintegrated. The locals tried rebuilding the temple earlier, but it did not last long. Then the businessman and philanthropist Mr. R.N. Shetty, who hails from Murudeshwar, started renovation work in 1977 with a team of craftsmen and artisans. So the credit of beautiful, modern Murudeshwar goes to Mr. R N Shetty (RNS) and his team.

Konkan coast beaches are known to be clean and Murudeshwar Beach happens to be one among them. The clean white sandy beach extends up to 2-3 km easily and offers a range of water activities. Activities involve speed boats, water scooters, parasailing, boating and even snorkelling near Netrani Island.The beach is also home to a small flea market and chat centre. One can purchase clothes, souvenirs and so on from here.

Near By attractions:

• Explore the heart shaped Netrani islands
• A place called Kadavinakatta which is situated just 25 Kms away from Murudeshwar offers a beautiful dam and a temple of Goddess Durga Parameshwari.
• Om Beach, Gokarna (82 Kms away)
• Apsara Konda Falls (20 kms away)
• Kollur Mookambika Templeand Kodachadri  (60 Kms away)
• Mirjan Fort
• Adventure at Yana Hike
• Jog falls (98 Kms away)

How to Reach:

By Road: Murudeshwar Temple is connected by KSRTC and private transport from Mangalore (155km) and Bangalore (488 kms). Most buses plying between Mangalore and Mumbai stop at Murudeshwar.
By Train: Murudeshwara lies on the Konkan Railway route. There are multiple trains from Mangalore or Mumbai and the station to stop at is Murudeshwar railway station
By Air: Mangalore is the nearest Airport and is around 165 kms from Murudeshwar Temple
Whether you are religious or not, this is a must see place in Karnataka.

“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

ROUTE MAP

Visited Bandipur Tiger Reserve in June 2014, along with my family. Bandipur reserve is around 250 Kms from Bangalore.

Going to the wild is always exciting and refreshing.

As we crossed Gundulpet (the main town before Bandipur), the landscape changed. We could see the beautiful mountains covered with clouds. The weather was just perfect with the cool mountain breeze blowing.

As soon as we entered the park premises, we saw many deer’s langurs, peacocks and wild boars roaming around.

“Wild animals have the right of the way in the Tiger Reserve Limits” and we had to stop for a while at many places waiting for the herd of deer’s to cross the road. Bandipur National Park is regarded as one of the most beautiful and the better-managed national parks of India.

The Bandipur, Nagarahole, Wayanad, Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam Tiger Landscape is spread across the states of Karnataka (Bandipur-Nagarahole), Tamil Nadu (Mudumalai-Sathyamangalam) and Kerala (Wayanad). This is a fine example of managing inter-state Tiger Reserves for the long term Conservation of Tiger Source Population (Courtesy: https://bandipurtigerreserve.in/)

Bandipur Tiger Reserve:

The bus safari is available between 6:30 am and 9:00 am and between 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Jeep safari is available from 6:00 am to 9:00am and from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

We took the 6:30 am bus safari. We headed towards the national park using one of the vehicles owned by the Forest department. You are not allowed to step out of the vehicle though. The forest department vehicles are much like the conventional mini-buses and have less space to look outside or shoot. Even if you don’t get a chance to see a wild animal, its a great experience to travel through those beautiful winding roads inside the sanctuary.

Little known is the fact that these Bandipur forests once belonged to the Mysore Maharaja’s personal Game Preserve. The park was announced to be a Tiger Reserve in the year 1973. It also came under the Project Tiger in the very same year. It was notified as a national park in the year 1974.

Many people come in from Mysuru, Bengaluru and Kerala for safari alone, on weekends.

Madumalai Tiger Reserve:

In this trip, we also visited Madumalai Tiger reserve. There is a jungle safari option available here aswell, but we did not go for this safari. In general, Bandipur safari is more preferred than Madumalai safari.

Himavad Gopalaswami Betta Temple:

Himavad Gopalswamy Temple is located on the hill of Bandipura Tiger Reserve Forest. This temple is very near to the tiger reserve. There is a forest checkpost on the way to the temple.

It is approximately 19 km from Gundulpet. Take a right turn at Sri hangala on the way to Bandipur from Gundulpet. The best time to visit the place is July when on both sides of the entire route to the hill temple will be covered with Sunflower and Marigold farms in full bloom.

More details are available in http://himavadgopalaswamy.org.in/

This temple was built by the King Chola Ballala during AD 1315. The temple is dedicated to Gopalaswamy, which is one of the names of the Hindu God Krishna. We were told that the temple is build of lime and jaggery. This area is covered under the Project Tiger for Bandipur wildlife sanctuary and is a no plastic zone.

It is also the highest peak in the Bandipur National Park. It lies in the core area of the Bandipur National Park and is frequented by wild life including elephants. The view from the temple is awesome.

New updates: We went to the temple in our own car in 2014. But recently Government had decided not to allow any private vehicles beyond the Checkpost. There is a KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) bus providing shuttle service between checkpost and the temple (6Kms Drive). Ticket fare is Rs.20 per person for going up the hill and again Rs.20 per person while coming down. Own vehicles should be parked below the hill entrance and the parking charges is around 30 rupees. Some Tea shops are newly opened there. Stuffs like hot bajjis, tea, churmuri , Mineral water etc are available.

Accomodation:

We stayed in Country Club resort. I have been to couple of Resorts/hotels of Country club. Even though the experience in most of them were bad, this one was really nice. Won’t mind recommending this resort to our fellow travellers here.

But there are many accommodation options like Serai , Jungle Lodges and so on in this region, suiting all budgets.