Road trips from Bangalore 5 - Hill Holiday in Coorg, Wayanad and Ooty!

This is a comfortable road trip from Bangalore. Being road-trippers, we love the freedom road trips provide to stop, look and explore.

We will be sharing details about 6 lovely road trips from Bangalore in this blog exploring heritage, western ghats, wild life, beaches etc....... These drives, cover not more than 300 KMs in a day. The plan is to cover for a week extendable for another two days. 

This is the fifth one in the series. This one covers the lovely hills of Coorg, Wayanad and Ooty. Take a look, plan and go!

Read on.....

This is a classic road trippers dream holiday. Similar to the one we had posted on Malnad and Karavali. Distances are not much. Views are amazing. Food is great. Many options to stay. If you get bored of seeing the greenery throughout, a day is kept for just lazing on the beach. You can do Ooty first and Coorg last if you wish to. Here we go.....

The Circuit

Bangalore - Srirangapatna - Belagola - Hunsur - Madikeri - Iruppu Falls - Thirunelli temple - Kalpetta (Wayanad) - Ooty - Masinagudi - Bangalore

Google Map - Google map of Circuit

Day 1 - Saturday - Bangalore - Madikeri - 250 KMs
Road Condition - Excellent except for few KMs after Srirangapatna

Leave around 7 AM. Have breakfast on the way on Bangalore - Mysore road. You are spoilt for choices here. Depending on when you leave you can have breakfast of Kotte Kadubu in Kamat Loka Ruchi near Ramanagaram, Tatte Idlis in Bidadi, Iyengar cuisine of Pongal - Karnataka style - vada at Kadambam after Channapatna, Khara Bath/Masala Dosa at Shivalli Tiffin room after Channapatna or Assorted breakfast menu in reliable Adigas in Maddur, Maddur Vade and Masala Dosa in Maddur Tiffany's in Maddur. If you are coffee and doughnut kind of a person you can stop at Cafe Coffee day or McDonald's.

At Srirangapatna, look for deviation to Coorg highway via Belagola. Follow the sign boards of "Orange County" resort if confused! 

Stop at Bylakuppe to visit Tibetan Golden temple and monastery. The drive to Bylakuppe from the highway is beautiful flanked by miles and miles of maize fields. Savour the ambience of the temple. If possible, meet a monk and get to know more about the temple. Look for locally manufactured Tibetan handicrafts especially beautifully woven carpets with Tibetan motifs. 

The sanctum sanctorum of Golden temple

Drive on and stop at Kaveri Nisargadhama - a small island formed by Cauvery river. Walk over the suspension bridge. Enjoy a swim in the river - note for safety instructions  and follow them. 

Wire suspension bridge over Cauvery in Nisargadhama

Stop over at Amanvana Spa resort nest to Nisargadhama for a beer and Biryani for lunch. A beautiful resort, the restaurant is on the banks of Cauvery. If your wallet does not permit, then go for excellent South Indian Thali at Athitya in Kushalnagar town.

Drive on to Madikeri or any home stay/resort you have chosen in Coorg.

Relax for the day or if energy levels are high visit Raja Seat in Madikeri for sunset and serene Omkareshwara temple in the evening.

Omkareshwara temple

Day 2 - Sunday - Explore Coorg

Visit Dubare elephant camp before breakfast and follow it up with a rafting on the river if interested. 

After breakfast head to Talacauvery - 45 KMs - to see the place where river Cauvery takes its birth. The temple is small and nothing great. But the surroundings are beautiful. Nestled at the foot hills of Brahmagiri wild life sanctuary, it is a quiet and serene place. Return back for lunch. 

After lunch and rest, drive to Abbey falls. Walk down the steps to get a good look of water gushing down.

Morning sight from Raja seat

Abbey Falls

Return to Homestay for night stay.

Day 3 - Monday - Madikeri - Wayanad (Kalpetta) via Iruppu falls and Tirunelli - 167 KMs

After Breakfast drive to Iruppu falls. This is a beautiful falls.....higher than Abbey. Spend some time here and then proceed to Tirunelli to visit the ancient Vishnu temple nestled in the forests. After darshan, proceed to Kalpetta or your home stay in Wayanad for lunch.

