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- Weekend Getaways near Barkur
Weekend Getaways near Barkur
About Barkur
I packed my one day backpack and started around 12 pm from Manipal on a bus to Udupi. We did not exactly knew how to reach Barkur but and so asked the bus conductor. He suggested us to the ‘kin’ bus stop to Udupi local bus stop. We walked for around five minutes and heard a driver calling out Barkur.. Barkur.. We confirmed and once again boarded the bus. It was very hot inside the bus. It took 15-20 more minutes before the bus started, almost drenching me in sweat. As Udupi is adjoined to the sea, the weather is always humid.The bus ticket to Barkur was only Rs.15/- and hence I could make out that the village is not very far. And soon it started drizzling. The bus halted at one of the stops called Brahmavara. Here, two ladies entered the bus with their toddlers. A man accompanying them made a gesture asking us to give them a place to sit. Thus, me and Masroora offered them our seat. From here Barkur was around 3 more stops. We managed to cross this short distance enjoying the cool breeze, standing at the door. We passed by a river called Seetha river. I enquired about the time taken from the bus stop to the Basadi and the temple.We got down at the Barkur busstop and asked the way to the Basadi. On our way, we met a lady in a festive mood with a colorful saree and her hair adorned by a flower wreath. She welcomed us with warmth in her voice and a smile on her face. She started the conversation in Kannada which I did not understand even a bit. But Masroora understood some of it and thus replied back. The lady knew some English words and so told us that the Basadi is very ancient. There are total 365 temples in the village. She showed us the Basadi and warned us about the snakes which might be present in the grass around Basadi.The roads in Barkur were wider enough for a bus to pass by comfortably. There were lush green trees on both sides of the road with butterflies fluttering over the flowers. The basadi was on the right side of the road. We greeted the lady and left for the basadi gate. Basadi is basically a Jain temple and Kathale means dark. So, the history says that the village was built by the Alupa Kings in the Vijayanagara times (12th century) and was further ruled by Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan etc. There is a huge monolithic pillar at the basadi entrance. The basadi compound has three temples. Although they are in a demolished state now, it has some remnants and visible ancient encrypts. The encryptions are said to be in Tulu. An information board is on the left of the entrance. The temple exactly at the centre is the basadi, but no more contains Jain Tirthankar statues. The There were only some destroyed pillars. One temple behind it was Shiva temple and the other was Vishnu. The Vishnu temple had beautiful carvings. Although it is quoted as the national monument by the archaeological Survey of India, its sorry state with grass growing around and piercing the architecture made me feel awful. Soon after taking some pics around the basadi we headed towards the Ganesha temple. We confirmed the way for the temple and headed straight.
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Kodagu
173 Kms from Barkur
Best time to visit - January,September,October,November,December
About 100kms west of Mysore, the hilly hamlet of Kodagu (also known as Coorg) is located in the evergreen highlands of t...
I travelled with my friend to Coorg from Goa taking a train from Madgaon to Mangalore Junction and a bus thereafter from the nearby Padil bus stop to Madikeri bus stand. We had planned only a 2 day trip and wanted to see as much as possible in this short span of time. So relaxing at resorts or sleeping till late in hotel rooms were not on our minds.We reached Madikeri after travelling through the night around 11 am. We had the famous Coorg pork chops for lunch at a restaurant called Taste of Coorg. Very recommended if you're a non vegetarian. Their staff had 3 ladies who prepared delicious homely food. After lunch we headed to Namdroling monastery, also known as the Golden Temple locally. We took a bus till Kushalnagar and then an auto to reach the place. There's really no better way to explain the experience over there than showing you the picture below.
These plantation trails through the hills of Kodagu are well known for the refreshing coffee aroma, the fresh invigorating mountain air and a memorable coffee bean-picking adventure. Take your experience a notch up by booking yourself a stay at a plantation. You can pick from homestays, estate stays and resorts or club a day each at these properties to make your Coorg experience come a full circle.
Day 2: Woke up early, went for a walk, played with those little pawsome friends and then we had a tour with a guide who explained us about coffee plantation and made us taste the real coffee of Coorg. And the saddest part, we had to check out Zostel! After checking out we headed towards the Monastery which was 12 km from Zostel.By that time the sun was up and it was hot indeed, but the way to the Monastery was beautiful. We got to know from the autowala that the Karnataka Govt. had given these Chinese/Tibetan people acres of lands to cultivate! This was the first time I was going to any such monasteries!
Hola Trippers,This trip was not at all planned! So much so that we were about to miss the bus (which was booked after so much hesitation and procrastination)!!! I mean who does that isn't it? But finally, we set out for a 3 day trip to Coorg and Mysore.But little did we know that we weren't actually leaving Bangalore, but following entire Bangalore to a whole new destination...trust me, the traffic at morning 6.30 took the s**t out of me!!Anyway, coming back to the point, after almost missing the bus and the bus being late for 4 hours we finally reached Coorg on 23rd December evening 5.30. Needless to say, it was tourist season and we had to face a lot of trouble while booking the buses as well as the hotels. But that very moment this tiny little fairy showed up to us named Zostel (www.zostel.com) do check out their website, it is another name of #awesomeness. Not only we got awesome rooms/beds but at the cost of literally nothing!! This leads to -Tip no. 1 - Always try to book backpackers hostels when you want to be on a budget trip and don't want to put a hole in your pocket.
