Recap of 2013

 2013 it’s been a great year, lot of new things in life started this year  

• Started writing blogs about my travel experience
• First international trip 
• Able to own a new DSLR to capture my travel memories 
• Full filled childhood dream of watching Mysuru Dasara 

As mentioned earlier, started writing my travel blog and Boston was the first post which I published  

August got an opportunity to travel to USA on official purpose. On weekends explored  

Waltham – During my visit to USA stayed at Waltham, a city in Massachusetts. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning, spawning what became known as the Waltham-Lowell system of labour and production. The city is now a centre for research and higher education, home to Brandeis University and Bentley University.

New York – New York City comprises 5 boroughs sitting where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. At its core is Manhattan, a densely populated borough that’s among the world’s major commercial, financial and cultural centers. Its iconic sites include skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and sprawling Central Park. Broadway theater is staged in neon-lit Times Square.

Boston – Duck Tour

Super Duck is a unique tour of Boston’s waterfront and Harbor aboard a duck boat – an amphibious vehicle that can drive Boston’s historic streets and then plunge mightily into Boston Harbor for an exciting narrated look at the city. Finally reached Duck Boat and boarded Duck Boat.

Washington DC – My first solo trip in abroad. 

DC is well known for many famous museums and for photographers it’s a perfect place to capture historic monuments.

October – Got an opportunity to witness Mysuru Dasara festival – world famous Jambu Savari

November – Drive to Thirthahalli, on the way stopped near Sakrebailu Elephant Camp 

On Kannada Rajyostava visited Kuppalli

Ride to Nandhi Hills and visit to Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple 

December – Unplanned ‘Tadiandamol Trek’ 

Tadiandamol is the highest peak in Coorg and the third highest peak in Karnataka. Its located around 50 Kms from Kodagu near to Virajpete (Around 320 Kms from Bengaluru).

On the way back visited Chelavara falls and Nalknad Palace 

Overall good year.. Some more trips in coming year already planned. Hope we execute it and all goes as planned 

Chelavara Falls

Chelavara Falls is one of the most picturesque waterfalls near Coorg, best known for its splendid vista and magnificent size. Locally known as Emepaare, meaning tortoise; this one looks full and gorgeous during monsoon. The rock on which the water falls resembles a tortoise giving it its name. . It is one of the best places to visit in Coorg.

The waterfall is located approximately about 12 Kms from Kakabbe, after a little diversion from Virajpete road (17 Kms from Virajapete), The falls is visible from a distance as we neared the place. After reaching the end of the road, and needs 10 minutes' walk to reach the falls.

This place is very good for photo shot compare to very much crowded Abbe falls.

Unfortunately, several accidents have been reported near Chelavara falls, hence Kodagu district administration have presently banned tourists there. One can surely enjoy the beauty from a distance, but cannot descend to reach up to the waterfall.

Monsoon is the best season to visit the falls.

Nalknad Palace

Nalknad Palace also called as Naalnaad Aramane in the local Kodava language, is a palace located in the Kodagu district. It is located near a village named Yavakapadi. It is about 38 km from Coorg and takes about an hour to reach the Palace. The location is approximately 35 km from the Madikeri bus stand.

After spending time near Chelavara Falls, we headed towards Nalknad Palace. Palace is located around 13 Kms from the waterfalls, the palace is not very much known and not many people like this place as well.

The Nalknad Palace is open on all days between 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

The first look at the building and you may not feel it’s a palace. As you enter the palace, you see some fine painting and structures on walls, which have been restored that narrate the story of the Royals.

Right outside the palace, you will find Pavilion, which is believed to have been constructed for the King’s wedding. It is in ruins now!

The Palace is easily accessible and also has no entry ticket fee. It will take visitors an average of 1-2 hours to complete your visit to the place. 

Tadiandamol Trek

Plan for this Tadiandamol trek was last minute plan, in fact there was no plan for this trek. Basically it should not be the case if someone is planning for trekking. We just booked home stay nearby and started. As usual, we started late night journey from Bengaluru and reached our homestay around 6.30 AM.

One good thing was, home stay was very near to the starting point of the trek! We started the trek around 8.30 Am, and we decided to come back to homestay. We didn’t had any plan of camping at the peak, Tadiandamol trek can be completed within one day. Since it was last minute plan, we could not arrange the gears for camping.  

Tadiandamol is the highest peak in Coorg and the third highest peak in Karnataka. Its located around 50Kms from Kodagu near to Virajpete. 

It is not advisable to camp at the peak, as the peak really gets windy and also there is no water source at the top. There is an option to pitch your tent near the big rock, but this big rock comes almost half an hour before the Tadiandamol peak. There is also a water source over there. The rock provides shelter from the speedy winds and a little bit of rain also.

The stretch from this rock is bit challenging and steep as well. Because of the previous night drive, struggled a bit to reach the peak.

Found this place interesting and the words written o the rock. 

Spent some time around the peak clicking some pics, while descending didn’t find much difficulty since badly we wanted to reach back our home stay.

Total trek distance is around 9 Kms, difficulty level is easy to moderate (if it’s not planned properly or planning for a day trek in challenging weather). 

Irrespective of last minute plan, overnight drive we could complete the trek in a single day, which provided us extra day to explore the other places around. After much need rest, for next day visited Chelavara Falls & Nalknad Palace.

Nandi Hills

Nandi-Hills is situated at a distance of approximately 60 km. from Bengaluru, Situated 1479 m above sea level. It’s been long time we visited this place, so planned for a ride on weekend and thought of coving Nandi Grama also on the way.

Nandi Hills is a perfect place for one day outing from Bengaluru, it’s not only a place for couples, bike riders, photographers and even kids will enjoy this place. Started early morning and picked Chethan on the way. Hardly will it take 1 hour 30 minutes from Bengaluru (again depends on number of breaks). We have to take Airport road to reach Nandi Hills.

Now a day’s police became very strict and they will not allow vehicles before 6.00AM from check post. We reached Nandi Hills top by 7.00AM, by that only parking place was filled with vehicles and fought almost 30 mins to park our vehicles. 

Nandi Hills Entrance

Once we parked our vehicles, it was time to capture beauty of hill station in our cameras J

Spent some time walking around the different corner of Nandi hills, such as – Tippu Drop, Shiva temple, the birth place of Arkavathy river & check out few viewpoints. Need to mention the view from restaurant as well. 

This place will be over crowded on weekends.

Other place to visit around Nandhi Hills: Nandigrama, Avalabetta, Devanahalli Fort.