We are roadtrippers. We love the freedom road trips provide to stop, look and explore.
With Christmas holidays a month away, we thought of sharing the information on some of the great driving holidays one can do from Bangalore during the Christmas week.
These are comfortable drives, covering not more than 200 KMs in a day on the average. The plan is to cover for a week extendable for another two days.
We will be sharing details about ten lovely drives from Bangalore in this blog exploring heritage, western ghats, wild life, beaches etc.......
Take a look, plan and go! This time to the west coast of Karnataka also known as "Karavali" with a sprinkle of Koffee in Sakleshpur!
Read on..............
(Though this was written with Christmas Holidays in 2012 in mind, you can do these road trips it independently to suit your dates)
(Though this was written with Christmas Holidays in 2012 in mind, you can do these road trips it independently to suit your dates)
The best time to visit the coastal Karnataka is winter months. Why not plan for a coastal trip this winter and enjoy the sun and sands with some fish fries and Coffee thrown in??
The Circuit
Bangalore - Jog falls - Murudeswar - Udupi - Mangalore - Sakleshpur - Bangalore
Google Map of Circuit
Google Map of Circuit
Day 1 - 22 Dec 2012 - Saturday - Bangalore - Jog falls
Distance - 380 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good
Leave early morning and drive along Bangalore - Shimoga - Sagara - Jog falls road. You can have breakfast either before Tumkur at Kamat or Pai Hotel in Tiptur or excellent Masala Dosa at Preethi Canteen in Birur depending on the time of your departure.
If you are able to leave around 7 AM, you can reach Jog Falls around 2.30 PM for late lunch. Check in at Matthuga Home stay.
Relax for an hour. Drive to Jog falls in the evening and enjoy the sights.
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| Jog Falls |
Night stay at Muthuga.
Day 2 - 23 Dec 2012 - Sunday - Jogfalls - Murudeshwar via Honnavar
Distance - 90 KMs
Road condition - Very good with few pot holes
After breakfast, depart for Murudeswar. Enjoy the drive through Sharavathi valley. Reach by noon.
Check in and lunch done, relax for an hour before exploring Murudeshwar. Dont miss going by the lift to the top of the Gopura or the temple tower - see picture below - by lift for an awesome view of the Arabian sea.
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| Sharavati valley view |
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| The temple tower at Murudeshwar - Tallest in the country |
Enjoy the beach and witness fabulous sunset.
Night stay at Murudeshwar.
Day 3 - 24 Dec 2012 - Monday - Murudeshwar - Gokarna - Honnavar
Distance - 160 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good
After breakfast drive along the coast to Gokarna which is one of the 12 Jyotir Lingas. After temple, visit the famed OM Beach.
On the way back stop over at Honavar for lunch and visit Apsarakonda water falls and relax on the lovely beach. Return to Murudeshwar.
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| Apsarakonda Waterfalls |
Night stay at Murudeshwar
Day 4 - 25 Dec 2012 - Tuesday - Murudeshwar - Udupi Via Kollur
Distance - 156 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good
After breakfast hit the road and take deviation at Uppunda for a visit to famous Mookambika temple at Kollur. After temple visit, drive back to the highway on the same road which will help you visit Maravanthe to enjoy the beautiful landscape with Swarnamukhi river on one side and sea on the other.
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| Maravanthe - Sea on one side and river in the other |
For lunch, stop over at famous Shetty's lunch home for their mouthwatering Chicken Ghee Roast and Kane fish Fry. Check out nice post on Shetty's Lunch home here :- Shetty's Seashore Sensation
Reach Udupi. Check in and relax.
Reach Udupi. Check in and relax.
In the evening visit Krishna Temple and savour the old world charm of temple surroundings by walking around.
Night stay at Udupi
Day 5 - 26 Dec 2012 - Wednesday - Udupi
After breakfast in Mitra Samaj or Diana drive to Malpe beach. Catch a boat and travel to St Mary's islands. Spend few hours on this beautiful islands. Come back for late lunch. Relax.
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| St Mary's Islands |
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| Kaup beach with lighthouse |
In the evening drive to beautiful Kaup beach to spend some serene moments watching the sun go don the Arabian sea.
Night stay at Udupi
Day 6 - 27 Dec 2012 - Thursday - Udupi - Mangalore
Distance - 60 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good
After breakfast drive to Mangalore. On the way visit famous Durga Parameshwari temple at Kateel. Reach hotel in time for lunch. After a siesta visit Pilkula Nisargadhama - a eco park.
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| Rosario church |
Spend time on the beach or visit the beautiful churches built by British. Don't miss out on the authentic Mangalorean cuisine whether is its Vegetarian like Neer dosa and Chutney or Buns and Chutney or Non-Vegetarian items like Akki rotti and Kori Gassi or Kane Fish fry. Take a look at this nice blog post on Mangalore food :-
Mangalore Food Guide
Mangalore Food Guide
Night stay at Mangalore.
