Ramnagar, A Sunset Getaway From Bangalore

Ramnagar, A Sunset Getaway From Bangalore

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Weekend Getaway

Sitting at home on a weekend wondering what you could do instead? Here’s a great way to spend a couple of hours in the evening, socialising with nature at Kutagal in Ramanagar, a beautiful sunset spot less than an hour away from Bengaluru!

In this blog post, you’ll find everything that you need to know to plan a visit to the most beautiful sunset spot near Bangalore – Kutagal – with location markers and more.

The Story of Kutagal and the Embracing Rocks

Legend has it that, a long time ago, a washerman (“Agasa” in Kannada) and his partner (“Agasagatti”) yearned to be with each other. But, their communities would not let them profess their love. In their desperation to escape the tormenting society, and unite, they decided to end their misery by jumping off one of the hills.

At the top of the hill, was (and still remains) a Temple of God Vishnu. The couple prayed to the idol, one last time – and lo! God manifested in the form of a hermit, and told them that he was there to help. When the couple narrated their ordeal and their plan, he assured them of their unity and turned them into an immovable form.

The two rocks appear to embrace each other even today, and have stood so for centuries!

 

How to get to Kutagal?

Ramanagara is 50 kilometres from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Mysore highway and it takes about an hour to reach, from the city.

Use this marker for navigating to the location

Car parking is available outside the Thimmappaswamy temple at the base of the mound; bikes can be parked safely there, as well. The edge of the rock is only a five minute walk from the temple.

Tip: Plan to visit this temple before noon to beat the crowds. In fact, you might just be the only one there considering how unknown this temple still is.

What to expect at Kutagal, Ramnagar

The best time to visit Ramnagar is an hour before sunset – the views are excellent and the hues in the sky can be captivating! It is very easy to spend between one to two hours and lose track of time.

If you are planning a visit with your family or friends, Kutagal is a great picnic spot.

Similar to Monument Valley, USA, these monolithic rocks have stood for a very long time and are scattered all over the village. Another similarity we could find was with the Ninh Binh Province in Vietnam, which is home to beautiful limestone mountains.

 

Caution: Staying after sun down is not advisable – Cheetahs are known to come out in the dark. It is also suggested to travel in groups and not wander out of the zone alone!

These pictures are proof that there is hidden beauty all around Karnataka, truly the essence of the ‘one state, many worlds’ ideology! Tell us, which is your favourite place in Karnataka?

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Visit A Hermit Temple Near Bangalore

Visit A Hermit Temple Near Bangalore

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Weekend Getaway

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Weekend Getaway

About 3 hours away from Bangalore, India, is a beautiful hermit shrine called the Doddagaddavalli Lakshmi Temple (pronounced “Dodda-gaddha-vallee”). If you’ve been waiting to explore some of Karnataka’s off beat getaways, this is one treasure trove indeed!

In this blog post, you’ll find everything that you need to know to plan a visit to this temple near Hassan in rural Karnataka.

History of the Lakshmi Temple

Built in the early twelfth century, during the reign of King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty. The temple complex features a walled enclosure within which four shrines are located – these are connected by a common hallway. The simplistic decorative style of the conical domes (“gopuras” or “vimanas”) as compared to the later creations of the dynasty, is still quite inspiring, with the block style layers, as observable in these pictures.

How to reach Doddagaddavalli?

  • Doddagaddavalli is 200 kilometres from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Hassan highway
    Use this marker for navigating to the location
     
  • Takes about 3 hours from Bangalore (which is accessible by train, airplane and bus) and vehicles can be parked outside the temple complex

This temple can be visited as a stopover, on the way to Hassan (nearest train/bus station). Other destinations in the vicinity include Belur, Halebeedu and Chikmagalur

Tip: Plan to visit this temple before noon to beat the crowds. In fact, you might just be the only one there considering how unknown this temple still is.