Day 7:- Madikeri (coorg) Got up in the cold morning. As we were a going to stay in coorg today as well so we booked a hotel through oyo. Which was hardly 4km from where we were staying. So we freshened up and they provided breakfast as complimentary. After which we loaded our bikes and went to the hotel where we booked a new room for the day. The check in time was 11am but we went before that but by them the double occupancy room was not vacated so we suggested them to keep our luggages at reception and once the room is vacant put our luggages into the room and meanwhile we will go to explore coorg. But the person at reception said no need to keep the luggages here i will upgrade your room at the same cost. And he gave us a deluxe room with two kingsize beds in it. The rooms we got was too good. So plan was to visit Abbey falls,raja seat and a coffee plantation tour. At the hotel they had displayed a hoarding of coffee plantations, so i enquired that where can we get to see coffee plantation. They said it is some 17km from here and it belongs to the same owner of this hotel. So i asked them what is the cost of coffee plantation tour , he said its complimentary for those who had taken room here also boating is complimentary there. They also provide barbecue but we have to pay them and they also have rooms inside the coffee estate. He said he will inform the concerned person there about our arrival so they can give us a detailed tour. So we said we will go there after lunch. So we first went to visit abbey falls which was 6km from the hotel. We have to take a ticket and park our bikes and walk through footsteps for around 5 minutes to reach the falls. This falls had nice amount of water. The whole scene was good except for the garbage which visitors throw in the open. We cannot go near the falls as they have build a stage with railing around it. Came back to our bike had some coconut water and left for raja seat. This place has a very nominal ticket and it has been maintained well. They say that kings used to sit here. Which gives a view of entire village. Though there was nothing much to see here. We clicked few pic here. Went back to our hotel and had lunch then left for the plantation tour. Thought it was not far. After riding few kilometers we got two route option one was through the main road which was closer and other was off road through the coffee estates. So we choose the later. It was only 3km more but it was fun to ride through the coffee plantations. Roads were rough and at a decent i was at good speed, but i cannot apply the brake as the bike would skid. I thought i am going to crash now but luckily survived and still wonder how did the speed increase that much. We reached our destination but there were 2 gates first one was shut so we went inside the second gate, but it was someone else’s house. We opened the gate and went inside 200 to 300 meters where there was rooms and the care taker. He took us to a brief tour and it lasted for more than an hour. Explained everything about coffee plantation and coffee beans and its process. There were beatle nut trees, pepper plantation as well. We then went for boating for sometime. So we were done with the plantation tour. And out had some coffee and reached hotel by 6pm and had some snack there and went to our room. Took rest and came down for dinner and went inside the market area where we found kfc kind of restaurant so for a change we had some fried chicken and burgers. Had a small walk around the area then went back to our room.
Day 6:- Jog Falls to Madikeri (Coorg) Got up from yesterday’s scary ride as the biggest scare was if the bike would have stopped for any reason it would have been a big problem. But thank God nothing happened. The jog falls was 10minutes form the hotel where we were staying. So we first got up and went to have breakfast by walk. Came back and freshened up and decided to visit jog falls first and then come back to the hotel and take all our luggage. It hardly took 10 to 15 minutes to reach the jog falls. At the entrance you will find a huge granite board in which it is written as welcome to world famous jog falls. Once you get inside you have to take entrance tickets for you and your vehicle. The whole area is quite well maintained. You have cafeteria, atm ,washroom and other facilities inside it. We went to the spot from where the falls was visible. As the rainy season had already ended the water was less in the falls. But the falls actually huge. After the photo shoot we had a good coffee there and left for the hotel. We loaded all the luggage on our bike and left for coorg as it was already past 12 noon. Also it was 350km from there. On the way we came across a lake so we stopped there for sometime. Enroute i saw a small lane leading to woods so we took our machines there and clicked few pics after which halted for beverages. After few hours of ride we halted for lunch and spent around without realizing it. At some parts google maps took us through small lanes of villages and then we were on good road. We had already blocked a room at madikeri through one of my contact so we didn’t have to search for a room once we reach there. The route was scenic as it went through villages. On the way we missed a turn and went ahead so we had to take a u turn and come back to take the exact route. Then we came across a ghat section and it was fun to ride the bike as the roads have many twist and turns. Once down the ghat mateen wanted to halt for coffee. By the time it had started becoming dark. The road at several parts were small also it had turned dark so we had to maintain our pace. We had to halt twice in another 3 hours.Suddenly the temperature dropped down. By the time we reached coorg it was 11pm. It was a tiring day. We went into the hotel to find that the cost of the rooms were thrice our budget. We had to bargain as it was already late to find another hotel they gave a 50% as we said we won’t be here for whole day we will leave in the morning. Also the attending guys was so good that he provided some bread butter and jam by himself even though the restaurant had closed. But the rooms were individual cottages and very nice. Nevertheless we were so tired so we went off to sleep.
I don’t have a lot of memories with them because as the night progressed I had made friends with whom I ended up drinking till 3AM.
Fam Jam down South!Moving on, the next destination was in down south. My parents are my biggest inspiration when it comes to travel as they took me to places, right from snowfall in Manali to snowfall in Switzerland, little parts of India to little India in Singapore. This time it was my turn, to do something for them so I took them on a trip. Trust me, this was one of the happiest and proudest moment of my life.Again a road trip, this time from Bangalore. Did Brindavan Garden on the way before reaching our destination, Coorg, rightly called as the Scotland of India. If you're someone who dreams of lush greenery, breathtaking waterfalls, hills covered with forests, and spectacular misty landscapes, Coorg is meant just for you!We had booked a homestay for this refreshing break, best part was we could hear the sound of humming insects in the plantations around our stay. Instantly, a sense of peace, serenity and tranquility takes over as you inhale freshcardamom, black pepper and eucalyptus leaves.Must do things in Coorg would be a visit to Abbey Falls, Dubare Elephant Camp, Namdrolig Monastery, breathtaking view from Raja's Seat, Omkarehwar Temple, Cauvery Nisargadhama and Talacauvery. With its picturesque locales, alluring mountains and verdant coffee plantations, all in all, Coorg is a paradise for nature lovers, and just about anyone looking to calm their frayed nerves!
