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Thursday, October 23, 2014

Trip to Hogenakkal

As usual, while I was returning back home evening, I was thinking tomorrow is Diwali and we need to go somewhere. That's when I thought lets try for Hogenakkal. A good candidate for day trip. Told Runai about it and she was ok.

It's 23-Oct-2014 4:30 AM, we got up and got ready. At 5:30 AM, we started our journey. We reached HP Petrol Bunk after Hosur and filled petrol and also air pressure. Next we had our breakfast inside car. We had hot Maggi which Runai made early morning. We started our journey and reached Hogenakkal base at 9:00 AM. Driving up and down the short hills, we got some pictures and reached destination at 9:30 AM. They had made proper parking bay and it was good. Road from Bangalore to Hogenakkal was fabulous. We got ready with Camera and Sun Glasses. Normally it is very hot here but today it is Diwali and its cloudy. Climate was superb.






We started walking toward the fall. First we saw boat stand where you can get Coracle ride. But we thought we will try it later and go further to see what is in store. We went further and saw a hanging bridge. Btw, people here usually go for oil massage and followed by bathing in the falls. There is a dedicated bathing place for his and her separately. Anyway we crossed hanging bridge and followed the mark on stones toward Cine Fall. In midway, we found camera man. As usual got our photo with the fall as background. Asked him to keep the photo until we return back and he was fine. We walked further untill we find the fall a little far away. The place is usually rocky and water falling from every place. But this fall is amazing.

After getting some photos, we started returning back and our way we got the photo from that person. While returning back we went to the boat stand. Saw a boat ticket counter but was closed. A person came up to us and asked whether we want to for Coracle ride and we promptly asked for rate. He asked how many of us and we told 2 and he was like its going to be Rs. 620. It was beyond our budget. So thought to cancel it and in anycase it was our second trip here. So we started returning back to car. It was 11:30 AM and was thinking to return back. As we were about to leave, we a sign board pointing to crocodile rehabilitation centre. We went toward that and just after few meters we saw an aquarium. Parked our car there and went it. They have a good collection of fishes and after that went to crocodile rehabilitation centre which is again few meters away. I think you can find every age crocodile there and may be they have over 200+ of them. Its the first time I saw it from so close. Anyway after that we asked the ticket collector if there are anything else to see and he said nothing more except if we want to eat fresh fishes from river and fried. We left from there and decided to have lunch once we hit NH 7 at Dharmapuri. We reached Dharmapuri and parked beside the road and had chow mein which we cooked last night. As we were about to finish it started raining. We started from there at 1:30 PM and reached home at 3:30 PM.


Friday, October 03, 2014

Trip to Kasargod

It was 03-Oct-2014, we got up at 3:00 AM and with our quick travel bags and bags full of food, we started at 4:20 AM. This would be the first time we would go through Mangalore Highway. So Runai kept maps ready for navigation but we were stuck for 30 min at Yeshwantpur railway crossing. Anyway after we hit Managlore Highway it is straight road. We drove in good speed and by 7:30 AM we reached Hassan. In between there was heavy fog and one cannot see anything beyond just few meters. We had to turn all lights and go safely. And in between I see Runai snoring happily. We got down after we crossed Hassan for breakfast. Had sandwiches we made at home and started again to drive. Just 10 km before Sakleshpur the road starts to get bad and later worst for total 70 km. Difficult to find any road in hilly terrain.I think it took us nearly 4 hours to complete 70 km and once we off from Mangalore highway and toward Kukke Subramanya we got good road but narrow. Anyway we reached Bekal town by 12 noon and decided to go straight to the Bekal Fort.
Bekal Fort

Bekal Fort

Bekal Fort

Bekal Fort

Bekal Fort
It was quite hot there and we parked under a tree. Walked down to the fort and I ticket was Rs. 50 for 2 person and a camera. It was a lovely fort in the sea beach. The place was well maintained and we spend an hour inside and enjoying the place. After we returned back, we were hungry again. I asked Runai if she wants to have lunch here and she was ok. So we had our lunch inside the car and next in our list was to get a hotel. Though it was a busy day for all travelers but we were sure to get some hotel somewhere. We started driving toward Kasargod and just within few km we found one hotel. Runai sat inside the car and I went in to enquire. They said they have room for us, but rate didn't allow us to stay. It was I think around 7K per night. Next we say another one just after Kapil Beach road. It was 1200 per night and we went in. It was suite room with A/C. I think the price of the hotel  was less because it was managed by old folks. Anyway good for us. We didn't do anything other than freshening up and watching tv and relaxing in living room. Evening we went walking and went to a restaurant and bought dinner. Had dinner at our room and called it a day.

Next day 04-Oct-2014, we started at 8:00 AM and went straight to Kappil Beach.
Kappil Beach
Had to park our car on road and had to walk for few meters and enter small beautiful beach. Spend some time there and we went to Nityanandasramam. The main attraction is going through caves inside the temple premises. From there we drove down to Chandragiri Fort.
Butterfly at Chandragiri Fort
Chandragiri Fort
Chandragiri Fort
Once you climb up, it's a mesmerizing view from top. on one side river flowing and all around it is covered with coconut trees and nothing else. We for some lovely flower pictures. From there we went to Kasargod town. As usual it is a busy place and lots of traffic. It was already noon, so we stopped at nearby restaurant and had Pathiri and egg and chicken gravy. Next we drove quite a bit and reached Maipady Palace. It is a old traditional temple. Don't be confused with a house which says as palace. It is a private property. The temple is very old and camera is not allowed inside. From there we went to Lake Temple, Ananthapuram.
Lake Temple
It was a beautiful temple in middle of a lake. Next we went to Bela Church.

It was a old beautiful church. It was about to be evening and we didn't want to get stuck in hills, so wanted to return back but not through Kasargod town because it was too crowded. So Runai followed some direction in google maps. It was literally going through someone's kitchen and others backyard. Road was again narrow and steep. Finally we reached our hotel at 6 PM and parked ourselves. We say that they were washing the area and watering plants, so asked him if he can let us water our car. He was ok and cleaned it well. Next we were ready for dinner but Runai didn't want to go outside, so I went to same place and got our dinner. Out of greed, I got some extra food and it was too much for us to finish.
Bela Church
Next day 05-Oct-2014, we got ready by 8:00 AM, but uncle was not there, so couldn't check-out. We thought to have breakfast, but it was Bakrid and all shops were closed. Luckly we had jam-buns and we paid remaining money for room to another uncle and came out at 8:45 AM. We followed same route. At 1:30 PM we were hungry and went in to Kamat after crossing Hassan, but was heavily crowded. We went to next dhaba and had roti and chicken chilly and chicken gravy. It was good and fresh. Next we know is that we are at home around 5:00 PM. The total price for the trip was 8K.


Hanging Bridge before entering Kasargod
Hanging Bridge before entering Kasargod
Meadow at Ananthapuram