Caught Special - 148

Caught Special pictures from our Wayanad Banasura Hills Trip we did in April 2024.

Captured using my mobile Samsung S23 or by my DSLR Canon EOS 700D.

Click open below and scroll down to see all pictures..

Wayanad Banasura Hills Trip

This was a nice little two nights and three days trip to Wayanad staying at Banasura Hill Resort which is an eco-resort.. that is fully constructed using the mud excavated from the very site that it stands on, giving its unique rustic look.

Starting from Bangalore by 2:45 pm on 5th April 2024 (Fri), we reached Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel in Mysore by 4:45 pm, for the night's stay. Covering the 150 km distance in 2 hours non-stop was a first for us to Mysore, as the route via NICE road and the new Bangalore-Mysore Expressway on a Friday afternoon allowed a good drive.

Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel (wiki) is now under the Jungle Lodges & Resorts management since 2018. We had stayed here once earlier in October 2017, while doing a trip to Galibore Nature Camp that is also run by the Jungle Lodges & Resorts. You can see our travelogue of that trip here.

We drove about 10 km to The Green Hotel Mysore for dinner. We had stayed here as well once in December 2019 doing a trip to the Dubare Elephant Camp. You can see our travelogue of that trip here.

We started at 10:15 am on 6th April (Sat), and took the Nanjangud - Gundlupete - Sulthan Batheri - Panamaram - Vellamunda route here from Lalitha Mahal Hotel and reached Banasura by 3:45 pm, driving that 165 km in 3 hr. 30 min. 

This route we took is actually longer by some 30 odd kilometers.. but then the Resort folks recommended to come only by this route, and told us that road work was happening on the other shorter, more direct route, that is via Kabini and Mananthavady, saying that would take more time. 

However, in fact, we actually took that shorter route via Mananthavady and Kabini (I think that route is open only during day time, and will be closed during nights), for our return direction, and found that was actually faster and a calmer drive. The traffic while going via Sulthan Batheri route was more, and as we have to drive through that town also, and ended up slowed down by some roadwork diversions that was chaotic; so it took more time. 

In any case, it was still good as the route we took crosses through Maddur Wildlife Range that is under the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, and then the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary as well, and we stopped for clicking pictures of elephants and a variety of birds as well.

We also stopped at Le Sapphire here at Kottakunnu just before entering Sulthan Batheri at about 1:15 pm and had a very good Kerala Meal.

After staying Saturday and Sunday nights at Banasura Hill Resort, for the return route, we started by 10:30 am on 8th (Mon) and took the, shorter, Mananthavady - Kabini Safari Ticket Counter route here. We could also click a few pictures of birds and scenic views along the way.

We stopped at Indian Restaurant at Jakkahally (Thumbasoge) / HD Kote here at 1:15 pm for a nice Meal, and reached back Bangalore by 5:15 pm; covering the end to end distance of 285 km in about 6 hr. 45 min. including the stoppages. That was just in time for the Ugadi holiday on the following day, Tuesday, the 9th April!

Our stay included: 

Walking around cottages, swimming pool area, main building, library, pottery workshop, in the Resort.

Guided mild trek to a view point outside the Resort, and then to Tea Garden, Cave and Stream.

Our own trek to the view point within the Resort around sunset time, and back via elephant rock.

Food in the Resort was very good. Breakfast was part of the package, but they serve on the table.

For other Meals we pay; they take order in advance and you go to the Restaurant once ready.

The Kerala Towel, Thorthu, with a thin golden jari line weave, gave a fantastic local touch. See pictures later.

Scroll to see more pictures below; and also our Verdict about the whole trip.. at the end of this below.

Caught Special - 147

Caught Special pictures from our K Gudi BR Hills Trip we did in December 2022.

Captured using my mobile Samsung S10e SM-G970F or by my DSLR Canon EOS 700D.

Click open below and scroll down to see all pictures.. 

K Gudi BR Hills Trip

This was a nice little two days and one night trip to K Gudi (Kyathadevaraya Gudi) Wilderness Camp of Jungle Lodges on the BR Hills (Biligiri Ranganna Hills).

Starting from Bangalore by 7 am on 28Dec22 (Wed), we reached there by 1:30 pm, covering the 200 km via Maddur - Malavalli - Kollegal - Yelandur - route shown here; end to end in 6.5 hours, with a few photo stops on the way. We also had a stop at Vaishali Channapatna here for breakfast at about 8:30 am.

For the return route, we started by 10:45 am, and drove down via the BR Hills route here to reach Kollegal, and then via the same Malavalli - Maddur route back to Bangalore. We had a stop at Adigas in Maddur here (PS: At the time of writing this in May2024, we drove past this location a week ago, and noticed this restaurant has been closed now; not sure if that is permanently, or they plan to reopen.) at 2:45 pm, and reached Bangalore by 4:45 pm; end to end in 6 hours.

Trip included: 

On the route from Bangalore to KGudi, we could stop and take pictures birds and scenic views. 

Extensive number of vast paddy fields in the Kollegal Cauvery belt was amazing to see.

We had booked the Log hut, that was Rs 16.5k for two including taxes.

Three meals (lunch, dinner, breakfast), and an evening snack was part of the package.

The wild safari from 3:45 pm to 6:30 pm was just ok; we saw deer, wild buffalo, turtle, etc.

Walking around the small water body outside the gate in front of the property was nice.

Further on the other side of the road in front was a watch tower (broken; avoid it) and a herd of deer grazing.

While returning we also stopped at Adavi, Soligara Samskarana Kendra; where they sell wild honey and a few other forest produces and other horticulture products made by natural and sustainable processing.

Scroll to see more pictures below; and also our Verdict about the whole trip.. at the end of this below. 

Caught Special - 146

Caught Special pictures from our Quilon Ashtamudi Trip we did in November 2022.

Captured using my mobile Samsung S10e SM-G970F or by my DSLR Canon EOS 700D.

Click open below and scroll down to see all pictures.. 

Quilon Ashtamudi Raviz Trip

Bangalore Cant BNC - Kollam QLN, by Kochuveli Express Train no. 16315; 774 KM; 19Nov22, 5 pm departure, to 7:25 am arrival next morning.

The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel, for a 1 night stay. Map location here.

Kollam - Bangalore Cant, by Kochuveli Mysore Express Train no. 16316; 774 KM; 21Nov22, 5:40 pm departure, to 7:45 am arrival next morning.

Visited spots: 

Thangaserry Light House in Quilon. Wiki here. Map location here.

Thangaserry Fort Ruins. Wiki here. Map location here.

Lunch at Gowri Sankar Restaurant, near Collectorate. Map location here.

We did the local commute by Auto-rickshaws; the route map is here.

And a boat ride by the Hotel in the evening on the Ashtamudi lake for 45 min. from 4:30 pm.

Nice sunset view from the resort area at 5:45 pm.

Breakfast and Dinner included in the triple room package we booked at INR 29.5k for three adults; and we had booked it directly with them 3 months in advance. 

Scroll to see more pictures below; and also our Verdict about the whole trip.. at the end of this below.