Monsoon Trip to Jog Falls

For a very long time, I wanted to see Jog Falls in its full flow. As it had rained heavily is North Karnataka in July-August, we planned to visit Jog Falls. We also extended our weekend for 3 days for this trip. The team was 5 of us (Me, wife-Srilakshmi, daughter-Smriti and our old friends Vandana & Rajeev Shrivastava).

Bangalore to Kudli Sangama

As planned we left Bangalore around 5 AM after picking up our friends. As usual, there was slow moving traffic near Yeshwantpur Goraguntepalya junction. After a slow start, we stopped for an early breakfast in a KAMAT around 7 AM. We continued to our first destination taking a diversion from NH48 to Shimoga Road at Chitradurga. It was drizzling now & then but the weather & road was good for a drive. We reached Kudli around 10:30 AM to see an age old Rameshwara Temple. After visiting the temple, we walked down to the Sangama point where Tunga & Bhadra Rivers meet to give rise to Tungabhadra River. One can clearly see the 2 rivers joining (clear water from Tunga & muddy water from Bhadra, See pic.). It is a nice place to relax. The water was flowing almost full from both the sides. We spent some time there taking some pictures and left after a tea from a small stall over there.

 

Left side Clear Water (Tunga) & Right side Muddy water (Bhadra)

Kudli to Shimoga via Kuppali

We crossed Shimoga town in no time and headed to Theerthahalli, where we finished our lunch. On the way we visited the Rameshwara temple, just in time before closing. 

Tunga Bridge in Theerthahalli

Our next destination, the KaviMane (Childhood home of poet Kuvempu, now Museum) was another 17 Kms. We reached there around 2:30 PM, went around the museum/house. 

The surroundings of the house were awesome, no doubt that he could write amidst that environment. There is a small shop over there where you get tea & snacks. We walked up the trail to Kavishyla, the memorial where Kuvempu was laid to rest after his death. This too was a nice place to relax that had many Stone Pillars, resembling the StoneHenge. After spending a lot of time there, we started driving back to our night-halt place which was around 70 Kms, taking a break in between for some tea & snacks. We reached our pre-booked Hotel in Shimoga around 7 PM, had dinner in a nearby restaurant & retired for the day.

Trail to Kavishyla

Ladies showing the route for next destination.

  

Shimoga to Sakrebyle

As planned the day before, we started around 7 AM from hotel for Sakrebyle as the opening time was 8am. That is the best time to be there. After a tea break enroute, we reached Sakrebyle Elephant Camp before 8 AM. The gate was closed for the visitors, but not for the elephants. One by one, the elephants walked into the camp from the nearby Training Camp. They were going straight to the lake where the visitors also can take part in giving bath to these mighty animals.

Jumbos walking into the camp

Finally when some crowd gathered, the gate was opened for human beings. We went in, roamed around took some pictures near the lake with the elephants. While speaking to one of the mahout, he told that one elephant has come from Bangalore (Ayyappa Temple near HAL), one from Kerala, etc. He was telling that these animals prefer natural habitat rather than cities and that’s why they create a lot of havoc killing mahouts & other people. After a nice time there, we left the camp around 9:15 AM.

Sakrebyle to Sigandur

As we were hungry, we halted for breakfast on the highway as soon as we crossed Shimoga. The next destination was Sigandur which is around 100 Kms from Shimoga. Before Sagar, we need to take a deviation to Sigandur, which was a single road. The roads were too good to drive with many curves & bends and finally we reached a dead end. The only way to go forward is by Ferry/Barge/Launch, whatever you may call. We reached the Ferry point around 11:45AM and were told that the next Ferry will leave by 12:15PM. There is an option to park the vehicle and take the Ferry trip to & fro for those who wanted to come back. We wanted to take the vehicle as our onward journey was from the other side of the water body. We waited for our turn as ours was the 6^th vehicle in queue. As the next Ferry arrived, the vehicles were allowed on to the Ferry. I have never parked my vehicle close to any vehicle with a gap of 2-3 inches. The whole Ferry was packed with vehicles with no space to move in between. 

On the Ferry (mind the gap)

In this process I was locked inside my vehicle for the rest of the ride. I was traveling in my vehicle without driving it. The 2 Km ride took around 25 minutes. As soon as the Ferry docked to the shore, all the vehicles got down. 

