Things to do in Kottayam

Besides being the perfect conduit between Kerala’s most interesting places and home to its famous backwaters, Kottayam is a region rich in history and culture. No wonder it is one of Kerala’s most alluring destinations for travellers.

1. Enjoy some religious sightseeing

Kottayam is speckled with centuries-old churches, temples, and mosques. The most notable amongst these are two churches known as Valiyapalli and Cheriyapalli, near Kottayam town. Built in the 16th century, these churches are distinct in character. While Valiyapalli has rare antique carvings, murals and West Asian architecture, Cheriyapalli depicts Biblical themes but also features temple architecture. On the banks of the river Meenachil, you’ll find the Thazhathangady Juma Masjid. This mosque is over 1000 years old and is richly embellished by carvings and murals. Two important temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are the Vaikom Temple and Thirunakkara Shiva Temple. Besides their traditional architecture, these temples also attract people for their festival celebrations which are unique and moving.

church in Kottayam

2. See the backwaters

One of Kottayam’s most precious offerings is Kumarakom. Home of the backwaters, this area is famous for its serene cruises, divine landscapes and greenery. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Pathiramanal Island are true delights for bird-watching enthusiasts as they attract migratory birds from as far away as Siberia and the Himalayas. Here you can also find countless reliable centres that will treat you with a relaxing Ayurvedic massage, a delightful way of starting your day.

Backwaters in Kottayam

3. Take a road trip

From languid backwaters to the majestic Western Ghats, Kottayam is a region which offers stunning natural beauty in a variety of forms. To experience Kottayam’s glory at its mesmerising best, rent a car. A drive on the stretch connecting Kottayam to the Periyar Sanctuary offers you Kottayam’s finest and most untouched landscapes. You’ll find yourself embraced by sky-high palm trees and plantations, convincing you that you’re in an artist’s masterpiece.

4. Visit the cave temple

Ayyappara is a cave-like temple, which is revered by people as a place of enormous historical and religious importance. This mythological place is believed to have sheltered the Pandavas during their exile and it attracts thousands of believers from far and wide, all year round. Located 2000 feet above sea level, Ayyappara is also popular amongst tourists for its splendid sunsets.

Caves in Kottayam

5. Get close to wildlife

An eternal favourite amongst travellers is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, located a couple of hours from Kottayam. This expansive sanctuary is the home of many enchanting animals. Here, herds of elephants are often seen strolling by, and creatures including exotic birds, bison and wild boar are found. A cruise takes you along the divinely beautiful Periyar River as it bisects the sanctuary’s majestic mountains. A heavenly way of taking in the sights is by bamboo rafts, and camps can be set for the outdoorsy travellers. Owing to its idyllic beauty, it has long been a favourite amongst both amateur and accomplished photographers.

Wildlife of Kottayam

6. Trek through ‘God’s own country’

Love walking? Wagamon and Peermed are the ultimate hiking destinations in Kottayam. While Peermed is a popular hill station perched at an altitude of 1066 meters, Wagamon is 60 kms from Kottayam and offers delightful landscapes that can be scaled with ease.

Trekking Kottayam

7. Feast with a local family

Like most other parts of India, Kerala has its unique cuisine. The truly authentic way of experiencing the real local flavours is by staying with a friendly Kerala family in a Kottayam homestay. They will serve dishes from recipes perfected over time by past generations. The best part is, if you are lucky, you will be served vegetables that you helped pick or seafood that you caught with your own hands.

Feast in Kottayam

8. Marvel at the toddy tappers

Toddy is Kerala’s potent and locally produced alcohol. It has a very unique taste and is the perfect accompaniment to an authentic, local meal. The drink’s basic ingredient is actually collected by firm-footed men who effortlessly climb up towering trees and tap them. The process is as dangerous as it looks and very unique to the state. These nimble toddy tappers have become increasingly hard to find in the recent years, but with some inside information from your Kerala homestay host you should discover where to find them.