Iruppu falls

Tirunelli temple

Rest and rejuvenated, drive down to Banasura dam - it closes at 6 PM - to savour beautiful vistas of backwaters. Go for boating experience. If weather is clear you will be lucky to see a beautiful sunset.

Return to Home stay for night stay.

Day 4 - Tuesday - Explore Wayanad

We strongly recommend getting up early to drive to Pookat lake in the morning at sun rise and take a walk along the banks. The lake is of one of the most beautiful places in Wayanad which needs to be savoured when there are no tourists. Go for boating on the lake and return for break fast.

Pookat lake

After breakfast, take packed lunch and hike to Edakkal caves and Soochipara water falls.
After lunch, visit Meenmutty falls and return to home stay

Day 5 - Wednesday - Wayanad - Calicut - 70 KMs
Road condition - Very Good

Get up in the morning and after an early breakfast drive to Kuruwa Dweep, the lovely bird sanctuary. Go in a boat to spot the birds. 

After Lunch, drive to Calicut. Enjoy the beautiful views of western ghats on the way. Drive to the beach. Enjoy the waters and lovely sunset. 

Lovely sands at Kappad beach

Return back to Wayanad to your Home stay for night.

Day 6 - Thursday - Wayanad - Ooty - 116 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good

After break fast, drive to Ooty via Gudalur. This is beautiful drive and reach Ooty for Lunch. After lunch, drive to boat house for a boat ride in the lake. Walk around in Ooty market and buy Ooty chocolates from the iconic place known as "King Star".

Tea Gardens on the way to Ooty

The Ooty lake

Day 7 - Friday - Explore Ooty

After breakfast, hop on to the Nilgiris heritage train and enjoy the "Chayya Chayya" moments. You can either do the complete train journey to Mettupalyam - takes 5 hours one way - and return back by either bus or go only up to Coonoor and catch a bus back to Ooty. Make sure you notice the lovely British built railways stations.

The train

Relax for the day. 

Day 8 - Saturday - Ooty - Coonoor - Kotagiri - 50 KMs

Get up early and after a cup of coffee take your car and drive to Avalanche and Emerald lake. The lake looks beautiful in the morning light and drive is a pleasant one. Stop over at any of the villages for nice cup of "boiler" tea. Drive up to Red Hills nature resort to get a view of Emerald lake.

Emerald lake in the morning

Emerald lake as seen from the peak behind Red Hills nature resort

Also look at this post on Ooty and Red hills in the blog - Ooty - Escape to red hills

After breakfast drive to Coonoor and Kotagiri to savour the view of Nilgiri ranges. At Coonoor and Kotagiri you can visit some viewpoints like Lamb's rock and also Catherine falls.

Catherine Falls

Day - 9 - Sunday - Ooty - Bangalore via Mysore - 266 KMs
Road Condition - Very Good

Pls check out the following links on this blog related to this post.

Ooty - Escape to Red Hills

Mango Range estate - Ideal location to explore Ooty and Wayanad

Stay options

Coorg - You are spoilt for options with newly opened fabulous Taj Vivanta and grand old bride of Coorg, Orange County to humble home stays. Unless you are a "resort type" we recommend staying in a home stay where you can get an of authentic "Kodava experience". Honeypot Homes and Polycad estate are our favourite home stays.

For more options on home stays in Coorg look at this nice webpage :- Coorg Homestays

Wayanad - Here too, you are spoilt for choices. Our choice is the remote and beautiful "Fringeford" and the nice home stay "Glenora".

Ooty - You should not stay in the city which gets crowded. The best options are "Destiny Farm Stay" and "Red Hills Nature Resort". Apart from these, also look at excellent properties "Kings Cliff" and "Sherlocks" by Littlearth group. If you have a fat wallet there is always  "Fern hill Palace", "Sullivan Court" and "Savoy Hotel".