We then started our drive to the Sigandur Chowdeshwari Devi temple that is 5 Kms away. As we reached the temple, it started raining. We purchased the local Raincoat & started walking. 

Arch to the temple

Local Rain Gear

The temple was within walk able distance from the parking. After darshan, we had a simple lunch (Temple Anna Dana) in the temple premises & left the temple for our final destination.
(Note: They don’t allow people inside the temple wearing shorts or three-fourths.)

Sigandur to Jog Falls

We left the temple around 2:30 PM and the drive was ultimate as it was raining continuously as we went through the curves & hills. After a tea break, we reached Linganamakki Dam, which is not open for general public. The outflow from this dam impacts the flow in Jog Falls. We reached the view point, spent some time there & left for Jog. Also we heard some announcement on loud speakers far away. We didn’t mind that & left for Jog Fall Viewing point which was 10 Kms away.

Linganamakki dam in the background

Jog Falls

Just before reaching Jog, we saw a lake and a hanging bridge which seemed to be a water sport area. Whatever it may have been, the place looked good and we spent some time there too. 

 

Finally when we reached Jog, it was all foggy & we could not even see the falls, forget about the flow. Slowly the fog cleared off & the view was awesome with water flowing amidst the green background. Even though the water was less, it was beautiful to watch. We could also see our hotel on top on the right side of the falls. As it was raining continuously, it was time for some hot snacks & tea after which we left for our hotel. Meanwhile the same announcement was made here too. The shopkeeper told the announcement is that as it is raining continuously, the Linganamakki Dam will be opened tonight. We were happy that there will be more water in the falls.

Falls from viewing point. You can see our hotel top-right to the falls.

Jog Falls Bridge

When we reached the hotel, the hotel guy also told the same thing about the announcement and also that it will take 8-12 hours for the water to reach the falls. He even added that during full water flow, even the room windows will vibrate as the hotel is situated next to the falls. Hoping to see/feel something special we retired that night in our rooms. Also we planned to go to the other view point early next morning which was 3 Km away.

Our Hotel at night

View from our hotel  (Prakruthi Yatri Nivas)

When we got up the next morning, nothing had changed except the time. No extra water & no vibrations felt. We went to the other side of the falls. As we reached early, we were the only visitors there to see the beautiful view of the falls from another angle. We enjoyed the nature & left the place after some tea in one of the stalls there who was just opening it.

Our hotel on top of the falls.

Returning back to our hotel, we saw a small stream on the way, where we spent some time taking pictures & playing in the crystal clear water.

Jog Falls to Bangalore via Keladi & Ikkeri

We reached the hotel to have breakfast, then to pack our bags & leave back home. On the way we saw some stalls that were selling pineapples. We had one there & bought one for home. I bet, you won’t get that juicy pineapple in the city. 

As we had enough time to reach Bangalore, we decided to visit some old temples near Sagar. One was Keladi Rameshwara temple and the other was Ikkeri Aghoreshwara Temple. Both were on either side of Sagar and 11Kms apart. After visiting both the temples, we left for Bangalore around 12 PM.

Pictures of Keladi Rameshwara temple

  

Pictures of Ikkeri Aghoreshwara Temple

  

While driving back, we took the road to Davanegere to reach the NH48. The roads were not so good till the highway. Just before reaching the highway, we halted for a tasty lunch at a small hotel and resumed our final leg of our trip.  There were many diversions in the highway due to some road work which slowed us down. The final 240 Kms was good to drive with rains all along the highway. After a small tea break in the evening, we reached home around 7:30 PM.

Summary

On the whole, everyone enjoyed the trip for various reasons:New Places, Old Temples, Good Weather, Rains, Good Roads & some Good Food too. The roads were too good on the entire trip except between Sagar & Davanegere. Better to avoid that route and take via Shimoga & Chitradurga.

Only leftover of this trip is the Jog Falls in full glory. Anyhow there is always a tomorrow for everything. Time to keep a watch on Linganamakki Dam Gates and we will be back to meet Raja, Rani, Rocket & Rover.

Total Distance travelled: 1200 Kms

Bangalore-Kudli-Kuppali-Shimoga: 500 Kms

Shimoga-Sakrebyle-Sigaandur- Jog Falls: 220 Kms

Jog Falls-Keladi-Ikkeri-Bangalore: 480 Kms