Panaji
248 Kms from Barkur
This is the capital of the state of Goa and is probably the smallest state capital. Panaji is also the headquarters of t...
St Augustine Church - A church hidden right in front of the eyes - History & Ruin lovers
As soon as we woke up on our bus ride, rain greeted us and the weather suddenly became humid, but the views we encountered on our way and the excitement of the journey ahead made us ignore the uncomfortable weather.
Finally the day came. Valentine's day, we woke up early in the morning and left to Panjim for the carnival. After 30-45 minutes we reached Panjim and joined the carnival. Many groups were performing at that carnival, it was something that I can't forget in my life. Well planned, well coordinated. Awesome performance was given by the groups and members who participated in that Carnival . We spent our whole day in that carnival and we enjoyed to the maximum.
We then headed towards panjim, the quaint capital city of this cute state of goa. I had made my list of places to go much before the trip started and hence was searching for a boutique shop called Barefoot. It is difficult to locate but worth your time. The shop has great collection of eclectic home decor products and also pretty everyday wear jewels. The shop is located at 31st Janeiro Road or as the locals say 31st January Road, just near the subway,in a bylane.
A day I was looking forward to, today I took the ride from North Goa to South Goa. I had one beach in mind, very less known, secluded and amazingly scenic. Hollant Beach is a secluded beach close to the airport and very less people know about it. The ride is also awesome, this is one good place to pack a lunch, chill and spend a day. The major attraction is that this beach offers one km of shore line with pool like water and nominal waves. This is the place to come and play a game of water polo with your friends.I had booked a flight next day early morning, this gave me 4 full days in Goa.
Mysore
249 Kms from Barkur
Best time to visit - January,February,March,July,August,September,October,November
Once the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore for six centuries, Mysore is now the third most populous state of Karnataka. Bu...
The distance from Ooty to Mysore is 130 kms and the road from Ooty to Mysore passes through Madhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The road is really awesome and full of thrill as it passes through dense forests and there are many animals crossing points also. Because we had enough time thus we decided to take a safari in the dense forest of Madhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Madhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Tamil Nadu while Bandipur Tiger Reserve is situated in Karnataka. Bandipur Tiger Reserve is also a good place for wildlife lovers. After that we continued our journey by heading towards Mysore and in the evening we reached Mysore.
Tariff's for Hotel: Starting from ₹1000/- per room (Non AC)
Starting from ₹1500/- per room (AC)
Mysore is one of the most popular tourist destination in Karnataka. It is also known as "Palace City" of India. There we visited Mysore Palace, Lalitha Mahal Palace and Chamundi Hills. Mysore Palace is one of the best palaces in India. The Palace shows us the lifestyle of our kings that how they lived such a royal life. It is a must visit palace. Lalitha Mahal is also a royal palace with a good architecture. After visiting Chamundi Hills, we left Mysore and then started our journey towards Chennai. The distance from Mysore to Chennai is 480 kms. After a smooth drive of 8 hrs we reached Chennai in the late night.
After tasting the Mysore Pak in Coimbatore, Mysore became a place of must visit. So we reached here in the evening hours and was blessed with the opportunity to view the Mysore palace lighting up for the night hours. Its just spectacularly amazing.
The Mysore Palace is breathtaking and is en route to Madumalai National Park. Hence a stopover to see the palace is must. If anyone is interested...its the best place to buy silk saris.
As far as majestic history goes, there are not many places that can trump Mysore, often referred to as the 'City of Palaces'. The Mysore Palace built by the Wodeyar Kings is a place where perhaps one can locate how Mysore became as culturally rich as it is for the Wodeyar Kings were great patrons of art and culture, allowing various forms, crafts and styles to flourish and grow in a way that they still exist and temper the way the city is today.
However, this is not all, Mysore is not just a place of cultural but also natural beauty. Located at the foot of the Chamundi Hills it has numerous lakes like Kukkarhalli and Karanji. The Chamundi Hills are also important because atop them is located the Chamundeshwari Temple, one of the most important religious sites in Mysore.
Mysore, formerly a Princely State, until the Independence of India in 1947 is filled with Royal beauty. It was once a region with flourishing art and culture under the royal and mighty kings. Also called as the "City of Palaces", Mysore's beauty can be seen through its rich architecture and its majestic palaces that stand tall today. Passed form the Vijayanagar Empire to the Wodeyar family (that lives here even today), Mysore has always been occupied by Royalty.
After the break, we reached Mysore recharged and our first stop had to be the street side dosa stalls serving up the famous south Indian dish ‘masala dosa’. With hot, freshly made dosas in our laps we sat on cold stone steps looking out on the magnificent 1927 Silver Jubilee Clock Tower now lit up by spotlights.
The next morning we made our way to visit our first Catholic church in India, St. Philomena’s Cathedral. The cathedral has some beautiful stained-glassed windows and it was very interesting how inside the locals had Indianised the church.
From the cathedral we caught a rickshaw and made our way towards the gate of the Maharaja’s Palace. Continuing through the palace the interior never ceased to amaze with huge hallways, massive swinging chandeliers and a kaleidoscope of mirrors, stained glass and sparkling walls that when reflected in the mirrors seemed to continue forever.
