Three years later, once again we the 4-Idiotzzz planned for a trip.
But this time,
as we guys crossed our teen-ages and had our own jobs, we planned for a totally unknown & different location in a self-drive car.
We pre-booked the following well in advance before 2.5 months itself.
1). Chennai to Mysore : 16021 - Kaveri Express (Rs. 285 per head).
2). Mysore to Chennai : 16022 - Kaveri Express (Rs. 285 per head).
3). Mysore : Myles Car Rentals - Maruthi Swift 2018 (4 Days excluding diesel : Rs.7250 + 350 for pick-up and drop @ RS).
28 Sept, 2018 (Friday) :
The journey started @ Chennai Central Railway Station. My office is @ OMR and so joined Naveen (our gang THALA..!!) @ Tidel Park. From there, we caught Chennai MRTS to Central RS. Since it was a Friday, MRTS was much crowded. We got the train @ 7:10 pm. It was a half-an-hour train journey in standing.
Around 7:50pm, we reached the Central RS as well as entered the platform where Kaveri Express stood. We purchased some snacks along with driking water. Thala got 2 pack’s of briyani, each @ the rate of 50 in the RS itself.
Myself won’t use to have anything, especially junk food items unnecessarily during travel time. I use to have Grape Juice in a nearby restaurant outside Central RS. It was like a sentimental touch for me. All my prior travel went good, if I had Grape Juice in that Restaurant @ the start of my journey. So, myself made Naveen to sit in a place @ the platform itself and left for that restaurant. In the meantime, Naveen will complete his 2-packs of briyani. After completing my grape juice (which cost Rs.50 over there), I came back in. Naveen, who had those 2-packs gave his worst experience of having it. It was funny to hear his comments for that 50 rupees briyani. In fact I was warning him while buying, to avoid suck kind of food item’s during travel. But THALA generally won’t use to hear the word’s of others. He went for it an got what he supposed to get from it.
The Train will depart from Chennai Central RS by 09:15pm. It was already 08:30pm and the other 2 guys, Whesly and Nithya, didn’t even started from their home. Nithya was waiting @ his home itself for Marsh (Whesly). Marsh was not picking-up our calls. Their home’s are almost 12-15km’s away from the Central RS. Around 08:35pm, Marsh reached Nithya’s home. He came-up only with a small school bag it seems. So he asked Nithya to get a bigger bag and they took a big suitcase, kept Nithya’s bag and marsh’s bag inside that suitcase (almost like a Mr Bean thing) and left the house towards Thirumangalam Metro. By 08:50pm, they got Metro Train to Central RS.
It was a 15mins travel. Remaining 5mins, they took for walking from Central Metro to Central RS and reaching our platform. Our train’s engine honks and they are arriving correctly 2-3 compartment’s away from us, casually.
This man, Marsh Whesly is famous in his friend’s circle for 1 thing. He doesn’t knows to keep his words, when the words are related to time. After their arrival we started to fall asleep, as tomorrow we have to drive the car and travel.
29 Sept, 2018 (Saturday) :
Next day morning, it was around 07:30am, when w arrived Mysore RS. It was raining by that time.
We met Myles Car support staff’s along with our booked car around 08:00am, just outside the RS. Their support staff’s were decent and well trained. Handled us gently. We booked brand ne MARUTHI SWIFT 2018 Model.
We received the same, which was driven jus for around 700kms. It’s brand new and so we are very much excited to start our drive.
It was a normal process, checking our Diving License, getting signature in some paper’s, they will hand over the doc’s related to the car and we too will validate whether the car has any existing problem’s like dent, music system functionality. etc. This will take around 20-30 mins.
It was around 08:30am, we said bye to them and started our journey in brand new Maruthi Swift 2018.
While on the way towards Balmuri / Tedamuri Falls, we had our breakfast in a good and very decent restaurant, Shri Krishna Bhavan. The dosa, kesari bath, especially the chutney taste’s too good. The restaurant was very neat and well maintained. The Karnataka’s Sambar along with that big size medu vadai was ulti.
After completing our tasty karnataka style breakfast, we resumed our journey towards balmuri. It was just around 15kms distance from Mysore RS.