Day 7 - 28 Dec 2012 - Friday - Mangalore - Bekal - Nileshwar
Distance - 180 KMs
Road condition - Very Good
After early breakfast drive to Bekal and visit the 18th century fort by the sea. After visiting the sea fort, drive to Nileshwar for a Malabar Mapilla lunch in Nalanda restaurant.
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| Sea as seen from Bekal fort |
Lunch done, go for a back water cruise, watch sunset on the beach and return back to Mangalore. Check out this link for backwater cruises in Bekal/Nileshwar:- Back Water Cruises in Bekal/Nileshwar
Night stay in Mangalore
Day 8 - 29 Dec 2012 - Saturday - Mangalore - Sakleshpur via Kukke
Distance - 165 KMs
Road condition - Very Good
After breakfast, leave for Sakleshpur. On the way visit famous Subramanyeshwara temple at Kukke. Reach Kadamane estate for lunch.
After lunch, go for a short trek to the nearby water falls.
Night stay at Sakleshpur.
Day 9 - 30 Dec 2012 - Sunday - Explore Sakleshpur
Distance - 90 KMs
Road condition - Good with potholes
Get up to chirping sounds of birds. Go for a morning walk to Five acres. Get a WOW feeling standing on top of the hill in front of lovely valley.
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| Mesmerising valley view @ five acres |
After breakfast, drive around Sakleshpur to see beautiful landscape. Drive to Bisle ghat to see the awesome valley of Bisle. On the way back from Bisle ghat dont forget to visit Mallalli falls. Enjoy the vistas of the lovely unexplored falls and return back for late lunch.
Post lunch, just relax with a book in hand!
Day 10 - 31 Dec 2012 - Monday - Sakleshpur - Bangalore
Distance - 252 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good
After breakfast leave for Bangalore. Reach Bangalore by lunch.
Stay Options
Jog Falls - Matthuga Home stay - The best place to explore Jog Falls.
Murudeshwar - RNS Residency - fabulous ocean view - or Naveen Beach resort.
Udupi - Paradise island beach resort near Malpe or Sai Vishram near Kundapur is a good option if you don't want to stay in city. There are many options for stay in city.
Mangalore - There are many good options for stay in Mangalore. But no good beach resorts as such. though there is "Summer Sands". But it is rundown.
Sakleshpur - There are many options in Sakleshpur. Kadamane Estate and The Hills are good options.
Travel Tips
a) On day 1, you can visit Tyavarekoppa lion and tiger safari after Shivamogga on the way to Jog falls. Kids will love it. You can have lunch in Sagara and reach Muthuga by 3 PM.
b) There are many places to explore around Jog falls. You can do that in the morning of Day 2 before lunch. You can see them in the website of Muthuga.
c) Stop by the view point - a white watch tower - while driving from Jog falls to Murdeshwar to see vastness of Sharavathi valley.
d) Be careful while playing in the sea. Respect safety instructions published on the beach.
e) At Gokarna, don't be fooled by priests who will try to fleece. Enter the temple and have darshan and come out.
f) Apsarakonda falls is a beautiful place where there is a water fall next to the beach! Enjoy the place on the way from Gokarna to Murudeshwar.
g) Go to famous Kollur Mookambika temple on the way from Murudeshwar to Udupi. Do come back on the same route which will help you see the beautiful Maravanthe.
h) Udupi is a small little town. Explore the surroundings of the tmeple by walking around. Mitra Samaj, the iconic Udupi restuarant is famous for its Masala Dosa and Goli Bajji. Dont miss savouring fried idlis and ice creams in Diana restaurant.
i) Do visit the Durga Parameshwari temple in Kateel. The temple is situatued on a small island surrounded by water on either sides.
J) Pilkula Nisargadhama is a nice place for kids. It has musical fountain, zoo, toy train, boating etc.
h) Try and reach Bekal before 11 AM as sun will be harsh after that. Marvel at the views of the se from the ramparts of this impregnable fort built by Tipu Sultan.
i) Nileshwar is a hidden gem on Malabar coast. The serene backwaters canals beckons you for a quiet cruise.
J) Enjoy the sprawling estate of Kadamane in Sakleshpur. Appreciate the way the British enjoyed their stay in India.
Karavali Vistas - II
Captivating Kadamane estate @ Sakleshpur
Sakleshpur - Mesmerised in Monsoon
For other posts in "Driving Holidays from Bangalore" series, please click here
Driving Holidays from Bangalore
Captivating Kadamane estate @ Sakleshpur
Sakleshpur - Mesmerised in Monsoon
For other posts in "Driving Holidays from Bangalore" series, please click here
Driving Holidays from Bangalore
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