Scenic Beauty of Chikmagalur

Hi sorry for the late post. But this time it was the best trip of my life for some reasons.
The destination was Chikmagalur...:). We 4 friends planned for this trip..the date was fixed November 13 2011 & we could not make it on that day(amavasya). So it was postponed to December 24 2011(even this day was amavasya came to know after we started) no regrets...!!

On the day we packed our stuff n assembled @ the pre decided takeoff place i.e Jakkur Circle. Our chariot was Rakesh(Namma SHANKRANNA) s Brand new Maruthi Suzuki Swift VDi..We boarded the vehicle @ 12noon, joined the Nelamagla NH & took a deviation towards Mangalore highway & stopped for lunch in Channarayapatna.We got a good ರಾಗಿ ಮುದ್ದೆ(Ragi balls) hotel near the taluk office, the food was great @ reasonable price. Chetan was on diet so he didn't had food n had only the spinach(he missed the opportunity of a great food)...reached Hassan we didn't want to go inside the city went via the Bypass(it was a mistake) at the end of the bypass we inquired the road to chickmagalur, again we got into the city in the opposite direction...took a diversion near the Hassan KSRTC bus stop.. after some distance we decided to take a break..there a Bullock cart was passing Madan & Chetan asked the bullock cart fellow for a snap n a ride..he ignored them n moved away...same time we got a local small boy riding a cycle so we didn't leave him, also he didn't ignore us for a a ride..we took a few snaps with him..

Chetan & Madan with Local boy n his Cycle

So it was already late we decided to change the driver(Rakesh) he was new to driving(L board) already we had escaped a accident(don't like say about this), but he didn't allow anyone to drive. We kept our hearts in mouth n sat in the car n prayed for a safe journey..on via we saw direction for Belur n took turn to take the blessings of Lord Chennakeshava. The temple is beautiful with the Hoysala architecture..was the capital of hoysalas..left as soon as possible  ...reached Chikmagalur City in the evening...

Chikmagaluru (Kannada: ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಮಗಳೂರು, Chikka Magaḷūru) (also known as Chikmagaluru) is a town in Chikmagalur district in the Indian state of Karnataka.Located in the foothills of Mullayanagiri range, Chikmagalur is famous for coffee and is known as the 'coffee land' of Karnataka. Chikmagalur is famous for its hill stations.

Started inquiring  for home stays. The locals told there are no Home stays inside the city we should go to Kaimara(ಕೈಮರ) a few kilometers from the city towards Kemmangundi..reached  Kaimara asked for the home stay s nearby we took a few telephone numbers near a small shop called them No Home stay was available everything was filled up(it was Christmas Eve N New year week series of holidays)..Looking @ our position near the shop a local came for our rescue took us to a few Home stays even there everything was filled up..in 1 of the home stay the house keeper gave the phone number so that we can call him up the next time when we visit so he can make us the arrangements before itself we thanked him n left the place cursing our hard luck...
We got back to the the Chickmagalur City was thinking what next..without home stay the stay @ Chikmagalur is not worth so decided to leave to Dharmastala for a second but the driver Mr Rakesh is not ready to leave anyone drive also it was night because of Mr Rakesh decided to stay in the lodge..near the Chikmagalur Bus stop... we got the food(Chicken Cuisine) from the hotel nearby...It was tooo heavy food for us Mr.Madan didn't eat his Biryani n told he will eat it in the morning...We had a good night sleep got up early to leave the place early n look the places nearby so that we can leave to Bangalore early as possible..

We left for Kemmangundi before the sunrise..the sun rising opposite the direction Kemmangungi hills was beautiful n the hills was looking completely red decided to take a few snaps.....

Kemmangundi Hill looking red @ time of sun rising

Sun rising behind myself n madan

 After a few kilometers saw a nice looking lake which was very much calm...

Lake on via Kemmangundi

Kemmannugundi (ಕೆಮ್ಮಣ್ಣುಗುಂಡಿ) is a hill station in Tarikere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is 1434m above sea level. This was the summer retreat of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and as a mark of respect to the king, it is also known as Sri Krishnarajendra Hill Station

How to reach Kemmangundi:

Road

Kemmannugundi is 53 km from Chikkamagaluru and 17 km from Lingadahalli by road. The nearest National Highways, NH-206 or NH-48, connect to Bengaluru. There is another route via Mullayanagiri, a scenic drive.

Rail

The nearest railway station is 35 km away at Tarikere.

Air

The nearest airports are at Mangalore (150 km) and Bangalore.

Reached Kemmangundi parked our vehicle went on walk to visit the flower garden it was a scenic view the park was well maintained by the Horticulture Department...

Blossoming Flowers in the Rose Garden

View of the Rose Garden

Loosened up our muscles by walking in the garden...after that we had a big task ahead...Z Point...this park is called Rose garden but we dint get to see any rose..lol

Myself, Rakesh, Madan, Chetan

Got back into the vehicle n moved towards Z point..
Z point is a vantage point at Kemmangundi and can be reached by a steep uphill trek.
The road was too small n driving was dangerous..reached a point from where no way we could move our vehicle n we should trek for the beautiful view from the Z Point...parked our vehicle started to walk...we already knew the task we had aslo we came well prepared... it was a very dangerous route only one can walk,if we hurry you will land thousands feet below.. on our way we saw a beautiful water falling from a rock (Shanthi falls)..because of continuous flow of water on the rocks there was a lot of moss on the rock which was making the rock slippery...

