Back in Time, Part 2: Classic Chikmagalur

-

“Nature and Coffee- one of the combinations, worth escaping the chaos of city life."

What do you think!?   



Chikmagalur, the ‘Coffee Land of Karnataka’, is the place to have cultivated coffee first time in India.
It is one of the most serene hill stations of Karnataka and certainly became our weekend getaway from Bangalore in June, 2019. 
Now, let's tour this place that is apparently well- known for its vast coffee plantations, lush green forests and the steep mountain ranges offering a sight of panoramic, natural beauty. 

Day 1
We boarded the express train in the wee hours of the day and it took us approximately 3 hours to travel from Bangalore to Kadur, a taluk in the Chikmagalur district and the nearest railway station to our destination.

Express Train from Yesvantpur, Bangaore

Meanwhile, we also got an opportunity to relish the authentic Kannada breakfast consisting ‘Thatte (means plate in Kannada) Idli’ served with coconut chutney.

Thatte Idli

Further, after some sight-seeing with some of our relatives in Kadur, it took us approximately 45- 60 minutes to finally reach Chikkamagalur via car.

Mullayangiri

First up, we decided to have an adventure drive on the narrow and steep roads leading to Mullayangiri, the highest peak (1930 m) of Karnataka. We enjoyed the journey to the fullest with the sight of hill ranges, waterfalls and forests along with the deep sensation caused by the breeze which got swifter and cooler with rising altitude.

Way to Mullayangiri Peak

Mullayangiri (derived from ‘Mullai’ meaning forests according to old Kannada literature) nestles amidst the Nilgiris and the Himalayas certainly has an illustrious mythological history and astounding natural scenery. 
We climbed up to the peak top, got some memorable clicks while being adventurous and crazy amidst the stormy wind and the jaw dropping background.

View from Mullayangiri



In a nutshell, it is one of the most appealing destinations for adventure enthusiasts and a must-visit destination offering an absolutely blissful experience in the lap of nature.

Day 2

The day brought a tour to Bababudangiri, also known as Dattatray Peetha is a second highest mountain peak in range of the Western Ghats of India.

Baba Budangiri


Interesting facts:
o The mountain is named after the Muslim saint, Baba Budan, a 17th-century Sufi saint who came to India from Saudi to spread the message of Islam and peace. According to the legend, he introduced coffee to India by bringing beans from the port of Mocha, Yemen in 1670 AD.

o This place is also important for Hindus as Dattatreya Peetha. A cave here is believed to have been the residence of Sri Dattatreya Swamy.

Baba Budangiri Trek

Some of the highlights on this trekker’s paradise are- walking on the Blade Ridge, forest clearings, ancient cave explorations, and stunning hillscape photography from several viewpoints along the way.

Other nearby attractions included:
-Sitalayana Giri which homes unique mountain flowers called kurinji bloom in these hill ranges once every 12 years (last occurred in 2018).
-Gada Theertha (created by the Pandava prince Bhima with his Gada, to quench the thirst of his mother during their exile), Kamana Theertha, and Nellikayi Theertha.

It was a short yet one of the most memorable and spectacular experiences. All in all, it is a perfect blend of being: a 'Natural Paradise' and a 'Coffee Lover's Delight'.



Last but not the least, here's a list of other sightseeing locations in Chikmagalur:

§ Kemmangundi



§ Kudremukh National Park


§ Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary


§ Hebbe Falls


 













Hope you enjoyed this blog tour!
Stay tuned to explore more such amazing places with me.

You can reach out to me via: 
Email- Explorinvita@gmail.com 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Treasured Experience: Coorg

-
Image
"T he more we explore the world, the more we tend to discover ourselves. "  Travelling rejuvenates our entire body, mind and soul.   Some trips add a lot of wonderful experiences, unforgettable adventures and beautiful memories in our life. The trip to Coorg, Karnataka, was one such memorable trip for me. Coorg, renowned as the ‘ Scotland of India’ , is not only famous for its handmade chocolates but it also nestles dense teak wooded forests, lush green coffee plantations and high mountain ranges making it a perfect location for seeking scenic spots and challenging treks. Now, let me begin sharing my experience at Coorg. Day 1: On 28 th February 2020, our group of nine people left for Coorg in the morning. It took approximately 6 hours on a tempo traveler to reach there from Bangalore. Way to Coorg Buddhist Namdroling Monastery , popularly known as the Golden Temple was our first stop at Coorg. This Tibetan Monastery houses a 40 feet Buddha s...
Read more

Back in Time, Part 1: Unforgettable Australia

-
Image
“Travelling...It gives us an opportunity to explore different places, cuisines, people, customs, and practices. To travel is also to take a journey into your-self. It is about shaping and discovering your-self… Who are you when no one knows you? What excites you? What scares you? What makes you happy? and so much more…” While wondering all of it, I longed for travelling and decided to go Back in Time and relish some past experiences when the actual travel does not seem to be possible due to the pandemic.   Welcome to the Part 1 of the “Back in Time” Series ! Let’s begin… Gustave Flaubert  rightly said, “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” I was so intensely struck with this realization when I flew towards the much awaited, the first ever foreign destination I travelled- the Island Continent, the Land of Kangaroos. You got it!? It’s Australia. Today, we are going to time travel to Australia from 2021 to 2018. Yes, it’s jus...
Read more

Hampi: Ruins & the Beauty

-
Image
Past fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription decays from the tablet; the statue falls from the pedestal.   Eventually, the ruins remain and recite the glorious fables of history.   COVID-19 crisis severely impacted the travel industry. Nonetheless, the fondness for heritage sites and the desire to visit them remained as strong as ever. Fortunately, I got the opportunity to travel and capture some beautiful memories from the "City of Ruins", Hampi. Hampi Now, let’s develop a brief understanding before beginning our  tour... Hampi, also called Pampa-kshetra, acquired its name from Pampa- the original name of river Tungabhadra and also the name of Parvati or Brahma's daughter who worshipped and married Shiva (Virupaksha).   It is believed that gods showered gold over their wedding place, naming the hills- Hemakuta (literally meaning 'Heap of Gold') hills. It was hitherto also considered as Kishkinda, birth place of Lor...
Read more