Travel Tips

a) This is a quintessential driving holiday. The drive takes you through beautiful spots in Western ghats and Nilgiris biosphere. The drive is through the hills and recommended to drive safe.

b) If you are the "Trekker" kind, add another day in Wayanad and Coorg and also in Nilgiris. There are lot of day trekking options.

c) Madikeri, Kalpetta and Ooty gets crowded during holidays. Be prepared for crowds and long queues for boating unless you reach there early.

d) Madikeri is still a small town and has still retained its charm. You can explore it by foot or by bicycle. Ask the place of your stay for it. While in Coorg don't forget to taste the Kodava cuisine.

e) If you are a golf enthusiast, both Madikeri and Ooty have excellent golf courses. Check it out with your host for details.

f) Coorg and Wayanad will get chilly at night. The temperature in Ooty may touch zero  degree. Woolens are a must in Ooty in winters.

g) Whether you are staying in Taj Vivanta, Coorg or not - it is expensive - do drop in for a lunch there. The place is awesome and the views from the reception lobby is just out of the world. Do this before Taj guys stop entry to non residential guests which they are notorious for!!

h) The drive to Wayanad via Iruppu gives you an opportunity to go through some lovely landscape. The temple in Tirunelli is serene and uncrowded. 

i) We are strong advocates of getting up in the morning and driving around in the hills when the sun is coming up and there is no traffic. Wayanad is best enjoyed by driving around.

j) Look out for locally made handicrafts - made by tribals - in and around Kalpetta. There is a nice shop near Pookat lake on the highway.

h) You can do boating both in Pookat and Banasura dam. Go there early.

i) The drive to Calicut is nice and views as one drives up and come down to coast is fabulous. The beach in Calicut is beautiful too. Don't forget to pick up the famous "Calicut halwa" from Ramana Bakery in the town.

j) The route to Ooty from Kalpetta is very picturesque and goes through beautiful tea gardens. On the way you can visit Meenmutty falls and Phantom rock as well.

k) While in Ooty, drive around. That is the mantra. Ooty town like any other hill station in the country is crowded. Once you get out of Ooty, you will see some fabulous vistas. Plan drives in Avalanche area and to Coonoor/Kotagiri. You will love it.

l) Go to Honeymoon boat house - not the main boat house - where the queues are smaller during season.

m) Ooty has some lovely churches built by British. If you have time do visit them.

n) While in Coorg, you can also take out some time to visit Fort, Nalknadu Palace. Coorg is also famous for its festivals and also the Hockey tournament played amongst the families.

n) On the way back from Ooty to Bangalore, you may stop over for a day in Masinagudi and do jungle safari. Our favourite place is the laid-back Jungle Retreat. But there are many options in Masinagudi. Another nice place is Inn the Wild

For more details on Ooty, you may look at this post here

Ooty - A quick escape to Red Hills!

For other "Driving Holidays or Road Trips from Bangalore series" please click here

Driving Holidays from Bangalore 1 - Karnataka Heritage Trails

Driving Holidays from Bangalore 2 - Magical Malnad!

Driving Holidays from Bangalore 3 - A tryst with Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu

Driving Holidays from Bangalore 4 - Karavali and Koffee Combo!

Driving Holidays from Bangalore 5 - Exploring Enchanting Uttara Kannada!

You may also look at this link on this blog on what to do this summer in India

17 Cool Options to beat the heat in South India!

Ten Things to do in India this summer you haven't done before!

Some useful Links

On Coorg - Coorg Travel Guide

On Wayanad - Wayanad Travel Guide

On Ooty - Wikitravel Ooty

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Road trips from Bangalore 4 - Karavali and Koffee Combo!!

This is a comfortable road trip from Bangalore. Being road-trippers, we love the freedom road trips provide to stop, look and explore.

We will be sharing details about 6 lovely road trips from Bangalore in this blog exploring heritage, western ghats, wild life, beaches etc....... These drives, cover not more than 300 KMs in a day. The plan is to cover for a week extendable for another two days.

This is the fourth in the series. Take a look, plan and go!

Read on.....

Coastal Karnataka has some gorgeous beaches which are unexplored and unspoilt. The vast coastline of Karnataka is not only known for its sands, it is also known for amazing cultural diversity as well. The region is well known for its temples, cuisine, folk arts. The coastline is hugged by mountains on one side with countless rivers draining their waters into the sea creating beautiful estuaries. You will be covering some finest water falls, beaches and valleys of western ghats in this sojourn.

