A weekend in Chikmagalur

Two months before while we were having tea in our food court, we discussed about family trip and decided to go Chikkamagalur. One of my colleague Rajeshwari’s (Raji) husband went to a Resort named Eagle eye. By looking in to the pictures we were tempted to visit the same resort. We started reading from the internet about some places near Chikkamagalur - the top on our list was Muthodi (Bhadra) – a wildlife sanctuary

Finally we decided to go on 14th and 15th of May which was weekend with 5 families.

On 13^th May, our Tempo Traveler started from Rajeev’s house by 9:45pm. Later Siva > then me > Vinutha and Raji (we all work for same company called SonicWALL). By the time we left Bangalore Mahanagari it was 11:45pm. Me and my hubby (Vadiraj) bought few English VCD’s so that everyone in the Tempo could understand. Movie started in the tempo, few people watched the full movie. Most people slept instead.

There comes a huge speed breaker. I rubbed my eyes to see where we are. I could see Rajeev and Siva in front who are speaking about the road. It was 4:30am, we have already reached Chikkamagalur. As we have reached very early, we went to Rajeev’s home. We made Rajeev’s parents to wake up by 4:30am every one got fresh one by one. Aunty served bisi bisi Chikkamagalur coffee to everyone. From 4:30am to 6:00am the one who entertained us was Mickey. Mickey is a Labrador, who stays with Rajeev’s Family. He is very active and very friendly. He showed all his talents in front of us. He will also help aunty in removing fiber from endocarp of coconut. (I doubt even Rajeev have ever helped aunty in doing this ;-) ) And ‘Yes’ Mickey is damn cute :-)

We left his home by around 6:30am to Mullayanagiri peak which is 20km from Chikkamagalur. We parceled Mangalore buns from the kaka shop in front of his home. It was very tasteful. By the time we reached Mullayanagiri peak it was 7:45am. It stands at 1930 meters and is the tallest peak in Karnataka. We need to walk to that peak which has some around 500-600 steps. Top of the peak had a very nice view. We took nice pictures.

We opened the buns which we had parceled. We stood under a huge tree where we had a pleasant breeze and had buns. On the way back we stooped near a small falls, madam Vinutha filled a bottle of water to taste, along with that she bought a leech into the Tempo.

We had booked a day in Eagle eye resort which is 40km from Chikkamagalur (Crazy right! Yes I know). By the time we checked in it was 12:45pm. There was a Strawberry juice for welcome drink. We had booked cottages which cost 1500/- per person for a night. We discussed in front of the cottages to get together for lunch by 1:30pm. Everyone went to their rooms, got fresh and assembled in front of the lawn. We had lunch. Note: People who are food lovers don’t enjoy this food which is provided by Resort. After lunch we took 30 mins rest and once again got ready for Coracle ride.
We all walked for 15mins to reach the pond. They gave life jackets for safety and 4 person per ride. After finishing the ride we did fishing. Only Mythri was the one who caught a small fish.

We left the pond and started walking to resort. Me and Vadi started first, behind us were Rajeev and Mythri and then followed the line. On the way we saw a big Rat snake crossing the way in front of us. That was the first time I watched a Big Huge Rat Snake just 6-7 foot steps away from us. I was dumb stuck there and our wildlife guy Mr. Rajeev is searching for that snake “Hey where did it go?” Oh Man! “My heart is in my mouth” and he wants to take a look of that creature. I remember I saw one more snake near the water tank in the resort, but it was a small one. We reached resort by 4:30pm and went for tea and snacks. Rajeev started saying stories about the wildlife and his experience being in the wildlife camp. (Rajeev….even we too want to join your wildlife crew onceJ). Resort guys informed us that campfire will start by 7:30pm. After hearing all the stories from Rajeev, we went to the main area of the resort where campfire is held by 7:30pm. Many families assembled there. All of us started dancing, whistling, eating and drinking. It was all fun. As we were really tired we had dinner and was about to sleep, Rajeev informed us that we will be going to Muthodi forest early morning. We should get ready by 5:30am.

Even we were tired soo much, all of us got up in time and got ready for the Wildlife safari. We left resort by 5:45am, as we need to wait for the driver Murthy to come (He was till snoring and he might be thinking these IT guys cant get up in the weekend by 5:30am). We could see the dawn of the Sun in that dense forest (I cant really express the nature beauty here as this can only be experiencedJ) We were not knowing the way to Muthodi forest from resort as per information we got it was just 20km. On the way our Driver Murthy started saying that “Sir, there is no much diesel in the tempo, its only 1/4^th the tank” (Our Murthy assumed that we wont be going anywhere from resort). Whatever the diesel we have in the tank is also not sufficient to go and come back) all were bit tensed coz of this. Finally by asking the people in the village (people here don’t know the exact kms as they hardly use vehicles, they say in guess they started with 5kms) we finally reached Muthodi which is nearly 25kms from resort.

