Golden Temple and Return

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From Golden Temple

From Dubare it was around 30-45 mins drive to Kushalnagar. On the way we came across the Nisarga Dhama, after seeing so many elephants and spotted deer in last 2 days nobody was intrested in visiting Nisargadhama to see the deers in enclosure. So we skipped that part and headed to the Golden temple at Bylakuppe.Bylakuppe is around 7km from Kushalnagar and is home away from home for Tibetans. There are many monasteries in Bylakuppe. The one we visited was Namdroling monastry, which has the golden temple. The complex has 2 temples with giant statues of Buddha and paintings having intricate details on all over the walls. During festivals masked dancers can be seen. There is a near by shopping complex where in one can buy Thankas and even the Hindu gods painted in thnaka style. There are other tibetan handicrafts such as knifes with carvings, lacker work is also sold. Other monasteries are also supposed to be beautiful and have very peaceful atmosphere.

From Golden Temple

By the time we came out of the temple complex sky was all dark with clouds and we could here the thunders. We hurried up and got started at 7:00 PM. When we were just crossing Piriya patna it started raining. Though rain subsided after some time it was enough to cause flood on the roads where widening work was in progress. We had to move very cautiously and as far as possible we let the heavy vehicles to pass the flooded area so that we are sure that there are no ditches in between. It was raining till we reached Hunsur. After that it was drizzle till we reached Yelwal.At Yelwal we came to know that the sringapatna shortcut we had taken while coming was closed for smaller vehicales(Only lorries allowed) after 9 pm and we have to go through Mysore. We reached mysore around 10 and then had food at some daba on the way. We were driving slowly on the mysore highway and after Mandya we thought having some tea. I guess it was around 12:00, i can not recollect properly .. Som locked the car with key inside. Started frantic searches for screw drivers etc. There was a guy who had come have tea started to help us. We looked for any gap in the door glass. Then we came to know that central locking can be opened only from door next to drivers seat. He removed the beading on that door, from somewhere Som got a file. We are not able to open the door. Prem called up the Car dealer, he suggested us to try with the name plate. The helping guy removed the name plate by using one rupee coin as the screw driver and finally managed to unlock. That was a big relief .. We reached bangalore around 1:30 AM with lot of sweet memories from Coorg

Dubare

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Dubare
From Iruppu we joined the main road and from there we crossed Srimangala, Hudikeri, Poonampet to reach Gonikoppa. The drive was for around 20 km. From there we took the scenic raod to Kushalnagar. After Gonikoppa we took the road to Pollibetta. All along there were coffee estates, ponds and it was very scenic. From Pollibetta we took the road to Ammathi and then to Siddapur. This was the most beutiful strech of all. We found many Tata Cofee estates and whenever we were passing through the Tata Coffee estates the roads improved dramitaclly. When we reached Siddapur, it was already 1:15 PM. So we were in quandry to have lunch there or go to Dubare and tried have lunch. Then we saw the Orange County hoarding, Som called up o inquire if they serve food to people who are not staying with them. The plans took another course correction and we were off to Oracnge County. It is 5km from Siddapur and we had a heavy lunch buffet for 400 buks each. The lunch included 2 italian dishes, 2 north indian, 2 andhra, some indian non-veg dishes, 5 deserts and very very tasty Butter milk !! After lunch we came back to Siddapur and we were on our way to Dubare. Siddapur has many golf courses. We reached Dubare arouund 4, though we did not know the timings we were at the right time. The elephant camp is open between 4-5 PM for visitors. From the main road you go to go around 1 km before reaching the banks of Cauvery. From there take boat ride to the other bank for 15 buks to and fro. You will start seeing elephants come one by one to take bath. Inside camp after paying a fee you can take photographs with elephants and feed them as well. They have rides as well, but it was stopped as elephants do not get green grass and it might be tiring for them. We came back to the other bank again had some cool drinks for the "air bubbles". Next Destination --> Kushalnagar

Iruppu

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April 15th morning we got up early around 6:00 AM. The plan was to visit the river nearby and do some bird watching. It was Som's new year and he made couple of calls and then we headed towards the paddy fields, through the coffe plantation slopes. On seeing the holes in the paddy fields, Som backed off. Prem and I crossed the paddy fields to reach the river. Without any clear view and it being pretty small, river did not enthuse much. We started to spot the birds and soon we discovered that our binocular was not helping much. Though Prem could distinctly hear 15 bird calls, we could not spot many. Prem identified flying muniyas and there were parakeets.