More about the Doddagaddhavalli Lakshmi Temple

There is a pond behind the temple, which is worth a visit, and the paddy fields in the neighbourhood are a definite add-on to explore! If you want to catch some respite from the heat, the sanctum of the temple is the best place to rest. It is always cool due to the structural composition of the pillars, walls and roofing.

These pictures are proof that there is hidden beauty all around Karnataka, truly the essence of the ‘one state, many worlds’ ideology! Tell us, which is your favourite place in Karnataka?

This article features in the India, Karnataka, Weekend Getaway categories
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A Weekend Trip To Kannur

A Weekend Trip To Kannur

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Weekend Getaway

Kannur is a quiet town in northern Kerala, “God’s Own State”. Often overlooked as uninspiring, the city is home to one of the most fascinating coastlines in India and also happens to have one of the best beaches in India. It was actually very surprising when we saw the beautiful white sand beach and deep blue water – something we’ve never seen before on mainland India!

In this blog post, you’ll find everything that you need to know to visit Kannur. Starting with the beaches, we’ve listed down some useful information about where to stay, where to eat and how to get to Kannur.

Relax on Kizhuna Beach

This one really seemed to be the perfect beach: so many coconut palms, thick shrubbery, rocky walls, seemingly endless stretches of white sand and then the expanse of the Arabian Sea – and absolutely no one around, for so many hours! Thanks to how these beaches are still not very well known, the crowds are mostly locals who arrive for an hour at sunset. 

Play a game of beachball or go kayaking

With the strong sun overhead, we found a place covered by shady coconut trees and decided to play a ball game, except we used a small coconut instead! Another idea is to take one of the small Kayaks out to the sea. These kayaks are actually small fishing boats painted in a beautiful palette of colours. The fishermen appreciate a generous tip in return for renting their Kayaks.

But if you want to just take it slow and relaxed, just taking a walk along the neighbouring Ezhara beach might be the best thing to do! 

Tip: The Ezhara beach is best visited during the morning hours, while the Kizhuna beach is a sunset beach – so plan to spend your day accordingly!

Cruise on Muzhappillangad Drive-in Beach

As Asia’s longest drive-in beach, it attracts a huge number of visitors everyday – in their cars! Featuring over 5.5 kilometres of super smooth sand, the beach is also very beautiful, with thich plantation all along. There are a few cafés and shacks amidst the coconut trees to rest at.

Sunset and candle light dinner at Chera Rocks

A list of best things to do in Kannur would not be complete without this – sunset at the meeting point of Kizhuna Beach and Ezhara Beach. This meeting point has a beautiful sand bank terminating at an island of boulders. Right here, on the beach stands a small boutique homestay called Chera Rocks Beach Resort.

This view point is very popular with the locals, for sunset viewing. Having witnessed it ourselves, we wouldn’t disagree. The colours of the sky, the shadows of the Coconut groves and the roaring high tide all come together in a mesmerizing manner.

Tip: To make the evening even more memorable, why not have a candlelit dinner right on the beach? Guests staying at Chera Rocks enjoy a complimentary candlelight dinner every night. Room rates are listed here.

Start the day with a tropical breakfast

If the candle lit dinner is not impressive enough, the breakfast spread is more than enough to make you feel special! The chefs at Chera Rocks are locals and the menu usually has a mix of traditional Kerala cuisine with an optional continental portion as well. The complimentary breakfast is served in front of the beach, or on the porch of the traditional cottage-style rooms. 

Other things to do in Kannur

Visit the Lighthouse near the Payyambalam beach for great views of the Arabian sea and the coastline; or explore the St. Angelo Fort, a 16th century Portuguese Fort which is free for visitors to enter. Another idea, is to go slow boating in the backwaters of Edakkad.

If there’s a show in town, watch the traditional Theyyam dance (ask at the beach house, they’d be happy to set you up).