Toddy - Farmer

9. Join the festivities of Changanassery

During the festival of Deepam, people flock in large numbers to the beautiful town of Changanassery. The festival of lamps, named after the town’s old moniker ‘Town of five fire lamps’, is celebrated here every year between November and December. It’s less than 25 kms from Kottayam and also famous for the Thrikkodithanam temple, which is embellished with intriguing 18th century inscriptions.

Festival Kottayam

Things to do in Coonoor

Located at a height of 1,856 metres, Coonoor is a small tea garden town and an enchanting hill station. Here we bring you 10 Coonoor things to do that will enable you to make the most of this jewel nestled in the Nilgiri mountains

1. See Sim’s Park 

Sim’s Park sits in a deep ravine. By navigating its meandering paths you can reach the park’s higher peaks. Its most wondrous offering is its wealth of shola trees and the other innumerable varieties, sporadically planted all over. In full bloom, this randomness creates a vibrant and unreal effect. The park is also famous for affording great views to many of Coonoor’s popular tourist spots such as Lamb’s Rock, Dolphin’s Nose and Lady Canning’s Seat.

Sims-Park

2. Take the toy train

Nilgiri’s famous toy train is one of the most popular Coonoor things to do. The charming train started operating over a century ago and, considering the terrain of the region, it is rightfully considered an engineering marvel. The blue-cream train oozes old world charm with delightful wooden coaches and large windows that provide enchanting views. It’s called a toy train because it’s so slow that you can high-five the children outside as it moves. It stops every hour and so you can easily hop in and out for a short photo session. A ride on the usually crowded train should be considered a rare experience rather than treated as a functional mode of transport.

Toy-Train

3. Bird watching and listening

Coonoor’s calm and quiet is not just appreciated by peace-seeking tourists but also exotic birds. Here, you can find many songbirds such as nightingales, babblers, larks and robins, who serenade you with their mesmerizing harmonies.

Bird-Watching

4. Pick the fruits 

Coonoor’s Pomological Station is a feast for those interested in horticulture. Many varieties of fruits are grown here for research purposes. Here, one can also purchase fresh apples, plums, apricots and much more. Freshly made fruit jams are produced on a small scale and are delicious gifts for those back home.

Fruit Picking

5. Tour the silk station

A visit to the Silk Rearing Station is a great way to learn the intricacies of Sericulture. On special request you can get a complete tour of the process and see how the famous Indian silk is made. However, do note that the process involves boiling silkworms alive, so it may not be for everyone.

Silk

6. Enjoy the falls

The Law Falls are located 7 kilometers from Coonoor and make for a lovely picnic spot. The divine Falls drop from a height of almost 200 feet and what adds to the charm of the area is that it is enveloped by majestic Shola trees.

Waterfall

7. Get some fantastic views

A short drive from Coonoor is a destination called Lamb’s Rock. The tourist spot is a favourite of visitors because it offers divine views of Coimbatore. Just a little further away from Lamb’s Rock is Dolphin’s Nose. The viewpoint is quite simply named after a massive rock, which resembles the face of a Dolphin.

Sun-set

8. Share a point of view

Lady Canning’s Seat is just 9 kilometers from Coonoor. It is so named because the wife of Viceroy Canning loved to sit and marvel at the vista. Here you can find a small residence, which you can explore or just use to rest for a bit. From this destination you can soak-up the enchanting views of the endless tea estates that surround you as well as gaze at the plains

Valley-view

9. Drive to Droog

To reach the Droog, one has to drive 15 kilometers from Coonoor and then take on a 3 kilometer long trek. The Droog serves as a popular picnic spot but it also has great historical significance. The destination once served as an outpost for the great Tipu Sultan. It stands proud at an elevation of 6,000 feet and due to its location it offers incomparable views of the surrounding plains.

Droog Drive

10. Day trip to Masinagudi

Masinagudi is a great place to see elephants languidly strolling by, sharing the roads with cars, pedestrians and trucks. The destination is less than 20 kms from Coonoor and the drive is infested with hairpin turns. Trekking is the best way to explore Masinagudi’s beautiful vistas. There are innumerable charming makeshift snack stalls, which serve as great places to take a break and dig into the local delicacies.

