Punto Explores Chikmagalur, Western Ghats

[carfreak]

Background:

Being Christmas vacation time, we decided to take a small break and visit my in law’s place in Davangere (about 280 kms from Blore on NH4). Then a thought came to my mind as to why not plan a small holiday with family. So started exploring options and zeroed in on 2 places – Kemmangundi near Chikmagalur or Dandeli. Having decided about the place, started looking out for stay options & had to drop Dandeli due to non-availability of accommodation. Searched on Trip Advisor for stay options at Kemmangundi and read positive reviews about ‘Valley of Birds’ home stay. Called up the concerned person and blocked the stay. So now we were all set to zoom in the Punto…….

Basic stats:
Places visited: Davangere & Chikmagalur
Route: Bangalore – Davangere-Kemmangundi-Chikmagalur-Davangere-Bangalore
Total distance: @ 1000 kms
Overall mileage (including highway drive, ghat drive): @ 17.8 kmpl as per MID

The journey:
Finished office @ 5.30 pm on Friday and started the first leg of journey, Bangalore to Davangere. Being a holiday time, phew got stuck in bad city traffic. By the time I could get out of city it was almost 7.30 pm. Reached Davangere by 11 pm and had a good night sleep.

Sat (22nd Dec) morning @ 9 am started the journey towards Kemmangundi with family. So Punto was now fully loaded with 5 adults and luggage.

Route taken: Davangere – Channagiri – Bhadravati – Tarikere – Kemmangundi. Distance: @ 150 kms . Of this @ 10 – 15 kms was really a bad stretch to drive. My heart was pouring for Punto over those bad patches. But thanks to superb GC, even with full load did not scrape a single time. On the way, visited a place called Shanti sagar lake. Man! This lake is really huge!! It is regarded as one of the largest in Asia. I think the first being in the state of Orissa.





- Reached Valley of Birds homestay, Kemmangundi @ 1 pm and was welcomed by amazing hospitality. We enjoyed a simple and superb lunch, took a power nap and started towards Kalhathgiri falls which is @ 15-20 kms away from the homestay















--> Sun (23rd Dec) : Enjoyed delicious Puri – Bhaaji breakfast and started the journey towards Mullyyangiri, the highest peak in Karnataka which was @ 60 kms from the homestay. The route was very scenic coupled with good roads. Off course Punto’s prowess added to the excitement factor. As we started climbing the altitude, the excitement enhanced. Final 2-3 kms of the climb was breath taking. Narrow roads with steep fall on one side which tested the car’s & driver’s capabilities. But once reaching the peak, everything else was forgotten. We were mesmerized by the nature’s beauty and views offered. Let the pics do the talking













Returned to Chikmagalur at lunch time and after lunch started journey towards Davangere, which was @ 200 kms drive. Spent couple of relaxing days at Davangere enjoying Butter masala dosas, mirchi bajji etc

Finally started towards Bangalore on 26th Dec early morning




Thanks everyone for reading the TL !!

 

[AppU]

Nice Travelogue carfreak,

It seems you reached top of the world.

 

[Vishwas]

Nice and Crisp Review dear Carfreak, enjoyed every line and each photos.
That lake was superb, i want to visit that place!.

Thanks for sharing, When we visited Mullayingiri it was covered with full of fog.
And you said it right,this peak really tests your driving skills and vehicles, because when in the month of July where we visited this place, there was a narrow steep and a brio (probably not even a month old) was stuck in the ditch (owner was new to driving so he tried to give way for a maniac jeeper coming opposite and ditched it), we tried driving it out of that hole, but it badly scraped the under-body (really bad), then some young people who were coming down-hill lifted the car and moved into tarmac.
Such is the danger levels there.

 

[carfreak]

@ Appu, thanks for liking the TL !

@ Vishwas, hey nice to hear from you buddy. Well, the incident mentioned by you sums up the situation in last few kms of the drive to the peak. Good that nothing fatal happened with the Brio guy. This is a good experienced shared for people who are planning to visit this place. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Gurrala74]

@Carfreak

One more nice short and crisp travelogue from you buddy !! enjoyed with those pics especially your Punto !! in RED it is just sparkling

Hope to see you on the upcoming meet thread with some ideas there !!

 

[SOOZ_PUNTO]

Great Pics there !!!

Punto looks awesome in those Pics

 

[carfreak]

@Carfreak

One more nice short and crisp travelogue from you buddy !! enjoyed with those pics especially your Punto !! in RED it is just sparkling

Hope to see you on the upcoming meet thread with some ideas there !!

Thanks Gurrala. Yeah I have been following that thread but not active due to office committments during last week of Jan

Great Pics there !!!

Punto looks awesome in those Pics

Thanks Sooz_Punto ....

 

[Akash]

Excellent pics carfreak. Your workhorse (punto) is looking great in those pics.

The place appears nice, but why such a long pause, post some more pics.