Hubli is the most convenient stop for a two day drive from Mumbai to Mangalore. Its almost exactly mid-way. There aren’t many good hotels – my friends recommended Naveen Hotel and it was decent enough for a good night’s rest – it might even be good enough to spend some more time amidst lot of greenery and rooms facing a quiet lake.
Next day i left Hubli after breakfast and cut across from Hubli to join the Goa Mangalore highway. This part is a smaller road (state highway) – an ok drive for most part except for some crowded villages on the way which slow you down. After reaching the Mangalore highway took a break at Murudeshwar – famous for a Shiva temple and a nice beach.
Reached Mangalore around 6pm checked into a hotel and left for Coorg next morning. The drive to Coorg is a 3-4 hour drive with the second half of the journey being a picturesque drive through a forest area which gets you ready for the hill station ! Reached Madikeri (Capital of Coorg) and checked into Club Mahindra – courtesy a friend’s membership (and he not having used any of his three weeks for the three years since he took membership). The property is quite nice and well maintained and a fairly large one with more than 200 apartments spread over some 30 acres.
Next morning had lunch at a beautiful resort nearby called Heritage Resort... would likely stay here my next visit. Its spread out on top of a hill, with the restaurant and a small swimming pool on the top of the hill... the view from here were fantastic and the pandi curry (pork curry – speciality of the region) as well as chicken pepper preparations were amazing.
Next morning we visited the Golden Temple – or the Namdrolling monastery located about an hours drive from Madikeri. It is also the second largest Tibetan settlement in India. Nice peaceful experience, impressive gold plated idols of Buddha and co. -though i will not forget this place for a bee sting i got which pained like crazy for the rest of the day despite all medicines and injection to get rid of the pain and irritation.
The bee sting didn’t stop me however from visiting an apiary and knowing a bit about the honey making process... staying as far from bees as possible.... The apiary and the apiculture training institute are located at Bhagamandala – on way to Talakaveri. Talakaveri is the birth place of Kaveri river and an important pilgrim centre. A Brahma Kundike or a small pond is where the river emerges atop a hill. We reached here on a rainy and windy morning so stayed for a little while and watched some pilgrims cross the ‘sacred’ pond fully clothed to receive blessings from the priest on the other side. Was too cold to even contemplate going into water !
On the way back took a little detour to check out the Neemrana property – about 30 kms from Madikeri. We had made reservation for lunch at the hotel – lunch was ok – but the trip to the property was worth it just because of its location in the middle of a coffee and pepper estate.
Next morning we did the more standard touristy destinations – starting with Abby falls which is 20 minute drive from Madikeri.
Next stop was Raja’s seat – which is a beautiful garden overlooking a valley where Kings of Kodagu (Coorg) spent their evenings and watched sunset. After our last peppery lunch in hotel coorg international – we were off to Mangalore.
Next morning we started our journey back from Mangalore to Goa.... best part was to leave early and stop at Udipi for breakfast – not too surprising that i had some best udipi food at udipi !!
Drove all day with stops at Murudeshwar (for coconut water and food) and at Karwar.... reached Palolem (south south Goa) around 3 pm. Some butter calamari and prawns on a shack quenched all hunger and tiredness and i was ready to drive further.
No better way to end a long driving vacation than spending couple of days in North Goa. So replenished our depleted energy levels before driving back to Mumbai !