Elephant-in-Masinagudi

Interesting Things To Do In Coorg, India

Nestled away in the south-western corner of Karnataka lies a place dubbed ‘The Scotland of the East’: Coorg.

There’s plenty to do and see in this stunning part of the country, but we’ve been thinking really hard and have come up with seven particularly interesting or different things to do in Coorg that will add more to your trip.

Got any ideas of your own? Please add them to the comments below.

1. Help an elephant take his daily bath

Near Kushalnagar there is a natural island with 11 acres of land, covered in trees and surrounded by a wonderful wreath of water. The Dubare Forest is maintained by the forest department, who also run an ‘Elephant Training Camp’. The island is reached by a 20 rupees motorboat ride. Tourists visit to witness the daily routines of tamed elephants.

Help an elephant take his daily bath

These huge mammals are used to the attention, moving through the river water and lying down while visitors pat and clean them. Tourists enjoy scrubbing the ears and backs as the elephants throw water on themselves through their trunks. After the bathing fun, it’s dinner time, with visitors serving ‘raagi balls’ made especially for them by the forest department. The cool and gurgling waters of the Cauvery River create a pleasant and refreshing atmosphere.

You can get back to the mainland either by the same motorboat or by following a natural stone path through the river.

2. Visit the biggest Tibetan settlement in southern India

Did you know there is an 18,000-strong community of Tibetans living in southern India?

Bylakuppe, situated 90 kms away from Mysore city on the Mysore-Madikeri highway, is the largest Tibetan refugee camp, housing thousands of Tibetans in exile. Over 45 years ago Tibetans settled here, creating a ‘mini-Tibet’ in one village.

Visit the biggest Tibetan settlement in southern India

As you get close, you’ll see Buddhist monks – ‘Lamas’- overtaking you on their speeding motor bikes, their maroon robes flapping in the air. In the market they can be seen wearing Raybans and listening to their i-Pods! The sense of sudden change as you enter this Tibetan enclave is surreal, with its colorful flags, monasteries and modernised Tibetan culture.

More than 7000 monks pursue their monastic education in Bylakuppe’s monasteries, with dedicated veneration to his holiness The Dalai Lama, their supreme master. The Golden Temple, with a 60 ft gold plated Buddha statue, and the recent addition of ‘copper colored mountain’ Zandong Palri it’s an attractive tourist destination.

3. Trek the hills

From easy to arduous treks, Coorg has varying trails for all kinds of adventure seeker. The best season to plan treks in Coorg is December to May. The three main mountain peaks in Coorg for trekking are Brahmagiri, Pushpagiri and Tadiandamol. You can trek alone or with a guide. Organisations like Coorg Adventure Club (CAC) organise trekking expeditions from time to time and can arrange the necessary facilities for the interested trekkers. The experience has it all: thick forests, sloping hills, waterfalls, incredible views of this area dubbed ‘Scotland of the East’.

Trek the hills

4. Watch the hockey festival

Hockey is a traditional game of the Kodava community, the ethnic group of this region. The Kodava Hockey festival in Coorg has run since 1997. The principal rule of the festival is that a particular team is represented by members of a specific family. Each year, the festival is organised by a different family who give their name to the tournament. It’s for both men and women and is considered to be of great importance. The festival was initiated to bring the people of Kodava community closer. The opening and closing ceremonies are held with spectacle of various dances and a emonstration of martial arts of Kodavas.

Watch the hockey festival

5. Tuck into Coorg cuisine

Even though the people of Coorg are mostly non-vegetarian, they are influenced by the South Indian ways of cooking food. Their rich cuisine of dishes use pork, chicken or fish but are cooked with coconut, curry leaves, ginger, chilli and spices like pepper and cardamom. If you eat meat, you have to try it cooked South India style.

Tuck into Coorg cuisine

6. Attend a Coorg wedding

A Coorg wedding is very different from other South Indian weddings, with the customs followed more familiar to those of North India. The bride wears a red sari, draped in an unusual manner that involves tying pleats in the rear, taking around the back and pinning of small portion of the pallu (end of the sari) securely over the right shoulder.