Shanthi Falls

With great effort we got up there

Our trekking continued, even though it was sunny we where not sweating, the weather was chilling out there..
       

Marching towards the Destination

All through our trekking we we had a great opportunity to see the scenic beauty of  kemmangundi..
after we got up there we forgot all our tiredness & the risk we took we reach there..it was very much absorbing....we where like thinking that we have won the world...hahahaha ...

It was absorbing..

We stopped a few times for relaxation...Rakesh was not sitting quiet he would just take out his camera n click some great pictures..

Time for Relaxation...

Clicked some great snaps there...obviously to upload on our Facebook Accounts..relaxed there for some time...No one ready to leave the place...with a huge heart we left
the place..deciding to come again n spend a lot more time there in our next visit...

Feels like standing on top of the world

 when started to return back towards the parking we came to know that uphill climbing was
easier than what we were doing while coming down.. it was much dangerous..some how we made to
the parking...

Trekking road like line of ray

So from there thought about going to Kallathi falls which was beautiful..Also it involved a lot of our energy, it was also a trekking paradise through the jungle...
if you are not ready for trekking u can hire a jeep which will take you there...rates are on the higher side..if some can affor they can use them...My sincere suggestion is that go by trekking on one side for the other side we can take jeep...dont even dare to take your own vehicles(Except MUV,XUVs,SUVs) the road is not suitable for other vehicles...if you decide to go trekking take guide which will be arranged by the people near the enterance gate...(I know this because i had already been once 2 years back with my College friends)

I explained my friends the risks involve also it will be time consuming we need to get by evening to Bangalore, so every one decided against it n decided to go to Baba Budan Giri..

Madan was feeling hungry (infact everyone was hungry) n started telling that we should have taken the biryani packet which was left over the day before...

Dattagiri / Baba Budangiri (or Bababudangiri or Baba Budan Giri) is a mountain in the Dattagiri Hill Range / Baba Budan Giri Range of the Western Ghats of India. Located in the Chikkamagaluru District of Karnataka, Dattagiri / Baba Budangiri is known for its shrine which is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Muslims.
Peaks in the Dattagiri / Baba Budan Giri Range are the Mullayanagiri and Dattagiri / Baba Budangiri (height 1895 m). Collectively, these peaks are known as Chandradrona Parvatha Shreni (Chandradrona Mountain Range) as they naturally form the shape of a crescent moon.

The road from Kemmangundi to Baba Budan Giri is like a hell..small roads with only broken stones..if a heavy vehicle is coming from the opposite direction you have search for a palce road side n stop there so that he will pass away..from there on you can make a move..
In some places we could not get evenget a 2 inches of ground for you stop n make way for the
opposite vehicle in places we took the car recerse for nearly a 1Km to make way for the other vehicle..
Though the roads were not good the greenery there was min blowing Green every were..

Greenery via Kemmangundi & Baba Budan Giri Road

Shoals around us

Cursed our Government for not maintaining proper roads for the places which
are of Historic importance...

it was a great effort by Mr Rakesh(Mr L Board) driving in such conditions..we should thank him...
Before getting to Baba Budan Giri we saw a few people parked there vehicle roadside...we also parked n went on to see what was going on ..we came to know it was a view point...the scene there was exuberant....

Scenic view from the View Point

 We reached Baba Budan Giri, it was very hot there..to our bad luck vehicles were not allowed till the temple as some construction of work was going on..decided to go by foot Mr Chetan was not willing to come as he was tired and stomach upset..:(

View from Baba Budan Giri

it was a steepy road when we reached, there was nothing there for us the temple in which the caves are present it was closed..

Baba Budan Giri Temple

we felt sad..n there was a sign board which showed different places that can be
reached from there.. but it was of no use for us if we had our vehicle we would have had a try..

Sign Board indicating different places to visit

So we three fellows stared to come back to the parking lot..while walking back Madan
starterd to imitate Rakeshs walking style he became very angry about that...in the car Chetan was asleep...We woke him up started to Bangalore...

Madan imitating Rakeshs walking style

This is interesting ..as we were about to reach Chickmagalur city, near a circle Mr Rakesh was taking to the right at the same time a local old man riding a 2 wheeler came suddenly across our vehile without any signs(indications) n starter to scold our friend Mr Rakesh..he(Rakesh) didn't stop there drove away from there n stared to laugh our hearts out @ the incident...

We had a decent lunch @ Chickmagalur..started our journey towards Bangalore thinking of coming here again n visit the places that we had left...
On our way back we saw a small water fall also a small temple there many vehicles had parked there so even we decided to visit the place...We washed our faces the water was cold n refreshing...

I

I don't remember the name of the place..it was good ...
reached bangalore @ 8:00 pm...