There was a Travera where only 8 people can get in. So me and Vadi were left behind for another trip and remaining 8 members got inside the Car. We both spoke to that forest department guy (I forgot his name) he was narrating stories for us. It was good to hear about our nature...u never get bored. Behind the forest department there was Somavahini River flowing. We both went there and heard the pleasant sound of it. The place is very silent ...we can hear only flies making some noise. But even that was pleasant to hear. Our Driver Murthy was very happy to see the river and he jumped into the water to take bath. After 1 hour a gypsy car came back which had gone for forest Safari. There was one more family and Murthy accompanied us. We all sat behind, Murthy and Safari driver sat in front. Murthy had some itching in his legs. He got down to see wazat. He was wearing light color jeans we can see red...red patches in his jeans. Forest Safari driver told him that its leech which has sucked his blood. Poor Murthy donated blood to leech in forest! We started our journey into the forest. We saw many animals like Giant squirrels, Deer, Sambar, lots of peacock, mongoose, and forest cock. By that time, our gypsy suddenly stopped. Driver told us that petrol is over in the vehicle and we are in the middle of the forest. I don’t know about others but for me it was my first Forest Safari, that too ours was a open gypsy. The lady beside me who had a year old kid started saying “Hey don’t we get tigers and cheetahs here that too we are sitting in a open gypsy”. I had no reply, but I started convincing her “We are not in a Mid forest….I don’t think we get tigers and cheetahs here”. But our driver Murthy started walking in that forest road after seeing a Deer to feed grass. Safari driver and all of us are asking him not to go. (I was very angry at that time, its not enough for him with that leech he needs some other wild animal in that forest to come and bit him). Our Safari driver started saying us that “I saw a dark leopard in this way a week ago”. Mobiles are not reachable and mobiles which are reachable have people who are not lifting the call. Finally from walky-talky he could reach them. After 1 hour a guy came in a bike with petrol (he was our life saver). We started our gypsy and saw a big monitor lizard which was lying on the way. We came back to Forest department. (Huh! I was relaxed, specially that 1 hour, open gypsy).

We left Muthodi and our Murthy informs us that our vehicle can go up to 10Kms. Once again tension. We started asking all the villagers where we can get Diesel. (If I say that in Rajeev’s words it is like, we searched for diesel just like a mad Dog ;-) and Sridhar started saying that we might have left Bangalore in Rahu Kala ...Might be true, as even the Gaadi condition was also bad). We travelled some far and Rajeev’s dad called Rajeev saying that there some Mutt where they have stock of diesel. By the time we saw outside of our window it was that mutt and we took 1 can of diesel and reached the resort by 12:00pm. We requested in reception that we will checkout within half an hour, they agreed. But as we all were damn hungry, we asked that we missed our morning breakfast so we need something in return. They dint agree L we finally had some biscuits and some murku, mixture, benne biscuit (bought by Vinutha, Thanks mam …if that was not there we definitely would have starved like anything). Finally we reached a place I don’t remember a village where had a small hotel. We asked them for 11 lunch plates, they told they don’t have that much as it was already 2:30pm. They told they have dosa. We were soo hungry as we dint had our breakfast also, we told them bring us 2 plates of lunch till we get Dosa. 5 people per one table. Finally we got our Dosa’s. We dint bother about taste …quality or anything but it was just our hunger and stomach.

We reached Chikkamagalur by 4:45pm. We had a plan to go for a water ride in the back waters of Bhadra. We filled our tempo’s (Tempo traveler) stomach. While coming back we played dumb shards, it was full fun (specially Siva’s dance for the right answerJ). We reached the backwater by 5:00pm. It was raining already. But we don’t want to skip this amusement. Me, Raji, Keerthi, Sridhar, Rajeev were ready for Banana ride. Vinutha and Sreekanth enjoyed the kayaking. Banana ride is really adventurous. Guys you should try that once. Over all it was real FUN!!.

Once again VCD was played and people started watching movie. But Rajeev told we continue dumb shards. Few said yes and few said no. Vadi told we will play tom dick harry. We stopped near Kamath hotel in the BC Road. We had dinner. My nose are blocking, I was not able to breath properly, I opened by eyes, we were in the Bangalore traffic signal. By the time we reached Bangalore it was 11:45pm. By the time I reached home it was 12:15pm and Oh God its Monday again. Weekends move very fast right?

Resort where we stayed: http://eagleeyeholidays.com/