We won't be able to start riding from the outset, but will initially have to take a shuttle bus to battle the traffic on its own terms. Once we get to riding, the route for the day is overflowing with culture, which is quite expected for India! We ride past mango orchards, nurseries, paddy fields and temples and make the first stop at the Big Banyan Tree. This gigantic tree is about 400 years old and spreads itself over 3 acres. after a stop here, we move onto the small town of Channapatna, where toy-makers make handmade toys in their small factories. Before this, we stop for a typical Kannadiga cuisine at Kamat Lokaruchi. Channapatna owes its toy-making heritage to the King Tipu Sultan, who first introduced this otherwise Persian art. The small highway town is lined with bright shops showcasing horses, beads and sundry toys. We again use shuttle to reach the cultural capital of Karnataka, Mysore.
Mangalore
65 Kms from Barkur
Best time to visit - January,February,March,April,May,June,July,August,September,October,November,December
Known as the gateway to Karnataka, the picturesque city of Mangalore is famous for its golden beaches, revered temples a...
Monday morning we fly back with lot of good Memories and life lessons, as i always say 'travelling is itself a life-lesson'.!
After a quick stop in Murudeshwar, we start our way back and with respect to the weekend traffic and the Bad roads, our journey was too tiresome and late. we reached to Manipal around late evening. We dint want to waste our time roaming out in the late night. we sorted the the quickest way to reach Mangalore from manipal as it was 8 already the direct bus was not available, hence we catch the bus to Udipi, then udipi to mangalore as we were extremely tired with the trip, we head to our room in mangalore. not to miss this, 'Urban Retreat Homestay' - A very Beautiful Bungalow with good hospitality. loved it.!
A trip to Gokarna was a quick one with just saturday and sunday. As I live in Mumbai, to reach Gokarna in an easiest mode, I flew to Mangalore and landed in the early hours of Saturday. we had booked a car which unfortunately happened to be unlucky as we had to travel 63 km all the way to pick the car. not to waste any time we got into a City Bus to reach Manipal in 1 hour of time. Not to forget mentioning about the Bumpy Bus journey we had. Mind-blowing.! may be I had experienced the Bus Journey for the first time, though the roads were Horrible, the Driver was super fast literally we were Jumping, added to this the loud music and cold breeze. Great way to Kick start the Holidays i say.!After the amazing Bus journey we got into a restaurant for Breakfast in Udipi. Dont miss to eat in Udipi, best known for Food. Living in mumbai my taste buds are literally dead, not that the maharashtrian cuisine is bad, Being a Typical South Indian i can go heads over crazy for the authentic 'Idly vada pongal vada and sambar'. The taste still reminds me.! Totally Worth it.!
Mangalore, the coastal town is adorned with beautiful beaches and well-known temples. Penambur, Suratkal, Someshwar, Kaup, and Malpe are the list of beaches that you can certainly travel. If you have already soaked your self in the glazing sun while cozily lying down in one of these beaches, then let me get you introduced to the other side of nature that you can look up for, in your next visit.
Day 2:A good night's sleep and the excitement of exploring a new place, I was ready by 7am. I headed out to Sulthan Battery as it was the closest to my place.
When we think about beaches and vacations in India, Goa is the first place that comes to our mind and well why not it serves everything we dream of ;) Surprising this time me and my friend decided to discover something new, and so the next choice was Gokarna and Varkala. Fortunately or unfortunately we could not find any accommodation in Gokarna because of holiday season and that's how Mangalore happened. As they say, most good things happen when you expect them the least and I am glad it happened.Day 0:We took sleeper bus from Bangalore around 8:30 pm and reached Mangalore at 6:30 am. I would not say that journey was comfortable but it was worth it. Alternative and better option is via train but we could not get the tickets, last minute planners never get the privilege.
It was Saturday morning I told one of my friend about this trek near kudremukh I sent him some links of the blogs and photos. After seeing the pictures he was amazed and was ready to join me on this trek. We asked all our friends to join us. But only 4 people came up with yes . It was 11:00 in the morning, I went to bus stand to ask for bus timing to kudremukh ,The buses were at 1:00,2:20 and last bus was at 3:40 from state bank private bus stand of Mangalore . So we decided to catch 1:00 bus. I was packing my bag I got a call from one of my friend that he cannot come with us. It was very disappointing But we couldn’t miss that trek because of him. So we packed our bag and left home by the time I reached bus stop it was 1:15 and we had missed the bus,our next bus was at 2:20 and none of my friends had reached the bus stop yet . I was sitting in bus stop and scrolling my Instagram page at 1:30 remaining two of my friends showed up finally . The next bus was at 2:20 and we still had 1 hour , So we decided to go to Karkala first and then change the bus at Karkala to kudremukh we dint knew perfectly but we were trying our luck ,I was 70% sure that we may get bus from Karkala .We took Karkala bus- the journey time from mangalore to Karkala is 1 and half hour . If had not booked anything in kudremukh yet. But we had a phone number of a base camp(home stay ), He is very well known person in that area his name is ‘Raje Gowda’.
We woke up early the next day because we had to make it to the wedding. It was a muslim wedding and so it involved a lot of biryani and short wedding service. I met my childhood friend at the wedding venue and we had lunch together. I'm not a wedding person so we decided to leave quickly after lunch. I went back to the hotel and changed while two of my other friends went and got scooters for us to get around the city. Mangalore is humid since it's a coastal area. But, I never found it as humid as Chennai or Goa.
We left late in the afternoon and went by bus. After 350 km and hours of a slow drive, we reached late in the night and the drive had been extremely bumpy due to some road work going on in the ghat section of the western coast of south India. It was nearly midnight and I wanted a bed to sleep. We found our rooms, changed, and slept.
