Monsoon drive in Malnad - Countless Waterfalls & Visual Bliss!

The rains had started in South India. This time, there was only one agenda. Just to drive in the rain in Malnad over the weekend. To enjoy the mist. To breathe the fresh air. To count countless water falls! As we drove along, we were spellbound by vast vistas of greenery. We could listen to lyrics written by nature. Words fail to describe the Magnificence of Malnad. We hope these pictures do some justice.

We started on Saturday and returned on Sunday afternoon (23 and 24 July). The route was

Bangalore - Mudigere (via Gendehalli) - Charmadi - Kalasa - Sringeri (via Bale Hole and Hirebylu) - Agumbe - Kundadri - Tirthahalli - Bangalore (via Shivamogga) (We had planned to go Kudremukh but had to cut it out as we were getting delayed)

We did this in five hours straight drive in Scorpio with a stop for five mins in Arsikere for refilling!!

What are you waiting for? Hitch hike with us and enjoy the ride!!

What a welcome!! Marigolds in full bloom near Belur

A precursor to what to expect in the journey as we crossed Kottige Hara and started moving
towards Charmadi - Overcast sky, Misty surroundings, water and green everywhere!! 






Suddenly, the mist cleared giving a nice view of the local school and of the kids who were playing in the rain!
It is fun time!
As we drove to Charmadi, it started raining heavily and the whole place was enveloped in mist.
The first sight of a stream when the mist cleared for seconds!
The valley full of mist!
Local bikers enjoying the rain!!

Rain drenched Charmadi in full glory. The Scorpio seems to like the surroundings!!
The mist playing hide and seek!
We now sight the first water falls - a small jumping stream - countless to come!!
Waterfalls, Water falls every where!! You will encounter one every 500 Meters!!

Waterfalls, Water falls every where!! You will encounter one every 500 Meters!!

Waterfalls, Water falls every where!! You will encounter one every 500 Meters!!

Waterfalls, Water falls everywhere!! You will encounter one every 500 Meters!!
The Beast and the mist!!
Mist clad Ghat road - Nature at its best
Some more!! Some were hidden in the mist..
Some more!! Some were hidden in the mist..
Like this beauty!!

Some more!! Some were hidden in the mist..

This was a real beauty. A tall one but hidden in the forest. We could not capture
the full beauty of falls - we tried different angles - unless we had trekked  Picture - 1


 Picture - 2
Wild flowers!!!


We did not do complete Charmadi and did only half of it.
Reluctantly, we took a U turn to go towards Kalasa

We were in for another treat immediately after Balur estate
The scenery after crossing the bridge on Bhadra river, Awesome!!
The Road to Kalasa has some great valley views, here is one!!
Bhadra is full roar - I

Valley views on the way to Sringeri -I
Valley views on the way to Sringeri -II
Bhadra is full roar forms a beautiful waterfalls

Some more water falls on the way.
These were some of the beautiful falls we had seen, falling in layers.

Valley views on the way to Sringeri -III
Valley views on the way to Sringeri -IV
Valley views on the way to Sringeri -V
This was the best of the lot!! It had height and volume

As we drove to Agumbe from Sringeri, we spotted this lovely pond

A hamlet - Typical of Malnad, amidst greenery
Picture taken on Agumbe - Tirthahalli road.
The thick black clouds in the horizon and the greenery makes it a fantastic setting!!

The paddy field near Agumbe was like a picture post card


Kundadri was a revelation. Everytime you go this place, you will come back awestruck.
The wind, the mist and the feeling of floating in the clouds!!
Take a look at these pics from the sky - virtually!! - Picture I
Picture - 2

Picture - 3

Picture - 4

The whole place was misty. Sun was playing hide and seek.
We had to wait for moments when the place down below got lit up to take these pictures

Like these bright moments!

Some more pictures from the top.

These wild flowers were eye candy!
As we left Tirthahalli, we crossed Tunga which was roaring to glory!




It was a refreshing drive in the rain, soaking ourselves in nature at its best. Go for it when it is raining. We came back refreshed and rejuvenated!! In every true sense. Now it is your turn!

Travel tips

a) Make Chikmagalur or Tirthahalli as base to explore Malnad. Good homestay options are available. Chikmagalur also has high end stay options in Taj group of Hotels and Serai by Coffee day.

For home stay options in Malnad Check out in http://www.travelmalnad.com/

b) Chikmagalur is 250 KMs from Bangalore and Tirthahalli is 330 KMs.

c) Excellent bus connections are available to both places. If you dont want to drive, then take a bus and hire a cab to explore locally.

d) Bangalore - Shimoga overnight train is another excellent option for Tirthahalli. Most homestays in Tirthahalli will arrange vehicle for pick up at railway station.