Where to stay in Kannur

Our stay at the Chera Rocks Beach House was absolutely worth it! For a reasonable night’s room rent, you not only get to stay at a traditional Kerala Cottage, but you also get mouth-watering breakfast and dinner, complimentary. The Beach House is owned by Nivedh, a world traveller, who loves interacting with visitors and making their stay fruitful! He also organises Ayurvedic retreats regularly, if you are in the mood for an ayurvedic rejuvenation experence.

Besides lazing around in the beach, you can consider exploring the foliage for some great photographs, particularly in the early mornings. Spend hours on the coconut swing, gather your buddies and see who goes the farthest!

Contact details: Nivedh (the owner of the beach house)

Mobile number: +91-94476-43211
Email: cherarocks@gmail.com
Find the beach house on the website or Instagram

Things to carry along

  • Camera (the photo spots are awesome!)
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Flip-flops and a hat
  • Mosquito repellant
  • Toiletries (eco-friendly ones)
  • Yoga mat – the perfect beachside morning
  • Swimwear (the beach is bikini friendly)

Where to eat in Kannur

There are many restaurants in Kannur, but very few shacks and beachside cafés. These restaurants typically serve meat and fish, the local delicacies. Vegetarian food is a little difficult to find. 

But this is not a problem if you are staying at the Chera Rocks Beach House. We requested for a veg meal for lunch and were very glad to see a huge spread for only INR 250 (less than USD 4). The meal was not just rice and curries, but also bread, vegetables, dessert and fresh fruit juices.

How to get to Kannur

Kannur is about 300 kms from Bangalore.

Option 1: Self-drive roadtrip
Road connectivity is excellent – we barely noticed any bumpy stretches. Scenic views all the way from Mysore, through the Nagarhole Forest, Brahmagiri forest reserves, to Iritty (before reaching Kannur). There are no tolls on this route, and expect to drive for 7 hours (fuel cost: INR 3,000). If you’re lucky, you might even spot some wild animals on this route!

Option 2: Overnight sleeper bus/train
A number of overnight buses ply from Bangalore and other South Indian cities to Kannur. The average cost of a sleeper bus ticket is about INR 700 (USD 10) and the journey takes about 8 hours. Trains also connect Kannur with other major towns and cities.

Option 3: Flying in an airplane
Kannur got its very own international airport in December 2018 and operates domestic and international flights to many major destinations. From Bangalore, expect to pay under INR 2,000 for the one hour journey (if booked in advance).

Our suggestion: Drive there! It is worth stopping inside the Brahmagiri Wildlife Reserve.

 

Getting around in Kannur

Besides private taxis, the most common means of transport in Kannur is a shared taxi (minivan). Chera Rocks Beach House is 10 kms to the south of the main town area – the perfect spot, away from the hustle and bustle, whilst being in the middle of four beaches! The beach house offers free pick-up services from the main town

Use this to reach the resort: map marker

If you have any more questions about planning a trip to Kannur, don’t hesitate to leave a comment here or write to us!

This article features in the Beach, India, Weekend Getaway categories
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A Weekend Trip To Chikmagalur

A Weekend Trip To Chikmagalur

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Weekend Getaway

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‘Chikkamagaluru’ is one of the most popular getaways in Karnataka, a state in South India. Regarded as one of the most scenic places near Bangalore, this South Indian town is surrounded by beautiful coffee plantations, large lakes and towering mountains!

In this blog post, you’ll find everything that you need to know to visit Chikmagalur. Starting with what to see in Chikmagalur, we’ve listed down some useful information about where to stay, where to eat and how to get to Chikmagalur.

Go for an early morning jog at Hirekolale Lake

A perfect place to visit in the early mornings, Hirekolale Lake is surrounded by endless coffee plantations. In fact, it is very easy to just think that it’s a beautiful lake in the middle of a thick forest, until you notice the reservoir equipment! Expect to spend about an hour or two here – but go in the mornings, when it isn’t crowded, for the best experience.