Attend a Coorg wedding

Men and women of Coorg are known for their beauty, bravery and intelligence. The men look handsome in their long overcoats, with a silken sash around the waist. They carry a customary dagger called ‘pechekathi’ tucked on to the right side of the sash.

Coorg weddings are distinct from weddings in other Indian states because they don’t follow customs like dowry system or child marriage, and it is only here that alcohol is served as a customary ritual with the food.

7. Walk the plantations

Coorg is densely covered with coffee, pepper and cardamom estates. These estates on the lush and steep hills of Coorg make an interesting walk. With Mahindra Homestays, you can even stay in one of the plantation properties and learn from the estate owner all about the growth of coffee and important local spices. Not to mention enjoy a piping hot coffee made wish fresh beans as you relax and enjoy the wonderful views.

Walk the plantations

The best places to visit in Ooty

Ooty or Udagamandalam is a beautiful hillstation in south India. It is carpeted by lush greenery and fairly untouched landscapes. Often referred to as the Queen of Hillstations, Ooty draws a large number of tourists every year,  attracted by it’s natural beauty and perfect picnic spots. We discover some of the best places to visit in Ooty.

Coonoor

Less than 20 kilometers from Ooty, Coonoor makes a great day trip. Coonoor is a very laid back place where most activities are centered around nature and its appreciation. This is the ideal place to feel one with Mother Nature and indulge in some rest and relaxation.

Tea Estate in Ooty

Niligiri Toy Train Ride

Nilgiri’s famous Toy Train is a great way to reach Coonoor. The charming train started operating over a century ago and considering the terrain of the region it is rightfully considered an engineering marvel. The blue-cream train oozes old world charm with delightful wooden coaches and large windows that provide enchanting views. It’s called a toy train because it’s so slow that you can high-five the children outside. It stops every hour and so you can easily hop in and out for a short photo session. A ride of the usually crowded train should be considered as a rare experience as well as a functional mode of transport.

Ooty Toy Train

History of Nature

Ooty is a feast for those interested in horticulture. Many varieties of fruits and flowers are grown at the Government Botanical gardens, which were opened in 1847. The Gardens have well over 650 species of plants and trees, including a fossil of a tree, which is believed to be more than 20 million years old.

Government Botanical Gardens

Lake Ooty

If you like the outdoors you will love the Ooty lake. It was built in 1825 and is almost 3 kms long. Boating, angling, strolling around the perimeter are popular activities here. This is one of the best places to visit in Ooty for families who want to spend time together. Fishing permission is required ahead of time.

Ooty Lake

The Dodabetta Peak

Perched at an altitude of 2,623 meters, this is the highest point in the district, and the best place to visit in Ooty for a spectacular vantage point. It is located 10kms from Ooty and is a great place for photographers and nature lovers. On a clear day you can see as far as Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore.

Lamb’s Rock

This is another vantage point that’s shared by Coonoor and Ooty in terms of distance. It serves as a lovely picnic spot and offers splendid vistas of the plains of Coimbatore and the region’s tea states.

A beautiful scene on the way to Lamb’s rock, Ooty

Kodanadu

16kms from Kotagiri is Kodanadu. It is situated on the eastern edge of the Nilgiris. This is also a good viewpoint, which offers enchanting views of the Moyar river and endless tea estates. The Rangasamy peak is visible from the watchtower here.

Festivities

In January, you can enjoy a Tea and Tourism Festival. But other important regional festivals are Thaipoosam in Elk Hill Murugan Temple (February), Bookkapuram Mariamman Annual Festival (February), Ooty Mariamman Temple Festival (April), Coonoor Mariamman Temple Festival (April), Boat Races and Boat Pageantry in Ooty (May), Flower show in Ooty (May) and Fruit show in Coonoor (May).

