Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Driving Holidays - Road trip - from Bangalore 4 - Karavali and Koffee Combo!!

This is a comfortable road trip from Bangalore. Being road-trippers, we love the freedom road trips provide to stop, look and explore.

We will be sharing details about 6 lovely road trips from Bangalore in this blog exploring heritage, western ghats, wild life, beaches etc....... These drives, cover not more than 300 KMs in a day. The plan is to cover for a week extendable for another two days.

This is the fourth in the series. Take a look, plan and go!

Read on.....

Coastal Karnataka has some gorgeous beaches which are unexplored and unspoilt. The vast coastline of Karnataka is not only known for its sands, it is also known for amazing cultural diversity as well. The region is well known for its temples, cuisine, folk arts. The coastline is hugged by mountains on one side with countless rivers draining their waters into the sea creating beautiful estuaries. You will be covering some finest water falls, beaches and valleys of western ghats in this sojourn.

The best time to visit the coastal Karnataka is winter months. Why not plan for a coastal trip this winter and enjoy the sun and sands with some fish fries and Coffee thrown in?? 

The Circuit

Bangalore - Jog falls - Murudeswar - Udupi - Mangalore - Sakleshpur - Bangalore
Google Map of Circuit


Day 1 - Bangalore - Jog falls 
Distance - 380 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good

Leave early morning and drive along Bangalore - Shimoga - Sagara - Jog falls road. You can have breakfast either before Tumkur at Kamat or Pai Hotel in Tiptur or excellent Masala Dosa at Preethi Canteen in Birur depending on the time of your departure. 

If you are able to leave around 7 AM, you can reach Jog Falls around 2.30 PM for late lunch. Check in at Matthuga Home stay. 

Relax for an hour. Drive to Jog falls in the evening and enjoy the sights.
Jog Falls
Night stay at Muthuga.

Day 2 - Jogfalls - Murudeshwar via Honnavar
Distance - 90 KMs
Road condition - Very good with few pot holes

After breakfast, depart for Murudeswar. Enjoy the drive through Sharavathi valley. Reach by noon. 

Check in and lunch done, relax for an hour before exploring Murudeshwar. Dont miss going by the lift to the top of the Gopura or the temple tower - see picture below - by lift for an awesome view of the Arabian sea.

Sharavati valley view

The temple tower at Murudeshwar - Tallest in the country
Enjoy the beach and witness fabulous sunset. 

Night stay at Murudeshwar.

Day 3 - Murudeshwar - Gokarna - Honnavar
Distance - 160 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good

After breakfast drive along the coast to Gokarna which is one of the 12 Jyotir Lingas. After temple, visit the famed OM Beach. 

On the way back stop over at Honavar for lunch and visit Apsarakonda water falls and relax on the lovely beach. Return to Murudeshwar.
Apsarakonda Waterfalls
Night stay at Murudeshwar

Day 4 - Murudeshwar - Udupi Via Kollur 
Distance - 156 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good

After breakfast hit the road and take deviation at Uppunda for a visit to famous Mookambika temple at Kollur. After temple visit, drive back to the highway on the same road which will help you visit Maravanthe to enjoy the beautiful landscape with Swarnamukhi river on one side and sea on the other. 
Maravanthe - Sea on one side and river in the other
For lunch, stop over at famous Shetty's lunch home for their mouthwatering Chicken Ghee Roast and Kane fish Fry. Check out nice post on Shetty's Lunch home here :- Shetty's Seashore Sensation

Reach Udupi. Check in and relax. 

In the evening visit Krishna Temple and savour the old world charm of temple surroundings by walking around. 

Night stay at Udupi

Day 5 - Udupi 

After breakfast in Mitra Samaj or Diana drive to Malpe beach. Catch a boat and travel to St Mary's islands. Spend few hours on this beautiful islands. Come back for late lunch. Relax. 

St Mary's Islands
Kaup beach with lighthouse
In the evening drive to beautiful Kaup beach to spend some serene moments watching the sun go don the Arabian sea.

Night stay at Udupi

Day 6 - Udupi - Mangalore
Distance - 60 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good

After breakfast drive to Mangalore. On the way visit famous Durga Parameshwari temple at Kateel. Reach hotel in time for lunch. After a siesta visit Pilkula Nisargadhama - a eco park. 
Rosario church
Spend time on the beach or visit the beautiful churches built by British. Don't miss out on the authentic Mangalorean cuisine whether is its Vegetarian like Neer dosa and Chutney or Buns and Chutney or Non-Vegetarian items like Akki rotti and Kori Gassi or Kane Fish fry. Take a look at this nice blog post on Mangalore food :-

Mangalore Food Guide

Night stay at Mangalore.

