Around Bangalore: 11 - Dodda Ala Mara, Machanabele Dam

Destination: Dodda Ala Mara, and Machanabele a.k.a. Manchanabele Dam

Direction: South West of Bangalore; on Mysore Road, turn right about 2.5 KM after Kengeri.

Type of place: Dodda Ala Mara: Botanical. Machanabele Dam: Reservoir, Water body.

We visited last on: 17/Jun/07, Sun.

Suitable for: A short day trip.

Best seasons to visit: Right after the rainy season, it will be nice to see the greenery around.

Distances
      * 25 KM to Dodda Ala Mara + 10 KM to Machanabele Dam, from City Railway Station.
      * 35 KM to Dodda Ala Mara + 10 KM to Machanabele Dam, from Central Silk Board.
      * Turn right after about 2.5 KM after crossing Kengeri town and drive about 7.5 KM to Ala Mara.

Route maps on Google
      * From City Railway Station: Click Here.
      * From Central Silk Board, Hosur Road: Click Here.

Timings: Open only during daylight timings.

Weekly off: Typically none.

Food
      * There are no good restaurants around.
      * It will be good to carry food along and eat at a convenient location.
      * There are lots of monkeys, very bold, grabbing away things from our hands; so watch-out.

Specialties
      * The drive is on the Mysore highway for the initial part till you cross Kengeri.
      * 7.5 KM + 10 KM after right turn (2.5 KM after Kengeri) is all single track; can see some farms.
      * Dodda means Big, Aala Maraa is Banyan Tree.
      * At Dodda Ala Mara, you can sit around the tree and enjoy seeing the aerial prop roots grown into thick woody trunks.
      * At Machanebele Dam, you can sit along the several narrow shoulder-like mounds / bunds close to the water and look around the hillocks far on the other side of the reservoir.

Travel Tips
      * Take care of protecting yourselves and your food / snacks from monkeys.
      * Do not venture getting into the water body at Machanabele; it is not allowed and is risky.
      * After rainy season the water level can be very high and going near water might even be banned.
      * During summer, mid-day could be hot, so carry your caps, hats and umbrellas.
      * Better to carry your stock of juices and drinking water.
      * We did Dodda Ala Mara first and then went to Machanabele Dam. You can do the other way also. 

Photos 

Dodda Ala Mara

Machanabele Dam a.k.a. Manchanabele Dam

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You can click on the picture(s) to see a bigger version.  

Click here to view all 'Around Bangalore' postings under this series.

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Note: This is a series where I post details and tips about some day-trip locations around Bangalore. You would note that, the date of our visit to some of these places was quite some time back, so some of the detail need not be currently valid. However, I think the major part of the information will still be useful to readers. Do check around by phone or other means about these places to know the latest details and then make your plan. Enjoy your travel. Have fun.

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Caught Special - 43

During our recent trip to Talakad Jaladhama, I came across a few caught special picture clicking opportunities. Take a look...

Where: Near Malavalli on the way to Talakad

When: 1/Oct/14, Wednesday, 10:46 am

What: Paddy field greenery

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: At Mudukuthore before Talakad

When: 1/Oct/14, Wednesday, 11:26 am

What: Vast paddy fields with the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple hillock in the backdrop

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: At Mudukuthore before Talakad

When: 1/Oct/14, Wednesday, 11:26 am

What: Paddy field greenery opposite o the picture above

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 1/Oct/14, Wednesday, 5:40 pm

What: Sunset from the river cruise

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 1/Oct/14, Wednesday, 5:40 pm

What: Sunset from the river cruise

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 1/Oct/14, Wednesday, 5:46 pm

What: Sunset from the river cruise

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 1/Oct/14, Wednesday, 5:58 pm

What: Small temple reflection on Cauvery river from the river cruise

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 6:16 am

What: Morning scenery from the river banks

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 6:29 am

What: Morning scenery from the river banks; see the bird at the center

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 6:36 am

What: Fisherman getting ready from the river banks

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 7:01 am

What: Meadow in contrast with two swings still and calm under this beautiful tree shade, on a serene morning 

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 7:43 am

What: The playing yard among trees and the leaf shed walkway 

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 9:23 am

What: Boats waiting for the day with the floating restaurant in the backdrop

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 9:35 am

What: Tree covered entrance to the resort

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 9:59 am

What: Fisherman on coracle getting ready for the day

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 10:03 am

What: Fisherman on coracle 

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 10:04 am

What: Fisherman on coracle with a scenic backdrop

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Cauvery river Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 10:04 am

What: Fisherman on coracle with the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple hillock in the backdrop

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 10:23 am

What: Bright shining flower in focus

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Talakad Jaladhama 

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 10:24 am

What: Bright flower and buds in focus

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Near Talakad

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 11:27 am

What: Paddy field greenery around the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple hillock 

How: Sony Cybershot W320

Where: Near Talakad

When: 2/Oct/14, Thursday, 12:07 pm

What: Paddy field flocked by birds on the way to viewing river bridge Bhorukha hydro power project

How: Sony Cybershot W320

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This is a series of Caught Special pictures that I captured at different places.
Click on the picture(s) to see a larger version.
To post your comments about this, click here.

To see all postings in this Caught Special series, click here.

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Talakad Jaladhama Trip

We did this 1 night and ~2 days trip to Talakad Jaladhama by road from 1st Oct '14 morning to 2nd Oct 2014 evening.


It was a three meal package we had booked at Talakadu Jaladhama - Back Water Holiday Resort in advance. The resort is about 130 KM in the south-west direction from Bangalore. Here is a Google route map. Talakad is actually known for a few small ancient temples that were excavated from sand dune covering, and also a few big normal temples that are very old as well. We did not go to those locations in this trip, as we did that in August 2004, you can see the posting here. Jaladhama is located on the banks of Cauvery water and is claimed to be like a peninsula covered by water on 3 sides.