Calangute
256 Kms from Barkur
I ordered a pint of beer with chicken salad. As I went alone there, the waiters of that place came to me to have a chit-...
I ordered a pint of beer with chicken salad. As I went alone there, the waiters of that place came to me to have a chit-chat session. And they discovered very quickly that I was from Kolkata and I came to know that two of them were also from my city.So, I felt like home again. And asked them if they could help me with the information from where I could make the Dead Locked Hair Braids.They called a woman whose name was Mihan or something. She made a Dead Locked Hair Braid in just Rs.50. And as I was from Kolkata, those two Dadas also felt like someone came from their home and asked that lady to make another one dead locked braid in free of cost.
The best part of Goa is the beautiful beaches. And the best place to spend quality time with family is in the beaches! Simply laze around the beach or play a game of Frisbee with your family or make sandcastles with your kids, you can relax and unwind at the beaches of Goa. The popular beaches of Goa include the Calangute, Baga beach and the Anjuna Beach. And most of these beaches have water activities like parasailing, banana boat and motorboat ride that you can definitely enjoy.
Early morning we headed towards the beach . We spent few time and then started to roam around the city. We visited few local restaurants . Then got freshened up in our hotel . We were off to Malvan , to experience some breathtaking experiences !!
The third day started of late, and as it was our last day, we spent the some time in lazing around in the pool. At around 3 we visited Calangute beach where we enjoyed a few water sports (snorkling, parasailing etc). They offer great packages but it is very important to negotiate the prices. I personally would recommend water sports at this beach.
We checked into Fab Hotel La Flamingo, Calangute, a very good 3 star hotel for its rate, took some rest had lunch and started off our trip by visiting Fort Aguada. Fort Aguada is the best-preserved Portuguese fort in India and then took a break and had a bite at Cafe Sussegado Souza to try one of Goan delicacy "Bebinica", then followed by an evening well spent at Calangute beach. Then went for some street shopping at Calangute Market and ended the day with a hefty dinner at Infantaria. Once Calangute's best bakery, Infantaria is now a popular Italian-cum-Indian fondue-meets-curry restaurant.
It took me couple of minutes to register where I was when I waked up that morning. It was our third day at Goa but it was feeling like I was there for years. I had to actually recall, from where I had come and where I work, it felt like a lifetime ago. I went to the balcony, needed some fresh air, after the four hours' sleep I could not even think properly. We didn't have any plan. I thought to spent the day just seating in the balcony. After couple of minutes I realized, it was our last day in Goa, we might never get the chance to come back here again. I went back to the room; my friends were having the same feeling too. We got ready in no time and left for Anjuna beach.
We had to wake up early in the morning. It was not an easy task, waking up early in Goa is never an easy task. We had our Dudhsagar trip planned today. The tour operator provided transportation. The traveler picked us up from our home-stay. There were around 15 people including us. They stopped for breakfast in their designated place. The café was a bit expensive but their south Indian food tasted good.
Further, the road leads to the green highway and then the city besides the sea. The city roads with all food around, the smell of fish and the views of coconut craft. We reach our pre-booked homestay just a walk away from the Calangute Beach. As it was a big group with three small babies, so on reaching there, all we wanted was just to rest. A nap and then we go out for lunch. Nearby is all full of many food joints and one can easily fetch food from different cuisines- but as we say "When in Rome, do as Romans do", so I would suggest go for the Goan food, as it tastes better than anything else.Later in the day, after dinner, a walk to the beach was our very first encounter with the Goan beach waters- but a bad experience. It's true people forget life in Goa, but people don't forget to exploit it. The beach was not clean and the water stinky. Sad to say, but depressing. To the good of Goa, is also a bad side. Also, the ice-cream vendors around could only sell us ice-creams at a price much higher than MRP with hug bargains. Depressing was the end of the day, but it was the first day and awaits the fun.Day 2, we start our journey towards the beautiful Goa. Down towards Panjim and then further towards the Goan hills which led us to the silence and calmness of South Goa. Post lunch we reach the Palolem Beach and check in our accommodation, a few kilometers away from the beach as we didn't pre-book. Otherwise, its quite a nice place and a walk away from the beach, we find many different accommodations.
We reached our stay late afternoon, a cosy homestay managed by an extremely warm and helpful elderly couple. Dumped our bags and headed to the streets for a nice Goan lunch to soak in the vibe.Walked to the beach post lunch and this is where I realised there was a side to Goa that nobody talks about, the infamous dark side.The approach road all the way to the beach, swarming with tonnes of people. But, this was not the problem; their mentality was.I was absolutely disgusted and dismayed by the absolute lack of character amongst such a large number of men. Men commenting and either trying not to keep their hands to themselves or walk straight into the girls around.The beach was equally crowded but we decided to ignore the scenario and spend the rest of the evening swimming and playing football.After sunset we decided to change and head to Baga for new years eve.No surprises here- the crowd had only gotten worse. Tonnes of drunk, unruly men; no room to enter any party places; bouncers loosing their mind. Walking down Baga hearing men pass lewd comments all along thinking to myself whatever happened to respect? Goa on new year's was supposed to be an electrifying atmosphere with a bit of romance of course but it was everything but that. •note to self and all of you guys reading this: plan the new year's night properly and well in advance•
Today was only about getting the feel of Goa. It was different and not disappointing definitely. An evening walk near the resort on Calangute beach was the perfect end of the day. Few shacks were open with lesser customers but same excitement. The tranquility of seashore with grey clouds all over the sky was soothing to the eyes and mind.
