Ambling Through Coastal Karnataka

Going to Coastal Karnataka,India, had always been 'on my list' . A pretty temple - known for its size, the incredible Jog Falls, Mirjan fort, famous Om beach ( as its name suggests a sea shore in the shape of Om)  and great Konkan food - a perfect choice, all in three days.

The journey started from Mumbai CST by Mangalore Express at around 10.00 pm. The train journey from Mumbai to Murudeshwar was amazing with greenery everywhere and awesome views.  Reached Murudeshwar station at around 12.00 noon. We had decided to stay in a beach facing hotel near to the temple.  After  lunch, we decided to visit Murudeshwara temple.

MURUDESHWARA TEMPLE

Surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 20 storied Raja Gopura is a sight to behold and is considered as the tallest Gopura in the world. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps that lead to the temple.

The temple has a typical South Indian architecture. After a photo session in front of the Raja Gopura, we entered the temple premises. We bought tickets and waited in the queue to get into one of the  two elevators to go upstairs. Once you reach the top,  you can see four windows. One of them looks at the Shiva Statue. The other two gives a clear view of the beach on either sides of the temple, while the fourth one shows you Murudeshwara town.  This is a perfect spot, from where I got a bird's-eye view of the world's second tallest Shiv Statue.

An Birds Eye View from Gopura, Murudeshwar Temple

 Through one window, you can admire the beauty of Murudeshwara Beach.

Through the 3rd window, you will get a view of the other side of  the Murudeshwara beach, which is calm and lonely.

You have to come out of the temple premises to reach the Shiva Statue. This 123-feet Shiva idol is the second highest statue of Lord Shiva in the world. Under the statue, there is a cave which tells us the story of Murudeshwara and Gokarna with statues of Ravana.

It was time for some enjoyment and shopping. And there was quite a bit to explore in this temple town. Had a cup of tea and headed to the beach.

You can stroll around the Murudeshwara Beach which is quite pristine and clean, for the Sunset view. It was also here that we enjoyed one of the most beautiful sunsets,  with the temple and the sun sinking into the sea in background.

During night, it was great to watch the temple premises - Raj Gopura, Shiv Statue - all shine with lights. We spent a few hours at the beach, having fun and clicking photos.

It was getting dark, we headed back to the hotel. We had a yummy dinner at the hotel's restaurant.

Day 2
We had our breakfast and we were all set to visit Kumta for Mirjan Fort.

MIRJAN FORT

Built in the 16th century by Queen Chennabhaira Devi or Gerasoppa, the fort is located on the banks of Aganashini  River.  Mirjan port was used for trading with ports of Gujarat.  After crossing the gate, you have to walk through wide steps to reach the entrance of the fort. And I climbed to the top of the fort to witness the glory.

The Mirjan Fort Entrance

You can watch many secret passages inside the fort. The fort has many wells linked with each other, watch tower cum flag hoisting tower, Darbar hall, market place and entry doors.

Mirjan Fort inside view

The fort bastion and watch tower still stand alive. The circular moat surrounding the fort, which was used as a defense measure to protect the fort, is almost in a ruined state now. A witness to the Vijayanagara Empire and  the British colonialism, the fort still stands alive in every sense of the word.

From Mirjan Fort, we made our way to Jog falls. In between a small halt for lunch. This time we headed to a small village restaurant, which reminded me so much of  Kerala.  Around 1.30 PM,  we reached Jog falls and started exploring.

JOG WATERFALLS

Jog Waterfalls proudly owns the title of India’s second tallest Water Plunge. The river Sharavathi makes a descent here from a height of about 830 feet, providing a spellbinding sight. The water comes down in four distinct falls - Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocker.

Jog Waterfalls

To reach the base of Jog Falls, I had to take a 1400 steps walk downhill from the viewpoint. We enjoyed the breathtaking view of the falls as we covered almost 1400 steps to reach the bottom. Jog Falls are exceptional as the water does not flow down the rocks in a tiered fashion; it gushes down the slope right from the great height making it the tallest un-tiered waterfall in India. 

The falls are a perfect picnic spot with unexplored walking trails around the area. The splendor of the waterfalls is enhanced by the lush green surroundings, which provide a scenic backdrop.