Reaching Balmuri, the location was too isolated and made us felt alone. 2 shops, selling fruits like pineapple, mango’s and other is chat items. There is a parking lot, which fare’s Rs.20. We parked our car, changed to swim dress and got down the river. We’ve to walk a bit (around 100 meters) to reach the stop-dam / step-dam. It was a nice experience for us, walking in the river containing pebbles, that too in opposite direction of water flow.
After having a refreshing bath, we changed our cloths and resumed our journey towards Chikmaglore. We had our AUX Cable on-hand. The car was loaded with songs. In between, we filled dieself for the car.
It was around 2:30pm, we reached Hassan and paused for our Lunch. Naveen wants BRIYANI BRIYANI BRIYANI... We searched a lot and got a decent restaurant. Myself, as usual loaded with some veg’s as it’s travel time. Hassan is a well-known town and we can find many shop’s here. We visited ATM for cash, resumed our journey towards chikmaglore. In between, we stopped @ Yagachi Reservoir which was a nice location to spend some time. Around 7pm, we reached our destination. It was chill and raining. Chikmalore is very very an very famous for SHAWARMA>>!! And in my friend’s circle, myself is famous for SHAWARMA>>!!
Reaching Chikmaglore, we enquired rooms @ Hotel Giri Inn, RajMahal.etc. And since it was a peak season, all good rooms were booked. Finally, after an hour of search, we got a decent and also bigger room @ Hotel RajMahal, along with Car parking facilities. Reaching room, we refreshed ourselves, then came out for a walk in that drizzling, freezing weather.We completed our dinner there itself.
That main road fuly, we can fine SHAWARMA’z for every 10 meter’s. Completing our dinner, we walked toward’s Karnataks’s Chikmaglore famous Panduranga Coffee House. It was authentic, traditional and well-known in the past 3 generation’s. We visited there just for having a cup of coffee and enquiring about the varities and price, in-order to purchase it while leaving Chikmaglore. There, we came across meeting one of the partner of Panduranga Coffee House. He was friendly and explaining the history of the coffee in and around Karnataka. Listening to those produces goosebumps. He also aware of many Indian Languages, speaking a well decent tamil too. He guided us for our further day plan’s.
Here, each color route is a day-plan to and from Chikmagalore :
Later, we left the shop and continue walking along with doing some little bit shopping.
We had lemon soda @ Lassi Shop, which was too crowded by that time, 12am in the mid-night. Reaching room, we fall asleep.
Next day morning, we had nice views from the room. The weather was pleasent an we freshen-up quickly.
We had our breakfast @ famous New Town Restaurant, in Chikmaglore Central itself. This restaurant serve’s all kind of Karnataka’s breakfast items and authentic for it’s dosa in that surroundings. It was established in the year 1900 and it was still running in full pace.
Completing our breakfast, we had our coffee @ Siri’s Coffee House. Then, we resumed our journey towadrs Mullayanagiri and Seethalayanagiri.
Mullayanagiri Peak is almost 20kms drive. Once reaching the checkpost at the foot-hills, the real adventure starts. This adventure is fully surrounded by forest hills and bumpy roads. It was a Sunday, and so it was much crowded. We even met with a small accident, where an innova driving from up-hills towards down, lost it’s control. Thank God, there wasn’t any major impact caused.
After almost 2 hour’s of drive, we finally reached the peak. There the view was amazing and we had clear view of total Chimaglore and surrounding’s.
Here, we came across meeting an amazing special character who made an impact in my life, Mr. Ashok A K, Sandeep and Basith. Ashok was working in FORD, also a well known social activist, and Director of Direction 4 Volunteers group. We were having quite goo wavelength. Speaking with them, we came to know that they too had oursame travel plan’s for the day. So, on completing the Mullayanagiri and Seethalayanagiri Peak Trek, we resumed our journey towards Kalhatti Waterfals, which was 26kms far from the Peak. They had their own Car, Ford Aspire. Ashok Bro was simply drifting on the hill roads and drving at a speed of 130+ kmph. Reaching Kalhatti Waterfalls, we took nice bath and the water was so chill.
