One Day At Chickmagalur!!

This weekend I got a call from my friend who stays in Mangalore around 2pm and asked me to get ready to move on chikmagalur as weekend holiday celebration.As I not had any other option instead saying yes, I started packing my bags and reached the meet point which he told me to meet. Actually my friends discussed regards this trip during the week start but am unaware of that.So as per the plan myself and my friend decided to move  from Mangalore and those other two who stays in Bangalore from their place.Even though it is a monsoon season we wanted to get the feel of it.We left Friday evening and were back Saturday night.

We started off from mangalore by car around 6pm and set a target of reaching our place of stay in chikmagalur by dinner time.From Mangalore to Chikmagalur around 146km distance, time by road is around 2-3 hours.We took NH-48 Mangalore to Bangalore route and reached Bantwal.We took left and proceed towards Belthangadi.The road was in good condition with some patches where expansion work is going on and can be driven at an overall average of 60 km per hour.Actually we both are not much aware of the route so After driving around 50-60 km we stopped at roadside and Here we asked the localities  about the Chikmagalur route.After this we drove straight to mudigere via charmadi ghat.The drive  from this road during night  was awesome with scenic views,very nice waterfall all over the roadside. But this journey was thrilling, its a very narrow road with lots of turns and no street light.Finally we reached Chikmagalur city by 9PM,the other two who came along  Bangalore via Nelamangala-Hassan-Belur route  and reached chikmagalur already and booked the room at lodge for all of us.

 Next day we got up early finished our breakfast and move on to feel the beauty and the scene of Chikmagalur.Chikmagalur is a place where coffee was first cultivated in India. Rivers like Tunga and Bhadra have their sources in the mountains here which are part of the Western Ghats.The hill stations, the waterfalls, the historical temples and the wildlife sanctuaries make this region a tourist paradise. It is alternatively  spelled Chikka-magaluru, which literally means The town of the younger daughter in the native Kannada language.It also contains Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka.There are many famous hill stations like Kemmangundi,Kudremukh,Mullayanagiri,Baba Budan Giri and water falls like Kallathigiri Falls,Hebbe Falls,Shanti Falls,Kadambi Falls,Hanumana Gundi Falls.These also include the famous Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.Actually its not the place to visit in one day and explore it.Due to our short visit, we did not get the chance to visit all the places.So we just been to Mullayangiri and Dattatreya Peetha. Mullayanagiri  is the tallest peak in Karnataka. Its height is famous mostly for watching sunsets from. It is 16 km from Chikmagalur town. Driving to Mullayanagiri is worth taking a risk.  The road to Mullayanagiri is very narrow with a views from steep cliffs.  Dattatreya Peetha, located on the Baba Budan Giri Hills To the north of Chikmagalur town is a revered place for Hindus as well as Muslims. The holy place in a cave is a symbol of brotherhood. The cave at Inam Dattatreya Peetha is believed to have sheltered Guru Dattatreya and Hazrat Dada Hayath Mir Khalandar. Hazrat Dada Hayath Mir Khalandar was a Muslim saint sent to India by Prophet Muhammad.The site hosts three day annual celebrations, known as Urs in the month of Rabi-ul-Avval, third month of the Islamic calendar. On the other hand, Hindu devotees visit the site during the Kartik Poornima celebrations, marking Dattatreya's Jayanti. At present, the site is maintained by a fakir a Muslim Sufi.After visiting these two places we boarded back to our room and packed up each of ours luggage and return all back to Mangalore around 6pm.

Chikmagalur has various tourism destinations and has a pride of place in the tourism map.But the district which is having such good scope in developing tourism is neglecting to make use of it.The prime reason is lack of infrastructure here and ignorance by the state tourism departments.The other states which has even one such opportunities do not let it go and develop it into a major tourism attraction. In States like Goa and kerala most of the income comes only from the tourism.Tourism is literally the bread and butter of the economy,it not only generate large revenue instead increase the job opportunity in state.For this it should be improved with all required facilities like proper roads, transportation and other basic facilities for the tourists.