After our trek , it was time to warm up a little bit, so we headed to a nearby restaurant for a tea. Our dinner was on our way back to the hotel, a typical Non Veg Thali which offers locally sourced cuisine in a very relaxed atmosphere. Fish and seafood are highly featured in the menu. And then, it was time to finally check-in  at our hotel.

Day 3

We had a great breakfast at a stunning beach side hotel which is projected to the sea. It was nice to enjoy a hot cup of tea watching the sea waves hitting the pillars of the hotel. It was time to go out of the city. We headed towards Om beach.

OM BEACH

Om beach is one of  the most famous among four beaches in Gokarna. Shaped like the Om symbol, this place will offer you peace and serenity. This area has only one restaurant facing the sea.  Sitting on the open area and sipping your favorite drink is a wonderful experience.  The sea waves come to you literally and this view is surely a bonus. The beach as its name suggests is a sight to behold.

Om beach

We could not resist a lazy walk around. It was worth noting an iron ore rock similar to a Shiv Ling. After a little walk along the sea shore, we headed back towards the parking area.

A long weekend simply was not enough to explore this beautiful coastal place. We had a lovely weekend in Coastal Karnataka and I can't wait to be back.

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Maharashtra Nature Park : A walk in Mumbai's Green Lungs

As monsoon times comes around again, most of us like to stay indoors especially in the weekend. I was looking for options to make the rainy Sunday even better. I thought of joining for a Photo Walk at Maharashtra Nature Park, conducted by DCP Expeditions — a Mumbai based renowned photography academy. 

Spread over 37 acres, Maharashtra Nature Park (also known as Mahim Nature Park)  offers endless opportunities for the photographers to click images. Located at Bandra Sion link road and on the Southern bank of Mithi river, exactly on opposite side of Dharavi slums, this forest santuary land was once a city garbage dump.  Now it is a place to study different plants, trees, mammals, butterflies, reptiles and  birds. The park houses more than 14000 species of vegetation, 120 varieties of birds and over 75 kinds of butterflies. It has paths to trek around the park, a pond and also has an auditorium for nature related activities.

Image Courtesy: DCP

As soon as you enter the park’s gate, you can see a well maintained office area of this park. It was 8:00 am in the rainy morning when the photo walk started. Light drizzle added to the beauty of nature, and it turned out to be the best time for a nature photography photo walk. Under the guidance of Mentors, the participants clicked some beautiful pictures of creatures and some flowers. As the rain poured down continuously, it was hard to click by holding an umbrella in one hand and a camera on the other.

We had an opportunity to click images of  a variety of butterflies, Humming bird moth, Centipede, Spiders,  Mushrooms, Damselflies, other insects, slugs, etc.

It was around 11 am and I decided to leave the place. It was a nice morning, meeting a bunch of enthusiastic photographers and learning about butterflies, insects and trees. 

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Malshej Ghat

Malshej Ghat, famous for its waterfalls and thick mist, is situated at an altitude of 700 metres (2300 feet) above the sea level.

Route Map : Mumbai -> (Eastern Expressway) Borivali ->Thane -> Bhiwandi -> Kalyan -> Murbad ->Sarlagaon -> Malshej Ghat.

A four hours journey from Mumbai will take you to Malshej Ghat.

ENROUTE TO MALSHEJ GHAT

Making our way to Malshej ghat through the lonely roads ! Immersed in the beauty of the surroundings, I looked out of the window, not wanting to miss anything.

Soon we were truly in  natures lap. We stopped  at few places to click photos of  the picturesque scenery around.  It is a sight to behold for its wholesome greenery, village life and a layer of mist as clouds descend into the region.

We were on the highway. The sun blazed high on the sky, as the distant mountains flew past into the blur, some of them still covered in a thin layer of snow. These lofty ranges were constant companions and unsurprising.

The road stretched on ahead with dozens of curves. Further on, was a series of waterfalls plunging into the road.

Almost at every curve of the road, one is bound to find a cascading waterfall.  Walking through the gushing water is a lifetime experience.

AN ATTRACTIVE TUNNEL

Enroute to the village is a tunnel. This was the route's attraction.

