Fun, Feluda & Friends Inc.

There is always something extra special about an unplanned trip. For those of us trapped in the corporate quicksand, it has a calming effect to make the unbearable week feel lighter for no reason.

On one such morose Monday evening in Bangalore, 4 friends (2 couples also) planned for a road trip to Madikeri, Coorg. We zeroed in on a pleasant little home stay - Chingaara. 

Atop a mountain and well hidden in the woods was this cozy place, that appealed to us at once. We did an advance booking for the weekend.

We started at 5 pm from Bangalore on a Friday evening. We took packed dinner and snacks so that we don't have to halt more than we need to. It took us nearly 3 hours & loads of patience to escape from the traffic clutches of mighty Bangalore. And then,  like a whiff of fresh air - came the broad & empty Mangalore highway.

Our red dragon was both fast and furious (yet safe) on the freeway - full marks to our drivers.

When hunger pangs struck, we hogged on some home cooked chilly chicken and fried rice . This exciting dinner experience on the deserted highway lit up only by moonlight is something that we would remember for a long time.
Refueled and recharged, we hit the road once more while indulging in some thrilling "Feluda" audio stories ( for my Bengali friends - it was "Chinnamastar Abhishaap").  The silence of the night, the long curvy road, the full moon across the horizon - we could not think of a better setup for some suspenseful stories.

We reached our destination - the Atithi comforts hotel in KushalNagar in the graveyard shift around 12:15 am. We had booked in advance and the hotel staff were informed that we would be reaching late. Thankfully, there was somebody at the reception to help us with the formalities at the late hour. We were shown our clean and tidy rooms and drifted off to dream world as soon as our heads hit the pillows.

A foggy morning greeted us the next day. We had not realised that the gorgeous Cauvery flows right at the backyard of this hotel. After a lazy morning tea at the scenic balcony, we all geared up for day 2 of the adventure.











Gulping down a typical south Indian breakfast of Idli vada, we started for "Nisargadhama" that was only about 1 km away as per google maps. We started walking to our destination but were soon offered a "lift" by a kind and benevolent tuktuk driver on his way to the same destination. Rs 20 for 4 people was a bargain we could not refuse .

It was 9:30 am when we were at the entrance gates of Nisargadhama. The place was practically deserted.  It opens at 9:00 am but crowds start pouring in only after 11:00am. Therefore, lucky as we were, we had the entire place to ourselves.

We spent a good time on the hanging bridge looking down at the 2 kg to 5 kg fishes in the water. The Bengali in me wanted to catch few and take them home for some awesome maach bhaja ( fish fry) It was a struggle to control those urges!

Being the off season, water was less in the river exposing all the hidden rocks underneath.  We climbed down to the rocks and had an awesome photo session.

The serenity of the surrounding trees and the calming sounds of zesty Cauvery warmed our hearts while we sat on the rocks chatting.

It was nearly 11:o0 when the crowds slowly started to pour in. But by then, we had already had our fill of nature and relaxation. We headed back to our hotel.











At 12:00, we checked out from Atithi comforts & started towards our homestay - Chingaara. It was only 1.5 hours from this location so we decided to have lunch at the estate itself. Drive through the country side was as enjoyable as it was relaxing.

At the starting point of Chingaara they had jeeps waiting for us. We loaded the luggage and ourselves onto the jeep, said goodbye to our little red riding hood at the parking area and started our ascend through the rock lined pathway up to the estate. It was bumpy but fun - much like a roller coaster ride.

The homestay was a quaint little bungalow nestled in the woods. The rooms were big, neat and clean, bathrooms were decent.

Our rooms also had a small staircase leading to a small landing which also had beds. It would have been quite comfortable for 3-4 people staying together as well.

The view was amazing from the sit out area. As far as eyes could see, there was greenery.

After lunch, we made a quick trek downhill to their private waterfall.

Although it was short on water at this point , looking at the massive rocks and the huge drop we could imagine what a majestic beauty she would be during the rainy season.














The climb uphill was quite a struggle that reminded us how unfit we city dwellers were. Some little better than the others.












The evening comprised of a bon fire story session amidst the wilderness. The golden cinders that rose skywards from the fire sparkled against the jewel studded skyline. After a long time that night, we returned to our rooms with a full stomach and a content heart for a peaceful sleep.








A perfect morning greeted us the next day starting  with some refreshing coffee from the estate plantations. 

This time we planned for a trek uphill to the sister resort - honeyvalley in the vicinity.











We realized that the resort was a haven for birds as we walked across the mud laden roads. The fog lent a magical glow to the surroundings and the sun's rays glimmering through the woods made for an absolutely dazzling scene to behold.

Post the refreshing morning walk, we had our breakfast and settled down for another round of pure and unadulterated chit chat. How amazing would it be if everyday was this way?

But just like all good things come to an end, this one did too. After a sumptuous lunch, with a heavy heart we bid goodbye to Chingaara. The pet dogs and donkeys also came to see us off. Thanking the staff for a lovely time, we started back for Bangalore.

All loaded back to our polo awaiting at the parking, the wheels were set in motion once more towards home.

Dear mother nature, until we meet again -Good bye, Auf Wiedersehen. Take care. Over and Out.