Traveling is always a feeling. A handful of unforgettable memories that come true when
a friend joins with the same enthusiasm . A five-day trip through the Mysore-Coorg regions that has been coveted on travel blogs and Google. Below is a look back at some of the unforgettable moments from that trip.
Mysore Diary
Day 1: Tuesday 19th December
The journey starts from Kazhakoota at 8 pm at Kallada Travels. Bus Ticket Charge: Rs 950 (from Kazhakoota to Mysore).
We had booked the middle seat in the bus. Psychological move to prevent potholes in Kerala roads. The journey is 12 hours. I didn't know that the first two hours were gone because I had a movie on the bus. Going to Mysore via Wayanad. Stopped for food at 10:30 pm. We had bread and hot beef curry. When we left there, it was 11 o'clock. Behind the seat when it gets cold
The wool provided for the passengers was taken and covered. The semi sleeper seat was adjusted. A comfortable sleep in the warmth of wool. Day 2 Wednesday 20th December
When he opened his eyes, the traveler was speeding along the Karnataka highway. The beauty of the village was doubled through the frosted glass. Meanwhile the traveler stopped at a roadside shop. Checked into the hotel, washed my face and wasted no time in capturing the sights along the way.
Around 8 PM, reached the Mysore Maharaja Complex. That was Mysore Point. From there to the pre-booked hotel,
2.5 km according to the map. I was traveling in an auto. I paid 30 rupees.
The hotel room was clean. After getting fresh, we discussed the plan for the day. The next trip was to Garuda Mall, which is 1 km from the hotel. Already booked a scooty through 'ONN BIKES' google app.
We got a scooty in good condition. After giving the ID card and getting the scooty, our journey started.
A sample map was also prepared including places to visit, time etc. for each day. According to the map the first target is 'Chamundi Hills'. Had idli and tea for breakfast. Then straight to Chamundi Hills.
1) Chamundi Hills
Chamundi Hills is located at a distance of 6.5 km from Mysore City. It is the best place to visit in the morning when there is soft sunlight. Offering a high-range travel experience within a short distance, Chamundi Hills is rich in good roads and scenic roadside views.
This beautiful journey ends at the Chamundi Temple situated on top of Mt. Street vendors and tourists created a festive atmosphere.
I saw monkeys munching on ice cream bought from a street vendor and looking at me curiously as I walked.
While enjoying the sights, don't forget to capture them, on mobile and in mind. Returning was more beautiful than coming.
2) Mysore Sand Sculptor.
On our way back to Mysore from Chamundi Hills, we visited the Sand Sculptor Museum.
This museum is 5 km from Mysore. There are some sand sculptures and a selfie studio. The entry fee seemed high.
The sculptures of Ganesha carved in sand and Krishna pulling Arjuna's chariot are amazing.
Next is Senfi Studio. Beautiful pictures are decorated in a special way so that visitors can take photos. There is Taj Mahal and Spiderman.
After the Mysore Sand Sculpture, our destination was the famous and magnificent Mysore Maharaja Palace.
3) Mysore Maharajapalas
This is the palace. Spread beautifully in the central part of Mysore, the palace has an aura that attracts visitors. Parked the bike and took the ticket and entered the palace complex. There is a parking fee in addition to the entry ticket. There were parking fees at all the places visited throughout the trip.
Once inside the palace gates, visitors are greeted by a wide path and gardens. Even though the sun was harsh, the cold wind gave relief. For some time, he sat on a tree trunk munching on a chocobar.
The palace is centrally located. Take the ticket and enter the palace. The shoe can be kept outside. Rs.5 only.
Sculptures, beautiful murals, portraits, mirrors and minarets shed light on the double story of history. It is a historic time. An opulent palace even today with cool stone floors, wooden staircases and spacious interiors. The royal thrones and royal sculptures
stand in awe even with today's technology. Here is the mesmerizing effect that awakens the history student in the visitor. When visiting places of historical importance, a slight awareness of that history will awaken the connoisseur in us.
The gardens and structures that form the backdrop to the palace are as beautiful as the interior of the palace.
