Friday evening at snacks time, me and kiran were discussing what to do over the weekend. We decided that we’ll head somewhere. Nagarhole wild life sanctuary was on the top of the list. The plan was to start early on saturday morning, drive to the kabini reservoir and river, come back to nagarhole for sunday morning safari. Since I insisted that we should see atleast one water falls, irupu falls was added to the plan. Quicky we started asking known enthusiats about their availablity for the week end trip. Its very difficult to get people for a trip at such a short notice. Finally Sam and Yogi agreed to join us. Since we were taking my car, we decided that 4 is the maximum.
Saturday morning, Yogi and Kiran were early as usual. I got the car set for the trip by 8am, thats early in my clock 
Sam was the last guy.
Finally we started at 930am. The roads out of the city was congested as expected. Yogi was driving the car towards mysore. First stop was honasur, we had lunch there and I took over driving. Kiran was trying to get us some accommodation over the phone. We drove to Kabini Dam and backwaters. Spent an hour there. We wanted to reach the Jungle lodges and resorts, but were told that we need to book early from bangalore. So we set out on the jungle roads towards bavalli and kutta. Our lodging was supposed to be at kutta.
The road to bavalli was not there. Literally there were only rocks and rocks. The car was getting hit from all directions and driving was miserable. It took us close to 2 and 1/2 hours to cross the 12 km stretch. Driving in the night in the jungle with the help of only the head lights was so so scarry and funny too. Everyone in the trip enjoyed it to the max, except me, it was my car that was getting hurt there.
One good thing about it was we saw a lot of animals, a tusker and family were just at the edge of the road. Deers, deers every where. We hoped to see some stripped creature but did not see any. Seemed like the only carnivores in that forest were sitting with me inside the car.
We had to criss cross karnataka and kerala borders. Kerala roads were too good to drive and the karnataka side didnt have any roads only. Locals were joking that people coming from kerala, and sleeping in the bus will get to know that they reached karnataka by the special effects on the roads!
The home stay, “jungle edge” was about 6km from the nagarhole rajiv gandhi sanctuary. We reached at around 10pm and we had a quick hot bath. It was very refreshing. By that time, our hosts had got the food ready. Akki roti’s with chicken curry and regular south indian meals stuff. Food was too good and we ate like we havent seen food in days. The hosts were very friendly.
We went to sleep in comfortable beds, only it was a little bit sultry because of the climate. We were to get up very early for the safari. I was as usual the last guy to get up and get started. We reached the sanctuary at about 610am. The didnt allow us to take the swift into the jungle saying that it will get stuck, all other bigger cars were allowed. We regreted getting the swift at that time.
Sam and Yogi were ready with their cameras and kiran got the tickets for the safari. We saw that a number of families were staying inside the santuary, probably they had planned the trip well and called up to make reservations. But our trip was based on the single point that we’ll not plan anything, but just have an outline.
We initially thought that we’ll be having a repeat of bandhipur, where we saw only monkey, peacocks and an occasional deer. It was almost similar, except that we got to see all of them, a lot of deers and elephants too. There was a “wild” cock too
We had taken some nice photos. Our guys need to improve a lot with their photography skills, and may be get some high end lens stuff too. While coming back we saw a wild swift standing alone and capture that too.
After finishing of the sanctuary we decided to head towards irupu falls. But before that we had to reach jungle edge and eat food. Morning food was also good, chappati with honey and butter. Sesame chutney, beetroot curry and baby jackfruit curry was too good. We were taken around the estate by the host, Mr Ramshakar. He was born and brought up in the estate and seemed to know a lot about animals. Saw a couple of snakes, foot prints of elephants and gaurs inside his estate.
Irupu falls was good. It was convenient to take bath in the falls, but there was a lot of crowd there and we didnt want to spend time among them. So after a few photo sessions we moved on to the next spot, tirunelli temple in waynaad.
Unfortunately we reached Tirunelli temple at half past one, and they had closed it. It was supposed to re-open at 530. We didnt want to wait so long so we moved on. The final optional stop was kuruva deep islands in wyanaad. Since kiran was always saying that it was the only place he didnt go, we decided to go. Sam and I had been there already and knew that it was just a picnic spot. I know the taste of our guys and anything with crowds, we dont prefer. Serenity and silence amidst nature is what our group is seeking.
So we reached kuruva at around 3pm. We walked around the island joking and pulling each others leg. It was getting cloudy and thunder was being heard. Every one wanted start early since if it rains no one can say how the jungle roads will behave. After eating omlette and drinking tea we started from kuruva.
We had to choose between coming back on the nagarhole road or taking the other way to sultan bathery and then reach mysore via bandhipur. Since we had gone on the other way and knew for sure the roads were better, we decided to take the extra 60kms drive.
Yogi took control of the drive again, since I thought it might be better if I got the control again in the night to drive back home. I went to sleep. Yogi’s driving style is good, he is calm, patient and drives very carefully. Simply put he drives slow
After reaching mysore we lost the way. Unlike bangalore there are no sign boards. Asking the locals didnt help much because they had the same answer, take the left at the next circle. The next guy will send us back to the same circle with the same answer, take the left at the circle
To make things worst, it was raining like crazy and things were becoming very painful.
I insisted on taking dinner somewhere on the out skirts of mysore, since we dint have lunch. Sam didnt want to have so the three of us ate something at a stupid shop.
I took on driving the last 50km stretch to bangalore. Overtaking all those who over took us was fun. Finally at 1230am, we reached. Said quick goodbyes and rushed home to sleep “early” so that we can make it on time for monday. The trip has come to an end. But the memories will stay.
