Dudhsagar WaterFalls Repeats

Dudhsagar Falls

 Its time when cloudburst is at its peak and once again I and my roomie planned for dudhsagar Sagar Falls. The charming and overpowering memories of last year enforced to relive the Beauty called Dudhsagar!! Plan was to visit Gokak Falls and Godchinamalaki falls as well and stay in Belgaum. This time the count went upto 40 overall but later it settled to 25 from Bangalore and 5 from Hyderabad, once again it was like a alliance as in Pune trip. Prior (2months earlier) itself Train, hotel and transportation bookings were made to have smooth go. As it was long weekend, we started thrusday night from Bangalore central Railway station at 9.15 in Rani Chennamma Express. Reached Belgaum @ 9.30 AM, freshen up at Pai hotel and got ready by 11.15 AM as, 1^st day plan was to visit Gokak Falls and Godchinamalaki falls.

 Started from belgaum in govt bus, which later seemed to be our own booked bus, nobody except our group were in the bus, since most of them dint knew each other it was time were all introduced and came to know better and more and more. Interestingly in our group we had people who aged from 14-29. We had booked 2 trax, so that we travel around more in Gokak Falls and Godchinamalaki falls. It was 2^nd time for me to Gokak falls, hanging bridge but still it wasn’t boring anytime, since we had Gang of 30 amigo’s . Actually Hanging bridge can withstand only 30 people at a time, but its India so at a time it should withstanding 300 people. The very old cotton mills, temples, hanging bridge glimpsed last year memories as well.  It was almost 3 we had lunch in the mess around there.

 Which not worth of the amount we paid, but then we dint had any choice rather than that. Resumed our journey headed towards Godchinamalaki falls, we spent very good time there with stunts, photography & photo shootouts by our DSLR boys. It was too late we realized we have to rush to our friends home since my friends home visit was planned long back. It was 6.30 we reached our friends place, we were served variety of snacks (Fruits, Kunda etc etc) with lots of love. On the way to belgaum we paused for dinner at Daba, luckily or unluckily was not good but no other choice my friends. It was 11-11.30 we reached hotel at belgaum. We segregated & distributed food which we brought for dudhsagar trekking on the night itself. Calculating room bills & clearing everything on the night at 2 was really tiring task.

Godchinamalaki falls

 We came across 3 foreigners 2 AM at hotel, they were real wonderers, Ready to sleep outside reception as well but ultimately hotel manager dint allow them, No idea where they moved later on. It was 2.45AM me and my roommate went to sleep and got up at 4.45AM. By 6AM all were ready with their bagPacks. Reached Castle rock at 9AM by trax, we had packed Breakfast and Lunch from belgaum itself. After filling our stomach we started trekking in groups.  All of us reached in regular intervals but everybody reached within 4-5 hrs including Pitstops, Lunch break and Photo shoot breaks. Compared to last year water was less even than this year we had good springs.  Tea shops, Omlet stall; Drinks were available this time and was invisible last year.  Tunnels, rains, atmosphere, trains, railway track, colourful shits, scenery, small falls, goods trains, old station etc made to us keep moving all the time. We had booked trains from Qulem, which was previous stop of dudhsagar falls. Looked like Most of them were not exhausted even after trekking.  Happily completed one of the memorable trek, trip of the year.

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." Lin Yutang 

Srirangapatna- Balamuri Falls- KRS Dam

            Srirangapatna also called as Patna by locals is a temple town of chronological significance. The temple is located 1km from the Srirangapatna KSRTC Bus station. Frequent buses (Volvo Buses and local Bus) are available from Mysore which will drop you in front of the temple. You can also get down from main bus stand and hire an Auto for 25 rupees. Srirangapatna Railway station is location just behind temple.

Ranganatha Swamy Temple Map

           One can spend 1 day at Srirangapatna as there are many historical places to be visited. The temple will be crowded in weekends and Holidays and deserted during Weekdays. As it was one day plan we (office colleagues) planned to start at early morning 6.15 AM from jayadeva flyover and pickup few of them on the way, which did not happen because as usual few of them were late!! But still managed to start at 7.15AM itself. We had breakfast  i:e Bidadi special tatte idly. Resuming our journey and heading to destination which was planned to visit in srirangapatna was Ranganathaswamy temple.Sited on an island in the Kaveri river, Srirangapatna was capital of Tipu Sultan.