The best time to visit the coastal Karnataka is winter months. Why not plan for a coastal trip this winter and enjoy the sun and sands with some fish fries and Coffee thrown in?? 

The Circuit

Bangalore - Jog falls - Murudeswar - Udupi - Mangalore - Sakleshpur - Bangalore
Google Map of Circuit

Day 1 - Bangalore - Jog falls 

Distance - 380 KMs

Road Condition - Very Good

Leave early morning and drive along Bangalore - Shimoga - Sagara - Jog falls road. You can have breakfast either before Tumkur at Kamat or Pai Hotel in Tiptur or excellent Masala Dosa at Preethi Canteen in Birur depending on the time of your departure. 

If you are able to leave around 7 AM, you can reach Jog Falls around 2.30 PM for late lunch. Check in at Matthuga Home stay. 

Relax for an hour. Drive to Jog falls in the evening and enjoy the sights.

Jog Falls

Night stay at Muthuga.

Day 2 - Jogfalls - Murudeshwar via Honnavar

Distance - 90 KMs

Road condition - Very good with few pot holes

After breakfast, depart for Murudeswar. Enjoy the drive through Sharavathi valley. Reach by noon. 

Check in and lunch done, relax for an hour before exploring Murudeshwar. Dont miss going by the lift to the top of the Gopura or the temple tower - see picture below - by lift for an awesome view of the Arabian sea.

Sharavati valley view

The temple tower at Murudeshwar - Tallest in the country

Enjoy the beach and witness fabulous sunset. 

Night stay at Murudeshwar.

Day 3 - Murudeshwar - Gokarna - Honnavar

Distance - 160 KMs

Road Condition - Very Good

After breakfast drive along the coast to Gokarna which is one of the 12 Jyotir Lingas. After temple, visit the famed OM Beach. 

On the way back stop over at Honavar for lunch and visit Apsarakonda water falls and relax on the lovely beach. Return to Murudeshwar.

Apsarakonda Waterfalls

Night stay at Murudeshwar

Day 4 - Murudeshwar - Udupi Via Kollur 

Distance - 156 KMs

Road Condition - Very Good

After breakfast hit the road and take deviation at Uppunda for a visit to famous Mookambika temple at Kollur. After temple visit, drive back to the highway on the same road which will help you visit Maravanthe to enjoy the beautiful landscape with Swarnamukhi river on one side and sea on the other. 

Maravanthe - Sea on one side and river in the other

For lunch, stop over at famous Shetty's lunch home for their mouthwatering Chicken Ghee Roast and Kane fish Fry. Check out nice post on Shetty's Lunch home here :- Shetty's Seashore Sensation

Reach Udupi. Check in and relax. 

In the evening visit Krishna Temple and savour the old world charm of temple surroundings by walking around. 

Night stay at Udupi

Day 5 - Udupi 

After breakfast in Mitra Samaj or Diana drive to Malpe beach. Catch a boat and travel to St Mary's islands. Spend few hours on this beautiful islands. Come back for late lunch. Relax. 

St Mary's Islands

Kaup beach with lighthouse

In the evening drive to beautiful Kaup beach to spend some serene moments watching the sun go don the Arabian sea.

Night stay at Udupi

Day 6 - Udupi - Mangalore

Distance - 60 KMs

Road Condition - Very Good

After breakfast drive to Mangalore. On the way visit famous Durga Parameshwari temple at Kateel. Reach hotel in time for lunch. After a siesta visit Pilkula Nisargadhama - a eco park. 

Rosario church

Spend time on the beach or visit the beautiful churches built by British. Don't miss out on the authentic Mangalorean cuisine whether is its Vegetarian like Neer dosa and Chutney or Buns and Chutney or Non-Vegetarian items like Akki rotti and Kori Gassi or Kane Fish fry. Take a look at this nice blog post on Mangalore food :-

Mangalore Food Guide

Night stay at Mangalore.

Day 7 - Mangalore - Bekal - Nileshwar

Distance - 180 KMs

Road condition - Very Good

After early breakfast drive to Bekal and visit the 18th century fort by the sea. After visiting the sea fort, drive to Nileshwar for a Malabar Mapilla lunch in Nalanda restaurant. 

