TravelingBeats

This was my 7th visit to Mysore. With every visit I started to like Mysore more. It was a very short visit lasting just over 24 hours. As a city Mysore is quite calm and can as a rejuvenation trip.

First we quickly saw St Philomena’s church which around half a kilometer from Sadar bus stand (KSRTC). Then we head on to Karanji lake. It is located around 6 km from Sadar bus stand. Auto charge should not be more than Rs 45 and city bus is also available.

Ticket cost: Rs 10 per head
Still camera fee: Rs 10

Karanji kere (kere means lake in Kannada) is a natural lake with a total area of 90 hectares. Water area is 55 hectares. Karanji lake is administered by Mysore Zoo authority. With huge green cover and the shady water front is a great place to spend time. Boating is available in the lake. I read that the park has been restored sometime back and looks like it is well maintained. The ideal way to see Karanji lake is to stroll through the shore line and see whatever comes on the way. It is a great heaven for migratory birds like herons, Painted storks etc. There were also a large number of Neer Kagi (bird name in Kannada, not sure what it is called in English).

Bird enclosure: This is probably one of the best place to watch bird. Inside the enclosure the birds are free. Peacocks, white peacocks, hen, duck and lots more variety to be seen.

Watch tower: You can get the best view of the lake from the watch tower.

Butterfly park: The butterfly park here is created on an artificial island in the lake on the lines of Butterfly park at Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore.

There is also an aviary and a museum. Karanji lake is located just besides Mysore zoo.

To view more pictures visit, TravelingBeats Photo gallery.

Note: This days the hotels have become little conservative in renting out rooms. Many of them like Gupta Hotel, Hotel Sangeetha etc do not wish to give rooms to unmarried couples. However, you can check in to other hotels like SK residency in Devaraj Mohalla (single room Rs 350 and double room Rs 800 plus).

Guys can stay at Jaya chandra lodge (2428509) at Kothwal Ramaiah road, Devaraja Mohalla for Rs 300 – 350. Do bargain with them. But the hotel did not look like to have a healthy environment. Not advisable for families and couples.

Dinner at Sreedevi Restaurant (Devaraja Mohalla)
Launch at Kairali Restaurant opp Sadar bus stand (Maharaja complex). Had mussels for the first time there.

For more info visit my earlier articles.

1. Mysore

Filed under : Karnataka, Weekend Getaways

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Destination: Sangam (confluence of river Cauvery, Arkavathy and a mythical invisible river).

Location: Bangalore Rural district

Distance: 95 km from Bangalore city

Route: Banashankari – Kanapura road – Kanakpura – Horahalli – Sangam

How to reach there: You can reach by KSRTC bus which goes there only on stipulated times. Going there by own vehicle will be more convinient.

Where to eat: It is better to take carry food if you are going there on a picnic. There is a restaurant called Tender Coconut but I think that is not regular. But there are some food for hard souls to manage. You can have fish fry, boiled egg or omelet sold by local shops. Do bargain before settling for a price. A Jelabee fish should be in between Rs 10 – 15, a piece of Katla Rs 10.

What to see:

1. Sangam
2. Arkavathy Dam – Dam on river Arkavathy
3. Chunchi Falls – Go there only during monsoon. During dry season there will be hardly any water.
4. Country side

The mode of transport was 2 two wheelers which carried 4 of us. We started 7 o’clock on Sunday morning (27/12/2009). There was not much traffic, so we quickly reached Banashankari and then to Kanakpura road. Road is pretty good apart from some bad patches in between. However, road is narrow at many places so one should drive carefully. Just at the outskirts of Bangalore city on Kanakpura road you may find some dhaba to eat during day time. On the way if you want to eat something then have it at Kanakpura. Kanakpura is 40 km from Bangalore.

The ride to sangam is very enjoyable as you will encounter lakes, rugged hills, paddy fields, villages, the ghat section and forest land. So keep you camera at hand to capture the glimpse of nature. On the way you can see Arkavathy dam. After a village you will see a stone board asking to take left for Arkavathy dam for 5 km. I have not visited Arkavathy dam last time when I visited Sangam in 2001. It is bigger than Manchanabele dam and can construed as a proper dam. The dam has been constructed on river Arkavathy. If you visit here during monsoon, you may see a better sight.

Next destination was Chunchi falls. For this too you will have to take a left deviation from the main for 6 km. You will see a stone board with Chunchi falls direction or the trademark yellow Karnataka tourism board. However, during dry season there is hardly any water. So I suggest to visit there only during rainy season. Dejected left for our main destination Sangam.

Caution: If you are riding on a two wheeler, I request you take caution when you encounter paddy spread on the road. Always try to ride on the corner of the road, if that not possible – drive very slow and press break very slow if only required. There is a chance of skidding.

The last 4 km of road to Sangam is ghat section and road is narrow. So drive carefully here. We reached Sangam by around 1 pm. Hungry by then and started looking for food. We found Tender Coconut (restaurant) is closed and there is not much option. So we settled for fish fry. Following a light course of fish, we headed for the river beach. I suggest you venture in Arkavathy river rather then Cauvery. River Arkvathy will less water – at most to your waist and as less as upto your ankle. This side provides a nice beach kinda feeling. If you would like you can play on the sand or in the water. It was real fun and we thoroughly enjoyed. Even with less height of water, there is huge current. It is not possible to swim here as water level is very low. We left the waters by 2.30 pm and went on to have some more fish fry and omelet. Cold drinks like Pepsi half liter cost Rs 30, a 50% increase from the original price. Beer is also available there.

4 kms on the other side of Arkavathy river there is another destination called Mekedatu.

We left Sangam around 3.15 pm. Soon it started to drizzle. But it did not gave an impression of heavy shower. But to our luck, we got caught in heavy rain. We took shelter under trees a few times and then at a tea shop on the way. And in this my wish of reaching Bangalore before dark too was washed away. Seeing no sign of decrement in rain, we started again for Bangalore. This time we rode non stop and reached home completely drenched by 8.30 pm.

To view more pictures visit, TravelingBeats Photo Gallery.

Filed under : Adventure, Bangalore, Weekend Getaways

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