Do you want to experience Monsoon in India? Here is a list for you to look at. Click on the link below.

Celebrating Indian Monsoon - A List!

For a detailed itinerary for exploring Malnad in Monsoons, please click this link

Monsoon in Western Ghats - An Itinerary to experience it!

Glossary

Malnad - Western Ghats (mountainous) region in the Southern state of Karnataka in India

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A Travel Blog from India: Monsoon drive in Malnad - Countless Waterfalls & Visual Bliss!

Thursday 4 August 2011

Monsoon drive in Malnad - Countless Waterfalls & Visual Bliss!

The rains had started in South India. This time, there was only one agenda. Just to drive in the rain in Malnad over the weekend. To enjoy the mist. To breathe the fresh air. To count countless water falls! As we drove along, we were spellbound by vast vistas of greenery. We could listen to lyrics written by nature. Words fail to describe the Magnificence of Malnad. We hope these pictures do some justice.

We started on Saturday and returned on Sunday afternoon (23 and 24 July). The route was

Bangalore - Mudigere (via Gendehalli) - Charmadi - Kalasa - Sringeri (via Bale Hole and Hirebylu) - Agumbe - Kundadri - Tirthahalli - Bangalore (via Shivamogga) (We had planned to go Kudremukh but had to cut it out as we were getting delayed)

We did this in five hours straight drive in Scorpio with a stop for five mins in Arsikere for refilling!!

What are you waiting for? Hitch hike with us and enjoy the ride!!

What a welcome!! Marigolds in full bloom near Belur

A precursor to what to expect in the journey as we crossed Kottige Hara and started moving
towards Charmadi - Overcast sky, Misty surroundings, water and green everywhere!! 






Suddenly, the mist cleared giving a nice view of the local school and of the kids who were playing in the rain!
It is fun time!
As we drove to Charmadi, it started raining heavily and the whole place was enveloped in mist.
The first sight of a stream when the mist cleared for seconds!
The valley full of mist!
Local bikers enjoying the rain!!

Rain drenched Charmadi in full glory. The Scorpio seems to like the surroundings!!
The mist playing hide and seek!
We now sight the first water falls - a small jumping stream - countless to come!!
Waterfalls, Water falls every where!! You will encounter one every 500 Meters!!

Waterfalls, Water falls every where!! You will encounter one every 500 Meters!!

Waterfalls, Water falls every where!! You will encounter one every 500 Meters!!

Waterfalls, Water falls everywhere!! You will encounter one every 500 Meters!!
The Beast and the mist!!
Mist clad Ghat road - Nature at its best
Some more!! Some were hidden in the mist..
Some more!! Some were hidden in the mist..
Like this beauty!!

Some more!! Some were hidden in the mist..

This was a real beauty. A tall one but hidden in the forest. We could not capture
the full beauty of falls - we tried different angles - unless we had trekked  Picture - 1


 Picture - 2
Wild flowers!!!


We did not do complete Charmadi and did only half of it.
Reluctantly, we took a U turn to go towards Kalasa

We were in for another treat immediately after Balur estate
The scenery after crossing the bridge on Bhadra river, Awesome!!
The Road to Kalasa has some great valley views, here is one!!
Bhadra is full roar - I

Valley views on the way to Sringeri -I
Valley views on the way to Sringeri -II
Bhadra is full roar forms a beautiful waterfalls

Some more water falls on the way.
These were some of the beautiful falls we had seen, falling in layers.

Valley views on the way to Sringeri -III
Valley views on the way to Sringeri -IV
Valley views on the way to Sringeri -V
This was the best of the lot!! It had height and volume

As we drove to Agumbe from Sringeri, we spotted this lovely pond

A hamlet - Typical of Malnad, amidst greenery
Picture taken on Agumbe - Tirthahalli road.
The thick black clouds in the horizon and the greenery makes it a fantastic setting!!

The paddy field near Agumbe was like a picture post card


Kundadri was a revelation. Everytime you go this place, you will come back awestruck.
The wind, the mist and the feeling of floating in the clouds!!
Take a look at these pics from the sky - virtually!! - Picture I
Picture - 2

Picture - 3

Picture - 4

The whole place was misty. Sun was playing hide and seek.
We had to wait for moments when the place down below got lit up to take these pictures

Like these bright moments!

Some more pictures from the top.

These wild flowers were eye candy!
As we left Tirthahalli, we crossed Tunga which was roaring to glory!




It was a refreshing drive in the rain, soaking ourselves in nature at its best. Go for it when it is raining. We came back refreshed and rejuvenated!! In every true sense. Now it is your turn!