It was 1 o'clock when the call of hunger came while I was walking with the photo. There are many veg hotels in Mysore. Plan your next destination after eating from one hotel.
4) Karanchi Lake
Karanchi Lake is the perfect Mysore tourist destination for an afternoon visit. Although the name is Lake, leading to the lake is a small man-made forest full of palms and trees. Karanchi Lake features a children's park, a small bird breeding center, a beautiful and shady trail, cycling, pedal boat rides on the lake, etc.
Parked the bike and paid the parking fee. Got the ticket for entry. The weather inside was such that you even forgot that it was noon. You have to walk about 200 meters to reach Karanchi lake.
The next item was a pedal boat ride on the lake. 50 rupees for 15 minutes.There is an arch made of water in the middle of the beautiful lake. The other side of the lake is rich in greenery and birds. We took our time and circled the backwater. On one side of the lake, a tree trunk standing in the water and its birds presented a beautiful picture.
After the boat ride, we visited a small bird breeding center located there. There are different types of birds like peacock, duck, flamingo etc. What was most attractive was the freedom of movement they were allowed.
Karanchi Lake is a place that should not be missed on the Mysore trip. It was 4 o'clock. We headed back to the Vrindavan Gardens for our next and final stop in Mysore.
5) Vrindavan Garden
Vrindavan Garden is a paradise in every way. Vrindavan, located adjacent to the Cauvery Dam, is rich in beautiful gardens, lawns and water arches. In that vast garden, children who have come for an excursion roam like butterflies. Their playful laughter and photo-taking evoked memories of school trips left somewhere in the back of the mind yesterday.
As night fell, the lights decorated in the water arches lit up and Vrindavan became as beautiful as Princess Cinderella. Every moment spent there made me hesitate to return.
We understand the sad truth when we are preparing to return from there around 7 o'clock. There is no charge on the phone. There is no Google map to show the way. It's dark too. And it was an adventure journey through the paths that were painstakingly extracted from the memories.
Reached Mysore around 9 pm. By the time we reached the hotel after eating, it was late. And so ended the beautiful Mysore journey. Now to Coorg.
If we talk about Mysore, it has less traffic compared to other cities and it is a fun place for family and youth alike. All you need is some patience and a mind to enjoy it without rushing. Smooth roads and tourist centers located nearby make Mysore a traveller's favorite. Cold weather is best.
Coorg diary
3rd day Thursday 21st December
left room in Mysore early morning. After breakfast straight to Coorg. It is 119 km from Mysore to Coorg. Our first destination was the Golden Temple, a Buddhist temple located on the Mysore-Coorg road.
1) Golden Buddha Temple/Nam droling Monastery
Reach the Golden Temple at 11 am. The road up to it was level and not too busy.
The Golden Temple is a Buddhist temple located between Mysore and Coorg, 34 km from Coorg. It is the largest temple of Tibetan Buddhism in the world.
Every moment spent in the Golden Temple was like spending a little Tibet. Buddhist monks everywhere .Buddhist structures and worship practices were fascinating. Moreover, it is a resting place after a long journey.
Left the Golden Temple at 11.30. The next destination is Nisagadhama forest. Nisagaddhama i.e. 7 km from the Golden Temple is a forest located 27 km from Coorg on the Mysore-Coorg route.
2) Nisagadhama forest
Shaded paths filled with bamboos and tourist attractions, Erumadam, ropeway, rope ride, different seating areas, different sculptures of Kolkali and Valpayat, all
Tourists are welcomed outside in Nishagadham by colorful vendors, mostly Malayalis. Here you can find items like cooling glass and wool at low prices and food and drinks like sorbet and thalasseri biryani.
The entry fee into the forest is only Rs 10 per person. The first welcome into the forest is a beautiful suspension bridge made of ropes. A forest path, lined with bamboo and trees, leads into the forest. The climate is hotter than Mysore, but the shade trees provide shade.
By the time we started getting hungry, we went out. From there eat biryani and straight to Coorg.
