On the morning of 18th April we left to Madikeri on the new and modern KSRTC Power+ one of India's most modern buses. The bus has a controlled environment with an automatic lane-changing system that works on simple keys. Moving on with the trip we passed through the urban lanes of Bengaluru to the farmlands near Channapattana through the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway to the town roads of Mysuru then the reserved forests of Coorg. The Bus journey was also a good experience.
Then we checked in to the resort and took some time to freshen up and have lunch. We then left for the 1st destination of the trip, a walk through a coffee plantation that was filled with the scents of Arabica and Robusta codee plants and a bit of Sandalwood and even Arecanaut trees. Then we had a try of the special creamy Coorg filter coffee. This can be equalized to Starbucks's coffee (due to the sugar content).
Popular Indian lore says that on a pilgrimage to Mecca in the 17th century Baba Budan, a Sufi saint from Karnataka state, discovered coffee. In his eagerness to grow coffee himself at home, he smuggled seven coffee beans out of the Yemen port, hidden in his beard. On his return home, he planted the beans on the slopes of Chikkamagaluru. In those days in Yemen smuggling Coffee beans without any prior permission was a permissible offense, mostly with the death penalty. That is the Risk Baba Budan took to plant a few coffee seeds that led to the growth of 7th highest coffee-producing country on Earth. Moving on with the trip.
Then we had a short breakat the temple Omkareshwar built by a legendary king of Kodagu, Lingaraja.
We went to a beautiful park-like setting on the top of a tree, the Raja Seat viewpoint. This is the place believed to be a viewpoint for the rulers of this region, Ikeri Nayakas to have a look at its citizens.
We had snacks at The Wheel Cafe. We had an option to read books, play games, draw art, and even write letters to our loved ones. So we spent time there having a brownie and some healthy hot Chocolate, made by the chocolate of Coorg. It was a great simple and serene atmosphere. The cafe looked lie a house in the Malnad style style. Guess the food by the pic on the right.
Did you know drinking hot chocolate is actually very good for our body.
Then we went back to the resort and freshened up and immediately left to the nearby cafe and had a Margeretta Pizza and some fries with cheese sandwich. After having that we returned to our resort home. Then had a good sleep getting ready for another adventurous day.
The next day we woke up early in the morning and had a bit in the buffet of resort and got inside the car and left for the 1st destination of the day Iruppu Falls . The falls is formed by a stream which flows like a brimming one in winter. It passes through the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. A dense forest that is constitiuted of many will animals from tigers and Leopards, slothbears and Cobras to Elephants crossing. As per folklore, Ram and Lakshman went past this Brahmagiri range and for the sake of water shot an arrow which went deep into soil and created this Iruppu falls in the border of Wayanad of Kerala and Kodagu of Karnataka. We spent some time in the fall and showed in the dripping waterfall then went back by as good trail in the middle of a dense forest
Then we went to the Nagarahole Forest for a Safari. Getting to the Safari was a good experience. All the bookings were booked online. So we had to wait there. While the wait was on we played a game of Atlas and eve had Lunch in a nearby Cafe. Then came back and went on the Jeep Safari we did see a lot of Animals and even a few birdslike the Cormorant and a Kingfisher. We even saw many Asiatic Elephants. Nagarahole as the most number if Asiatic elephant herds in the world. We also so many deers and Sambar deer and even a rare barking deer. Tjere are only 60 barking deers in south India and only 5 in the region we had gone to. These deers never come out as they are smaller and easier to prey on for Tigers.
Then we went back to out hotel room and freshened up. then had a good sleep to be ready for another day of adventure.
The next day we had a buffet dinner at the resort itself and left for Bhagamandala. Then even visited Tala Kaveri.
Bhagamandala is a village named after a temple in the border of Kerala and Karnataka. Talakaveri, located in the Brahmagiri hills, is considered the birthplace of the Kaveri River. There is a lot of mystery with some debate on whether Kaveri comes deep from the inside from a spring atop a hill or its completely fed by rain. But when we talk in the sense of tradition and common beliefs, A sacred spring within Talakaveri feeds a holy kundike (tank). This spring is believed to be the source of the Kaveri, even disappearing into the depths of the hill underground and resurfacing later at the meeting point of 2 rivers and appearing as the 3rd mysterious underground river. Talakaveri's kundike is indeed a pond, and there's no visible, permanent flow of water directly connecting it to the main Kaveri river course (except during monsoons). The Kaveri primarily relies on rainfall for its flow, making it a non-perennial river. The spring in Talakaveri might be fed by an underground network of streams and channels. This network could be the actual source of the Kaveri, with the Talakaveri spring acting as a visible point of origin. The water might then flow underground for some distance before surfacing again at a point closer to the main course of the river. Unfortunately, there's no definitive scientific proof to pinpoint the exact source of the Kaveri. The underground network theory is based on hydrological observations and inferences. Talakaveri holds immense cultural and religious significance as the birthplace of the Kaveri. While there might not be a direct, permanent surface connection, it's likely the source of the river lies in the underground network feeding the spring there.
Then we left to Abbey Falls. It was 1st names Jessi Falls named after the wife of the British Officer who had control of the Madikeri region. Then Neravanda B. Nanaiah bought this place then turned into a coffee plantation. Few years back there was a hanging bridge leading to a longer trail now the bridge is broken and closed leading to nowhere. This is that hanging bridge.
Then we left back to the Wheel Cafe where I wrote a letter back to Bengaluru. In the wheel cafe I wrote a poem to end our trip in a high. A very short one but yet maningful-
In the middle of the hills,
Where your heart fills,
You need no pills to
Fill the thrills.
The great Raja seat
Reminds me of the feat
Field Marshal KM Cariappa did,
To lead a life, to its fullest.
After staying there for a while playing games. We left for the Bus stand. There we boarded a bus and it left. We then bid farewell to our memories in Madikeri and its scenic beauty. Then we left of in the EV Bus to see a surprising scene at Bengaluru after a long time - Rain.
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