Then, we halted @ a point while on the way towards Chikmaglore and spend some time in plateau road-sides.
Late night, we came back to Chikmaglore and we all 4+3=7, had dinner in same RajMahal Hotel (SHAWARMAA>>!!)
Next day morning, we had our plans to leave Chikmaglore. And so, we got the famous Panduranga Coffee Powder, along with some other shopping things and left Chikmaglore. Having breakfast @ New Town Hotel, we started our travel towards Mysore. We planned for 3 stops in-between. Belavadi, Halibedu, Belur. All these 3 are historic and famous places. They are especially famous for the sculptures the temple has in and around.
BELAVADI :
We started our journey to Belavadi to visit Veer Narayan temple built in 1200 CE. It is said to be the place mentioned in Mahabharata where Pandava prince Bhima killed the demon Bakasura and protected the village and its people, Belavadi is 29km drive from Chikmaglur town.
This is one of the largest temple built by Hoysala kings, this temple is known for its architecture. The roof are well decorated with some intrinsic work, in one of the roof the Lord Krishna playing flute is beautifully carved. The images of Hindu Deity are carved on the roof and also at the outer walls. The temple is made in form of Star (Shriyantra). The pillars have been made to keep diyas to enlighten the temple.
HALIBEDU :
This is another 12th century temple built by Hoysala kings dedicated to Lord Shiva. Halebidu was former capital of the Hoysala Empire. It is 12km from Belavadi and 16km from Belur. It is the largest temple build by Hoysalas, took approx. 40years to complete, was attacked twice by Mughals but the intrinsic designs are largely intact. It has two Nandi shrines outside each facing the respective Shivlinga inside. Numerous smaller friezes narrate Hindu texts such as the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana.
The temple is built with soapstone, which is soft when quarried and easy to carve the intrinsic patterns and hardens when exposed to air. The temple outer walls is intricately carved. Its lowest layers consist of bands with friezes that consist of (from bottom to top) elephants, lions, horses,scrolls with nature and miniature dancers. The episodes of Ramayana, Mahabharat and Bhagvat Gita are depicted, we could see Abhimanyu’s Chakravyu, Swamvar of Draupati, Durga killing the Buffalo Demon, Prahlada-Hiranyakasipu-Narasimha legend scenes on the wall.
The doors have dvarapals wearing jewellery, above there is Nataraja along with other dancers and musician. The pillars and ceilings have Madanakai sculptures in pillar bracket, same on the outer walls too. The roof of inner sanctum is decorated intricately with Hindu deities. There is a imaginary animal with Peacock feather, crocodile head, elephant trunk, body of lion carved around the temple. This temple signifies one of the finest work by Indian artist.
As the beauty of every sculpture lies on it’s face. It was during a war with muslims, the Halibedu Temple sculptures head / face were demolished by Muslims in a war. Just think how must lust there was between the two war sides over Sculpture’s..
BELUR :
This is another 17km from Halebidu Temple, it took 103 years to finish this temple located on the banks of Yagachi river. Over its history it has been damaged and repaired multiple times. Chennakeshava is avatar of Lord Vishnu. The artisans developed a new architectural tradition called as Karnata Dravida tradition.
The empire was invaded, plundered and destroyed by Muslim army led by Malik Kafur and was later taken over by the Vijayanagara Empire and restored. The platform is built around the temple for pradakshina in star shape of the shrine. This one is simple as compare to Halebidu. Each pillar inside the sanctum are carved with different patterns, one of t nu 8he pillar demonstrating all avatars of Vishnu. The light screen are engraved with Purana scenes and geometric floral designs. Above the perforated screens are Madanakai figures.
Secular life is shown in these images, such as an artist making a drawing or musicians lost in their music. Also included is the image of a Jina of Jainism. The domed ceiling at the center of hall is carved with figures of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, at the bottom of the dome is a series of friezes with the Ramayana story.
Later, we had some fresh juice before leaving to Mysore.
