Monsoon road trip from Bangalore 2 is an opportunity to explore three waterfalls and rolling hills in Coorg which is nothing but spectacular in this season.
In this second part of the series, we want you to experience the bliss of three lovely waterfalls and the rolling hills in Coorg. Kodagu as it is also known is in the western ghats in Karnataka. Famous for its natural beauty of rolling hills, forests and waterfalls, it is also known as “Scotland of the east”. This lovely monsoon road trip will give you an opportunity to see magnificent Mallalli falls, Spectacular Iruppu Falls and Awesome Abbe Falls. You will be driving through some of the beautiful valleys amidst rolling hills.
The Plan
This is an overnight weekend trip from Bangalore and you need to stay in any of the many home stays/Resorts in and Around Madikeri.
The Complete Circuit
Bangalore – Channarayapatna – Holenarsipur – Arkalgud – Shanivarasanthe – Somwarpet – Mallalli Falls –Abbi falls – Madikeri (Completion of Day 1. Night Halt at Madikeri ) – Iruppu Falls – Kutta – Hunsur – Bangalore
Day 1 Plan – Magnificent Mallalli Falls and Spectacular vistas
The Route – Bangalore – Channarayapatna – Holenarsipur – Arkalgud – Shanivarasanthe – Kudrasthe – Mallalli Falls – Somwarpet – Madikeri – Abbi Falls – Madikeri (Place of night stay in Coorg)
Total distance – 322 KMs
Route Map – Google Map Link
Android users may please download an excellent navigation app HVK Routo and request for a map for the above itineraries. These maps are curated based on real life experiences and latest updates. This navigation app comes with audio alerts. It has Petrol pumps, restaurants, Hotels, toll gates and other alerts. We have used it in all our road trips and is extremely useful.
Road condition – Very good
The Itinerary
6.30 AM – Leave Bangalore. Hit Bangalore – Tumkur road. If you are near NICE road take it and exit at Tumkur road to join the highway.
8.30 AM – Stop for Breakfast at Swathi Delicacy on the highway before Yedyur. We recommend this place because the food is excellent and coffee is to die for. They have car service if you don’t want to go inside. Make sure you order for Masala Dosa. The restaurant also has clean rest rooms.
9.15 AM – Depart Swathi Delicacy. At Channarayapatna bye pass junction, take the road going into the town – you can see Nandini Milk Production unit on to your left – and take the road going towards Hole Narsipur. Driving through Hole Narsipur, Arkalgud and Shanivarasanthe arrive at Kudrasthe. On the way stop for a lovely view of Hemavathi backwaters after Hole Narsipur town. Enjoy the green landscape all along. You will also get a chance to see some nice meadows on the way. Take a detour to Mallalli falls after Kudrasthe.
Click on the pictures to see them in larger size
Hemavathy backwaters after Holenarsipur. You can see a dirt track going into the water. You can take your car close to water. If the track is not good condition, then park the car on the road and walk down.
You will see these lovely vistas all along the way. Enjoy the beauty of monsoon!
12.00 Noon – Arrive at Mallalli falls. Park the car on the main road and walk down the concrete road which is under construction. It is a fifteen minutes walk and last few metres are slightly steep. Get a “wow” feeling when you see the falls! Mallalli falls is a beautiful falls and looks awesome in monsoon. Spend half an hour there. Don’t be adventurous and try to climb to the falls or go near it. Many people have lost lives as the rocks are slippery. (Mallalli falls is actually on the border of Hassan and Coorg district and administratively in Hassan district)
Two lovely pictures of the beautiful falls!! (Picture courtesy – Aditya Hemmige)
1 PM – Depart Mallalli falls and drive to Madikeri via Somwarpet. You can have lunch in one of the restaurants in Somwarpet.
1 .45 PM – Lunch in Somwarpet
2.30 PM – Depart Somwarpet for Abbi falls which is near Madikeri.
4.00 PM – Arrive at Abbi falls. Park your car and walk down the steps to the falls. Enjoy the lovely sight of the falls. Abbi falls is a wider falls but is not tall. Do not try to climb up to the falls or try and get into the bottom of the falls for bath during monsoon.
Abbi falls in full glory in Monsoon
5.00 PM – Depart Abbi falls and proceed towards your place of stay. Enjoy the evening
Day 2 Plan – Glorious Iruppu falls & Drive through Nagarahole forests
The Route – Madikeri (Place of your night stay in Coorg) – Virajpet – Ponnampet – Iruppu Falls – Kutta – Hunsur – Bangalore (check out two routes in Travel Tips Section)
Total distance – 350 KMs
Route Map – Check out Google Map link in Travel Tips section
Road condition – Very good
10 AM – After breakfast, depart for Iruppu Falls. Enjoy the drive through winding roads in the rolling hills of Coorg.
11.30 AM – Arrive at Iruppu Falls. Buy the ticket at the counter and walk up the steps. Ten minutes walk up the hill on the steps will bring you the base of the spectacular Iruppu falls. This is a lovely multi tiered waterfalls which is spectacular during monsoon. Spend half and hour here.
Multilayered Iruppu falls. Spectacular in Monsoon!
12.30 PM – Depart Iruppu falls. Drive to Hunsur through the lovely forests of Nagarahole. The forest is beautiful after rains. You may also be happy to sight any wild animals like elephants, deer etc.
1.45 PM – Arrive at Hunsur bypass. Have lunch at Cafe County or any other restaurants on the highway.
2.45 PM – Depart Hunsur and arrive at Bangalore by 6.30 PM
Travel Tips
a) The monsoon road trip from Bangalore 2 goes through some of the spectacular regions of Western ghats. The roads are winding and curvy after Arkalgud. Drive safe.
b) Since the route goes through small towns and villages, you will not be seeing any decent restaurants. The best place to eat something on the way is Kudrasthe/Somwarpet which is a major junction in the area.
c) The roads will be wet. Make sure your car has good tyres.
d) Do not enter into any stream/backwaters.
e) There are many home stays/resorts around Madikeri. Pick one and stay for the night.
f) Carry umbrella/rain coat.
g) Carry a good camera and a binocular.
h) On the way back, you can either come via Bangalore – Mysore road or come back via Hunsur – Holenarispur – Channarayapatna – Bangalore. The second route is longer by 50 KMs but peaceful drive with less traffic. Avoid coming on Bangalore – Mysore highway after 5 PM as the weekend traffic peaks up. Google map for both route are given below.
Google map – Hunsur – Bangalore via Channarayapatna
Google map – Hunsur – Bangalore via Mysore Highway
i) If you are coming back via Bangalore – Mysore highway there are many options to eat. If you are coming via Channarayapatna, then the best place to eat is Swathi deilcacy.
Next in the series – Monsoon drive in Hills of Chikamagalur
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