Hampi
282 Kms from Barkur
Best time to visit - January,February,March,October,November,December
Hampi (Hampe) is a village and temple town recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as the Group of Monuments ...
Hampi has risen to the top among the list of quick travel destinations in the recent years. Known for the abundant cave temples, the detailed carvings on them are noticeably flawless. One can just stare and admire the intricacy for hours. Cut out of a single rock are the four temples called ‘Badami’- meaning the color of almonds in colloquial term. It is an ideal picnic spot with river Tungabhadra flowing and boating facilities available during seasons. There are well figured statues of Nataraja in front of Cave 1 and Lord Vishnu guarding cave 3, only adding to the extravagance. If some time away is what you’re seeking, Hampi will not fail your zeal.Distance from Mumbai - 743 KmsHow to get there: The total travel time by road is approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes. The nearest railhead to Hampi is Hospet. To reach Mumbai to Hampi by train, you can take the Sbc Garib Nawaj from Mumbai to Hospet then take a cab or rent a private vehicle from Hospet to Hampi. Hospet to Hampi distance is just 13 km and takes around 27 minutes to reach by road. There are no direct flights play between Mumbai and Hampi. The most convenient way to reach Hampi by flight from Mumbai is to take a flight to Goa and then take a bus or a cab to reach Hampi. Goa to Hampi distance is 316 km. Alternatively, you can also fly to Belgaum and then take the road route from Belgaum to Hampi. Belgaum to Hampi distance by road is 266 km.Where to stay: Clark's In Hampi or Evolve Back. For more options, check here.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you've been to any of these places or know of some cool getaways from Mumbai, write to us and share your experience. To watch some exciting travel videos, log on to our YouTube page. If you enjoy what you see, hit like or subscribe.
The massive Vijaynagar dynasty made Hampi its capital centuries ago, and today the ruins weave a story of an empire that was flourishing in its times. It's a surreal feeling to be surrounded by eons of history. However, it is a place known to be frequented by backpackers because of the many cheap accommodations available. There are resorts and five-star hotels around Hampi but none of them is in Hampi, like the popular, and almost always occupied hostels and guesthouses.
9) Hampi: Also known as the boulder city or city of ruins, Hampi is an ancient town in Karnataka. The town is dotted with Numerous temple ruins, ruins of palaces, structures, pavilions and bastions from the pre Vijayanagara and the Vijayanagara period. The sight of these ruins is spell-bounding and makes Hampi a photographer’s delight. These monuments represent an historical era of art and culture. If seeing a Jaw-dropping sunset is still on your list, Hampi will check that off your bucket list for you. Virupaksha temple and Matanga Hill are two of the best points to catch the sundown from. Sanapur lake and Tungabhadra river are the places you’d want to go for a coracle ride. The geological terrain of Hampi is something that will catch your interest. This is where the name boulder city came from. Rich in history, culture and natural beauty, Hampi gives both pilgrims and backpackers a reason to visit this UNESCO world heritage site.What to do: Temple hopping, watch Sunset when everything changes to orange and golden, Hampi Night tour, Coracle ride, cycling around the village if that is something you fancy, marvel at the vast green paddy fields and the perfectly placed boulders, make sure to catch the sunset jam at sunset point on hippie island (the fun part of Hampi)Where to stay: Waterfall guest house, Shanti guest house, K.C. guest house, Mowgli guest house, The goan corner, sunny guest house, Ravi Teja guest house, Uma Shankar guest house.Where to eat: Laughing Buddha, Hampi rooftop restaurant, Benjamin Live music café, The chill out, Gopi Island.Recommended number of days: 4n/5dHampi to Bangalore bus – 1200/- (14 hours)Stay: Rooms start at 800/- per night. (Make bookings well in advance or you may not find a good deal in accommodation)Food: 1200/- per day or less, depends where you choose to eat. (Breakfast-lunch-dinner; without alcohol)Total Cost: 9200/-
A 15-hour ride from Mumbai via bus, it will cost you between 1050-1200 INR depending on your preferred bus type. There exist two major bus stands, one operated by the Karnataka government and the other by a private operator. Both are located in Hospet. The remaining journey to Kamalapur village (2kms from Hampi) can be covered by hiring an auto for a cost of 250 INR. There are plenty of guesthouses in and around Hampi which offer attractive low budget fares. We found a perfect one (close to the ferry point and Virupaksha temple) for as low as 1000 INR for two people.
The ancient ruins of Vijayanagar hold a million narratives in its stones, and are best discovered in tranquility.
The low-cost carrier, TruJet has begun hour-long connections between Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport and the Jindal Vijaynagar Airport in Vidyanagar, which is an hour’s drive from Hampi. This has made the UNESCO World Heritage site, even more easily accessible. A one-way ticket on the new flights currently begin at ₹999 including taxes. Now, since Hampi is closer than ever before, read on to know how this ancient town is much more than just ruins and why you should visit it at least once in your life.
Hampi - Largest open air museum . The cult location of this generation. - Nature,Art & History Lover
The first stop was Virupaksha Temple, a very old temple with a huge vimana and large courtyards. You will also find a lot of guides here trying to swindle you. Please DO NOT listen to them and explore the town on your own.
Kannur
191 Kms from Barkur
Best time to visit - January,February,October,November,December
Need a dose of vitamin sea? This city in the North Malabar region of Kerala can surely take care of that, with its seren...
We arrived Palkkayamthattu road after one and half an hour ride. We faced irritating things like a traffic jam, party procession etc. The road to Palkkayamthattu was a little bit tough and steep ascent. We reached there after an adventurous off-road experience.I can't say it was an untouched beauty as it was crowded. The place is well maintained by the tourism department. Obviously, we had to pay tickets to access the place. We had an easy hike to the green highland. The hill was magnificent and panoramic. We began to rest when we peaked the hill. We breathed fresh and cool air. The scenery almost on all sides of the hill was breathtaking and glorious.
