Thursday, August 25, 2011

# ITCHY FEET TRAVELS # Photography

Mesmerizing Malnad


A weekend getaway from Bangalore's chaotic pace and the the hum drum of everyday life.
All we wanted was a peaceful place to spend a relaxing weekend. We zeroed down on a date in the month of monsoon. Destination = Malnad region of Karnataka. 

Malnad region has tropical climate, the ground is like an old Indian bathroom. (Sloppy! Eeeks)

We had booked Ammadi homestay in Koppa. That place had an old world charm. The traditional 'Totti mane' as we call it in Kannada. (which means a wide shallow tank in the middle of the house.) Check out the pictures to get an idea. 




The enthralling mountains are so beautifully clad in green that even clouds cannot hold back the temptation to kiss them in public!  


Streams, brooks and rivers come alive in the monsoon. It is divine to see water flowing by the road side. 


If you are into bird watching, this region provides you with myriad species of birds which thrive in this region. 



We did not want to travel much, so visited only Mandagadde bird sanctuary and Sirimane falls. 
Mandagadde bird Sanctuary

Sirimane falls.
Now, coming to the details for those who want to visit this region.

Place: Koppa, Shimoga.
Distance: 350 Km from Bangalore. It will take roughly 7 hours on road.
Route: Bangalore – Hassan – Chickmagalur – Aldur – Balehonnur – Jayapura – Koppa
Where to stay: You can experience the traditional cuisine in homestays. You can check from various options here. If you are planning on a budget trip, you can look out for some lodges.
Places to see: Gajanur dam, Bhadra wildlife reserve, Mandagadde, Sakkare Bayalu Elephant Camp, Chikmagalur and many many more.

Things to remember


1. Carry an umbrella.
2. If you are very sensitive to the cold weather, please carry warm clothing.
3. Trek through the estates might leave you hooked up with leaches. Shoes recommended.
4. Many insects around. I honestly do not know what to do. :-D

On the last point I remember an incident..  I asked BH to 'shoo' the flies while I slept. He had drowned himself in the twitter app of his phone. He said 'we are not so rich to 
provide all them that luxury. Let them be barefoot'

Arrggghhhh!!




51 comments:

  1. Looks like a nice vacation place and seems like you had great time:) Nice post, as always:)

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  2. Wow! Seems like a really lovely and peaceful place to have a cozy vacation :-)

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  3. sure it seems to be a gr8 place the way you describe it.. hope u had a gr8 time :) :) and loved the mosquito comment hehehehe

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  4. @Saru Singhal Thanks a lot Saru.. We had a peaceful and romantic time.. :)

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  5. @Anne John yes Anne.. That is the kind of place we wanted.
    we got it.

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  6. @SuKupedia :) :) am glad you enjoyed dear.. :)
    Thanks for expressing your views.

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  7. that's WoW place...and the snaps are awesome!!!

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  8. Nice place.. Would love to visit someday :)

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  9. Superb place.. Seems you had a great time. Nice pictures...

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  10. @SUB thank you.. :) am happy that you expressed your view..

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  11. @Anand Do visit Anand. Any information you need from my end, I am ready to extend that help. Anytime!

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  12. @Harish rightly said! We enjoyed.. :) thanks for the appreciation on the pics.
    Am happy!

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  13. clouds kissing the mountains 'in public' --- aah u r one cheeky lady , loved it

    actually i was eagerly lookin forward to ur last week's trip - rangantittu abt which u posted on FB.

    is this an older one?
    so rangatittu post is on the way ? wow. eager

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  14. Seems like an awesome place to be.. And ur BH shooing away the flies.. LoL..!!
    Enjoy.. loved the snaps by the way.. :-)

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  15. wow a sure must visit place!
    thanks for sharing!

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  16. Ah..I loved the way you described this place! beautiful pics...have bookmarked this place
    thanks for the info..

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  17. ನಮ್ಮ ಸೊಗಸಾದ ಮಲೆನಾಡನ್ನ ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ವರ್ಣಿಸಿದ್ದೀರ.. I am proud to have my roots down here in this beautiful place. Its an abode of beauty and heavenly bliss. Thanks for those lovely pictures.. Makes me plan my vacation to my granny's place..:))

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  18. Lovely description - you have really conveyed the feel of the place :).