_
Mysore Arrival :
Around 6:00pm itself, we reached Mysore. We were searching for a good car service, to repair the mark happen on the car. We came across 3M Car Cares, met a bulk man. To our surprise, he made the mark vanish away just in 2mins. He didn’t even ask for any money charges. He didn’t even accept our amount, simply saying CHOTTA BOYS.. ENJOY THE DAY.! What a kind and nice gesture it was for us. For our satisfaction, we gave Rs.100 to the worker who made the mark gone away. Later, we had Pani Puri just near the Palace and enquering the shop keeper for good budgeted hotel to stay. Hearing his recommendation, we got rooms @ Adinatha Lodge. The room was decent and compact for 4 people staying. Then, we started our travel towards Chamundi Hills, Chamundeswari Temple. We drive our car to the hills, which was around 12km travel. Reaching the top-hill, the temple was over-crowded as it was Dusserah time and it became difficult for us to fine parking. We had nice dharshan and while coming down the hill, we came across a massive view point. The whole mysore city was devoratd for the upcoming Dusserah Festival, Palace was twinkling with light’s,rain lightning at the sky.etc.
Later, reaching the foot-hills, we had our dinner nearby @ Hotel 99, which was a Kerala style restaurant. There we were making fun of Nithya by mixing Pomo, Apple and Pineapple juices together and serving him. Post dinner, we came back to our room and slept.
Next day morning, we waken up little late, as we had quite enough time. It was around 9am, we reached Hotel Vinayaka Mylari, which was very famous in serving authentic mysore masala dosa. Even Former Chief Minister of Karnataka use to have his breakfast in this restaurant only. It was not much expensive, as it serves tasty and delicious Masala Dosa for just Rs. 45. We’ve to wait for atlease 30mins to get seats in this hotel, but it was worth every second of wait and every penny of money. Completing our breakfast, we resumed our journey for the Mysore Palace.
Reaching Mysore Palace, the parking fare for the car is Rs 25. One can find Masala Pori, Sandal-wood Hand-fan famous in the parking and entrance of the palace. Both are affordable and worthy. Sandal-wood products cost varies as per the season. Getting the sandal-wood items, we entered the palace. The entrance of the Mysore palace is massive and beautiful. And while going into the palace you have to leave your foot wear out side and you have to walk on barefoot only. There are so many amazing things inside like rooms, pillars ,architecture and kings vehicles and war equipment and so on. Particularly there are some rooms which will blow your mind. I definitely recommend to visit at least once to that place.
And also near by there is park where you can visit and enjoy you time. Here entry ticket will be there per each person and the park is open Still evening. Here you can see different species birds, animals, wild creatures etc..
Going with friends to these kind of places is much more enjoyable.
Inside Palace :
Completing our palace visit, we were not in a hurry to catch the train as we had more and more time. So, we planned to visit SriRangaPatna temple, which is located at the banks of River Cauvery surrounded by all 4 sides, and 22kms away from Mysore City.
While on the way, we also visited famous St. Philomena's Cathedral Church.
We drived and reached Srirangapatna around 2:45pm itself. There we came across historic jails and tombs. River Cauvery was full of water flow. There was a nice garden present, where we waited for an hour as the temple opens only by 4pm.
Post 4pm, we had nice dharshan of Lord Ranganadhar and resumed our journey back towards Mysore.
Driving back to mysore, we went to the famos Mahalakshmi Sweets, for getting Mysore Pak. We had some which tastes yummy... Getting them, we returned back to the room, vacated and reached the Mysore RS. We handed-over the car to Myles support staff, who came on-time by 8pm to the RS. We use to prefer MYLES than any other Car Rental Services, as they are affordable, supportive and also quality among all. Thanks MYLES for being our support throughout this travel journey.
We had our dinner @ McDonald's near the Mysore Railway Station itself.
Thus, we all’re back to our routine job. In this trip, the plan got executed really well. Getting the train, were just enjoying the moment watching SARKAR's Audio Launch live.
Chikmagalur you beauty.!! You are too big than what we thought. One must have to plan and segregate at least 5 days to a week, for a complete visit of Chikmaglore. See you all in my next travel. That’s it about this exploration. Hope you guys enjoued and got some information about the thing you need. Contact me for any travel related queries or helps anytime. Signing-off from this trip. buByeee..!!
Comments
Post a Comment