Exploring Nature and wildlife - Karnataka
Planning our next vacation outside Tamil Nadu was not easy for us.
Our initial plan was BR Hills however due to accommodation issue we decided to
go to Nagarhole tiger reserve. Though tickets are already pre-booked to Mysore,
the change of plan did not affect us as both BR Hills and Nagarhole are almost
90km from Mysore facing opposite direction. Why Nagarhole? Yes, if you want to
experience the raw wildlife this place is the best choice. It is a wildlife
sanctuary and it is declared as thirty seventh Project Tiger reserve in 1999. As
a Tiger reserve, getting access to this place is very easy however there are lot
of restrictions and regulation which is adequate to preserve our nature.Unless
booking is done in advance you cannot get the government accommodations at the
sanctuary.We reached Mysore at 7AM;our cab was waiting for us to pick up.Our
driver Naveen welcomed us with a big smile. After came the big silent that who
is going to communicate with him as none of them knew Kanada.Thank God!! He
understood our own language.We (7 members) accommodated ourselves comfortably in
the SUV leaving our luggage at the rear and headed straight towards our
destination. As the clock hit 9 we stopped at a motel for breakfast. The motel
received many tourists as it is in the main route to reach Coorg. They served
common varieties like idly with vada, dosa, etc. however chowchow bath was
something new we heard so we did a try and perhaps it become our favourite one.
Nearby, a roadside watermelon shop.We picked one for later consume. We travelled
via Hanasur / Madikeri road to reach Nagarhole.
Ahead of a few kilometres from the Sanctuary we can feel
that we are entering the forest. Evergreen atmosphere, big trees, pollution free
breeze and especially no sing of human habitat. Travelling throughout the
national park we saw only 2 to 3 SUVs passing that road and they should also be
tourist we guess. As we approach the park there were many Chitalin small group
on both side of the road.When we stopped for clicking some pictures they did not
mind us, they were busy grazing. After finishing check post formalities we drive
through the forest. We were asked not to get down from our vehicle, avoid
honking, over speeding and no music etc… we did follow
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| nagarhole |
Reaching Nagarhole forest office at noon we enquired about
the safari timing. They offer safari for visitors between 6 to 8AM and 3 to 5PM.
Booking is not done in advance, only few minutes before the safari starts. They
have mini bus cost 300rs per head and a 4x4 gypsy 3000rs for six members. Since
all government guest houseswere already booked we decided to stay at Kutta, a
nearby small town from the national park.Arriving at Kutta, we leased a home
stay for reasonable price. We did not have more time to relax as we planned for
3pm Safari at Nagarhole. So refreshment and lunch was in a
hurry.
The safari begins!! 18kmsinto the forest (~1:30
hours)
Though we trekked many forest of the Western Ghats we never
have been to safari earlier. Everyone’s curiosity level increases as the vehicle
passes through the forest. There are many safari routes and entry is permitted
only for forest safari vans and gypsies. The vehicle maintained well thus
preventing any sort of noise that could alert the animals. All were eagerly
waiting to spot the wilderness. As our vehicle slowly progressed into the jungle
we came across many chitals and barking deers. They are used to the routine
visitors so they did not consider us as a threat. Covering further more we
spotted a sambar which disappeared in the bush after seeing us,but later down
the track there were few big ones which didn’t mind to give a pose. We
eventually lost interest after sighting more deers and our focus turned towards
spottinga Big Cat as well as Elephants. Being a tiger reserve spotting one is
not a miracle however your luck really matters. The bus which left shortly
before us was halted in the middle. Noticing the passenger’s body language we
thought they have spotted something fishy and we too stared at same direction
wondering what it could be.Nothing was found. Going past the bus our driver
enquired what they saw; they said it was an Indian Gaur. Since we have spotted
enough guars in our earlier trips to Western Ghats we did not mind that we
missed them. All we wanted to see is a Tiger. Soon the rain started to make us
worry as animals never show up during rain. Until the safari came to an end the
sky was pouring heavily. In the last moment we saw a prolonged peacock, wild
boar and a gigantic eagle. Irrespective of any animal it be, there are lot of
difference between spotting them behind the cage and wild;we felt it is worth
spending for this safari.
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| nagarhole national park |
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| nagarhole tiger reserve |
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| nagarhole |
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| nagarhole |
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| nagarhole |
Saying goodbye to Nagarhole we left to Kutta.Spending that
evening with tea and snacks we relaxed in our room. Knowing that we are tourist
the local hotel we had dinner charged us really high for an average quality
food. It was intolerable but we know there is no use of arguing as their
intention was to cheat. From this we learnt a lesson that we must always ask for
menu with price prior to ordering. Before bed we conducted wrestling competition
within us that we will never forget. The tag team champions are Siva and
Kishore.