The road is extremely narrow but the overhanging greenery more than makes up for the alert drive. After crossing the  tunnel , we saw a beautiful creation of nature’s architecture – a cliff at the edge of a small plateau. It’s a place from where you can get a view of the entire ghat.

Krishna Bela Point. Malshej Ghat

There were  stalls on the way and were the only sources for  snacks and water. They were selling tea, coffee, egg dishes, vada pav and roasted corns.

VILLAGE

After clicking a lot of photos, we headed towards the  village which was a few kms ahead from Malshej Ghat.

BEAUTIFUL LAKE

Just adjacent  to the road is a beautiful lake -Pimpalgaon Joga Lake - which is one of the main attractions in Malshej Ghat. The surrounding was so  nice that I could not  resist myself from clicking photos.

Rolling hills and the gathering clouds lend a surreal feel to the breathtaking scenery.

Mountain in Monsoon,Malshej ghat

VILLAGE LIFE

People working in paddy field during monsoon at Malshej ghat

Had a delicious Maharashtrian lunch - Rice, Dal, Pithla Bhakri, Maas wadi etc.

VIEW POINT

The view from behind the ‘Flamingo Hill Resort’, run by MTDC is a must-see.  Covered with a misty fog,these mountains often seem to merge and disappear into the skies.

A distance view of Krishna Bela point.

If  planning to stay overnight, one can consider  ‘Flamingo Hill Resort’ run by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation.

As we were on high altitude, the clouds were on the road and this is an  experience which I love – passing through the clouds.

Malshej Ghat is a must visit weekend destination during the monsoons.

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Hill Palace Museum, Tripunithura, Kerala

 

If you have not visited the largest archaeological Museum in Kerala so far, you might want to reconsider. Located in Thripunithura - around 12 kms from Kochi city - Hill Palace Museum  is the largest archaeological Museum in Kerala. The palace built in 1865 was the former residence of the Kochi Royal family.

As the name suggests, the palace is situated on a hill top. Once you enter into the palace compound, you are welcomed by the entry steps that lead to the hill top which is beautifully painted in a striking combination of red and black .

Front view of Hill Palace Museum

Left to the entry steps is the children's park. You will be mesmerised by the view of an old pond beside the children's park.

The Hill Palace is a single-storeyed Kerala style' Ettukettu' and is the oldest building in the palace complex.

Home to 14 categories of exhibits, the major share of attractions in this museum have been contributed by the Cochin Royal Family .

Ranging from  oil-paintings, murals, sculptures in stone and manuscripts, inscriptions, coins, belongings of the Kochi royal family, rock-cut weapons from the Stone Age, wooden temple models, plaster cast models of objects from Mohenjodaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley Civilisation, there's a lot to admire here. Also exhibited are over 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from Japan and China.

Moving into the Paliam gallery, you can find collections donated by the Paliyath Achans, who were hereditary Prime Ministers to the Cochin Maharajas for a long period. The Royal Crown and gold ornaments decorated with precious stones are some of the exhibits here which shows the wealth and splendor of the Rajas of Kochi.

Weapons Gallery

Old weapons collected from different places are displayed in this building.

Left to the Weapons Gallery is the Royal Chariot Gallery.  Here, you  come across displays of horse drawn coaches imported from England and formerly used by the Maharajas of Travancore. You can find stone sculptures ranging from the 10th century up to the 18th century in the Sculpture Gallery.

From the Sculpture Gallery, you can walk to the Heritage Museum.

Short cut to Heritage Museum

Here there are  traditional household utensils, artifacts and items for religious worship .  A big copper vessel is placed in the Heritage Museum compound.

Heritage Museum

Near the Cloak Room, you can spot a beautiful wooden bird house.

This 54 acre museum complex has also a deer park.

Entry time is restricted from 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM and 2.00 PM to 4.30 PM and is open to the public everyday except on Mondays and Holidays.

Footwears , Bags, Camera, Mobile Phones etc are prohibited inside the Museum. You can keep your belongings in the Cloak Room.

So if you’re someone who loves art then make sure you have this museum on your itinerary on your next trip to Kochi.

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Road Trip to Munnar, Kerala

My journey began from Kochi at around  6.15 am taking the route via  Pookkattupadi-> Perumbavoor-> Kothamangalam-> Neriamangalam-> Adimali-> Munnar.

