[scopriobharath]

I am trying a crisp travelogue, including Route, Hotel reviews etc, Mostly in picture format. Pray it comes out well

We had plans to leave on A Friday by 3:30 pm and head out to Hosur, but Office playing spoilsport, we could leave Parrys by 4:45 pm only. We headed out the Poonamalle road and tooks us a good 1.5 hours to reach Poonmalle outer. I noticed that they are building something called a Chennai elevated Tollway. It is just started so i am thinking a good 3 years at the very least to complete.

Cops were checking Trucks near Hyundai and it took one hour to cross Sriperumbudur. Finally we cross the mess and headed out towards Bangalore. An uneventful journey saw us reaching Hosur at 9:30 pm.

We had booked at Hotel J.R.Park inn.

To reach the place, just after the Hosur Flyover, take the First left, which has a board saying "Thalli" . Head Straight on this road till you get a signal and turn right. It is the approximately the 5th building on the right. We reached and found the door closed. We called the Manager and someone opened the Door. There is ample parking at the rear. It will fit even Tempo travellers and Eicher vans.

Accommodation was good and AC was not needed as weather was very Chill.

one fact mention-worthy is that there is a lift from 1st floor to 5th floor, but no lift from Ground floor to first floor. Those who cannot climb steps may find it difficult.

Accommodation in Hosur

Address:
JR Plaza,
Tank Street, Hosur,

Tariff: Double bed per night: 500/- Non-AC :-: 1000 AC


We got up and left by 7:00 am and headed out towards Mysore. As suggested by fellow TBHPians, we took the NICE Road. I really thank all BHPIans who helped me take this road. I could reach Mysore Road in about 40 mins. I maintained a speed of 50 kmph on Mysore, thanks to the thread on Speeding.

There is a Speed Gun near RR Dental College, so fellow TBHPians beware.

We drove straight towards Srirangapatna, and headed towards Madikeri (coorg).

Best Route to Coorg:

After crossing Srirangapatna, Keep to the extreme right Lane. Look out for a bridge and cross it. Once crossed, take the right which has a board pointing to Ranganathitu Sanctuary. Follow the road Straight and we would reach a place a Yelawal. Take right here and its a straight drive to Coorg / Madikeri.

Bangalore - Srirangapatna - take right - Yelawal - Suntikoppa - Madikeri


Good Roads saw us reach Madikeri by 12:45. We had booked Club Mahindra and headed straight there. There are sufficient boards, but some as missing at important junctions. We lost our way but somehow managed to get directions from Auto drivers and reached there. A warm welcome, a "Tilak" on the forehead and a welcome drink was provided on arrival.

We had a sumptuous Buffet Lunch and took rest for the rest of the day.

Sunday:

WE took a package including Buffet Breakfast, Non Veg Lunch and Non Veg Dinner for two at appx Rs 1450/-. Finishing Breakfast, we headed to Bhagamandala and Talacauvery.

Rain played Spoilsport - It was raining heavily all the way from SuntiKoppa to Madkeri

Lets some Pics do the talking now on.




























Attachment 407306



































To Be Cointinued

[aargee]

Some pics have come out extremely awesome like they've been processed, but I'm sure they aren't.

Originally Posted by scorpiobharat

There are sufficient boards, but some as missing at important junctions.

Yes, we too had to ask the localites for directions as we couldn't read Kannada. None of the boards are written in English except for the coffee estates.

[scopriobharath]

We headed back from Talacauvery to Madikeri. It was Foggy in Talacauvery.

We reached back by Lunch and took some rest in the hotel. We covered Raja's Seat, Omkareshwara Temple and Madikeri Fort (Commissioner's Office) in the evening

It was a waste of time at Raja's Seat as it was raining and Fog covered the scenery. We rode a toy train in the rain

Attachment 407358

Attachment 407359

Attachment 407360

Attachment 407361

Attachment 407362

Attachment 407363

Attachment 407365

Attachment 407366

Attachment 407381

Attachment 407382

Attachment 407383

Attachment 407384

Attachment 407385

Attachment 407386

Attachment 407387

Attachment 407388

Attachment 407389

Attachment 407390

To Be Continued

[jeevmenon]

Problems with attachments! 2964/2965/2972/2973 - good snaps. What a coincidence? As you enter Talacauvery from Madikere I am entering into Talacauvery from Kasargod dist (KL) in my 2010 New Year Travelogue and will shortly enter Madikere.