Sea as seen from Bekal fort

Lunch done, go for a back water cruise, watch sunset on the beach and return back to Mangalore. Check out this link for backwater cruises in Bekal/Nileshwar:- Back Water Cruises in Bekal/Nileshwar

Night stay in Mangalore

Day 8 - Mangalore - Sakleshpur via Kukke 

Distance - 165 KMs

Road condition - Very Good

After breakfast, leave for Sakleshpur. On the way visit famous Subramanyeshwara temple at Kukke. Reach Kadamane estate for lunch. 

After lunch, go for a short trek to the nearby water falls.

Night stay at Sakleshpur.

Day 9 - Explore Sakleshpur 

Distance - 90 KMs

Road condition - Good with potholes

Get up to chirping sounds of birds. Go for a morning walk to Five acres. Get a WOW feeling standing on top of the hill in front of lovely valley.

Mesmerising valley view @ five acres

After breakfast, drive around Sakleshpur to see beautiful landscape. Drive to Bisle ghat to see the awesome valley of Bisle. On the way back from Bisle ghat dont forget to visit Mallalli falls. Enjoy the vistas of the lovely unexplored falls and return back for late lunch.

Post lunch, just relax with a book in hand!

Day 10 - Sakleshpur - Bangalore

Distance - 252 KMs

Road Condition - Very Good

After breakfast leave for Bangalore. Reach Bangalore by lunch.

Stay Options

Jog Falls - Matthuga Home stay - The best place to explore Jog Falls.

Murudeshwar - RNS Residency - fabulous ocean view - or Naveen Beach resort.

Udupi - Paradise island beach resort near Malpe or Sai Vishram near Kundapur is a good option if you don't want to stay in city. There are many options for stay in city.

Mangalore - There are many good options for stay in Mangalore. But no good beach resorts as such. though there is "Summer Sands". But it is rundown.

Sakleshpur - There are many options in Sakleshpur. Kadamane Estate and The Hills are good options.  

Travel Tips

a) On day 1, you can visit Tyavarekoppa lion and tiger safari after Shivamogga on the way to Jog falls. Kids will love it. You can have lunch in Sagara and reach Muthuga by 3 PM.

b) There are many places to explore around Jog falls. You can do that in the morning of Day 2 before lunch. You can see them in the website of Muthuga.

c) Stop by the view point - a white watch tower - while driving from Jog falls to Murdeshwar to see vastness of Sharavathi valley. 

d) Be careful while playing in the sea. Respect safety instructions published on the beach.

e) At Gokarna, don't be fooled by priests who will try to fleece. Enter the temple and have darshan and come out. 

f) Apsarakonda falls is a beautiful place where there is a water fall next to the beach! Enjoy the place on the way from Gokarna to Murudeshwar.

g) Go to famous Kollur Mookambika temple on the way from Murudeshwar to Udupi. Do come back on the same route which will help you see the beautiful Maravanthe.

h) Udupi is a small little town. Explore the surroundings of the tmeple by walking around. Mitra Samaj, the iconic Udupi restuarant is famous for its Masala Dosa and Goli Bajji. Dont miss savouring fried idlis and ice creams in Diana restaurant.

i) Do visit the Durga Parameshwari temple in Kateel. The temple is situatued on a small island surrounded by water on either sides.

J) Pilkula Nisargadhama is a nice place for kids. It has musical fountain, zoo, toy train, boating etc.

h) Try and reach Bekal before 11 AM as sun will be harsh after that. Marvel at the views of the se from the ramparts of this impregnable fort built by Tipu Sultan. 

i) Nileshwar is a hidden gem on Malabar coast. The serene backwaters canals beckons you for a quiet cruise. 

J) Enjoy the sprawling estate of Kadamane in Sakleshpur. Appreciate the way the British enjoyed their stay in India.

Related posts

Karavali Vistas - I

Karavali Vistas - II

Captivating Kadamane estate @ Sakleshpur

Sakleshpur - Mesmerised in Monsoon

For other posts in "Driving Holidays from Bangalore" series, please click here

Driving Holidays from Bangalore

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