Right in the beautiful stretch connecting Mangalore and Calicut, lies the calm land of loom and lores, Kannur. Known for its pleasant climate and pleasing scenery, Kannur is surrounded by a beautiful coastline on one side and mountains on the other. With the Lakshadweep Sea set to the west and Western Ghats towards the East, no other place can be better to liven up your spirit after a long week. Just the kind of place when you can't come to a conclusion on the big mountains vs. beaches debate!
As you drive down from Kasargod, make the next stop in and around Kannur. Like most Kerala towns, there’s nothing ‘happening’ to experience in the city: the city is about the small things. Take your car and drive to Muzhappilangad Beach - Asia’s largest drive-in beach! Much like most of Kerala, the beach is perfectly clean and apt for a calm evening walk or a drive.
I was keen also to experience the culture of Kannur and I was fortunate enough to travel during the festive period of 'Theyyam'. Again, with the owner of the property to rescue, he guided us to a place where Theyyam was being celebrated. Though we didn't know a word in malayalam, a local helped us in conversing with the person performing the ritual. I don't know the spiritual importance of this festival but the way it was celebrated made me acknowledge the why Kerala is called God's own country. Me and my brother ventured deeper into the village and tried to get a feel of Kannur. The landscape around was stunning to say the least!
Nearest town where you can get a direct bus to this places are Kannur and Payyannur or Thaliparamba in between these two. Nearest railway station is Kannur or Payyannur. Get a bus to Pottemplavu if not to Kudiyanmala. Pottemplavu village is where the Paithalmala hill station is located at.
Got up in the morning very relaxed and fresh after a good sleep, we woke up to birds chirping. How awesome is that.Then we went down, the break fast was getting ready, meanwhile Uncle showed the place around and was telling about important places around. we went to terrace and we got to see a peacock passing by! absolutely brilliant.
Our Awesome Airbnb Hosts!I need a special block for this, coz it was nothing like trip stay, it was more like a visit to a known ones.We both greeted and Uncle took to the place and we met Aunty, greeted, and went in. Aunty suggested we have some soup and relax as we were pretty tired. And so with soup we had a quick chat. Then they told us to get freshen up, and get ready for dinner.The place is pretty Nice, a big spacious duplex house, we were given a separate room upstairs. We got fresh and came back down, the dinner was ready.
Malabar coast adventure continues. Day two early morning, after checking out from hotel, we decided to visit Kannur to see famous Theyyam.Theyyam is popular ritual form of worship of North Malabar in Kerala, India, predominant in the Kasargod, Kannur Districts, Wayanad and Kozhikode of Kerala, as a living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs. Theyyam glorifies Goddess Kali. Theyyam or Theyyatam is derived from two Malayalam words “Deyvam” ( god ) and “Aattam” ( dance). The performers of Theyyam belong to the lower caste community, and have an important position in Theyyam. People of these districts consider Theyyam itself as a God and they seek blessings from this Theyyam.Theyyam dances are usually performed in the months of October to June. You can browse this site to know more about timing and place http://www.theyyamcalendar.com/We were not sure, where we can see this, internet helped us and we got to know one place where Theyyam was getting performed. There was contact number as well, we called and the person told us timing and the direction of temple. We reached there exactly on time.It was small temple but decorated beautifully. So many food stalls there and off course place was crowded. There was one open courtyard, for performance.The whole locality had gathered in and around the courtyard to watch the Theyyam. For many local its a time for coming together as family. We somehow managed to get inside the courtyard and took the blessing from Theyyam performers. All the performer adorn colourful costumes and heavy makeup and within 15 minutes Theyyam started.
My eagerness to witness an art form was quenched by watching “Theyyam”, a dance form which recites the mythological stories, in Kannur. I was smitten by its costume, makeup and dance. The aura which this recital creates actually takes one to a different platform. Also, the devotion and discipline of the people to come even in early mornings and witness this dance/mime is worth a praise. It is a ritual for people in north Kerala and some even conduct it in their houses as a form of worship or either go to a temple for the same. Other local tourist attractions, are Snake Park, St. Angelo’s fort and Payyambalam beach. This visit showed me the true picture of the idols of southern India and how are they worshipped in Kerala. The lighting lamps placed near the idol just enhanced the beauty of that small and simple structure even more.
The Land of Loom and Lores, Kannur is probably one of the best spots for a weekend getaway from Bangalore. Mid-way on the Mangalore-Calicut route, Kannur is renowned for its amazing climate and picturesque beauty. For a long weekend, the beaches of Kannur are extremely enchanting.Book your ride to Kannur now.
Candolim
253 Kms from Barkur
Best time to visit - October- March
This is a village in the northern part of Goa and is on the southern side of the very popular Calangute Beach here. This...
On this day we had nothing to do much because it was Holi. Previous day we found Holi colors literally after a long search. Its not so easily available there. On this same day we also did water sports activities which were really thrilling. At evening went to Panjim for cruise on Mandovi river for Rs 300/- per head. They perform regional dance i.e, Goan dance, Portugal and Russian as well.Also the anchors call audience to dance on the floor. It was for 1 hour. Paid drinks and snacks are available on the cruise. There are also whole day cruises available which takes to show dolphins including lunch.
We shifted to Candolim. This place has another flavor. There are several bars and restaurants along the roadside with live music and big market too. So after shifting there we spent the day roaming at markets and beaches and to be a witness of beautiful sunset.