Lakshman Tirtha Falls at Iruppu From Iruppu

We noted down a balck bird little larger than sparrow. Back in the guest house we searched for the bird in Salim Ali's Birds of India. Then we thought it might be a wag tail, but we did not remeber seeing a white patch over the eye. Later in the day we saw the bird again and noted that there was small white patch on the wing. Finally I identifed bird as Pied Bush Chat after looking at the Common Birds book.
We we came back to the guesthouse only to realize that balcony might have been a better place for watching birds. Prem took some good photographs of the sun rise. We had Akki Roti and coconut chutney for the breakfast. Som again got the idea of visiting Dubare and Golden temple on the way back.
So there was one more course correction in the plans, now it was Iruppu, Dubare, Nisargdham and Golden temple. Iruppu was around 11 km from the place we stayed, we had to move around 3km on Gonikoppa road and then take left(There is big banner with the photograph of Iruppu falls) and go another 8km (?). The vehicles need to be parked at the temple and there is a walk for 1/2 km to reach the falls. There is a bamboo platform on which one can walk and sit right below the falls formed by Lakshman Thirth river. The water is very cold. Everybody in Coorg had advised to take bath out here. Only Som took the advise.

Iruppu is home to variety of rare butterfly species such as Malabar banded peacock, paris peacock etc.. Above is the picture of Papilio Budha or Malabar banded Peacock From Iruppu

While Som was finding a place to change and I managed to take couple of snaps of butterflies. From 5 km from the falls there is Narimallai Guest house which can be only reached by walk. We climbed down and had some cool drinks to combat "air bubbles coming from everywhere" (Copyright Som-2006) and set off to our next destination Dubare.

Update : Aug 9 2008 . By mistake I had claimed it as Malabar banded peacock. But it is not. Look at the comments for picture of malabar banded peacock.