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

• The nearest airport is in Coimbatore, 100 km away. You can catch a direct flight to Coimbatore from Chennai, Kozhikode, Bangalore and Mumbai. Ooty is a 3 to 4 hour drive from Coimbatore, depending upon traffic and weather conditions.
• Nearest broad gauge railway head is Mettupalayam (46 kms). The major broad gauge railway junction is Coimbatore. It is connected with all major cities.
• Mettupalayam to Ooty is connected by a Mountain Railway which is a scenic 4 hour journey. The ‘Nilgiri toy train’ connects these two destinations, at the foot of the Nilgiris.
• Ooty is well connected by good roads. It is 535 km from Chennai (via Salem), 89 km from Coimbatore, 18 km from Coonoor (via Gudalur), 155 km from Mysore, 187 km from Calicut, 290 km from Bangalore, 281 km from Kochi (via Coimbatore and Palakkad), 236 km from Kodaikanal (via Coimbatore and Palani).
• Ooty enjoys superb weather all year round. December and January are its winter months. The temperature in winter hovers around 5C. In summer, the temperature can go up to 25C.
• A homestay offers the perfect accommodation for a trip to Ooty. A mere five minute drive from the main Ooty town Aarani Cottage makes an ideal base to stay.
• Many visitors opt to stay in Coonoor and take day trips to Ooty. Check out our wide range of Coonoor homestays.

Best Places to Visit in Kerala

Though every region of Kerala is full with attractions and beautiful scenery and all the places are counted as must to visit. Some of the best Places to Visit in Kerala are Kovalam,Kottayam,Pallivasal and Kundala. The places can by divided as per the seasons like Trivandrum during the monsoons,Munnar in Winter and Wayanad in summer. Here is the list of top 10 best places to visit in Kerala.

Thiruvananthapuram 

The capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram is situated west coast of India and bordered by Tiruneveli,Kollam and Kanyakumari. Thiruvananthapuram is a Evergreen city of India and also considered as one of the 10 greenest cities in India. The largest city of Kerala is an IT hub and home to several educational institutes,Napier Museum and Research Laboratory.

Padmanabha-swamy-Temple-Thiruvananthapuram

Thrissur 

Thrissur is known as cultural capital of Kerala situated at the central of in Thrissur District. The city host many cultural, spiritual and religious festival of the state, Thrissur Pooram festival is the most colorful and spectacular among them. Puli Kali also known as Tiger dance is one of the most popular folk art performed here during Onam festival.

Pooram-Festival-Thrissur

Kannur

Kannur or Cannanore means the land of Lord Krishna, is a city located in the District of Kannur on the North Malabar region of Kerala. The city is famous for its Theyyam art,pristine beaches and Adventure Tourism. Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach is the most popular beach here and only one Drive-in Beach in Asia, other beaches are Payyamballam, Meenkunnu and Ezhara beaches.

Payamballam-beach-kunnur

Thekkady 

Thekkady is important tourist destination in Kerala located in the famous the Periyar National Park. The Periyar National Park is home to a large number of Indian elephants,lion-tailed Macaques,Nilgiri Langurs, Indian bison and Bengal Tigers. Mullaperiyar Dam is situated around the area on the Periyar River and formed an artificial lake for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Periyar-Natioanl-park-Thekkady

Kumarakom 

Kumarakom is most popular tourist spot located near the Kottayam city and famous for its houseboat in backwaters of Vembanad Lake. Vembanad Lake is the largest freshwater lake of Kerala and longest lake in India. Kumarakom is a famous Bird Sanctuary and home to a wide variety of local and migratory birds.

Kumarakom-backwaters

Alleppey

Alleppey is situated along with the Arabian coast of Alappuzha District and offers backwaters, beaches and lagoons tourism. Alappuzha District is one of the major tourist destination apart from backwaters it offers long paddy fields. The paddy fields are grown every year below the sea level and its one of the major attractions in Kuttanad along with backwaters and Boat services.

Alleppey

Munnar

Munnar is the famous hill station in Kerala situated at the confluence of the three rivers Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly. It is located on the western ghats range in the Idukki district and famous as the major tea plantations region. Tea plantations,Dense forests, valleys,green mountains and flora and fauna makes Munnar as one of the best romantic honeymoon destination in India.

Munnar-tea-Gardens

Wayanad 

The district of Wayanad is located in the north-east of Kerala on the on the high altitudes of majestic Western Ghats. Wayanad is one of the least explore area of Kerala and major portion are tribal habitat. District of Wayanad is full of attractions with Mountains Peaks, Rivers, lakes and waterfall. Meenmutty Falls a three-tiered waterfall with a height of 300 metres is located in Kalpetta.