Hooked on, Scorpiobharath! Keep it going.

[scopriobharath]

Sorry for the delay guyz, Office played Soilsport

The next day we spent some time a the resort itself and took good rest. The breakfast and Lunch buffet were so full that we were in no mood to go out. Post Lunch, somehow we got some energy and pushed us to go to Madikeri Town and Shop. Once we shopped some Tea, Cofee, Cherries & Honey, we headed to Abbey (Abbi) Falls. We lost our way, but an Auto driver was kind enough to guide us there. Drivge is good (Munnar-ish roads) and AMple parking. We walked down to the falls and what a sight it was.

Pics do the talking.





























We them moved to Gaddige. It was an Adventure. At every junction, we managed to take the wrong turn and ended up in the opposite direction. Somehow we managed to reach Gaddige but it rained heavily so nothing much we saw.

[scopriobharath]

Pics at Gaddige











Behold ! A review on Club Mahindra Follows this

[aargee]

Did you have time to visit the fort near the Raja's seat? Although in ruins, it was a splendid. Wifey & cousins were having a gala time over there, while I was examining the attached museum in addition. As usual, no pics allowed inside museum.

[scopriobharath]

Originally Posted by aargee

Did you have time to visit the fort near the Raja's seat? Although in ruins, it was a splendid. Wifey & cousins were having a gala time over there, while I was examining the attached museum in addition. As usual, no pics allowed inside museum.

aargee - No We did not visit the fort, I did not even know there is a fort. It was raining heavily and We missed all roads and ended up in the opposite direction. We just managed to reach Gaddige and just see the outer part.

[scopriobharath]

Club Mahindra is in Nidugane village which is about 5 kms from Madikeri KSRTC Bus-station. There are routes marked to Club Mahindra, but at some junctions, there are no boards. Ask around and people tell you.

Enter club mahindra and you are welcomed by the Vallet Parking People. They unload all luggage and then ask for keys. They vallet park our car, while we enter the reception and do the formalities. We are greeted and a "Tilak" is applied. A welcome drink follows.

We got a 1 BHK Apartment as they put it. We got a apartment at 2nd basement. The design was something like -2 -1 0 1 . We enter at ground (0) and two floors down. No Lift. the charges are Rs. 12000 /- per night and I am not sure how people will digest this.

It had a balcony sitout and a semi dry Kitchenette.

The Bath is too good and clean spotlessly

Pics follows

[scopriobharath]

Few more Pics of the errrrrrr Bath







With a heavy heart of such a nice facility, We vacated the resort by Tuesday morning 7:00 am and headed to Dubare Elephant camp. It is pretty much inside and about 30 mins from the Mysore-Madikeri main road. Trust me, it helped leaving at 7:00 am, we cold then only reach by 8:45 am. Rain lashed and the river was in spate. We took tickets for the boat to the Cauvery island and thank god it was a motor boat. He just started readying the boat after we purchased the tickets. Filling Gas, Fitting the outboard motor, Puja etc

upon reaching the island, no one was there to issue tickets. The other staff were courteous enough to tell us to look around till the ticket counter opened.

The counter opened and he informed us that there is no elephant bathing and feeding on that day, so he would charge only for Entry @ 20/- per head. I am moved by their honesty. He could have issued tickets and then told that Elephants were not in a "mood" to take bath.























































Nisargadhama, Golden Temple and Mysore follows

[Fordmanchau]

Hey Bharath, Wonderful trip and wonderful pics man!!
Good to know that you had a great time with family. The club Mahindra facility photo''s look tempting but with 12K per night it is way out of the budget :(.
Waiting for more updates from your side.

[ravibhat]

Good travelogue, Actually photography inside food preparation area for elephants not allowed. May be officer didn't notice you. They don't want to show how badly they prepare food there and how badly they take care of animals. Many elephants have died there in last 1 year which is very sad news.

Regards,

Ravi.

[kannan666]

Nice travelogue Bharath and lovely pics to go with it ! Have been to Madikeri a lot of times but have not been able to make it to Club Mahindra yet though ! Waiting for the rest - Nisargadhama and so forth !

[ampere]

The tuskers are amazing ! There seems to be water everywhere.

[neel385]

Are the tuskers at Dubbare? Nice writeup.