It has been 17 Months since the last update
and its just been quiet sailing with the XL6. No new additions to the car, no deletions, No new rattles, problems or issues to talk about either. All in all, its been a very quiet and trouble free 17 months. 20K service was completed in March 2023 and it costed me 6.7K. Odo currently stands at 22.1K Kms thanks to a few trips over the last few months:
- Feb - Overnighter to BR Hills
- May - Long weekend trip to Niruttara Kabini
- May- Weekend drive to Chidambaram and Vaitheswaran Kovil
- June - Overnighter at Green Pastures, Coorg
BR Hills and Giridarshini homestay
BR hills has always been on my to do list but never managed to go there. Needed a break in Feb and decided to head to BR hills and stay at Giridarshini. The drive to BR hills was a relaxed drive with multiple stops for breakfast and maddur vade. The idea was to just chill but Prashant the Naturalist at Giridarshini convinced us to go on the jeep safari at K-Gudi.
Nothing comes close to fresh air in a forest and driving through one in your own vehicle with windows rolled down is absolute bliss. The drive through the forest to get to K-Gudi safari point is one of the best drives in Karnataka, and it was made all the more interesting by Prashant, who shared information about the forest area, tribes, festivals, animal/bird behavior etc. While we did not spot any mammals during the safari, we did see a tusker in musth on our way back to the homestay.
Road through the forest Tusker
Plans were made for the morning safari and the 6am drive from BR hills to K-Gudi safari point was just amazing. The anticipation gets into your system and the entire experience is all about being in the present, enjoying the moment and not bothering about everything else.
Morning vibes at K-Gudi safari start point Giridarshini is one of the best homestay options at BR hills. Located on the road leading to the temple, its surrounded by coffee plantations and is a bird watchers paradise. Rooms are basic but clean but the food is amazing, which is typically home cooked veg fare with a lot of temple style flavors. Anyone who enjoys simple south Indian food will definitely relish the food.
View from the room entrance
On the whole, the trip turned out to be a much needed breather from the routine and I do plan to go back to BR Hills during the monsoon.
Chidambaram and Vaitheswaran Kovil
Long pending temple trip finally materialized and it ended up being a quick dash to the temples and back over 2 days. Route and road updates shared
here (Bangalore - Chidambaram : Route Queries). Chidambaram temple has always been one of my go to temples in South India and I can just stand/sit there for many hours, soaking in the vibe.
Niruttara Kabini
A group of close friends + family have been to Niruttara Coorg a few times and when we got to know that they have a new property close to Kabini, we were all set to get there and relax, which is exactly what we ended up doing during the long weekend.
Welcome my friend
Niruttara Kabini is a well designed, comfortable space where you can absolutely relax with family and friends. Two large cottages, each of which can accommodate 4-5 adults, ensures that it’s the perfect space for 3-4 families. The pool is neither too big nor too small and allows enough space for kids to splash around while the adults can relax and enjoy the warm water. The sit out near the pool is good, but I would definetly recommend the sit out near the river as the best place on the property.
Tonight is the night! Down by the river
A short walk through the farm and you are on the banks of Kabini river, downstream from the dam. You can either choose to put your feet up on the deck and enjoy the sunset OR huddle in the sit-out, enjoy the rain with a cup of hot steaming coffee. Food served here is tasty home cooked fare and Kumar, the property manager, and his team ensure that they accommodate your small requests.
Ride through our silence
On the whole, the experience is that of quiet comfort, perfect for unwinding and spending some quality time with friends and family.
P.S: The last couple of kms to the property is through mud roads that can be done in any vehicle. Please do ensure that you follow Mr. Kumar's instructions to get to the property. Do not follow google maps as it will take you through some very bad roads.
Green Pastures, Coorg
This was an overnighter with a set of old friends to enjoy the rains in June, but delayed monsoon onset ensured that there were no rains. Zeroed in on Green Pastures based on
Dr.AD's thread and we had absolutely no regrets. Comfortable rooms, delicious food (don’t miss the fruit custard!) and a bonfire to keep us warm through the night, ensured that we had a really good time. Hemant and Tripula ensured that we were comfortable and did not want for anything. After a late breakfast, we decided to head back home early and beat the Sunday rush into Bangalore. Definitely recommend Green Pastures to anyone looking for a quiet getaway to relax and unwind.
Roads of Somwarpete Green Pastures Just relax Comfortable rooms When the sun sets
Closing out the update with a few pics of the car.
Somewhere in BLR At K-Gudi