Meenmutty falls-Wayanad

Kochi

Kochi earlier known as Cochin is a port city of Kerala located at west coast of India in the Arabian Sea. Kochi is the part of district of Ernakulam, the eastern part of the mainland of Kochi and they both are called as twin cities. The city of Kochi is home to Port of Kochi,Indian Navy,Indian Coast Guard and other major chemical industries. City of Kochi is the best tourist destination in Kerala and sixth best in India. Kochi Marine Drive and Kochi Harbour,Jain temple in Mattancherry are few famous Spot to visit around the city.

Kochi

Kozhikode 

Kozhikode is known as Calicut located in the southwest coast of Kerala and bordered by Kannur, Wayanad,Malappuram and Arabian Sea. Calicut is the place where Vasco da Gama lands and among the territories ceded to the British East India Company by Tipu Sultan of Mysore. The city known as City of Spices and famous for its many temples and mosques along with other attractions like Thusharagiri Falls, Kuttiyadi Dam and Sea port.

Kozhikode Beach

Wildlife Sanctuary of South India - Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Nature park is the most popular biosphere reserves in India and the major National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary of South India. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve area is located at the foothills of the famous Nilgiris hills or blue mountains at the meeting point of two majestic mountain ranges the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats and shares boundaries with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala states. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve includes many National parks and wildlife sanctuaries and also declared a Tiger Reserve. The reserve is home to fauna includes over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, about 39 species of fish, 31 amphibians and 316 species of butterflies.

Mudumalai National Park and Sanctuary

The famous Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to endangered Indian elephants,Royal Bengal Tigers, Indian Leopards and vulnerable Gaur along with Indian Giant Squirrel and Red Giant Flying Squirrel and critically endangered species of birds such as Indian White-rumped Vulture,Malabar grey Hornbill and unique near threatened Black-and-orange Flycatcher.

Elephant at Mudumalai Park

Mudumalai wildlife Park is divided into five sub ranges Masinagudi,Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota. Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries is one of the first wildlife park established in India and declared a Tiger Reserve, It is an important wildlife habitat and Wildlife Corridor between Bandipur National Park,Nagarhole National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The Reserve forests offers shelters to four big cats of India Bengal tiger, Indian leopard,deers, Jungle cat and Leopard cat along with Bonnet Macaque, Gray langur, Sloth Bear,Indian wild dogs Dhole and the Striped Hyena.

Deer at Mudumalai National Park - South India

Mukurthi National Park

The Mukurthi National Park is situated western part of Nilgiris Plateau in the Western Ghats mountain range. Mukurthi National Park is the major protect area of ungulate The Nilgiri tahr,the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Mukurthi protected area is provide Habitat for sholas and Montane grasslands Wildlife and the flora are numerous endemic plants scapigerous, Alchemilla indica and Impatiens. Fauna includes mostly the grassland mammal species including Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Marten, Nilgiri langur,Sambar deer, Barking deer and Wild water buffalo. Avifauna consists mostly of hill birds includes Whistling Thrush,Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit along with predatory birds the Black Eagle, Black-winged Kite and Kestrel.

Mountain Goat - Mukurthi National Park -South India

Silent Valley National Park

The Silent Valley National Park is the core area of the Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve and part of World Heritage Site,the Western Ghats. The high diversity of Silent Valley National Park support wide range of wildlife and home to the largest population of endangered species Lion-tailed Macaque, Malabar Giant Squirrel and Indian Flying-fox or Greater Indian Fruit Bat. One of the best place to spot rare and endangered species of birds like Long-legged Buzzard,Red winged crested cuckoo,Malabar Pied Hornbill,Nilgiri Wood-pigeon,the Black bulbul and Pale harrier.

Monkey looking - Silent Valley National Park - South India

Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary

The Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and a major wildlife corridor between Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of the Western Ghats and Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary of the Eastern Ghats. Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary is a notable wildlife corridor, mix of flat land, grass land and mountain peaks between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. Its is fourth Project Tiger Tiger Reserve of India and a notable sanctuary to diverse populations of the animals of two habitats such as great Indian Elephants,royal Bengal Tigers,Indian leopards and other wild boar, Sloth bear and striped hyenas.

