Traveling is always a joy, and exploring new places has
forever been a shared passion for our group. About ten days ago, my friend Manohar
and I were brainstorming our next getaway and settled on Sakleshpur—a stunning
hill station tucked away in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, renowned for its
lush biodiversity, rolling tea and coffee plantations, and mist-covered peaks.
While famous for monsoon tourism, it retains an offbeat charm compared to
busier neighbors like Coorg.
We planned a family trip—a close-knit group that loves
traveling together. In total, five families, including nine excited children,
geared up for a three-day, two-night monsoon escape starting Saturday morning,
August 1st, and returning to Bengaluru on Monday evening, August 3rd.
For our accommodation, we chose a scenic homestay named
Hillock Vista located in Hethur, approximately 20 km from Sakleshpur town.
Nestled amid dense greenery, it offered the perfect retreat. We counted down
the days, eager to swap the city's noise for the fresh mountain air.
Day 1: The Journey Begins and Mallalli Falls
Since the five families live in different parts of
Bengaluru, four of us agreed to depart at 7:00 AM. The fifth family—our friend
Basu and his family—planned to leave in the afternoon after his daughter's exam
and meet us directly at the resort in the evening.
Our journey began smoothly as the Manohar family arrived at
our home in Kengeri right on time. We loaded the luggage, hopped into the car,
and seamlessly joined the Bengaluru–Mangaluru Highway (NH 75). Meanwhile,
Mahesh and Praveen's families started from Abbigere, with a plan to regroup at
the historic Yediyur Siddalingeshwara Swamy Temple.
By 9:00 AM, we reached the Yediyur Temple. With minimal
crowd, we had a smooth darshan. The second car arrived fifteen minutes
later. The children were thrilled to see each other and began playing around
the courtyard. After taking a quick group photo in front of the temple, we
drove 3 km down the road to Dhruvathare Restaurant for breakfast around 10:00
AM.
After enjoying a delicious South Indian breakfast and
letting the kids play for a bit, I called our homestay manager, Bharat, to give
him our estimated arrival time and ask for lunch preparations.
By 11:00 AM, we resumed our drive along the scenic four-lane
highway. Within an hour, as we crossed into the core region of the Western
Ghats, the humid sky gave way to heavy rain. We passed through Sakleshpur town
and turned onto the narrow, quiet road leading toward Hethur.
We arrived at Hillock Vista by 1:30 PM amid a torrential
downpour. Bharat greeted us warmly with umbrellas. Given the chilly weather, we
immediately enjoyed a hot, home-cooked lunch before checking into our rooms to
freshen up.
At 3:30 PM, we set out for Mallalli Falls, located
about 20 km away in the foothills of the Pushpagiri ranges. Formed by the
Kumaradhara River, this magnificent cascade drops over 200 feet. The drive
through foggy ghat roads lined with seasonal streamlets was breathtaking.
When we arrived, heavy rain and thick fog hid the falls.
Putting on our raincoats, we descended a few flights of steps. Suddenly, the
mist cleared, revealing a powerful torrent of water roaring down the cliff face.
After snapping photos and enjoying hot coffee from a local vendor, we drove
back to the resort, arriving around 6:30 PM.
Basu’s family had already checked in by the time we
returned. Reunited, we enjoyed hot bhajjis and tea. As evening fell, we
gathered in the common area, played music, danced, and spent the night playing
cards while listening to the relentless monsoon rain outside. Following a warm
dinner at 10:00 PM, we turned in for the night.
Day 2: The Green Route, Bisle Ghat, and Leeches
After a hearty breakfast, we set off around 9:30 AM to
explore the famous Yedakumeri Railway Track region. This area forms part
of the historic Hassan–Mangaluru "Green Route" railway, legendary for
its sweeping viaducts, dozens of dark tunnels, and dense wilderness.
By 11:00 AM, we arrived near the access point. Because the
approach road is an intense, boulder-paved trail through the rainforest, we
rented two 4x4 Mahindra Commander jeeps. The off-road drive—4 km down a muddy
incline—was thrilling. The local drivers navigated the terrain with immense
skill.
At the bottom, we marvelled at the sheer engineering feat of
constructing a railway track and tunnels through such rugged terrain in the
late 20th century. Recent rains had triggered minor track blockages, but
watching the river surge through the valley was well worth the trip.
We returned via jeep by 1:00 PM. Near our parked cars, we
washed up in a freezing mountain stream. A few of us discovered tiny mountain
leeches clinging to our ankles—a classic signature of a Western Ghats monsoon
trek! After detaching them, we drove back to the homestay for a late lunch
around 2:15 PM.
By mid-afternoon, we headed out to the Bisle Ghat
Viewpoint. Bisle Reserve Forest is one of Asia’s most ecologically
sensitive rainforest hotspots, bridging Sakleshpur and Kukke Subramanya. The
viewpoint offers a panoramic look across three major mountain ranges: Kumara
Parvatha, Pushpagiri, and Dodda Betta, alongside the Deepa Hole river.
The one-hour drive with open sunroofs and monsoon music was
deeply refreshing. We reached the view site around 4:45 PM under steady
rainfall. We walked the 500-meter paved path to the shelter, catching a brief,
spectacular glimpse of the vast green valley before dense fog blanketed the
gorge.
We headed back to the resort by 6:30 PM for hot bondas
and coffee. Rain prevented an outdoor campfire, so we spent the rest of the
evening indoors playing card games and enjoying late-night dinner.
Day 3: Mookanamane Falls, Manjarabad Fort, and Heading
Home
Monday morning brought clear skies and cool breezes. While
some of us went for an early walk, the kids mustered up the courage to jump
into the resort’s cold swimming pool. Following hot dosas for breakfast
and a group photoshoot, we checked out around 11:30 AM.
Our first stop of the day was Mookanamane Falls (also
known as Abbi Falls near Hetthur), a secluded spot tucked inside local estate
lands. A short drive and a quick climb down a flight of steps brought us to the
swollen, muddy cascade.
Next, we headed to the iconic Manjarabad Fort,
reaching it by 2:00 PM. Built in 1792 by Tipu Sultan with the help of French
engineers, this unique star-shaped fort sits on a high hill. Its Islamic-French
architectural style includes a central well, vaulted ammunition stores, and
strategic watchpoints that offer 360-degree views of the surrounding hills.
We climbed the 300-plus steps to the top and explored the
granite ramparts. By 4:00 PM, we descended and drove 20 minutes to Hotel
Shivasurya on the highway for a late lunch of Chinese dishes. By now, the rain
had stopped, and the air turned warm and sunny, signaling that we had descended
out of the high ghat region.
At 5:30 PM, we began our final drive back to Bengaluru. We
reached the city suburbs near Madavara Metro Station by 8:30 PM, where we
pulled over to say our goodbyes before splitting up toward our respective
homes. It was a memorable monsoon trip full of rain, misty hills, and great
company.
