Before planning a 2 days trip to Chikmaglur, we cracked a deal for our DSLR camera in INR 23000. So, we planned to own a pocket friendly camera, Action Dashcam. But Girls will be Girls, I used my husband Dashcam as my beloved DSLR.
Day I/ 25th June/ Sunday:
On Sunday morning, we left for Chikmagalur @8AM. We took NH75 after reading out BHPians` journey reviews.
We followed this route:
Bengaluru Yeshwantpur Nelamangala Hassan Belur Chikmagaluru
Bangalore to Hassan: Highway polished roads
Hassan to Belur: Rough road with truck traffic; Roads were narrow near Belur; 2 way road
Belur to Chikmgalur: Speed 60kmph; 2 way road
On our way to Hassan, we took a lunch break at A2B restaurant. Swathi Delicacy can also be an option but its on the other side of highway.
While driving on the highway, we luckily captured 1 flying peacock on our Dashcam.
Just after crossing 40kms from Hassan, we visited Belur temple. This temple, aka Chennakeshava temple, is around 1000 years old and it took 103 years to complete during the rule of Hoysala dynasty. This temple was built to depict victory over Cholas and those beautifully designed shrines, dancing ladies over the walls and a gravity pillar attracted the tourists.
On our way to Homestay, we stopped at Yagachi dam, 4kms from Belur temple, but water level was too low. There was no direction board for this dam. When you will see few cars parked on your left, then you may link this place.
Around 4pm, we reached Chikmagalur region and 1 Checkpost was there. They gave us 1 slip of around 40Rs and which need to be kept all the time if you are exiting Chikmagalur region.
After a hectic long drive with our Ballu, scenic green beauty and coffee plantations of Chikmagalur relaxed us. Greenery was all around our way to Homestay.
Finally, we reached Red Berry Homestay @4.30pm. Location was good although as it was between Siri Café and Mullayanagiri peak diversion. While booking, we were confused between Blossoms homestay, Spectrum and Red Berry, but Blossoms was around 25kms away from Mullayanagiri and Red Berry is just 12kms away from Mullayanagiri peak. So, we decided Red Berry Homestay. Their staff was very courteous and humble. They had few games for fun, Carrom Board, Cricket, Bad Minton but we were missing indoor games like Ludo, Monopoly, as it was a raining season. So, we somehow managed with Bonefire & 52-deck cards.
We carried our homemade food, Poori Sabji with Mango pickle. Better you inform your Homestay owner to arrange Lunch/dinner/breakfast prior to your visit. In evening, they arranged bonefire for us along with deep FRIED snacks. We got a company of some young college students.
Day II/ 26th June/ Monday:
On Monday morning, I woke up my husband for Sunrise view at Mullayanagiri peak. He was as usual sleepy n lazy. It was just about 12kms from our Homestay. The road above there is very messed up and narrow enough to scare, though we stopped at some places to capture the view via Dashcam only. But fog was covering the green hills every 10 seconds. It was 2-way broken road, ultimately, we drove up there and unfortunately, there was no sunrise view; only fog view. ☹
We stepped out of car just to feel the winds. Those cold winds were literally hitting us but we managed to take few selfies and grabbed those rocks tightly else I would have flown with the wind. :D One Alto was literally shaking on that hill and we got really scared due to such heavy winds.
We waited there for 2 hours along with 3 more groups for a scenic sunrise view, ultimately we came back with high hopes that we would be able to see the sunrise next day.
Then, we came back to our Homestay and left for Baba Budangiri peak. The roads with those hairpin bends were very beautiful, clicked pictures on the route. On every turn, you may stop your car and click the pictures.
On the way to the peak, we stopped at Honnamana Halla Falls just for few minutes and then after 1km ahead, we parked our car near Jhari falls Homestay. Jhari falls aka Buttermilk falls is worth trekking. Usually Jeep is there to drop you till Jhari waterfalls. But that day no Jeep was driving down the falls due to heavy rainfall. So, we decided to trek till waterfalls, it was around 3-4kms. While trekking lot of people got bitten by Leech, so you need to be careful or wear shoes to go safely over there. There is also 1 shortcut to get down there from the main road 500mts before the actual route. Don’t take that route as it is very narrow; people got slipped from there; trekkers got bitten by leech. Recommend you to trek up from the main jeep drive route itself.
Then, we headed to Baba Budangiri peak, this peak took its name from the Muslim Saint, Baba-Budan, who resided here for more than 150 years. History says that Baba Budan brought 7 coffee beans from Yemen and had planted and raised them here.
There was a diversion on the way to caves but weather was so rough and due to bad road conditions and rains, we did not go till the peak and just had some tea at Dhaba. The fog weather and those winds reminded of Mussorie, similar weather we used to experience 10 years ago. Then, we drove down to Pure-Veg restaurant i.e. Vishnu Delicacy and had lunch over there. We took some snacks from Iyengers Bakery and drove back to our Homestay after showing that 40Rs slip again at that checkpost. 😉
Day III/ 27th June/ Tuesday:
Next day, I again woke up my husband to visit Mullayanagiri peak but it started raining at 6AM. We checked out Homestay at 10AM and had a breakfast at Siri Café, there was a Siri Sculpture and a good hangout place where you can enjoy the weather, drink coffee and click pictures.
We visited Coffee Museum and there was not even a single person around and it was too hot.
Randomly, we planned to visit Halabeedu temple, built by Hoyysala empire, aka Hoysaleswara temple in 12th century Shiva temple. So, Google Maps took us from a different shortcut route altogether from some village (Lakya). Dare you not to take that route. It was properly a village route, goats running around, bell crossing the road and camel walking slowly. Reached Halabidu temple at around 12.30PM and left within 15minutes due to burning sun. This temple has very beautiful sculptures. Must visit this in rainy season or Shivratri. Followed the same route and came back to Bangalore at around 6PM .