Enroute a tea and pit stop at Neriamangalam.  Neriamangalam forest range is called the "Chirapunchi" of Kerala because of the high availablity of the heavy rains. The Neriamangalam Bridge, built across the Periyar River, is known as the gateway to the high ranges of Idukki. Munnar is 60  km away from the bridge.

Neriamangalam Bridge

The most challenging part of the drive is through curved roads. En-route a natural structure on both sides of the road was something to click.

Next up is Cheeyappara Waterfalls which is 11 km from Neriamangalam bridge. This is truly a sight to behold.

Cheeyappara waterfalls

The  drive to Munnar is probably one of the most scenic routes in this trip. Stop to take a few pictures before you drive to the next place.

Beautiful green fields sprawling across the horizon make the tea gardens of Munnar one of the most beautiful landscapes.  The best thing to do is to take long walks along deserted roads or inside plantations, and become part of the romance that Munnar excudes.

After 118  kms drive from Kochi, we reached Munnar. Spotted a Eucalyptus forest near the bus stand. After reaching Munnar, we had breakfast in a nearby restaurant. After a cup of tea,we began our journey  around Munnar.

There are various routes through which you can explore the surroundings of Munnar. We selected the Mattupetty direction.  Just 2 km from the city, you can visit the Rose Garden. We skipped this place and drove ahead to Photo Point which is 3 km from the city. This place is on the main road and parking is difficult. The lush green tea gardens are owned by Kannan Devan Hills Plantations Limited and you can take photographs from the road only.

Photo Point

You can visit Elephant riding place just 8 km from the city. We skipped this place and drove ahead to Mattupetty Dam which is 11 kms from the city.

The lake and dam surrounded by hills and tea plantations is one of the best scenic places in Munnar. You can go down the dam to enjoy the beauty.

Mattupetty Dam,Munnar

There are a lot of stalls near  the parking area, selling local accessorises and food . Boating Centre is just 1 km from the  Dam. You can enjoy boating in the lake and you also have an option of hiring an exclusive speed boat.

En-route we saw an elephant family at elephant arrival spot. Watching elephants was a pleasant experience.

Echo-point is situated, at a distance of 19 kms from Munnar,  on the main road on the back waters of Mattupetty Dam amidst rolling hills. As the name suggests,  every loud call made from a spot on the lake embankment is returned manifold by the echo from the surrounding hills.

Echo-point, Munnar

At a distance of 23 kms from the city, Kundale Dam and lake is another place to visit on the way to Top station. There is nothing much to see here except a curved shaped dam  .

Kundale Dam, Munnar

Then I drove to Top station road. The clouds hang low or gently sweep across, alternatively masking everything in a translucent curtain and clearing up to reveal stunning vistas.

Top station view point is situated on the Kerala-Tamilnadu boarder at a distance of 34 kms from Munnar. You have to walk 2 km from the parking area to the view point. This place is under Tamilnadu Forest Department - Theni forest division.

Top station was a historic shipment point for the trasnportaion of tea leaves via a rope way
carriage contructed in 1924. This ropeway is spread over 3 stations: top station, central station
and bottom station ( Kurangani) from where the tea chests were transported to Bodi,  the nearest railway station.

Top station is home to the Nilgiri Marten, a rare mammal found only in the Western Ghats of India.

From the view point, you will get a breathtaking view of the Top station valley, Kolukkumalai and Meesapulimala Peak.

This place is known as trekkers paradise. Pass for Indians is Rs.200 and for Foreigners - Rs.500. You have an option of rock climbing, cycling and jungle stay.

After tea, we started our return journey by 3.15 PM and reached Kochi at around 8 PM.

How to get there

Fly to kochi from any other city and head to Munnar via NH.

Where to stay

Munnar has several good options.

What to see and do

Enjoy a fun ride 

Stop at various points

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Jungle Safari And Trekking Into The Wild at Konni Forest, Kerala

I was on the lookout  for an adventurous  trip  to enjoy the monsoon in Kerala. That was when I heard about Konni Tourism.

Konni, a forest village in Pathanamthitta district, in the Indian state of Kerala, situated on the banks of the Achencoil River is popular as the place for the purest breath of fresh air in Kerala.