Itinerary

Here is a high level summary of the trip.

01/Oct/14 (Wed) 
     7:15 Start from Bangalore.
     9:15 to 9:40 Breakfast stop at Rathna Upahar Kanakapura.
     [We read Vasu Hotel is good in Kanakapura, but were warned at a wink and miss possibility.
     And we did miss it even after searching around. So we stopped at Rathna Upahar.
     We did spot the small tiny Vasu Hotel during our return route though!]
     10:40 Passed through Malavalli.
     11:30 Reached the car parking lot of Jaladhama boat pick-up point at Mudukuthore.
     11:40 A quick 1.5 min. boat ride to cross the river and reached Jaladama Resort.
     13:30 Lunch at the garden restaurant.
     17:15 to 18:15 High-tea on cruise on the river.
     20:15 Dinner at the large, high-roof restaurant.

02/Oct/14 (Thu) 
     7:00 Morning tea near the volley-ball court around trees.
      9:15 Breakfast on the floating restaurant with live counters.
     11:00 Check-out and 1.5 min boat ride for return drop off at car parking lot.
     11:05 Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, Mudukutore that is located opposite to Jaladhama.
     11:40 Quick visit to Cauvery River beach point.
     12:15 Quick visit to see the river bridge and Bhoruka Power Plant gates view.
     15:30 Reached Bangalore.

Overview

Overall it was a good trip, though a very short one that went off in a jiffy. The highlight of the trip was the different meal and snack serving concept variations Jaladhama offers. Lunch at the open air restaurant around trees, evening high-tea on a short river cruise, dinner at the high-roof large hall, morning tea by the side of the volley-ball court around trees, and yummy breakfast on the floating restaurant. All of that gave that extra bit of novelty, excitement and interest.

That the arrival at the resort is by a boat pick-up to cross the river by a 1 min. or 2 min. ride on the small motor boat also provides a bit of differentiation and excitement.

Each cottage is named after a bird. And there is a small statue of that bird in front of the cottage as well. The cottage itself is designed hexagon shaped six walled block that was nice too, something different from the standard four walled typical design.

All the meals were served as buffet, and there were 1 or 2 live counters in all meals and snacks. Food was generally good. It was probably 80-20 good and bad in terms of taste. For instance, Fish at lunch was very badly prepared, may be it was free for them caught from the river by their side, but the recipe was bad. Soup at dinner was too too spicy and no one could gulp one mouthful. Otherwise rest all food was good. Biryani in the lunch was very nice. Rest of the items in the Dinner were good. All the items in the Breakfast were great.

The place has a lot of open space with trees and landscaping that was vast. For people coming in large groups, it has a lot of attractions to use, like the swimming pool, rain dance (5 pm), dinner time DJ music, camp fire, rope walking, volley ball, basket ball, indoor games, floor painted chess board, on-pay water scooter and boating services etc.

After spending a day / night at Jaladhama, we also visited the Mallikarjuna temple and did a quick stop at the Cauvery river beach spot for a few minutes during our return.

Review: Highlights of Talakad Jaladama and this entire trip

     * The drive on the Kanakapura route is generally nice with some farms and greenery around.
     * Nice hexagon shaped room with six walls designed nicely.
     * Each meal or snack served at a different location creating variety and making it interesting.
     * Lunch arrangement at the open air restaurant around trees was good.
     * Evening high-tea on the river cruise with live Bajji counter was interesting while looking at the sunset.
     * Dinner at the high-roof large hall was spacious; live counters for rotis and dosas were tasty.
     * Morning tea by the side of the volley-ball court was calm and cool.
     * And the top highlight: Breakfast on the floating restaurant was very yummy and exciting.
     * No staffs looked for money. I gave zero tips during this entire stay.
     * Good amount of trees, landscaping, monkeys, and some birds talking the sound of nature all the time.
     * AC, fans and lights in the room worked fine.
     * TV and intercom phone are available in the room, in case you like them.
     * They have multiple sizes of of cottage accommodations in case you want to select.
     * Insects are always around in such a place of stay. A highlight, if you look forward to them.
     * My son spotted a 3 inches long centipede, poisonous, under the study table in the room. I killed it.
     * When I went to the river side for clicking early morning pictures, I spotted a snake in the water.
     * We also spotted giant spider on a web, snails on the wall, frog near the door, etc. which are common.
     * Housekeeping keeps the open place clean by blow-cleaning, dis-infection-smoking, etc.
     * Electric cars to help people move around within the resort area avoids noise and smoke pollution.
     * Good view from the top of Mallikarjuna temple hillock.
     * The Cauvery river beach spot that offers nice shallow waters to get in comfortably.

Review: Lowlights of Talakad Jaladhama and this entire trip

     * Resort, though claimed to be like a peninsula, we can see water only on one side!
     * Floors were unclean; may be our cottage was missed to clean after some recent renovation work.
     * Drops of cleaning agents or unclean surfaces were left sticky on our feet.
     * Bathroom had leaky wash basin and a very skidding glossy granite floor tiling that was risky.
     * Cellphone as well as data does not work well; I had to climb to the roof top (warning no side walls!)
     * Had a lot of mosquito menace in and around cottage; it reduced after they disinfected later by evening.
     * Lastly, when large groups are also staying here, you would not have a calm and peaceful stay.

Thanks for your time to read this travelogue. Do remember to leave your comments here.

Read on further... for more interesting details and lots of pictures.