Kethanahalli Waterfalls

Kethanahalli waterfalls also called as Vivekanada waterfalls (not sure why this name :)), the name itself attracts me when searching for some of the places to visit around Chikkaballapura. When I inquired about the place got to know that its a seasonal waterfalls only during monsoon some water flows around this place. But this year, this area around got very good rain and most of the lakes were full and heard that this falls also flowing in full. 

So after exploring Gudibande Fort, planned to visit this waterfalls. Kethanahalli is at distance of around 30 Kms from Gudibande (approximately 12 Kms from Chikkaballapura). From Bengaluru its at a distance of 75 Kms. 

It took almost 1 hour for us to reach Kethanahalli from Gudibande, better to search for Kethanahalli village on google map instead of falls. There is no proper sign boards also around. 

We just followed the map and missed the place, again stopped in-between and checked with some localities about the falls. They guided us the correct route. 

As mentioned earlier there is no proper sign board to identify the stop. And even there is no dedicated parking place around. We need to park our vehicles road side and walk towards waterfalls. If you are driving then better to park your cars near road side. If some one is raiding their bike they even travel some distance. From road side its close to 2.5 Kms walk one side to reach waterfalls. 

The path is very straight forward no chance of missing the route. 

It’s an easy trek, flat track but not much shadow across the path which dry out your energy. 

We can see multiple rapids before reaching the waterfall, which is equally beautiful. 

Finally after walking of close to 1 hour took us near waterfalls. Because of holiday weekend crowd was also more near the waterfalls. After looking at the crowd around dropped a plan of playing in water. 

Clicked few pics around and headed back towards our car. 

While coming back without any stops we reached back our car parking, which took us 40 minutes to come back.  

Things to remember: 

• Better to carry enough drinking water, we can find only one shop on the way. 
• If some one raiding by bike we can avoid close to 1.5 KMs walk
• Do not litter the place
• Don’t totally really on google maps

Travel Tips

Distance from Bengaluru	–	75 Kms
Road Condition	–	Very good
Route Map	–	Click here
Nearest Town	–	Chikkaballapura
Fuel Station	–	Plenty of options on Bengaluru - Hyderabad highway
Near by places to visit	-	Nandhi Hills, Avalabetta, Gudibande Fort

Gudibande Fort

Gudibande fort is one of the hidden gem around Namma Bengaluru. Its not so popular like Nandhi hills (35 Kms) & Avala betta (19 Kms) around.  

This fort is around 90 Kms from Bengaluru, we should take Bengaluru - Hyderabad highway to reach this place. Need to take deviation near Peresandra. 

We were in Chintamani for Deepavali holidays, we planned to explore some of the places nearby. Decided to hike Gudibande betta and explore Gudibande fort. We started around 6.00 AM from Chintamani and its around 70 KMs from Chintamani. It took 2 hours for us to reach Gudibande. 

There is enough place for parking near the entrance of the Gudibande betta. 

Parking and entrance is free to this place. 

About Gudibande Fort: Gudibande Fort was built by a leader called Byre Gowda some 400 odd years ago in the 17th century. It was believed that he belonged to the Tuluva dynasty of the Vijayanagar empire. The fort has seven levels with interconnecting escape routes which would help soldiers to flee in case of emergency. On the top of the fort is a Shiva temple known as "Sir Rameshwara Temple", established by Sage Vishwamitra and Lord Rama which is believed to be one of the 108 Jyotirlingas . The strong pillar with a square base has well sculpted images. One can also have a good view of the Byrasagara reservoir. The fort’s main feature, is the rain water harvesting. It is said that there were around 19 rock ponds at different levels of the fort. However, the water channel system devised by Byre Gowda was said to be unique. Linking nineteen water bodies and tanks called Dhones they could in all hold nearly 3 lakhs litres of rain water. 

It’s an easy hike to tag. Takes around 30 to 40 minutes to climb up (again it depends on the number of stops we take). Since we stopped many times to click pics, it took us 45 minutes to reach the peak. 

There are steps till the top of the hill and we can walk across the different corners of the fort. Spent some time at the peak clicking the pics and didn’t took much time while descending. 

Overall we took around 2 hours to explore the fort. 

This year it rain was very good in this surrounding places and Gudibande Lake was full and it was over flowing on roads. Drive through this over flowing water was awesome experience. 

Over flowing water created a sort of waterfall, stopped for a while to click pics.  

Stopped near Peresandra for breakfast. This is quite decent place on the way to stop for breakfast or for lunch in this stretch. 

Travel Tips: 

Distance from Bengaluru	–	90 Kms
Road Condition	–	Very good
Route Map	–	Click here
Nearest Town	–	Peresandra
Fuel Station	–	Plenty of options on Bengaluru - Hyderabad highway
Near by places to visit	-	Nandhi Hills, Avalabetta, Kethanahalli Falls

Galibeedu - Nagarahole

Long weekend was around and we planned for family trip to Coorg. It’s been long time we visited to Coorg.  We booked a homestay called ‘Forest cabin hidden valley’ near Galibeedu.  Though I visited coorg many times earlier it was special trip for me this time, because it was my first trip with my princess :) 

Coorg is around 260 Kms from Bengaluru and the homestay which we booked is around 15 Kms from Coorg. Instead of visiting other places on the way to Coorg, we just decided to reach our destination Galibeedu. Started early from Bengaluru and with multiple stops reached our destination around 3.00 PM.  

Homestay is located at very isolated place, last home before the forest range starts! Best part (at least for me) is no network.  

First day after trekking to Galibeedu view point just relaxed and second day we had enough time after visiting the Galibeedu waterfall. 

Second half of the day we just spend clicking pics around the homestay. 

After spending some time clicking the pics we drove to Madekeri town to get some home made chocolates. It was around 8.30 PM it started raining heavily, the drive back to homestay was very challenging. One of the most memorable drive I can tag. 

Next morning we were all set to vacate the homestay and reach back Bengaluru. But before we start our journey spent some time in photo session again :P 

Plan was to cover couple of other places while coming back, there is a dam (Kottu holey dam) on the way to Madekeri stopped there for a while. When we headed near the dam it started raining again which made to us run back near our cars :D 

We took Nagarahole route to reach Bengaluru , and to check our luck to spot some wild animals :)    

Road condition is not so good, some stretch is too bad but same time some stretch is too 

good. 

Had our lunch break near Gonigoppa. And reached Nagarahole forest range around 5.00 PM. 

This time we were bit lucky to spot some of the wild animals but same time it was already getting dark could not capture those in our cameras. 

    

Finally we managed to reach Bengaluru around 11.00 PM.  One more memorable trip (both good and bad experience though :D). 

Travel Tips: 

Distance from Bengaluru	–	260 Kms
Road Condition	–	Good
Route Map	–	Click here
Nearest Town	–	Madikeri
Fuel Station	–	Madikeri town which is around 15 Kms from Galibeedu
Home stay	–	The Forest cabin - Hidden valley home stay
Near by places to visit	–	Galibeedu peak view point, Galibeedu Water fall, Kottu holey dam, Madikeri

Note: This place is not recommended for families, this property is well maintained only on website. But should mention about the food, though it was very limited menu, food served was very delicious :) 

Experience during the stay was not so pleasant, they could have maintain the place in a better shape.