Started off  from Ernakulam South Railway Station at around 5 AM in Vanchinad Express.  We reached Chenganoor station at around 7 AM.  An hour's bus journey from Chenganoor will take you to Pathanamthitta and from Pathanamthitta,  a 10 km journey to Konni.  Finally we reached Konni at around 9 AM.

KONNI ECOTOURISM

Konni Ecotourism offers various activities to visitors. A visit to Elephant Training Centre, trek to Kattathipara, Jeep ride in Konni Reserve Forest, Bowl Boat Riding at Kallar river - all in a day will give you unforgettable memories.

The Elephant Rehabilitation Center has many facilities including elephant viewing and elephant feeding. The center has elephant cases in various sizes and are built with strong woods. The trainers train the young and baby elephants. Visitors can make a close watch of these elephants and their behaviour. It is very interesting to watch the feeding of the baby elephants and their movements.

You also have an option of an Elephant ride with extra payment.

JEEP SAFARI

Took entry ticket for jeep safari and started our maiden journey into the wild of Konni forest. En-route we had breakfast. We crossed the famous Achencoil River. We had a pit stop near a rivulet for photo session.

A SMALL TREK

Soon we reached Kattathipara tribal village. Our plan was to trek to the Kattathipara viewpoint to enjoy the scenic beauty. The climbing gets trickier when we are  close to the peak. The trekking path was very tough.

THE VAST MOUNTAIN RANGES

Beautiful view of mountain ranges covered with meadows is a sight to behold. We were blessed with rain from the top of the peak.

Soon we reached the village and continued our safari. Our lunch was arranged in a house and we had to cross a small stream to reach the house. After lunch we continued the safari.

THE TEMPLE IN THE FOREST

In the middle of the forest, we found a 2000 year old temple (Kurichi Siva temple) which was identified by Archaeological Survey of India.  We were informed that there are many other temples also in the forest.

THE POND IN THE FOREST

There was a pond beside each temple. Recently Forest Department identified 24 Munira within the forest, thus proving  that there was life inside the forest long back.  It is possible that either people were attacked by enemies or vanished in natural calamities.

We continued our ride through the wilderness of the forest. There are various types of medicinal plants, herbs and small streams inside this forest reserve. We were on the constant lookout for elephants, bison's, deer, monkeys and birds but no luck.

En route there were few areas used for farming. I was excited to see the technique used to prevent elephants from destroying the farm produces. One cracker covered in a plastic cover is placed between two  pieces of rock  connected by a small chain. When an elephant touches this chain, the top piece of rock will fall ,thus causing the cracker to burst. This will drive the elephant away.

Soon we reached Nellikkapara Kotha view point. You will get a clear view of Kattathipara and other surrounding areas.

TOWERING TREES

Spotted different kind of trees and species. It was nice to see the trees entangled with each other, creating a sort of natural art installation.

EXOTIC FRUITS

Spotted red colored fruits (Moottil pazham in Malayalam language) which were used by the tribals. The colorful fruits were a delight to watch. The pulp inside the fruit is really sweet.

Soon we came out of the forest area. The 8 hour and 30 kms off road experience in the dense forests, which has the purest breath of fresh air in Kerala was memorable. Out next destination was Mannera water falls.

CELEBRATE EVERYTHING

A bath below the water fall  was a rejuvenating experience. But beware of leeches. I got a bite of leeches. Remember not to remove the leeches from your body. Instead if you put salt on the leech, it will automatically get detached from your body.

The Mannera falls up close.

Our final place in the chart was bowl boat riding or coracle rafting at Adavi Eco-tourism. In local language it is called Adavi Kutta Vanchi  ride. It is located  5 kms from Mundomoozhi which is 13 kms from Konni. Situated on the banks of Kallar river, Adavi has about 5 km river frontage.

Riding time is restricted from  8.30 am to 5.30 pm.  A ride of 30 mins for 4 persons will cost  Rs.400.

The ride is a great experience where we get the feel of nature with  no sound other than that of the jungle .

Of course, Konni is a  perfect getaway for all of you who want to breathe in fresh, clean air amidst the lush green woods with added flavor of adventure in the monsoon.

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