Balamuri Falls

Centre of Balamuri Falls

The town takes its name from the Ranganathaswamy temple. Srirangapattana is an important Vaishnavite centres of pilgrimage. Ranganatha, a facade of Vishnu and is one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams. The temple is one of a set of three major temples that are built on three different islands on the Kaveri and are dedicated to lord Ranganatha. Adi Ranga - at Srirangapattana, Madhya Ranga - at Shivanasamudra, Antya Ranga - at Srirangam. Hindus come from far and wide to Srirangapatna to immerse the ashes of their dead relatives.

Srirangapatna was founded by the Ganga Dynasty in the 9th century. The city shot to fame during the rule of Vijayanagara Empire. The Wodeyar dynasty rose into prominence with the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire. It was believed that any person who had control of Srirangapatna and conducted the 10-day Navratri festival, would rule over Mysore. Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali defeated the Woodeyar King and made Srirangapatna their capital for a brief period. In the Battle of Srirangapatna in 1799, Tipu Sultan was killed died inside the fort by the combined armies of Nizam of Hyderabad and the British.

Still at Sangama

         Sangama, the place where three holy rivers Kaveri, Kabini and Hemavati have fused. One special attraction of that place is typical coracle boat used in rural areas. People can go to the main Sangam point of the three rivers using those boats. Since we were short of time we couldn’t visit Dariya Daulat Palace, Yedamuri Falls,Ranganathittu.

Teppa Ride at Balamuri Falls

 Balmuri Falls, Srirangapatna It is a man-made reservoir is built across the River Cauvery and is the most suitable place for tourists. The ideal time to visit this waterfall is during the winter season as the water level is comparatively high then and tourists can enjoy bathing and playing in the open air.  There are few coracle boats also here which will drop middle of the reservoir and drop back when you want.  After spending more than 3 hrs in falls, we started back and have lunch nearby srirangapatna at 4 PM. The initial plan was to visit Manchinbelle dam 30km away from Bangalore near big baniyan tree. Since we spent most of time in falls we couldn’t make it to Manchinbellle dam. So instantly we planned to go to KRS Dam. We tried flying kites in between the fields but we couldn’t get proper place to fly.

KRS Dam Overflow

KRS Dam

 After a long day with history and Nature,We headed to KRS or Krishna Raja Sagara, is the name of both, a lake and the dam that causes it. The dam was built across river Kaveri in 1924. Apart from being the main source of water for irrigation in the most fertile Mysore and Mandya, the reservoir is the main source of drinking water for almost the whole of Bangalore city. The Brindavan Gardens is a show garden that has a botanical park, with fountains, as well as boat rides beneath the dam. Diwans of Mysore planned and built the gardens in connection with the construction of the dam. KRS Dam was the first to install automated Crest gates during 1920 and Brindavan Garden was the first in India to display a musical fountain.

 

Musical Fountain at KRS

  The show for musical fountains starts at 7 pm. every evening and continues for an hour. Depending on the sunset, timings may vary for the musical show. It was 8 PM we headed back to Bangalore On the way we had dinner at MC’Donalds.  After home delivery to everybody. It was 2.15AM when last person reached the home.

Rided Yelagiri

Its been almost more than 2 and half months I have not gone out,thought to give myself a change to my athma! Plan was to spend 2 days 1 night in yelagiri, inspite of knowing its not the right time but its time to travel. Finally plan of yelagiri accomplished. Started bangalore at 6AM and reached yelagiri at 10.25AM. Inclusive of breakfast and a break as well. It was 50:50 expectations of yelagiri since it was not right time to visit because of summer. But if it was rainy season also i don't think there is something to spend for 2 days. Its just one day program not more than that!!. 

Yelagiri Overview

Places to visit at Yelagiri Malai: Punganoor Lake, Murugan Temple, Swamimalai, Paragliding Point.

Paragliding will be open 4-5 days in a year in the month of august, Please confirm before planning.

We spent only 1-30 hrs in yelagiri, returned as we were open to come back as well. "Sometimes we should consider journey as destination". Ghat road was good with few hairpin bends. Its not cool as bangalore. I don't know why it is oftenly known as Poor Mans ooty! Only good of yelagiri is variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Yes there are lodges to stay but I don't think there is a need of that.

Aerial Shots

RoadWay : Bangalore -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Jolarpettai -> Yelagiri Hills

                    Bangalore <-Hosur <- Krishnagiri <- Bargur <-Tirupattur <-Yelagiri Hills