Finally we ended our trip by visiting Candolim Beach where we relaxed by the beach and enjoyed a foot massage. We also had coconut water here which was really great. From here, we went to out hotel, collected out bags and left for Mumbai.Overall, Goa is one of the best places to party and relax. The people are very warm and chilled out. It is a perfect place to forget your everyday schedule, sit back and enjoy.
It was around 4:30 AM when we saw a ray of hope. At least we thought so until we reconfirmed from the policemen at the Toll that it was indeed Goa. Huh finally!!We reached this cozy Tourist Villa which one of my friend's father had booked for us few days before. So if you plan to visit Goa during Christmas then do all your bookings beforehand to avoid disappointments.
Candolim beach:For fun, I call it as Condom-lim- Candolim, not the popular but worth to explore. If you want to find clean beaches near to city center then live here only. North Goa to south Goa, everything is nearby. You will find less crowded shacks, clean beaches, private parties and a guy who collects sea cockroaches.
Visited Fort Aguada on way.Explore Candolim beachDinner at Koi, Calangute - The best ever pan-asian restaurant in Goa. (Recommended dish - Khao Suey)Club hopping (Part 2) -Club Love Passion Karma a.k.a LPK - Located in Nerul, it is a long ride away from the busy, touristy parts of North Goa, but a ride worth enjoying especially on a two-wheeler with the evening wind caressing your face. A very offbeat concept on the location and environment of the Club, but a good place to hang and party overlooking the lake. Free entry for ladies.SinQ club - Located in Candolim, north Goa, it is a part of SinQ Hotel and is a good place to drink, party and laze around the pool. Free entry for ladies.
Cricket became our ritual so we completed it ???? Our 3rd day was planned mainly for water sports at Candolim beach. Before that we visited Aguada fort and its lighthouse , on Sinquerim beach.
Candolim, north of Mandovi river, is quite nearby and very famous for its party scene and quirky fashion shops. As is Panjim. Coco Beach near Candolim offers Dolphin rides with a charge of 500 Rs per person. What to eat : Pork Vindaloo, Veg/Non-veg Sorpotel, Rissoles, Chicken Xacuti, Feni (Goan traditional wine)19th century Portugese watch tower with terrific sea-viewsFlea market - a hotspot for travellers looking to soak up Goan flavours in terms of cheap merchandise.Classic hippie paradise. Quirky shops with eye-catching fare, alongside food, music and boozeGood informative tour, scenic locales, and delicious food, spices and oils - right from the plantation. Much better than Sahakari Spice Farms.
On our way back from Candolim, we had our lunch at a local eatery and tried the local cuisine. The food was spicy and tasted awesome specially the fish curry. We returned to Palolem by evening, decided to have some beer and laze around the beach. Local boys were playing football and we decided to join in for a game. These small things giving us the unknown joy and happiness that we seek, to me are the best part of travelling.
This beach is the one we chose to take the water rides as it is comparatively cheaper than the other beaches. We took a package of rides that cost Rs.1250/- per head which included Bumper ride,banana ride, parasailing and motorboat ride.
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I packed my one day backpack and started around 12 pm from Manipal on a bus to Udupi. We did not exactly knew how to reach Barkur but and so asked the bus conductor. He suggested us to the ‘kin’ bus stop to Udupi local bus stop. We walked for around five minutes and heard a driver calling out Barkur.. Barkur.. We confirmed and once again boarded the bus. It was very hot inside the bus. It took 15-20 more minutes before the bus started, almost drenching me in sweat. As Udupi is adjoined to the sea, the weather is always humid.The bus ticket to Barkur was only Rs.15/- and hence I could make out that the village is not very far. And soon it started drizzling. The bus halted at one of the stops called Brahmavara. Here, two ladies entered the bus with their toddlers. A man accompanying them made a gesture asking us to give them a place to sit. Thus, me and Masroora offered them our seat. From here Barkur was around 3 more stops. We managed to cross this short distance enjoying the cool breeze, standing at the door. We passed by a river called Seetha river. I enquired about the time taken from the bus stop to the Basadi and the temple.We got down at the Barkur busstop and asked the way to the Basadi. On our way, we met a lady in a festive mood with a colorful saree and her hair adorned by a flower wreath. She welcomed us with warmth in her voice and a smile on her face. She started the conversation in Kannada which I did not understand even a bit. But Masroora understood some of it and thus replied back. The lady knew some English words and so told us that the Basadi is very ancient. There are total 365 temples in the village. She showed us the Basadi and warned us about the snakes which might be present in the grass around Basadi.The roads in Barkur were wider enough for a bus to pass by comfortably. There were lush green trees on both sides of the road with butterflies fluttering over the flowers. The basadi was on the right side of the road. We greeted the lady and left for the basadi gate. Basadi is basically a Jain temple and Kathale means dark. So, the history says that the village was built by the Alupa Kings in the Vijayanagara times (12th century) and was further ruled by Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan etc. There is a huge monolithic pillar at the basadi entrance. The basadi compound has three temples. Although they are in a demolished state now, it has some remnants and visible ancient encrypts. The encryptions are said to be in Tulu. An information board is on the left of the entrance. The temple exactly at the centre is the basadi, but no more contains Jain Tirthankar statues. The There were only some destroyed pillars. One temple behind it was Shiva temple and the other was Vishnu. The Vishnu temple had beautiful carvings. Although it is quoted as the national monument by the archaeological Survey of India, its sorry state with grass growing around and piercing the architecture made me feel awful. Soon after taking some pics around the basadi we headed towards the Ganesha temple. We confirmed the way for the temple and headed straight.