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  19. Seem to be a nice place.. and the way u have written.. is so tempting to escape and be there.. "Shoo" the fly.. he he.. :)

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  20. Nice..photos are fantastic..especially those bird's....so you travelled through my native only...and more over i'm feeling j u know...i had spend few days near aldur in my friend home...hope i will go back there again this year

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  21. hi. im new to ur blog and i liked the way u present it. on it and following it!

    this is a gr8 post, esp coz im a traveller at heart.

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  22. A mesmerizing piece! As enchanting as the place you describe...someday will take your advice and visit the place:)
    Cheers for the beautiful post!

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  23. I am from malnad, the moment someone says this word Malnad I filled with beautiful aroma of wet mud, view of green moist trees and plants and of course all those memories of childhood pours down like malnad Rains :D

    Thanks, you got me those back :D I just cant stop wondering about the place I was born and spent all my holidays in!!!

    Hope you had a wonderfultime and want to go back again too :D

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  24. @Sujatha Sathya Yes Sujatha. This is the older one. Will update those snaps on FB soon. Internet was not working at home, so could not upload.

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  25. @Sudeshna Thank you Sudeshna!
    Am glad you liked it. :)

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  26. @magiceye Yes Deepak! It is my pleasure to share.

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  27. @Uma
    That is nice Uma. Visit that place sometime. I am sure you will enjoy!

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  28. Lovely pictures, Sahana! Nice to see the bird pics...

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  29. @Ashwini: "ನಮ್ಮ" ಕೇಳಿ ಬಹಳನೇ ಖುಷಿ ಆಯ್ತು ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ.. ನಿಮಗೆ ಸರಿ ಅನ್ನಿಸಿದ್ರೆ ನಾನು ಬರೆದಿರೋದಕ್ಕೆ ಮನ್ನಣೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಹಾಗೆ ಆಯಿತು..
    It is a bonus to have granny's house there. Homely food and accommodation. Nothing beats that.
    WOW! is the feeling I got when I read your comment.

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  30. @Aparna Thank you Aparna! I am glad that I could convey the feel. :)

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  31. @KP
    Thank you KP!
    I was scared that people may not understand.
    Happy now. :)

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  32. @ಗಿರೀಶ್.ಎಸ್ If we had known earlier, we would have come down to your native only Girish.
    I should be J actually. You are a native of a wonderful place. We are guests and you are owners. :)
    Thanks for expressing your views over the blog and pouring out your thoughts upon reading.

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  33. @Rohit Sareen Nice to know that you are a traveller at heart.

    Thanks for following and being 100th follower.

    Thanks for your comment. :)

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  34. @deysaid Sure! Please do visit. Any help you need from my side, I will be ready!
    Thanks for the beautiful comment.

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  35. @Ramya Ahhaa! One more malenaaDa heNNu..
    Now you are making me jealous Ramya. Next time you go, I will come with you. Take me with you to that beautiful place............

    I did have a wonderful time. Nice to know that you are from that place. :)

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  36. @Sum

    Thanks Sum. Birds pics are not so good Sum. It was cloudy and hence lighting was not right. So, could not capture the brilliant colors of the birds. I am a regular follower of your Pakshi Loka!

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  37. Hmmmm...surely..next time while you travelling that side,just buzz me,i will take you to my native...

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  38. Malnad is ravishing during monsoon good coverage of the same

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  39. lovely place and awesome pics :)

    Listed in my 'should visit' places :)

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  40. Wow, this was amazing.
    I'm headed to Karnataka next year and i'm surely going to visit Malnad!
    Beautiful pictures and very well-written. Promoted!

    Please read & promote my post on IndiVine-

    The Tablet Revolutionary

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  41. Wow it looks really beautiful and serene :) :)

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  42. your words have pictures and your pictures have words!! Amazing!!!!

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  43. Wonderful! We always seem to be passing such getaways in the rush of going from one place to another.....thanks for reminding that 'pause' is also an option:)

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  44. Hi Sahana,You showed me the paradise with the beautiful pics and flowing commentary.Keep it up and thanx alot.

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  45. Lovely post, what a hidden gem, haven't traveled much in India, so my list of places to visit there keeps on growing...adding this one too...thanks for sharing.. :D

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  46. @Gowthami Nandigala Thank you Gowthami :)
    Do visit sometime, let me know if you need any info.

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  47. Lovely post... Thanks for sharing the info about the place. I really loved the way you have written about 'shoo' ing the flies... haha... great talent... and not to forget.. great snaps... :)

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