Nagarhole

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Prem arrived at my place around 8:30 AM. We had not yet decided the place to go. I packed up and got into Prem's car we went to Som's Place. There again the debate started then Som came with the idea of going to Coorg. We checked the distances, everything was within 230 km. But we were yet to decide where in Coorg? At 10:00 AM we started from Som's place. One the way I explored "52 weekend gateways". One by one place was ruled out. Kabini was not a option as too few accomodations were listed. Siddapur and Kakkabe did not sound that intresting. 10:50 AM we hit the Mysore road via the ring road.
Our next destination was Kamath Lokruchi. By then thankfully the options had narrowed down to Nagarhole and Madikeri. Prem had gone to Nagarhole earlier and was not impressed. He had even trekked through Brahmagiri. He had not visited Madikeri though. Som had been to Madikeri multiple times. I was all for Nagarhole. We reached Kamat Lokruchi at 11:45 AM. Everybody ordered for neer dosa or poori and discussion resumed. At one point the pitch was so high that the guys at the next table were staring at us. Finally it was decided that we will go to Nagarhole as we can get accomodation and there is Iruppu falls nearby to be visited.
Around 12:15 we started from KL and headed towards sri rangapatna. Close to Srirangapatna Just after a bridge we took the deviation(right) going towards ranganthittu bird sanctuary. After couple of kilometers we hit the hunsur road. On the Hunsur road you will also find deviation towards Brindavan Gardens and you will also get a Balmuri Ganesha temple near Belagola. Hunsur road was being broadened repair was on. At some places it had been repaired already. We reached Hunsur via Yelwal and Billikere. When it is very close to Hunsur the road divides into one going towards Nagarhole and one to Madikeri. Before this division itself the signboards for Nagarhole can be seen. We took a break at Hunsur and had some water and bananans. Little bit urgency to reach Nagarhole started up. We did not wanted to delay and miss the evening safari. In Hunsur just after the Petrol bunk we took a left to go towards Nagarhole.This also the road connecting to HD Kote. After around 8 kms at Neerpalla junction we took the raod going towarWe ds nagarhole. (Other one goes to HD Kote). From here onwards raods are pretty bad we could manage a speed better that 30km.We passed through Jungle Inn resorts, Som was very keen on staying there. We reached first gate of Nagarhole at Veerhasanhalli. Gaurd took the vehicle number and told code of conduct No Horns, No Music system and No loud noise. You have to be out of the park by 6:45 PM and the safari's arranged between 3:00 - 5:00 PM in the evening and the Parks opens at 6:00 AM in the morning. ( In contrast to Bandipur where safari's allowed only in the evening. Morning there is only elephant ride, not elephant safari) Next was the Murkal gate around 10 Km from the first gate and we saw some tamed elephants grazing around. Again guard noted down the vehicle numbers and asked we had already booked the stay and provided us with a option for stay. Around 4:30 we reached forest depart office and lodging facility from where safari's are arranged. They had stopped the Jeep safari's. The other was a van safari which took 19 people at a time for which forest department charged Rs 75. I registered my name on the book and the waiting began. Then we discovered that private vehicles are allowed but with Rs 400 vehicle entry fee, 150 guard fee and there was per head fee of 50 bucks. But cars were not allowed and 400 entry fee was for a zeep. We could not manage to tag up with others who were taking their own vehicle. In the mean time we saw some spotted dears which crossed the raod and then we there was a lone spotted dear which was grazing on the grass infront of the guest house.
In the mean time we came to know that most of the guest houses are full and it will be tough to get a stay. I discussed with sitting forest officer and gave couple of options for stay. There was also a option to come back in the morning for safari with a private vehicle hired from Kutta which would have cost us another 400 buks. Again the debate started to go for the safari now or comeback in the morning.. As we had waited enough we decided to go for the safari. In the meantime Som and Prem talked to the parking lot attendant, Raju and he said he will take us to guest house. Then there was a bull elephant came close to the area, i did not see as I was in the queue to get tickets for the safari.
The safari started at 6:30PM and we managed to get 2 window seats. We were surprised to know that while issuing the tickets they allot the seat numbers. The safari was worth the wait it started with spotted deer and herds of bison. Sambar followed soon. Jungle fowl and Pea fowl were pretty close to the trail. Next we saw elephant herd which had around 10 elephants. At around around 7:00 PM the sun set and still we had some light as it was next to the full moon day. In the moon light we kept comping across spotted deer, bison and sambar. When we were very close to the base we saw a bull elephant just 10 m away from the trail. It did a mock charge at the van. That was the first time I saw a mock charge. 7:30 pm he safari ended and we were on our way to Kutta. One the way we came to know that it was raining on the repvious day. The clouds had started to gather. We were worried that it might rain. We reached Kutta and made couple of phone calls. From there we had to drive around 6km to reach our guest house. It started raining at Kutta we drove in the rain and when we reached the guest house there was no power.
We got into a huge bedroom and then there was huge bathroom (of the size of a bedroom in bangalore) with bathtub. Som was delighted. We took bath and started off to emptying the bottles we had bought on the way. Soon we were joined by Raju and then Gopal who was owner of the guesthouse. We were sitting on the spacious balcony and cool breeze was coming over the coffee estates below. Rain had stopped by then. At 10:30PM the dinner was ready with Chapathi's, beetroot curry, Pulav, rice, samabr, rasam, raitha etc. Som also got to taste the Chicken cooked in Kodava style. Everybody was hungry as the last proper food we had was at 11:45AM. We went to bed.

Run up to Nagarohole

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I , Prem and Som were debating the possible places that we can go to. As it was summer we decided to go to hill station. Then we started comparing the hill stations. We wanted to go to a place which was closer to bangalore so that we need not drive much and need not drive under difficulat conditions. So choices were Yelagiri, Yercaud and Kodai. For Kodai we had to do lot of driving and Som did not wanted to go to Kodai without his wife. Then Yercaud took precedence over the Yelagiri as there were more places to visit and more scope for activities. But then Som started explaing his recent experince when we he went to Erode and claimed that the place may not be as cool as we expected. Next I checked the heights of Kodai, Yercaud and Ooty in 52 weekend gateways. Yercaud was some where around 4600 ft compared to Kodai's 6,800 ft and Ooty's 7,400 ft above the sea level. Subsequently Prem checked with his friend to find out how will be the climate in Yercaud he did not get a positive answer. So Yercaud was dropped. The next idea was to go to Bheemeshwari via shivan samudra , sangam etc. But accomodation was a big issue. Only option available was a forest dept. guest house at Muthathi and we had not booked JLR.