Day 7 - Mangalore - Bekal - Nileshwar
Distance - 180 KMs
Road condition - Very Good

After early breakfast drive to Bekal and visit the 18th century fort by the sea. After visiting the sea fort, drive to Nileshwar for a Malabar Mapilla lunch in Nalanda restaurant. 
Sea as seen from Bekal fort
Lunch done, go for a back water cruise, watch sunset on the beach and return back to Mangalore. Check out this link for backwater cruises in Bekal/Nileshwar:- Back Water Cruises in Bekal/Nileshwar

Night stay in Mangalore

Day 8 - Mangalore - Sakleshpur via Kukke 
Distance - 165 KMs
Road condition - Very Good

After breakfast, leave for Sakleshpur. On the way visit famous Subramanyeshwara temple at Kukke. Reach Kadamane estate for lunch. 

After lunch, go for a short trek to the nearby water falls.

Night stay at Sakleshpur.

Day 9 - Explore Sakleshpur 
Distance - 90 KMs
Road condition - Good with potholes

Get up to chirping sounds of birds. Go for a morning walk to Five acres. Get a WOW feeling standing on top of the hill in front of lovely valley.

Mesmerising valley view @ five acres
After breakfast, drive around Sakleshpur to see beautiful landscape. Drive to Bisle ghat to see the awesome valley of Bisle. On the way back from Bisle ghat dont forget to visit Mallalli falls. Enjoy the vistas of the lovely unexplored falls and return back for late lunch.

Post lunch, just relax with a book in hand!

Day 10 - Sakleshpur - Bangalore
Distance - 252 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good

After breakfast leave for Bangalore. Reach Bangalore by lunch.

Stay Options

Jog Falls - Matthuga Home stay - The best place to explore Jog Falls.

Murudeshwar - RNS Residency - fabulous ocean view - or Naveen Beach resort.

Udupi - Paradise island beach resort near Malpe or Sai Vishram near Kundapur is a good option if you don't want to stay in city. There are many options for stay in city.

Mangalore - There are many good options for stay in Mangalore. But no good beach resorts as such. though there is "Summer Sands". But it is rundown.

Sakleshpur - There are many options in Sakleshpur. Kadamane Estate and The Hills are good options.  

Travel Tips

a) On day 1, you can visit Tyavarekoppa lion and tiger safari after Shivamogga on the way to Jog falls. Kids will love it. You can have lunch in Sagara and reach Muthuga by 3 PM.

b) There are many places to explore around Jog falls. You can do that in the morning of Day 2 before lunch. You can see them in the website of Muthuga.

c) Stop by the view point - a white watch tower - while driving from Jog falls to Murdeshwar to see vastness of Sharavathi valley. 

d) Be careful while playing in the sea. Respect safety instructions published on the beach.

e) At Gokarna, don't be fooled by priests who will try to fleece. Enter the temple and have darshan and come out. 

f) Apsarakonda falls is a beautiful place where there is a water fall next to the beach! Enjoy the place on the way from Gokarna to Murudeshwar.

g) Go to famous Kollur Mookambika temple on the way from Murudeshwar to Udupi. Do come back on the same route which will help you see the beautiful Maravanthe.

h) Udupi is a small little town. Explore the surroundings of the tmeple by walking around. Mitra Samaj, the iconic Udupi restuarant is famous for its Masala Dosa and Goli Bajji. Dont miss savouring fried idlis and ice creams in Diana restaurant.

i) Do visit the Durga Parameshwari temple in Kateel. The temple is situatued on a small island surrounded by water on either sides.

J) Pilkula Nisargadhama is a nice place for kids. It has musical fountain, zoo, toy train, boating etc.

h) Try and reach Bekal before 11 AM as sun will be harsh after that. Marvel at the views of the se from the ramparts of this impregnable fort built by Tipu Sultan. 

i) Nileshwar is a hidden gem on Malabar coast. The serene backwaters canals beckons you for a quiet cruise. 

J) Enjoy the sprawling estate of Kadamane in Sakleshpur. Appreciate the way the British enjoyed their stay in India.

Related posts

Karavali Vistas - I



Did you like this post? Please share it with friends if it can be of help to them. If you need more information on this roadtrip, please write at poorna62@gmail.com

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