The real fun in travelling is not in reaching out to the famous places but in discovering the less traversed offbeat destinations. It is not always necessary to follow the path to where it leads but you can choose to go where there is no path and leave a trail behind.
⠀"Chikkamagaluru", the beautiful coffee land of Karnataka, being the all-time favorite weekend getaway destinations for Bengalurians, packs some lovely destinations which can soothe your tired body and soul and leaving your heart awestruck. Ayyanakere, Karnataka's second biggest lake, in the outskirts of the city is one such romantic places which can fill your heart with satisfaction. Just like any other lovely places of Chikkamagaluru this lake is worth not missing out. In particular, those serene sunset evenings on the lake side are truly poem written of all love.
It's quite an offbeat destination for Chikkamagaluru tourists and a quick guide would be helpful to make the most of this beautiful destination. So here it is, all the information I could possibly recall of and a few pointers to keep in mind.
How to reach? The first and the most important question on the off-beat destinations would be the means of reaching it.
By own Vehicle: Ayyanakere is around 25kms from Chikkamagaluru city center with a good ride for about 40mins and driving your own vehicle would be a better choice here. Drive for 20kms on Chikkamagaluru to Kadur NH-173 to reach a small town, Sakkarayapattana. Take left at Sakkarayapattana and drive for 6kms further through lush green farmlands to reach Ayyanakere.
The place is accessible by SUV and even by HMVs, though the road conditions on the last 6kms are not great. A true off road experience.
By Bus: There are regular buses running between Chikkamagaluru and Kadur. Get down at Sakkarayapattana and hire an autorickshaw which can cost around 100-150rs depending on your bargaining skills!
Best time to visit: The place carries its own beauty throughout the year. Still, anytime post monsoon or winter months can be ideal as the water level would be high and the weather is just right with more green and prolific scenes.
Best time in the day: Choose a day with clear skies or less clouds at least. Evening is the perfect time to visit here. The sight of the rich Sahyadri mountain ranges at this golden hour, a vibrant sunset behind those mountains and reflection of the whole scene in lake waters is a match made in heaven, an entirely out of world scene to behold.
What to expect?: Everything you would expect out of a peaceful weekend getaway. The place is often not crowded and can be perfect one to spend some good time with your family or loved ones.
Surrounded with lush green mountains, the lake shines like a diamond on a dark sheet. It serves as a fresh water source for surrounding villages as well, the lake bund is towards east which means the lake is in the westward direction of the viewer. At the time of sunset, the sun slides down exactly behind the mountains covering the lake with some really breath-taking views.⠀
Finally, when we reached there, the beautiful Sahyadri mountains welcomed us with open arms. The skies had turned completely red. The sunrays from behind the mountains were shining bright and beautiful and the waters reflected both of them just doubling up the beauty of the scene. Surprisingly, once the sun went down completely it didn't end the scene, but it just opened up another magical view for the next 20mins. The two beautiful phenomenon of light, reflection and Refraction turned the whole evening into a magical moment...!! For the time I was there, the hues on the sky kept changing every minute, drawing variant compositions every time. It was like nature playing with different filters. And every scene carried a beauty of its own.
Places to Stay: Heading back to Chikkamagaluru for your stay is the better option as the hotels nearby are very limited. Anyhow, if you find yourself running very late and don't want to drive back at night, you can find couple of budget friendly hotels at Sakkarayapattana with basic amenities. There are couple of ATMs too nearby.
Dishinth Kushal lodging at a walkable distance from Sakkarayapattana bus stop is comparatively a good hotel with hot water, power backup and good bedding facilities. A night's stay here costed us around Rs.1000 and it was worth the money.
Nearby Attractions:
1. The Kalamurudeshwara temple on your way to the lake is famous among the localities and worth a visit to spend some calm, peaceful and divine time.
2. The mountain ranges around the lake also mark a trekking destination for adventure junkies. It is a moderate trek and would be a better choice to have a local person along unless you keep mark of your bearings and follow the same to come back.
3. If you continue further for 5kms, you come across another lake, Madagadakere. If time permits you can have a visit.
Things to keep in mind:
1. The lake is not suited for swimming. Keep in mind that this is one of the biggest lakes in the state and water levels are seriously high and there are no lifeguards. Respect nature. Enjoy it. But don't dare to challenge it.
2. No shops near the lake. Pack all what you need before visiting including food. There are no shops nearby the lake.
3. Return back right before it is dark. The place is quite remote and far away from civilization and returning before it is dark is very advisable. If you start heading back after sunset you would reach Sakkarayapattana before it's too late.
3. If you are looking for a good offbeat place for your photoshoots, the lake is perfect for you. Especially on the weekdays when the crowd is just a handful, there is lot of privacy for private poses too 😛
4. The lake is maintained very well. The waters and lake bund are really clean. Keep up to it. Say no to plastic.
Take-away: Fill your heart with the calmness of a lake..!! The deeper the waters are, the calmer the surface of a lake is. Pick a lesson nature is trying to teach you!
True that! So many destinations will leave you awestruck and lost for words, and yet later, give you so much to tell!