Chikmagalur
Date: 2-Oct-14 to 4-Oct-14
Our most-awaited long weekend of October had finally arrived. With holidays on Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra, we had three days to escape the routine and explore somewhere new. Since we had visited our hometown just a week earlier, we wanted to spend this long weekend differently. Without much hesitation, we chose the coffee capital of Karnataka – Chikmagalur.
We started planning the trip about two weeks in advance, assuming that finding accommodation would be easy. To our surprise, almost every hotel and homestay we checked was either fully booked or far beyond our budget. We never expected Chikmagalur to be so popular during a long weekend. While many travellers preferred luxury resorts and plantation stays, we were looking for a simple and comfortable place to stay, as we planned to spend most of our time exploring the region.
Despite searching extensively online, we could not find a suitable budget hotel. Thilak, however, was confident that there would be plenty of accommodation options available locally that were not listed online. After several discussions, we decided to take a chance and search for a place after reaching Chikmagalur. It was a bit risky, especially during a holiday weekend, but it also added a sense of adventure to the trip.
Since Thilak was already familiar with the Bangalore–Chikmagalur route, transportation planning was straightforward. Apart from the accommodation uncertainty, everything else fell into place smoothly. With our bags packed and an exciting three-day itinerary ahead, we were ready to explore the misty hills, coffee estates, waterfalls, and scenic landscapes of Chikmagalur.
Travel snapshot
- Route Travelled: Onward: BTM Layout > Yashwantpura > Nelamangala > Hassan > Belur > Chikmagalur
Return: Chikmagalur > Birur > Kadur > Arasikere > Tiptur > Tumkur > Bangalore > BTM Layout - Total distance (To & Fro): 747 km
- Mileage (Car): 20 km/l
- Fuel expense: 2838 Rs
- Total expense: 6845 Rs
Day-wise travel journal
- Day 1 – Yagachi Dam, Ayyana Kere, and Amruthapura
- Day 2 – Trek to Tallest Peak of Karnataka
- Day 3 – Kemmanugundi and Kallathi Falls