Striped Hyena - Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary - South India

Bandipur National Park 

The Bandipur National Park is a tiger reserve located in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka and know for its Biomes and dry deciduous forest. The tiger reserve is one of the most famous national park in south India and along with Mudumalai,Wynad and Nagarhole it is the largest protected area of south India. Bandipur National Park is home to many species of India’s endangered wildlife such as Indian giant squirrels, muggers, Indian rock pythons, Spectacled cobra, four-horned antelopes,Indian monitor lizards and the large bovine Gaur or Indian bison.

Wild Cow - Bandipur National Park - South India

Nagarhole National Park 

The Nagarhole National Park is located between the Kodagu and Mysore district in Karnataka state. Nagarhole National Park is heavily forested Project Tiger tiger reserve and cover with small water streams, big mountain hills, deep valleys and spectacular waterfalls. Its is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park ranges from foothills of the Western Ghats to down the Brahmagiri hills towards Kerala. Nagarhole National Park is home to Purple heron,darter,Indian rock python, stripe-necked mongoose along with tiger, leopard,wild dogs and striped hyena.

RedFox - Nagarhole National Park - South India

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is an second largest wildlife park in Kerala and declared a Project Elephant, Elephant Reserves. Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary is situated between the Mysore and a small town Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district of Kerala. Wayanad Animal sanctuary support a wide range of flora includes maruthi, bamboos, rosewood, karimaruthi and fauna such as panthers, jungle cats, deer and bears along with AviFauna few wild birds owls, woodpeckers, jungle fowls,Peacocks and Peafowl.

Vulture at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary - South India

Unearth the Secrets of Talakadu

It is the classical Indian story . A tale told by gods and demons, filled with kings and queens, replete with curses and boons. There is a little bit of history here, blended with some geology and topped with legends and myths. Set on the banks of the River Cauvery in Karnataka, this saga dates back to the 4th century and has certain intriguing elements, defying the very laws of nature.

Talakadu temple

It was a natural curiosity to unearth the secrets of Talakadu that drove us from Bangalore one Sunday morning. It was one of those beautiful moments. The weather was just right. An eagle scooped down and soared away with the same ease. A herd of goats clamored for attention. Flanked by the verdant greenery, we passed fresh dewy fields, lotuses jostling for space in ponds, flitting butterflies and a few scattered hamlets. We saw glimpses of rustic life as various stages of harvest were in progress. The entire scene was an ode to the countryside. We ambled on for a couple of hours on the Mysore Road and took a detour at Maddur, passed Mallavalli en-route to this sacred, historic town.

We were rather unprepared for this. At the first glance, it was just a prosaic picnic spot, overcrowded with swarms of loud local tourists and besieged by persistent guides. Stalls selling local fares were protruding in every corner. We made our way towards the river bed, where the Cauvery flowed at her own pace. It presented an unusual, yet a stark picture. There were huge mounds of sand by the banks of the river, like a beach. With a canopy of tall eucalyptus trees spread out from the sand, it felt like being in the middle of a forest. The dense shrubbery, some lively birds and monkeys dangling between the branches completed the picture.

The mounds of sand were everywhere, like small hillocks, some as high as even 15 meters. It was a steep climb, as the feet sank in with each step. It was an inexplicable sight; nobody could fathom where the heaps of sand came from. The fertile soils of the Cauvery basin seemed to have become fine particles of soft sand by sheer magic. While the answer may be with a geologist, my local guide narrates this legend.