Following day we experienced a tourist attracting Iruppu
falls, independently remote Chelevara falls and elephants threat Chomakund
peak.
It was 9am in the morning when we vacated Kutta and headed
towards above destinations. After travelling 40kms we reached Iruppu falls. It
is located in the Brahmagiri Range in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. The best
time to visit is during the monsoons, when the falls is at full capacity and is
a breathtaking sight.This place is famous to sight numerous species of
butterflies. We paid 30rs per head to enter the falls. The falls is situated
0.75km from the counter. It was a beautiful view from the down. Spending some
quality time we returned, on our way the colourful butterflies showed up for the
pictures.
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| irupu falls |
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| irupu falls |
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| brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary |
That noon passed, we went to another falls named Chelevara.
It is one of the most beautiful water falls in Coorg. The water fall is really a
wonder full view as the water gushes from the top amidst the green coffee
plantation. The best part of visiting Chelavara falls is that ‘Chomakund’ a
renowned hill is just 2 kms away from here.
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| chelavara falls |
Chomakund is an awesome place surrounding with lush green
shrubs and trees and is almost covered in fog most of the time. Can you
believe!! One can also get a glance of the Arabian Sea from here. Road to
Chomakund was very bad so we started to walk ahead of the actual trekking
route.
It was a mesmerising view the peak offered us. It
recollected our memories of our earlier trek to Kudremukh peak. The thick lush
forest on one end, and mist covered mountains and terrains on the other. We
estimated the sun set in another one hour so we decided to sit for a while and
relish the peak until then. While Kishore, Raja and Ranju stayed at one spot,
others progressed a little further for experiencing a great view. I remember, at
first Gankotter heard the trumpet of the elephants, and later everyone. We
assumed they are at quite far distance. But at the other end, Kishore and co did
not hear them so we rushed to their place and shared the message. They were also
excited but we felt not to take chance to trek further more because the Sun
already started to set, and we did not bring any light source.We suddenly heard
a sound of cracker at same place where we heard the elephant trumpet, it kept
echoing every 30 seconds. We knew that local tribes trying to distract the
tuskers to stay away from their properties by throwing crackers on them. We were
in a deep shock after hearing the thud sound of the angry animal approaching
towards our direction however we could not see anything in the lush forest.
Luckily we came down without any hurdle; there we met a local man who confirmed
the herd entered tribe’s territory hence it was chased to forest by throwing
crackers.
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| chomakund |
Later the chaotic incident we left to Coorg to spend the
night and last day of our trip.
We reached Coorg around 10pm, it was freezing cold there. We
stayed in a 60 years old bungalow consisting 5 master bedrooms, a big dining
hall, a wide spread veranda in the front overall with beautiful ambience. Due to
tiredness we did not set a camp fire but we danced a little for the “Kodava
Valaga”, the Coorgi wedding band that we heard from the neighbouring wedding
mahal. Later, we left for dinner to best choice hotel opposite Jothi theatre
showing Linga movie that few of our boys decided to watch after dinner however
we are late for the show so the plan was dropped.We crashed to bed soon after we
reached our cottage.
Next day, we woke up bit late, packed our belongings, and
left to explore Mandalpatty view point. This place is accessible only via Jeep
that plies locally sowe hired one for 1500rs. The road condition was very worst,
actually I shouldn’t say the word ‘road’ because there ain’t any road.
Travelling on the ghat roadwe bounce around the corners inside the jeep. No
other vehicle can make it to this peak other than a jeep or 4power SUV having
high ground clearance.The peak received many visitors round the clock. Though
the place was good we are not too much attracted since it is a tourist spot
after all, and we have been to places remoter than this by trekking. The only
thing we enjoyed was the Jeep travel. On our way back, Revanth challenged the
driver for climbing a steep route which he thought difficult; but the driver
managed to pull it off nevertheless all of us went in vein the moment we
realised the jeep was on the edge of the cliff.
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| mandalpatty view point |
While returning to Mysore we had plenty full of time, so we
decided to visit Namdroling Monastery, The Golden Temple at Bylakuppe. I have no
words to describe about beauty of the temple; you can look at the pictures.As a
last thing of our trip we went to Mysore palace (thought it was closed by the
time we reached) and spent some time there, and later boarded our train to
Chennai to begin our routing busy works.
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