Visit the Ayyanakere Lake for a beautiful sunset

This happens to be the most incredible lake in Chikkamagaluru, particularly at sunset. Surrounded by forested mountains on three sides, it has a very beautiful location, even though it is very close to the town. The colors that form the evening palette made us forget that we were in India – almost looks Alpine!


Tip: Go there in the evening, around 5 pm and enjoy the peace and calm. Snack on some spiced puffed rice (Bhel puri) from the local vendors while you watch the sunset.

Madagadakere Lake

Another vast water body nestled in between farmlands and mountains, is the Madagadakere Lake. This one does take a little bit of effort to get to, but is usually deserted. There are a few spots where you can hang out by the shores of the lake. The best time to go is in the early mornings or in the late afternoons.
Expect to spend an hour there.

Trekking on the Mullayanagiri Mountain

The Mullayanagiri Peak is the tallest in Karnataka and is quite iconic, in the State’s heritage. In fact, the mountains can be seen from quite a distance as you approach Chikkamagalur and embodies a unique shape. The peak is under an hour’s drive from the town and visitors can drive all the way to the summit and park at the public lot. There are 4x4s that ferry tourists to the peak, upto the walking trail. The walk to the tip, which also has a beautiful shrine there, is about 20 minutes long, and the views are very beautiful!

Expect to spend about INR 400 for a roundtrip jeep ride to the summit – this cost is for the whole jeep, which can seat at least 6 people – so if you are alone, you could find other visitors to share the cost. Expect to spend about three hours in this experience. There are many pick and drop services available to and from the town – so ask your host to get a cheap ride.

Other places near Chikmagalur

Amongst the other places to visit in and near Chikmagalur is BabaBudangiri, another mountain in the same range – you can trek there from Mullayanagiri and it only takes a few hours. Best done at sunrise. It is also considered very holy and is a pilgrimage spot for many Hindus and Muslims!

The best time to visit the nearby waterfalls such as Hebbe and Kalhatti, is during the last two weeks of the the rainy season and after. But watch out for leeches as they are very common around the falls.

You could also considered visitng the Doddagaddavalli Lakshmi Temple, an off beat hermit temple near Hassan. 

Where to stay in Chikmagalur

  • Stay in one of the numerous coffee estates that have homestays within (these generally have inclusive meal plans with the room rental)
  • Stay in a regular hotel in town – there are many on R G Road, the centre of town, and its very easy to commute and shop
  • Stay at one of the premium hostels like Zostel – they may be outside town, but are pretty good!

Find your stay in Chikmagalur here

Where to eat in Chikmagalur

New Circle Lunch Home is a tiny cafe on R G Road and popular with the locals fot reakfast and snacks.

Mysore Foodz serves the most amazing local thalis in a rustic setup, right in the middle of town. Another popular restaurant is the Siri Cafe, which is on the way to the Mullayanagiri mountains, good for a quick pitstop for snacks and drinks.

Street food is mostly safe everywhere in Chikmagalur, so don’t hesitate to try!

How to get to Chikmagalur

The best way to visit Chikkamagaluru is to do a roadtrip! It is a 5 hour drive from Bangalore and the roads are quite good, especially through Hassan. There are also many stops you can make on the way, like the Doddagaddavalli Lakshmi Temple or sunflower fields.

Bus to Chikmagalur:
There are many direct buses from Bangalore to Chikkamagaluru bus station. Generally costs about INR 500 to INR 1,000 depending on the type of the bus. The bus from Bangalore to Chikmagalur generally takes 6 hours or more.

Train to Chikmagalur:
Trains ply only to Kadur or Hassan which are at least 40 kms away.
 So from there, you would have to catch a cab, a local bus or an autorickshaw (tuktuk) to reach Chikmagalur.

 

Getting around in Chikmagalur

How to do sightseeing in Chikmagalur? This is actually quite easy to do! There are innumerable tuktuks and taxis there and usually seek an honest fare. Most taxis charge around INR 2,500 (USD 35) for sightseeing for one day.

This article features in the India, Weekend Getaway categories
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