Long weekend next month- What have you planned?

Next month, August 2013 is ideal for taking a short break from work. August 15th, Thursday, is a national holiday. Take a leave on Friday and you get 4 days off. From Wednesday evening till Monday morning, it is nearly 5 days.

What have you planned for these 4 days? I’ve been planning my own trip and also assisting few of my friends. In this post I am sharing couple of exiting itineraries, ex Bangalore. You may adapt it if you wish, or customize it to your convenience.

Itinerary 1: Ex Bangalore: North Canara getaway.

North Canara (Uttara Kannada) is a beautiful district in Karnataka but is often under explored by Bangalore based travellers, due to its distance from state capital (close to 500kms). Don’t let the distance create a barrier this time. 

Key attractions in North Canara:

• Unchalli Falls- a lesser known but beautiful waterfalls. View Google earth image below for quick referece

• Yana: a trekking and adventure paradise

• Kali River: White water rafting and other river adventures are conducted by professional agencies around Kali river.

• Dandeli: Dandeli has deep forests. There’re few resorts there and spending a day or two can be highly refreshing

• Karwar town: Popular for its beaches, fort and museum

• Gokarna: Temple town, also popular for beaches

While visiting North canara one can also include few destinations in neighboring districts (Jog falls, Goa etc)

If you have a vehicle or can rent one, try below plan. Otherwise, you can reach Karwar by train/bus and rent a cab from there. with some tweaks to below plan.

Day 0: 14th August evening

Start from Bangalore, drive towards Shimoga. Reach Shimoga by late night and rest.

Day 1: 15th August: 

Proceed towards Sagar, explore Honnemaradu, Jog Falls, have breakfast.

Head to Sidhapura, Heggarane, Unchalli Falls.

By noon reach Dandeli (via Sirsi, Yellapura), check into a forest resort, like Jungle lodges.

Resort activities for rest of the day. (Activities like trekking, boating etc will be arranged by resort)

Honnemaradu, near Sagar, during Feb 2011

Day 2: 16th August:

Resort activities in the morning, check out by noon, drive to Ganeshagudi (old Magazine house), check into a resort in this area to spend another day in the woods. Resort activities for rest of the day.

Day 3: 17th August:

Resort activities in the morning, check out and drive towards Karwar.

Reach Karwar, explore Warship Museum, Sadashivgad fort and sunset by the beach.

Check-in into hotels in Karwar and rest for the day.

Day 4: 18th August:

Last day of our trip: Checkout and head to Gokarna, 60kms from Karwar. Explore the temple and beaches. Drive back towards Bangalore, via Shimoga (or via Udupi, Mangalore if you wish). 

Day 5: 19th August morning: Reach Bangalore, back to busy work schedule but with relishing memories.

Below is a Google Map extract of the intended route.

View Larger Map

Reaching Karwar: 
Karwar is well connected by road (via Shimoga), by Train (via Mangalore) or by flight (Goa or Hubli are closer airports)

Itinerary 2: Ex Bangalore: Chikmagalur, Shimoga

If Karwar sounds too far and you prefer a closer place, select Chikmagalur and Shimoga districts. Here’s an itinerary you may use. Ideal if you're not comfortable driving at night or driving too much.

Day 1: 15th August: 

Start from Bengaluru early morning, to reach Hassan by breakfast time. (Hurray, no night driving)

You may visit Beluru or Halebeedu if interested, before heading to Chikmagalur.

Reach Chikmagalur by noon, check into a hotel, refresh

Post lunch and rest, head to Mullayyanagiri, Baba BudanGiri and Manikyadhara falls

Back to hotel/homestay by evening and rest

Day 2: 16th August:

Relaxed breakfast and check out

Explore coffee museum in town (open only on working days)

Explore KemmannuGundi, Habbe falls

Reach Shimoga by evening, check into a hotel/homestay and rest

Day 3: 17th August:

Head to Sagar, explore Honnemaradu, world famous Jog falls

Back to Shimoga, stop at Tyavarekoppa lion Safari

Explore Shivappa Nayak palace in Shimoga town
You may also visit Sanskrit village Mathur just outside Shivamogga city

Rest.

Tiger closeup photo, clicked at Thyavarekoppa

Shivappa Nayak Palace, Shivamogga city

Day 4: 18th August:

Head to Gajanur dam and Sakrebailu elephant sanctuary nearby. (12km from city, Best time to visit is about 7-9AM in the morning)

Back in town, check out and leave for Bangalore

You may stop at Amriteshwari temple near Tarikere and deviate to ShravanaBelagola if interested

Reach Bengaluru by evening, end of trip

Below is a Google Map extract of the intended route.

View Larger Map

If you need help customizing this trip ask me