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Nethravathi Trek

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Nethravathi Trek is one of the beautiful and challenging treks in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. Surrounded by lush green mountains, waterfalls, streams, and misty trails, this trek is a perfect adventure for nature lovers. 🌿⛰️ After freshening up at Mavina Kombe Homestay , we started our journey to the Nethravathi Trek base camp in a Jeep. It was raining heavily throughout the drive, and honestly, I started wondering if we would be able to complete the trek at all. The trek had already been closed for the previous 3–4 days because of heavy rain. But there was no sign of the rain stopping! After completing the formalities at the forest check post, we were assigned a guide and finally started our trek. 🌧️🥾 The rain continued steadily, making the trail wet and slippery. We couldn’t take out our mobile phones often for photographs, and I had decided not to carry my DSLR because of the heavy rain. So, we missed capturing most of the beautiful trail. 📵 When we reached the first waterf...

Mavina Kombe Homestay

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The Nethravathi trek is managed through the Aranya Vihara portal , and getting a slot can be challenging, especially during weekends. This time, we decided to check weekday slots—and luckily, we found availability! 😍 Without wasting any time, we started planning the rest of the trip. For our stay, Gani found a beautiful homestay close to the Nethravathi base camp. 🏡 Mavina Kombe Homestay 📍 Samse Village, Kalasa, Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka 📞 7676850171 / 9380525143 🚗 Bengaluru to Kalasa – A Scenic Monsoon Drive We started from Bengaluru on Thursday night and reached the homestay around 6:00 AM . It was raining heavily, and Google Maps wasn’t exactly our best friend that morning! 😂 After a few U-turns and some left-right-left confusion, we finally reached the homestay. But honestly, the journey itself was worth it. 🌧️💚 The heavy rains over the previous few days had brought the Western Ghats to life. Streams were flowing at full speed, and we spotted a couple of beautiful waterfa...

KRS Backwaters – Anandur

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After seeking blessings at Shri Bhoo Varahaswamy Temple, Kallahalli , our journey continued towards the peaceful village of Anandur , near the KRS backwaters. This hidden spot is famous for a unique sight—a temple that appears only when the water level of the KRS Dam drops during summer. 🌊 🛕 A Temple That Rises from the Water The submerged temple is dedicated to Lord Narayanaswamy . During the monsoon, it remains underwater, but as the water recedes in summer, the ancient temple slowly emerges, attracting visitors, & photographers. Watching this hidden temple come back into view is truly a fascinating experience. We reached Anandur at around 4:30 PM hoping to enjoy a beautiful sunset. The place was already filled with families, photographers, and nature lovers relaxing by the backwaters. It had a calm and refreshing atmosphere, making it a perfect place to unwind. 😊 Unfortunately, it was a cloudy evening, so we missed the sunset. Even so, we spent some peaceful time walking a...

Shri Bhoo Varahaswamy Temple, Kallahalli

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Nestled on the banks of the beautiful Hemavathi River near the KRS backwaters, Shri Bhoo Varahaswamy Temple in Kallahalli is a peaceful and sacred destination. Dedicated to Lord Varaha, the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu, this ancient temple attracts devotees seeking blessings and spiritual peace. 🚗 Our Journey We reached the temple at around 1:00 PM , a little later than we had planned. Since it was a busy day, the temple was packed with devotees. We had to wait for nearly two hours before we could complete the darshan . Even though the wait was long, the moment we had the darshan made it all worthwhile. Standing before the deity filled us with peace and positivity. It was truly a blessed experience that we will always remember. 🙏✨ The temple is currently under renovation , so photography inside the temple was not allowed. Still, the calm surroundings and the spiritual atmosphere made the visit special. One of the highlights of this temple is its beautiful location. Situated ne...

Somanathapura

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Some places never lose their charm, no matter how many times you visit them. One such place is Somanathapura, a small village near Mysuru that is home to the magnificent Chennakesava Temple. Although our main destination was Sri Bhoo Varahanatha Swamy Temple, this unplanned stop turned out to be one of the highlights of our journey. 🚗 Our Journey The main purpose of this road trip was to visit Shri Bhoo Varahaswamy Temple near Mysuru. Joining me on this journey were my friends Pradeep, Sunil, Gani, and Shashi . Before heading to our destination, we took a small detour to Shashi’s hometown near Malavalli . We met his wonderful family and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at his family-run hotel. ☕🥞 It was a refreshing start to the day and made our trip even more memorable. On our way, we decided to make a quick stop at Somanathapura . Even though I have visited this temple several times before, it never feels boring. Every visit reveals something new in the intricate carvings and peacefu...