Posts

Anekere Basadi, Karkala

Image
  During our trip to  Udupi , while returning back, we decided to take the  Karkala route  to visit the beautiful  Anekere Basadi  🏛️. This place is known for its calm surroundings, historic importance, and Jain architecture. From Udupi  Anekere Basadi (Karkala)  is around  40 km  approximately it will take 1 hour to reach. (Bengaluru to Karkala :  Around 375 km). The drive towards Karkala was scenic and peaceful, making the journey enjoyable 🌿 Anekere Lake  was built in  1262  by  Raja Pandyadeva . At first, the lake was used as a bathing place for the royal elephants 🐘. Later, it became an important source of  drinking water  for the surrounding region. In  1545 AD ,  Veera Pandya  built a small  Basadi (Jain temple)  in the middle of Anekere Lake at  Karkala  🏛️. The basadi is dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras.  Parswanath Swami  is enshrined on the upper...

A Peaceful visit to Sri Janardana & Mahakali Temple, Ambalpady

Image
  While returning to  Bengaluru , we made a calm and spiritual stop at the  Sri Janardana & Mahakali Temple  located in  Ambalpady, Udupi . This ancient temple is not just a place of worship, but also an important cultural and religious center of coastal Karnataka 🌴. The Sri Janardana Temple is an  ancient temple  dedicated to  Lord Janardana , with the  Mahakali Temple  located beside it. In front of the temple is the sacred  Janardana Pushkarani (temple pond) , which adds to the serene atmosphere 🪷. Within the temple complex, you can also see: 🐒  Anjaneya (Hanuman) Temple , with an idol showing the incarnations of  Mukhyaprana 🌿  Brindavana of Sri Raghavendra Tirtha Over the years, this temple has grown into a significant spiritual and cultural hub in the Udupi region. Location & Distance From Udupi Bus Stand:  Around  3 km From Bengaluru:  Approximately  400 km Ambalpady is perfectly...

Udupi Shree Krishna Temple

Image
  During our trip to  Udupi , we got a wonderful opportunity to visit the famous  Shree Krishna Mutt  🙏. Before reaching our stay at  White Noise Beach House near Kodi Bengare , we decided to visit the Krishna Temple early in the morning. We started our journey from  Bengaluru on Thursday late night . With multiple breaks along the way, we reached  Udupi by around 8:00 AM . The distance from Bengaluru to Udupi is approximately  400 km , and it usually takes  8–9 hours  by road 🚘. One good thing about visiting this temple is that there are  many hotels and lodges near the temple  where devotees can freshen up. We booked a room for  2 hours , which was just enough time to relax, freshen up, and have a  quick breakfast  ☕🍽️ before heading for darshan. By the time we reached the temple, the  crowd had just started building . Luckily, we managed to complete the  darshan within one hour , which felt smooth...

Boat Ride on Sharavati River

Image
  After completing our beach trek and exploring the beautiful  Sharavathi Kandla Mangrove Boardwalk , we headed towards the famous  Sharavati River boat ride  🚤💙. But before the adventure, we stopped for a delicious local lunch at  Sumukha Hotel —a very old and popular hotel on the highway. Their fish meals were absolutely worth it 😋🐟. With happy tummies, we drove straight to Honnavar for the boat ride. As soon as you enter the town, you’ll see many local guides offering different boating packages. Luckily, our trip was organised by the  Charana team , so everything was already booked for us 👍. 🚤  About the Boat Ride Duration:  1 hour Cost:  ₹1,500 per boat  (approx.) Capacity:  Around 15 people per boat Types of rides offered: 🌅 Sunrise ride 🐦 Bird-watching ride 📸 Photo-shoot ride 💍 Pre-wedding shoot boats We chose the regular one-hour ride. The calm water, cool breeze, and scenic views made the experience unforgettable. ...

Sharavathi Kandla Mangrove Boardwalk

Image
  After a short stop at Mirjan Fort near Kumta, we continued our journey towards the Sharavathi Kandla Mangrove Boardwalk near Honnavar 🌊. I missed this place during my last trip, but this time I made sure not to skip it — and it was worth it! The boardwalk is built inside the lush mangrove forests of Sharavathi backwaters. As you walk through the wooden path, you can see different types of mangrove trees, calm waters, birds, and beautiful scenery. It’s a peaceful spot, perfect for nature lovers and photographers 📸🌿. 🕒  Timings ⏰  Usually open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Varies a bit depending on season and crowd) 🎟️  Entry Fee 💰 Around  ₹20 per person It was a quick and refreshing walk through the mangroves. The whole place can be explored in about 45 minutes to 1 hour, including photo breaks. However, I felt the place could be better maintained. It seems like after the grand inauguration, not much maintenance work has happened. Still, the natural beauty mak...

Mirjan Fort

Image
  After finishing our beach trek on day one, for the second day we started driving towards Honnavara. On the way, we decided to take a short break at Mirjan Fort, a place I had visited more than ten years ago. I always wished to see this fort during the rainy season because the entire area turns lush green 🌧️🌿. But this time too, just like my previous visit, it was a hot and sunny day ☀️. Mirjan Fort is a beautiful historic fort located near Kumta in Karnataka. It is believed to have been built in the 16th century and was once ruled by Queen Chennabhairadevi, also known as the Pepper Queen. The fort is known for its massive walls, secret passages, and scenic surroundings. During monsoon, the fort becomes beautifully covered in green moss, making it look magical ✨. 🕒  Timings & Entry Fee Timings: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Entry Fee: No entry fee (free for all!) 🎟️✨ 🌤️  Best Time to Visit The best time to visit Mirjan Fort is during the monsoon (July–September) or winter (...

Nirvana Beach

Image
  On the second day of our trip, we planned a relaxed morning before heading back to  Bengaluru . We woke up early and took a peaceful  walk along Nirvana Beach  🏖️. The calm waves and soft sand made it the perfect spot to start the day. Staying at Nirvana Beach  was a peaceful and memorable experience 🌊✨. The beach is quiet and almost private, with very few people around, making it perfect for relaxation. There are only a handful of resorts and homestays nearby. We stayed at  Parna Kuteera , which offers options like  dormitory rooms, family rooms, tree houses , and even  tents  ⛺. We chose a  tent right near the shore , falling asleep to the sound of gentle waves and waking up to the sunrise over the sea 🌅. It was a truly unique way to enjoy the serene beauty of the beach. Even though we were on the  west coast , the sunrise was beautiful 🌞, and we managed to click some amazing pictures 📸. After soaking in the view, we spent ...