3) Coorg – Madikeri Hotel
While booking hotels on Coorg journey it is best to choose Madikeri. By the time we reached the hotel we had booked earlier, it was 5 o'clock. The journey from Nishagaddhama to Madikeri was an experience. Beautiful road, high range and entry into the coolness of Coorg was pleasant.
The hotel room was clean and nice. The window view in the room is also beautiful. By the time I showered and changed my clothes, it was 6 o'clock. To enjoy the beauty of the evening, the next trip was to Raja Seat which is only 4 km from the hotel.
4) Rajaseat
Rajaseet is a small Vrindavan with entry till 8 pm. Apart from the man-made gardens and water arches, the magnificent view of the valley and the opportunity to enjoy the sunset at the same time make the Raja Seat a favorite place for tourists. A perfect environment to relax and share memories after long journeys.
5) Toy Train Station (Toy Train Station)
Toy Train Station is a small tourist destination near Rajaseet. Here you can get one kilometer train ride for 20 rupees. The ride across the park will be more enjoyable for the kids. Especially in the evening.
Returned to the hotel by the time darkness spread. Had food on the way back. The tiredness of the long journey quickly pushed him to sleep.
Day 4 Friday 22nd December
On the fourth day of the journey we started with a visit to the Omkareshwara temple.
1) Omkareshwar Temple
Omkareshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is 1 km away from the hotel. An uncrowded, clean and holy temple.
After breakfast, we went back to Abi Falls which is 7 km away.
2) Abi Falls
The trail to the falls was full of ups and downs. And the road that cannot be blamed. Vehicles should be parked at a distance of 500 meters from the falls. From there, the target is reached on foot through man-made steps. It is surrounded by forest. The Abi falls is a sight to behold, sparkling with the rays of the morning sun. But what disappointed us was that we could only enjoy the waterfall from inside the fences.
When Abi returns from seeing the falls, he starts thinking about his next goal. The closest in terms of kilometers is the off-road trip to the Mandal Petty Hills. I read in many travel blogs that it is a very bad road as the name suggests. That is the main attraction there. But the possession is also a scooty. In many car rental sites in Coorg, it was also seen that Mandal Petti Yatra was banned. Standing in despair at Abi Falls, we did not think much more. Mandel returned to the box.
3) Adventure Mandal Petti Yatra
A jeep ride is available to the Mandalpetty Hills, which is 21 km from Madikeri. It costs Rs 350 per person. We left on the scooty. The journey ahead was so dangerous that we questioned that decision. The road was rocky and gravel. Steep climb. The car often wobbled. The last five kilometers felt like 50 kilometers. The adventure ends at the beautiful Mandalpetti Hills, a cluster of green hills. Spent time there taking photos and enjoying the sights.
The return was more dangerous than the ascent. By the time Matikerial reached, the journey and hunger were exhausted. It was 1 o'clock. Had biryani from Madikeri and discussed the next goal.
Talakaveri Temple is a name commonly seen in Coorg travel blogs. Our journey was there. The said temple is about 43 km away from Madikeryal. Coorg is the final destination of the trip.
4) Talakaveri Temple
A pleasant and refreshing journey with winding ups and downs and beautiful countryside and valley views. The road is flawless. You can also find isolated roadside coffee shops.
We reached Talakaveri temple around 3 pm. The temple is on top of a hill. Go by vehicle till 500 meters down from the temple. From there are stairs carved in stone.
Sandal can be left for safekeeping at the temple entrance. We rested on the stone floor at the entrance to reduce the harshness of the sun and the tiredness of the long journey. From there, you can see the green valley as far as you can see. The cool breeze was also pleasant.
The temple pool and temple structures were beautiful.
It is known that Thalakaveri is the source of river Kaveri.
After spending two hours there, we returned to Madikeri around 5 o'clock. By the time we reached the hotel, it was 7 o'clock.
The next day, Friday 23rd December, after returning the rented scooty, we headed back home.
The biggest feature of Coorg is that it is the journey itself that can be enjoyed along with or on top of the places visited. Coorg has a lot to offer to those who love high-range travel and off-road trekking.
Adarsh .S.K