Travel tips

a) Make Chikmagalur or Tirthahalli as base to explore Malnad. Good homestay options are available. Chikmagalur also has high end stay options in Taj group of Hotels and Serai by Coffee day.

For home stay options in Malnad Check out in http://www.travelmalnad.com/

b) Chikmagalur is 250 KMs from Bangalore and Tirthahalli is 330 KMs.

c) Excellent bus connections are available to both places. If you dont want to drive, then take a bus and hire a cab to explore locally.

d) Bangalore - Shimoga overnight train is another excellent option for Tirthahalli. Most homestays in Tirthahalli will arrange vehicle for pick up at railway station.

Do you want to experience Monsoon in India? Here is a list for you to look at. Click on the link below.

Celebrating Indian Monsoon - A List!

For a detailed itinerary for exploring Malnad in Monsoons, please click this link


Glossary

Malnad - Western Ghats (mountainous) region in the Southern state of Karnataka in India

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20 Comments:

At 8/05/2011 , Blogger Unknown said...

Awesome, Awesome Awesome Poorna....thanks for making us dream and imagine the beautiful landscape and inspiring all to get out and explore nature....kudos...keep up the good work

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger Thanigai Murugan said...

Amazing pics and very inspiring and with lots of details for others. Thanks.

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger Sudheer Keshav said...

Beautiful !! what a place !!

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger G S Sanjay said...

This is mind blowing. Malnad has always fascinated me and this is yet another reason for me to visit yet another time. Thanks Poorna for the lovely pics.

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger Vijayendra shetty said...

Poorna,

For a moment these pictures make me feel like I myself is in these places. Awesome pictures.

Vijayendra

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger Umesh Budihal said...

Amazing pictures and very informative blog. Keep them coming !

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger shankar said...

Awesome!

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger ~uk~ said...

excellent captures!

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger Satish Kumar said...

Hi Poorna,

Excellent photos.. Western Ghats......Amazing. Being from that area, I can appreciate and this is just the tip of the ice berg !!!!!!!!!!!1

Satish

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger Ajay Risbud said...

Awesome pictures Poorna! I almost envied you! Nature at it's best! Thanks for sharing...very refreshing!

 
At 8/05/2011 , Blogger Ravi Shankara said...

Thumba Dhanyavadagalu...

Superb & Excellent

 
At 8/06/2011 , Blogger Aravind Bharatha said...

Tumba chennagide Super

 
At 8/09/2011 , Blogger Srikanth Manjunath said...

Nice write up backed up by mind blowing nature at its best captured in freezing frames...

This long weekend am venturing in to westernghats..i want to get soaked in natures laps..

Once again superb photos..wonderful narration...

 
At 3/18/2013 , Blogger Unknown said...

Wonderful and enjoyable journey with beautiful picture gallery.
thanks for sharing.
know more about Bangalore through Must Visit Destinations in Karnataka.

 
At 6/04/2014 , Blogger Shashidharan said...

Heading to Chikmagalur this weekend. I have planned to cover the below list places in 2 days. Kemmangundi, Mullayanagiri, Baba Budan Giri, Manikyadhara Falls, Kallathigiri Falls, Hebbe Falls, Hanumana Gundi Falls, Shanti Falls, AYYENKERE LAKE and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
Please recommend what else to see, do, skip ;-) Sequence in which I can cover these places….

 
At 6/04/2014 , Blogger Shashidharan said...

Heading to Chikmagalur this weekend. I have planned to cover the below list places in 2 days. Kemmangundi, Mullayanagiri, Baba Budan Giri, Manikyadhara Falls, Kallathigiri Falls, Hebbe Falls, Hanumana Gundi Falls, Shanti Falls, AYYENKERE LAKE and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
Please recommend what else to see, do, skip ;-) Sequence in which I can cover these places….

 
At 6/04/2014 , Blogger Brinda said...

Thanks Shashi. Why don't you give me a call at 98450 44486 and I can help you.

Best regards,
Poorna

 
At 10/02/2014 , Anonymous C.k.Vasudeva said...

Read it as a classic novel! Excellent pictures aptly supported the description. Asked my wife to reach Bangalore from Hyderabad. And, we are on our way to Shivmogga for the 4 days trip to witness what we saw and read here.

 
At 10/08/2014 , Blogger Brinda said...

Thank you Vasudeva for your comments. Glad you liked it. Please share the post among your friends. BTW, how was your experience of driving in Western Ghats?

 
At 12/08/2014 , Blogger Unknown said...

Chikmagalur is best to be visited during Mansoon. It is one of the best top visited tourist on Mansoon. During the trip, you should make use of homestays in Chikmagalur for accommodation this will again added as credit to enjoy the trip.

 

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