Bengaluru is a vibrant, thriving and modern city. However, with all these positives comes packed roads and traffic jams, so citizens of this, India’s IT hub need to get out to recharge their batteries. The hill-town of Chikmagalur, just 250 kilometres away is the ideal destination to accomplish this.
So we climbed into the Hyundai Elite i20 and set off, the Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru’s political nucleus was our starting point. We quickly covered the distance to Hassan on the gorgeous four-lane NH75. Our first stop was at the Shettihalli Church, an abandoned place of worship built by the French in the 1860s. The place is isolated, with a lake in the backdrop, and the crumbling walls of the church dominating the scene. It is serene, peaceful, and beautiful.
Next we visited Belur and Halebidu, two historic spots with strong ties to the Hoysala Empire. Here we visited the Chennakeshava Temple in Belur, and the Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu, both made of black soapstone, the walls playing the role of a canvas for the local rock-carving artisans of the era. No nook or cranny escaped the tools of these craftsmen, resulting in buildings that look staggering, and everything from the ceiling to the pillars and walls (both inside and out) all drawing the eye of the visitor.
We eventually made it to our destination of Chikamagalur, and visited the Coffee Museum there. Here we found out India’s coffee history, how it ties in with Chikamagalur, and a whole lot more. Leaving a lot wiser about all things coffee, we headed to our hotel.
After a comfortable night in, it was off again, bright and early in the morning to check out Mullayanagiri peak, the tallest peak in Karnataka. We passed a lot of coffee plantations en route, and the peak top was staggering, with swirling fog adding to the cold weather and further dramatising the area.
Next we went to visit the birthplace of India’s coffee movement, Baba Budangiri. On the way there, we also checked out the Honnamana Halla waterfalls, with the gushing, gurgling water instantly recharging us. Finally after a visit to the peak of Baba Budangiri, it was time to turn around and head back to Bengaluru. We had a great time in the Elite, and its advanced technology like the in-built sat-nav, steering-mounted controls, parking camera and sensors, and second-row air conditioning, among many things making our drive that much smoother and more enjoyable.