The curse of Talakadu 

Talakadu 

A curse of a woman he says is the cause of this sand blown town, an erstwhile fertile capital of several dynasties that ruled over Karnataka. A tale filled with greed and lust for power. It was the time when Talakadu and Srirangapatna were under the Vijayanagar empire. The death of the last Viceroy, Srirangaraya provoked the Wodeyars of Mysore to declare war. As Srirangapatna fell, the Wodeyar ruler sent his soldiers to covet the jewels of the late Viceroy’s widow, Alamelamma. As she fled from her pursuers, she is supposed to have jumped into the Cauvery, uttering the curses. My guide gets all dramatic as he proclaims the curse…” May Talakadu be always covered with sand and may the kings of Mysore always remain without heirs. “ The locals fear the curse as they say that it has come true. Talakadu is mysteriously engulfed with a sea of sand and the family tree of Mysore rulers show a large number of adopted heirs.

The story moves from being a mere myth to some startling historic discoveries as well. Recent excavations have unearthed temples from these mounds of sand and each dynasty has left their architectural stamp on them.. My guide points out that 30 such temples are still buried underneath the sand dunes as we climb our way to the excavated areas

Unearthed - spirituality under the sands 

Panchlingas

Talakadu is famous for the Panchalingas – the temples dedicated to Lord Shiva called Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vaidyanatheeshwara and Mallikarjuna.Of these, the first two are the oldest, built by the Ganga kings. The locals here say that the Shivalinga in the former is said to change color according to the time of day – from red in the morning to black in the afternoon and white in the night. To us though, in the cool afternoon, it was simply black.

We continued our spiritual quest and reached the Vaidyanatheeshwara temple, the largest of them all, which was built by the Chola rulers. All these temples are neatly thatched and embedded in pits as we climbed down to visit them. Remnants of the bygone era were seen in some scattered stones, broken pillars, an ancient well and even some idols. The Pancha Linga festival is celebrated with much fanfare once in 12 years during the Kartika season, where the temples are allowed for worshipping. The last festival happened in 1993 and the next scheduled late this year. The lost and forgotten township sees throngs of devotees only during this period, while at the rest of times, it remains a desolate spot, with a few picnickers.

Tala and Kadu - More Stories...

Temple

We paused to give our feet a bit of rest and heard the story of Tala and Kada, the two hunters, after whom my guide says, this town in named. One more story, this time, it fuses a bit of religion as well. A sage, Somadutta and his disciples were killed by wild elephants when they were doing their penance. They were said to be reborn as elephants in the same forest. Two hunters, Tala and Kada watched the ritual of the elephants offering prayers to a silk cotton tree. And out of curiosity, axed the tree down, only to find it bleeding. A voice then instructed them to heal the wound with the leaves and the blood miraculously turned milk which immortalized the hunters and the elephants as well. A temple later was built here around the tree, and the place became known as Talakadu.

Temple at Talakadu

We resumed our journey amidst the excavations. Besides the Panchalingas, another magnificent temple stands out. The Keerthinarayana temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, built by the Hoysolas, to celebrate the victory of Talakadu over the Cholas. Scattered stones lie all over the place along with the pillars, stone inscriptions, some carvings. The main temple, intricately carved houses an eight foot tall idol of the deity.

Excavations, they say have unearthed a 12 feet tall stone mandapa along with remnants of Garuda kamba. Work by archaeologists is still in progress here, as we stroll among the many stones, which my guide claims are ‘originals. It looked like each piece of stone was being numbered and the mantapas were being rebuilt to recreate the splendour of the past.

We had walked for more than a couple of hours, deeply engrossed in the continuous banter of our guide. Our feet caved in many a time, as we scaled the steep sand dunes. In the last two hours, we had traveled back to several centuries. We paused for a moment, taking in the sight. The silence was overwhelming. The voices of the past were buried under the layers of sand. We sat there, trying to build castles, but the wings gently swept them down. This, we realized was the destiny of Talakadu -the confluence of the historic and the holy spirit, where myths and legends merged, but were all completely swept away by the blasts from the past.

Getting There

Talakadu is just three hours by road from Bangalore, enroute to Mysore. It is about 130 kms kms from Bangalore, which is the closest airport. You could drive down from the Kanakpura Road or take the good old Mysore Road upto Maddur, past Mallavalli and proceed on the road towards Kollegal. About some 5 kms before the detour for Sivanasamudram Falls, there are sign boards indicating Talakadu, 22 kms to the right. The road is bad in patches and very often, it is long and winding, without any landmarks or signboards.